Busted on the Transit Lane

[s_devo]

I got snapped by the yesterday for using the transit lane getting onto the motorway north. The cop was friendly and a bit of a commedian and told me I needed to have a passenger to use the T2 lane and by the way, if I had, then he'd be giving me a different kind of ticket because I'm not allowed them either. Oh well, now I'm expecting a nice little $150 fine to warm me into the new year.

Does anyone have a link to the rules on this? I would have thought that the object of the transit lane would be to reduce traffic and that bikes would be an obvious way to forward this.

[MSTRS:Me]

http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/tr...nsit-lanes.htm
Ticket is bullshit...contest it.

[woza]

i have used the transit lanes that go onto the motorways, however I have noticed that there isn't a motorcycle image on the signs at gt north road onto the northwestern, and the one at penrose.

[Hiflyer]

That's crap, the cop will have jut been tryna fill his quota.

bikers get a bad image from people like that.
Maybe he was just jealous?

[Ixion]

Bullshit ticket. Contest it, and tell them that the cop needs to be sent back to school to learn his law. I'm assuming here that it was a T2 transit lane, since you mention that.

Motorcycles are entitled to use a transit lane (T2 or T3). No ifs buts or maybes. And it makes no difference if there is a motorbike symbol on the sign or not.

The law is

Motorcyclists are able to use Transit Lanes, and the key reference is found in the provisions of the Road Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (designated as Rule 61001), which specifically provides at Clause 1.6 Interpretations: where it says "Transit Lane means a lane reserved for use of the following (unless specifically excluded by a sign at the start of the lane): (a) passenger service vehicles: (b) motor vehicles carrying not less than the number of persons (including the driver) specified on the sign: ... (d) motorcycles: ...."


What police district was it? BRONZ will write to them and ask them to remind all cops that we are allowed.

[BrianZ]

Bullshit ticket. Contest it, and tell them that the cop needs to be sent back to school to learn his law. I'm assuming here that it was a T2 transit lane, since you mention that.

Motorcycles are entitled to use a transit lane (T2 or T3). No ifs buts or maybes. And it makes no difference if there is a motorbike symbol on the sign or not.

The law is

Motorcyclists are able to use Transit Lanes, and the key reference is found in the provisions of the Road Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (designated as Rule 61001), which specifically provides at Clause 1.6 Interpretations: where it says "Transit Lane means a lane reserved for use of the following (unless specifically excluded by a sign at the start of the lane): (a) passenger service vehicles: (b) motor vehicles carrying not less than the number of persons (including the driver) specified on the sign: ... (d) motorcycles: ...."


What police district was it? BRONZ will write to them and ask them to remind all cops that we are allowed.

"Transit lane" is a term pretty loosely used by many people - if it was a "Special Vehicle Lane" (and it would have to be signed as such) then it is a different matter !!

Special vehicle lane
means a lane defined by signs or markings and restricted to a specified class or classes of vehicle; and includes a bus lane, a transit lane, a cycle lane, and a light-rail vehicle lane

[MSTRS:Me]

OP said it was marked T2...cycles, m/cycles, cars etc with2 or more occupants all OK.

[s_devo]

It was the one at Penrose going North-bound on to the Southern Motorway.

I know it certainly has a T2 and a icon for buses and trucks, but don't think it has a motorbike icon on it. I'll make sure I take a snap next time I'm passing.

Thanks for the advice everyone - it's really great to get the support.

[imne1]

http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/tr...nsit-lanes.htm
Ticket is bullshit...contest it.

...and from that page: "Transit lanes are policed by specially trained council officers who are clearly visible on the footpath observing vehicles to ensure that only people who have a right to use the lane are in it."

it's a city bylaw and therefore probably should NOT be enforced by officers of state but subcontracted council representatives.

[Gubb]

it's a city bylaw and therefore probably should NOT be enforced by officers of state but subcontracted council representatives.

Like a liquor ban? Don't see any council people enforcing that.

[Squiggles]

Contest it as Ixion said.

[Road Guardian]

The cop was friendly and a bit of a comedian

Yes they are real people like you and I. And yes, some of the time, they can be nice people too.

I don't know much about transit lanes, (we don't have them in the South Island, no such thing as grid lock, or traffic jam) but I would imagine that T2 means two or more occupants in one vehicle are required to be in that lane, kinda makes sense.

If not, correct me, again not really familiar with them.

[vtec]

Yes they are real people like you and I. And yes, some of the time, they can be nice people too.

I don't know much about transit lanes, (we don't have them in the South Island, no such thing as grid lock, or traffic jam) but I would imagine that T2 means two or more occupants in one vehicle are required to be in that lane, kinda makes sense.

If not, correct me, again not really familiar with them.

http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/tr...nsit-lanes.htm
Looks like you are right, the number refers to the number of people in the vehicle. But it does say that motorcycles are allowed to use it. Why do cops issue so many tickets that are undeserved. Surely it would have been common sense to the officer that motorcycles be allowed to use the lane, saves us lane splitting.

[klingon]

It was the one at Penrose going North-bound on to the Southern Motorway.

I know it certainly has a T2 and a icon for buses and trucks, but don't think it has a motorbike icon on it. I'll make sure I take a snap next time I'm passing.

Thanks for the advice everyone - it's really great to get the support.

Actually I see this as a really important issue. We have been repeatedly assured by Transit (who were in charge of the ramp signals system when they were designed and approved) that bikes will be able to use the Transit lanes to bypass the ramp signals. We need to make sure they (and the people enforcing the rules) are reminded of this each time they start to slip, or gradually we will find this assurance eroded.

Yes they are real people like you and I. And yes, some of the time, they can be nice people too.

I don't know much about transit lanes, (we don't have them in the South Island, no such thing as grid lock, or traffic jam) but I would imagine that T2 means two or more occupants in one vehicle are required to be in that lane, kinda makes sense.

If not, correct me, again not really familiar with them.

Please read Ixion's post above. He has all the appropriate facts and references there.

[klingon]

http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/tr...nsit-lanes.htm
Ticket is bullshit...contest it.

...and from that page: "Transit lanes are policed by specially trained council officers who are clearly visible on the footpath observing vehicles to ensure that only people who have a right to use the lane are in it."

it's a city bylaw and therefore probably should NOT be enforced by officers of state but subcontracted council representatives.

That link is to the North Shore City transit lanes - they are enforced by North Shore City officers and are in place as the result of a bylaw.

The original poster is referring to motorway onramp transit lanes. They are the responsibility of central government (via the NZ Transport Agency) as part of the state highway system.