Toucan crossing: where cyclists can ride across

Cyclists are allowed to ride across a toucan crossing, which the Highway Code says lets "cyclists and pedestrians share crossing space and cross at the same time". They may also ride across a parallel crossing and a cycle-only signalled crossing, but must get off and push at zebra, pelican and puffin crossings.

That is the answer the theory test wants when it asks "at which type of crossing are cyclists allowed to ride across with pedestrians?". The rules come from three places in the Highway Code: the pedestrian rules (rule 25), the cyclist rules (rules 81 and 82) and the driver rules for crossings (rules 195 and 199). This page puts them side by side, quoting gov.uk.

Every crossing, and who may ride across it

Crossing	Who it is for	Can a cyclist ride across?	Rule
Toucan	Pedestrians and cyclists together	Yes, on the green signal	25, 82
Parallel	Pedestrians on the stripes, cyclists on the cycle route beside them	Yes, on the cycle route	195
Cycle-only signalled crossing	Cyclists, linking cycle tracks	Yes, when the green cycle symbol shows	82
Zebra	Pedestrians	No: dismount and wheel the cycle	81
Pelican	Pedestrians	No: dismount and wheel the cycle	81
Puffin	Pedestrians	No: dismount and wheel the cycle	81
Equestrian	Horse riders	No: "for horse riders only"	27, 81

The cyclist rules are in "Rules for cyclists" (gov.uk: rules 59 to 82). The pedestrian rules are in "Rules for pedestrians" (gov.uk: rules 1 to 35).

What a toucan crossing is (rules 25 and 82)

Rule 25 says toucan crossings "are light-controlled crossings which allow cyclists and pedestrians to share crossing space and cross at the same time". It adds that they are push-button operated, and that "Pedestrians and cyclists will see the green signal together."

The rule ends: "Cyclists are permitted to ride across." Rule 82, in the cyclist section, repeats the same words, so the point appears twice in the code.

Rule 61 tells cyclists to "use facilities such as cycle lanes and tracks, advanced stop lines and toucan crossings" where they make the journey safer and easier. You can read both rules on our pages for rule 25 and rule 82.

Crossings where cyclists must get off (rule 81)

Rule 81 is short. It says: "Do not ride across equestrian crossings, as they are for horse riders only. Do not ride across a pelican, puffin or zebra crossing. Dismount and wheel your cycle across."

So a pelican or puffin crossing has lights, like a toucan, but its signals are red and green figures for pedestrians (rules 22 and 23). Only the toucan gives its green signal to pedestrians and cyclists together. See our page for rule 81.

Parallel crossings (rule 195)

A parallel crossing is the zebra crossing's cycling version. Rule 195 says: "Parallel crossings are similar to zebra crossings, but include a cycle route alongside the black and white stripes."

There are no traffic lights. A driver "MUST give way when a pedestrian or cyclist has moved onto a crossing", and should give way to pedestrians or cyclists waiting to cross. Like a zebra, "A parallel crossing with a central island is two separate crossings" (gov.uk: rules 159 to 203).

The Highway Code introduction also lists this among the rules drivers must still follow: "You MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing" (gov.uk: introduction).

Cycle-only signalled crossings (rule 82)

Rule 82 also covers a crossing used only by bikes: "Cycle tracks on opposite sides of the road may be linked by cycle-only signalled crossings. You may ride across but you MUST NOT cross until the green cycle symbol is showing."

That "MUST NOT" is a legal requirement, so riding over on red at one of these is an offence, not just poor advice.

Equestrian crossings (rule 27)

Rule 27 says equestrian crossings "are for horse riders". They have pavement barriers, wider crossing spaces, horse and rider figures in the light panels, and either two sets of controls (one higher) or one higher control panel. The Highway Code's picture caption for rule 27 adds: "There is often a parallel crossing."

What drivers do at a toucan crossing (rule 199)

For a driver, a toucan works like ordinary traffic lights. Rule 199 says toucan, puffin and equestrian crossings "are similar to pelican crossings, but there is no flashing amber phase; the light sequence for traffic at these three crossings is the same as at traffic lights."

It also says: "If the signal-controlled crossing is not working, proceed with extreme caution. Do not enter the crossing if you are unable to completely clear it, to avoid obstructing pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders." Rule 198 adds that you should "give way to anyone still crossing after the signal for vehicles has changed to green", at every crossing.

The practical difference is speed. A cyclist reaches the crossing faster than someone walking, so look further along the pavement and the cycle track as you approach. Our vulnerable road users guide covers passing cyclists more generally.

Practice questions

Two of our free sample questions test this:

• Driving towards a toucan crossing with a cyclist and pedestrians waiting, which tests what a driver should expect at a toucan.
• A crossing with pavement barriers and horse and rider light panels, which tests who an equestrian crossing is for.

For the zebra and pelican rules, including the central island question, see our pedestrian crossings guide. Our Highway Code guide explains why "MUST" and "should" matter in the questions.

Start free

Start free with the theorytest.ai diagnostic to see whether crossings and vulnerable road users are a weak area for you. theorytest.ai is independent and is not affiliated with the DVSA. Gov.uk does not publish test questions, so we cannot say how many are about crossings.

Frequently asked questions

At which type of crossing are cyclists allowed to ride across with pedestrians?

A toucan crossing. Rule 25 says it lets cyclists and pedestrians share crossing space and cross at the same time, and that cyclists are permitted to ride across.

Can cyclists ride across a pelican or puffin crossing?

No. Rule 81 says do not ride across a pelican, puffin or zebra crossing, and to dismount and wheel your cycle across.

Who can use a toucan crossing?

Pedestrians and cyclists. They see the green signal together and cross at the same time.

What is a parallel crossing?

A zebra crossing with a cycle route alongside the black and white stripes. Drivers must give way when a pedestrian or cyclist has moved onto it.

Does a toucan crossing have a flashing amber light?

No. Rule 199 says toucan, puffin and equestrian crossings have no flashing amber phase; for traffic, the lights work the same as traffic lights.