Riding in a bus lane legalities

**ELectronicFlesh** · 28th February 2014, 13:02

Is it legal to ride in a bus lane when there are cars parked in the lane and the time is outside of the signposted bus lane hours?

Just had a cager turn into me btw, but that's a different story.

**Kendoll** · 28th February 2014, 13:59

Originally Posted by ELectronicFlesh

Is it legal to ride in a bus lane when there are cars parked in the lane and the time is outside of the signposted bus lane hours?

Just had a cager turn into me btw, but that's a different story.

Yeah totally legal, when it's not a bus lane it's just a normal lane for traffic. Anyone can drive there when it's not within the designated hours.

**Akzle** · 28th February 2014, 15:47

may be legal. Defo not fuken smart. Who knows when one of those parked crackers is going to serve you up a door sandwhich.

**Oakie** · 28th February 2014, 16:52

Are you telling the whole story? You weren't perchance, driving in the bus lane and passing to the left of vehicles in the normal lane because that could change things.

**Flip** · 28th February 2014, 19:08

If you were pasing on the left then you are fucked!

**G4L4XY** · 28th February 2014, 20:49

Were you popping a wheelie

**Gremlin** · 28th February 2014, 23:53

Originally Posted by Kendoll

Yeah totally legal, when it's not a bus lane it's just a normal lane for traffic. Anyone can drive there when it's not within the designated hours.

What she said. Could also be parking if allowed (again, outside designated hours)

**kave** · 1st March 2014, 06:09

Originally Posted by ELectronicFlesh

Is it legal to ride in a bus lane when there are cars parked in the lane and the time is outside of the signposted bus lane hours?

Just had a cager turn into me btw, but that's a different story.

Yup, It's perfectly legal. Outside of the signposted bus lane hours the lane is considered a normal lane (even if parked cars have left it too skinny for other cars to use).

Originally Posted by Oakie

Are you telling the whole story? You weren't perchance, driving in the bus lane and passing to the left of vehicles in the normal lane because that could change things.

Originally Posted by Flip

If you were pasing on the left then you are fucked!

Don't worry about the above two quotes, passing on the left isn't an offence in New Zealand if there are two or more lanes and you are in a different lane to the vehicle you are passing.

All that being said, if you are riding in the skinny remnants of a bus-lane then you should be paying attention, because even if it is legal it is dangerous. Sounds to me like it was your fault you got hit, but legally (and for insurance purposes) you should be fine.

I hope you didn't get injured in the crash. Good luck if you need insurance, it sounds like the other party might want to fight liability, and this might mean it takes a while to get your money.

**ELectronicFlesh** · 1st March 2014, 09:57

Originally Posted by Oakie

Are you telling the whole story? You weren't perchance, driving in the bus lane and passing to the left of vehicles in the normal lane because that could change things.

Yes this is what I'm thinking of - the bus lane in Adelaide road in Newtown, Wellington.

Originally Posted by G4L4XY

Were you popping a wheelie

I was not.

Thanks for all the replies guys, this should save me a few minutes every time I drive to work.

The accident I was involved in was on Adelaide road in the bus lane within its signposted hours. A car turned left across the bus lane trying to get into a side street and didn't see me. I only got a few scratches and bruises, the bike didn't fare so well. ATGATT!

**rustyrobot** · 1st March 2014, 10:42

Originally Posted by G4L4XY

Were you popping a wheelie

Don't know if I'd even call it 'popping' on a Scorpio - I hear people riders really have to work hard to keep front down on those beasts.

Scorpi orpi orpio...

**ELectronicFlesh** · 1st March 2014, 10:57

Originally Posted by rustyrobot

Don't know if I'd even call it 'popping' on a Scorpio - I hear people riders really have to work hard to keep front down on those beasts.

Scorpi orpi orpio...

You're joking, right?

**Flip** · 1st March 2014, 11:59

On exactly the same road I took out a moron on a GS1150, doing exactly the same thing. I pulled into the BP and he went into a parked car. Who in the fuck looks in his left hand mirror when he is pulling over to the left.

IMHO the lane only exists during the designated hours.

**F5 Dave** · 1st March 2014, 12:23

Originally Posted by ELectronicFlesh

You're joking, right?

And with a Supergroove reference that had me playing it on YouTube.

Rep given Rusty

**sharp2183** · 1st March 2014, 18:34

Originally Posted by Flip

On exactly the same road I took out a moron on a GS1150, doing exactly the same thing. I pulled into the BP and he went into a parked car. Who in the fuck looks in his left hand mirror when he is pulling over to the left.

IMHO the lane only exists during the designated hours.

The fuck? You can't just have an opinion and use it as a justification for doing something fucking stupid. My honest opinion might be that I can spraypaint your fence... Not gonna leave you happy will it?

Unless you were taking the piss, in which case I got hooked on that!