[size=75:3fvuo5tp]The Budapest Times 2 January 2010

Hungary's new traffic rules from Jan 1 to favour cyclists, pedestrians

Hungary's road traffic regulations will change on January 1 with many new rules benefitting pedestrians and cyclists, the Ministry of Transport told MTI on Thursday.

New rules require cars to slow down before pedestrian crossings and tram stops. At shared bicycle and pedestrian walkways one will be required to give way to the other, and cyclists will have to slow down to 20 kilometres per hour on these sections instead of the earlier 30-50 km/h.

Cyclists will be allowed to enter one-way streets from the opposite direction where there is no cycle path and a traffic sign indicates this option. They will also be allowed to go to the front of the queue at stop lights while also being granted the right to mingle with cars instead of having to keep to the right of the road, as earlier.

Motorcycles, too, will be allowed to move forward in front of cars at traffic lights and use bus lanes wherever convenient.

The government approved the amended KRESZ at the end of November.