New road rules

[Redstar]

Is it OK to use the bus lanes from feb 27th?

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roa...ew-road-rules/

well according to the most recent offering from the LTSA if its a Bus lane it is
???? what do you think they mean? check it out?

[Skunk]

Is it OK to use the bus lanes from feb 27th?

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roa...ew-road-rules/

well according to the most recent offering from the LTSA if its a Bus lane it is
???? what do you think they mean? check it out?

That will be interesting. They don't say whether that law over-rides local council bylaws or not do they? Anyone *know*?

[Da Bird]

That will be interesting. They don't say whether that law over-rides local council bylaws or not do they? Anyone *know*?

As far as I know, the new law allowing cyclists, motorcyclists and buses to use bus lanes is nationwide, regardless of any council's bylaw's. It is designed to make it standard throughout the country whereas up til now, some councils imposed fines anywhere from $150 to $750 for illegally using a bus lane. If I get any more info, I'll let you know.

BC.

[Skunk]

As far as I know, the new law allowing cyclists, motorcyclists and buses to use bus lanes is nationwide, regardless of any council's bylaw's. It is designed to make it standard throughout the country whereas up til now, some councils imposed fines anywhere from $150 to $750 for illegally using a bus lane. If I get any more info, I'll let you know.

BC.

Cheers mate. It'll be good to know.
Don't like the look of them in Wellington - they're painted green and I don't really want to find out how slippery they are in the wet just yet.

[Redstar]

I have e mailed the LTSA for clarification as I suspect they forgot that some motorways have designated the emergency sholder as a bus lane and marked it clearly as such. there are some other legislations governing the use of a sholder as a bus lane that prohibit the use of Motor vechicles other than buses I think the new road rules have not clearly stated this and thus by default we have a valid defence from Feb 27th for zipping up the sholder? until they verify this fact publically in the media you have said defence?
I suggest you print and carry the new rule as insurance againts infringement I know I will!

[thehollowmen]

Only cyclists, motorcyclists and buses are allowed to use bus lanes.

Mwahahhaha they left out scooters and mopeds :-D

[Redstar]

theres a reason for that! while there is a school of thought that all bikers are created equal its not so. persons who ride mopeds and vespa thingies are a subversive group who either evolve or die! sorry but its true its all about size!

[bugjuice]

I thought we could always use bus lanes...? Didn't think this was anything new..

[limmy]

I thought we could always use bus lanes...? Didn't think this was anything new..

me too. thought that was always the rule. but some one told me apparently it depends on the local councils. Well....I've been riding in the bus lane everyday on my way to work and nobody seems to mind so i guess its ok in my local council.

[bugjuice]

me too. thought that was always the rule. but some one told me apparently it depends on the local councils. Well....I've been riding in the bus lane everyday on my way to work and nobody seems to mind so i guess its ok in my local council.

I've been doing it for years, even past cops etc, and no one has ever said anything. Red Baron in Grey Lynn has a bloody big poster/sign in their shop, which seems to have been there forever, saying that bikes can use the bus lane.. Just doesn't make sense..

[Ricamortise]

nzherald

A lot of scope for latitude in interpretation of the rules
unsafe passing (35 points) < Looks a nasty one for bikers

Have any guide lines been issued to "The Farce"? [sp?]

[MikeL]

Can someone (preferably connected with the enforcement of the relevant regulations) please justify the decision to allocate 35 demerit points for entering a pedestrian crossing when the passage is blocked compared to 20 for failing to give way when entering a roundabout??
Can anyone suggest other anomalies in the new regulations?
If as is by no means unlikely these new penalties are enthusiastically enforced(as with speeding offences) it will at least have the advantage of reducing traffic congestion, even though it does nothing for the road toll, as all the minor traffic offenders are removed from the roads...

I also note John Roughan's column in the Herald. Resident KB cops will dismiss him as another whinger just venting his spleen because he got a speeding ticket...

[jrandom]

Can someone (preferably connected with the enforcement of the relevant regulations) please justify the decision to allocate 35 demerit points for entering a pedestrian crossing when the passage is blocked compared to 20 for failing to give way when entering a roundabout??

The new regs appear to heavily weight offenses that jeopardise pedestrians, which I think is laudable.

I support the apparent general philosophy behind the descriptions and penalties for these new offenses. When used by a police officer with appropriate discretion, they should be excellent tools for landing heavy thwacks on the bad drivers we always moan about while ranting on the pointlessness of persnickety speed enforcement.

You might see people who commit these offenses as 'minor traffic offenders'; is nobody a 'major' traffic offender until they actually kill someone, then? The single offense of 'unsafe passing', with 35 points, covers a whole multitude of naughtiness, and is much more likely to be applied and have a deterrent effect than the old point-free $150 'passing where prohibited' or a charge of dangerous driving with the accompanied delays and stuffing around in Court.

Note that these offenses are not expensive. They just put you in danger of losing your licence which, IMHO, is the way traffic enforcement *should* work. In fact, Mr Disingenuity, I do believe you have made similar comments yourself in previous speed-enforcement criticisms...

[MikeL]

In fact, Mr Disingenuity, I do believe you have made similar comments yourself in previous speed-enforcement criticisms...

Too-shay...

But when you're sitting on 95 points perhaps you might have a different perspective...

[MacD]

I thought we could always use bus lanes...? Didn't think this was anything new..

This was an Auckland City bylaw. There are a bunch of old threads on this and I think riders weren't allowed to use the bus lanes on the North Shore? Motorway buslanes were certainly excluded.