Challenge to Transit re mway bus lanes...

[Krayy]

Last week, Pheobe Falconers "Get Moving" column in the Harold had a Q from someone re motorbikes on the motorway bus lanes and Transits response was that they were for busses only and having motorcycles on them would add to congestion for the busses. No other reason was given.

Now I was thinking on the way to work that maybe BRONZ or some other interest group, or even a community of bikers could challenge Transit to get their head out of the sand and do a study on how many busses actually use the lanes (cos I'm sure I've only ever seen 3 using them) and then have a 2 week trial where bikes can use the lanes and then check the difference on bus travel times. I'm sure they'd see stuff all difference and the safety margin for bikers who no longer have to split would increase dramatically.

Which MP can we write to?

[Fatjim]

Last week, Pheobe Falconers "Get Moving" column in the Harold had a Q from someone re motorbikes on the motorway bus lanes and Transits response was that they were for busses only and having motorcycles on them would add to congestion for the busses. No other reason was given.

Now I was thinking on the way to work that maybe BRONZ or some other interest group, or even a community of bikers could challenge Transit to get their head out of the sand and do a study on how many busses actually use the lanes (cos I'm sure I've only ever seen 3 using them) and then have a 2 week trial where bikes can use the lanes and then check the difference on bus travel times. I'm sure they'd see stuff all difference and the safety margin for bikers who no longer have to split would increase dramatically.

Which MP can we write to?

As long as it doesn't say "no motorbikes/mopeds and cyclists" then go for it anyway. Pays to have a copy of the 2004 road rules on you though.

[Fatjim]

sorry about the quote

[Jantar]

As long as it doesn't say "no motorbikes/mopeds and cyclists" then go for it anyway. Pays to have a copy of the 2004 road rules on you though.

The regulations state that motorcyclists can use bus lanes unless specifically excluded by signage. It is my understanding that the motorway bus lanes no specifically exclude motorbikes, so it is legal to use them despite anything Transit may say.

[NodMan:Me]

The regulations state that motorcyclists can use bus lanes unless specifically excluded by signage. It is my understanding that the motorway bus lanes no specifically exclude motorbikes, so it is legal to use them despite anything Transit may say.

Sorry guys but the signage on Aucks Motorways SAYS "Buses Only"
that excludes ALL other vehicles...been there checked that!

[Jantar]

Sorry guys but the signage on Aucks Motorways SAYS "Buses Only"
that excludes ALL other vehicles...been there checked that!

Perhaps you need to re-read the select committee's reccomendation. If motorcycles are not specified on the signage then they are not speciffically excluded. "Busses Only" does specifically exclude other vehicles that may legally use a bus lane.

[SPman]

Surely "Buses Only", is specifying what CAN use the lane.

[Jantar]

Surely "Buses Only", is specifying what CAN use the lane.

"Buses Only" speciffically includes buses, but doesn't specify any other type of vehicle that may legally use bus lanes. Motorcycles can only be speciffically excluded if they are specified on the signage.

This is from the Land Transport NZ website on bus lanes http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roa...s/rur-qas.html

Can motorcycles use bus lanes?Yes, unless specifically excluded by signs. (Bold is my emphisis)

How do I know it’s a bus lane?The words BUS LANE will be marked on the road, indicating the lane is for this purpose.

[sAsLEX]

Sorry guys but the signage on Aucks Motorways SAYS "Buses Only"
that excludes ALL other vehicles...been there checked that!

But it does not "specifically" exclude bikes does it? Which is what the law requires!

Finn what to get a ticket for this and use your expensive lawyer to get you out and set a precendet!?

[twinkle]

"Buses Only" does specifically exclude everything except buses.

Yeah right, motorbikes are going to hold up buses.
Transit gave the excuse a few years back that it was dangerous for motorbikes to use the bus lanes because of that lip between the edge of the hotmix and shoulder. It can get pretty high sometimes.

[Fatjim]

Buses only lanes are allowed to be used by motorcycles unless specifically excluded according to the 2004 road rules. Therefore, for the council to make it illegal for motorcycles to use this "busses only" lane then it has to say "no motorcycles".

BTW "Busses only" is implicit, not explicit about exclusions

[Qkchk:Me]

Bugger, maybe I should of held onto my 'BUSa'...........

[twinkle]

the new law doesn't apply to bus lanes on motorways unfortunately


http://www.transit.govt.nz/news/Medi...iaRelease-7507



Transit New Zealand
Auckland Regional Office
25 February 2005
Media Release


Motorcyclists and cyclists reminded not to use motorway bus lanes


Transit New Zealand wishes to remind cyclists and motorcyclists that they are not allowed to use any bus lanes on Auckland's motorways even when the new traffic rules announced by Land Transport NZ come into force on Sunday (27 February).

Transit New Zealand regional manager (acting), Richard Hancy, says the new rules, which will allow cyclists and motorcyclists to use bus lanes on other roads, do not apply to bus lanes on motorways. 'Motorways are governed by Transit Bylaw 2002/19 which only allows motorway bus lanes to be used by 'timetabled passenger service vehicles'. This bylaw overrides the new traffic rules,' he says.

Mr Hancy says that at present bus lanes on motorways are in effect 'emergency shoulder lanes' that are converted to bus lanes between 6.30am and 9.30am to accommodate morning peak periods.

'Motorcyclists cannot use these emergency lanes, even when they are temporary bus lanes, because the motorway is a high speed environment and the risk of a motorist pulling off to the side in the event of a breakdown makes it even more dangerous,' says Mr Hancy.

'As far as cyclists are concerned, like pedestrians, they have never been allowed to use the motorways and this remains unchanged.' We are, however, incorporating special cycleways off the motorways whenever possible into all our new projects. We already have a cycleway that runs alongside the causeway of the Northwestern Motorway.

Special signs reinforcing the message that the emergency lanes are for buses only in morning peak periods will be erected along the motorways.

ends

For further information contact
Richard Hancy
Transit New Zealand
tel (09) 368 2000
fax (09) 368 2059
richard.hancy@transit.govt.nz
Visit us at www.transit.govt.nz

[paturoa]

'Motorcyclists cannot use these emergency lanes, even when they are temporary bus lanes, because the motorway is a high speed environment ....

I think I'll send richard an email - what a load of crap, when these lanes are bus lanes the motorway is a low speed environment!

[twinkle]

Motorcyclists cannot use these emergency lanes, even when they are temporary bus lanes, because the motorway is a high speed environment and the risk of a motorist pulling off to the side in the event of a breakdown makes it even more dangerous

I dunno, how much more of a risk is it going to be than somebody breaking down in front of me outside rush hour? Or somebody breaking down when i'm lanesplitting? Or a motorist pulling off to the side in front of a bus?