Overtaking a line of stationary vehicles

**5150** · 31st May 2012, 08:06

Originally Posted by rastuscat

they probably commenced the turn without expectiing a bike to come flying down the outside of the cars.

Would Hi-Viz vest helped there?

**GSF** · 31st May 2012, 11:27

Ugh, this is too true. At least half of all the close calls I've had in 2 years of riding have been along the same dead straight stretch of Dominion Road bus lane on my morning commute to work.

There are about three danger spots where cars heading south turn right through a gap in stationary traffic and cross the bus lane. After a month I had developed a habit of slowing right down at the gaps and standing on the pegs to look over the queue which I now do pretty much any time I'm riding next to stopped cars. I can't count the number of times that I would've eaten shit and T-boned a car if I had kept sailing through at normal speed. I've seen lots of crunched bikes and scoots on the pavement along that part of Dominion.

**Maha** · 31st May 2012, 12:03

Weekend just gone, a bike was between two cars at the front, waiting for the lights...
Lights turn green....100mts later, bike was 3rd behind us and a Ute....

Mazda6 got the Holeshot!....

**meteor** · 31st May 2012, 12:24

I find it easier to just ride believing everyone else on the road is there to kill me, no one knows any road rules and the road surfaces are designed to make me fall off. Yes I lane split and do other stuff I probably shouldn't but I think I do it in a way I'm keeping myself as safe as I possibly can... Legally speaking, who cares if you're in the right if you're a vegie or dead... ride safe!

**G4L4XY** · 31st May 2012, 12:50

Originally Posted by Hellzie

Solution = enforce the rule about keeping to the left of your lane. So if the stationary / slow moving vehicles are to the left, then the bikes can overtake on the right. Easier to see oncoming traffic that might cross your path.

Somewhat off topic but, I commute down onewa road (north shore) T3 lane every morning. It's the most stupid road design ever, with queued traffic on the right and the t3 / bus lane on the left. So many cross roads, driveways, etc. I have cars try and t-bone me almost on a daily basis. Would be much better if the T3 lane was on the right.

How would the buses pull over at the stops though? But yes thats a good idea!! I travel along that road often too and at each intersection you have to be so vigilant!

**Parlane** · 31st May 2012, 12:56

Originally Posted by rastuscat

Yes, actually.

If the cars are stationary, the bike is allowed to overtake on the left.
Given that the bike is traveling straight through, and the car is turning, the car is required to give way, technically.

Having said that, any Popos who turns up will have sympathy for the car driver, as they probably commenced the turn without expectiing a bike to come flying down the outside of the cars.

It's oh so common in Chur Chur.

Cycle lanes? Excuse me, but I must be a bad driver. But whenever I am turning across stopped traffic I move very slowly until I can see down the left side of the line of cars to make sure I am not going to hit a cyclist or a car. And especially now that we have the right turners give way I have to be extra careful for any left turning cars to give them the right of way.

Edit: Also when passing down the left, whenever I see a gap in traffic I am almost stopped completely until I have seen there are no turning cars.

**imdying** · 31st May 2012, 13:00

Originally Posted by rastuscat

What can we do about it?

Either don't split, or ride slower. The older I get, the less I split... and when I do, I just dribble along. No hurry these days, and I'd rather up my chances of being able to stop for the unexpected. The other thing I do is use my core muscles to hold my frame high in the saddle, keeps my head up above the roofs of cars so I can see more of the big metal things.

**Parlane** · 31st May 2012, 13:06

Originally Posted by rastuscat

What can we do about it?

We could paint more yellow criss-cross "do not stop here" lines around intersections. They force the gap to be rather large for turning cars to be able to see more clearly. And all bikers should be able to spot the "danger zone".
Paint a:
"SLOW
DOWN"
On the left inside of the lane so cyclists can be forewarned of a open crossing.

Added benefits is that they allow for gaps of left turning vehicles to enter the road and at times right turning vehicles as well especially when combined with a median. So merging is a lot easier.

**Hellzie** · 31st May 2012, 13:46

Originally Posted by AE4ME

How would the buses pull over at the stops though? But yes thats a good idea!! I travel along that road often too and at each intersection you have to be so vigilant!

Bus stops in central medians - has been done before. I'm actually doing a study on it as we speak. It would work WAY better than it currently does. I might actually try and show the Auckland Council when I'm done with it.

**Parlane** · 31st May 2012, 13:48

Originally Posted by Hellzie

Bus stops in central medians - has been done before. I'm actually doing a study on it as we speak. It would work WAY better than it currently does. I might actually try and show the Auckland Council when I'm done with it.

Melbourne tram stops are in the center of the road.

**meteor** · 31st May 2012, 13:55

Originally Posted by Parlane

Melbourne tram stops are in the center of the road.

Yeah and it's funny watching how many cars get a shunt coz they stop in the middle of the tracks wanting to turn right.

And to Hellzie, I'd be really dubious for the T3/T2 or bus lanes to be in the middle of the road as peds would need to cross traffic to get to the stops and where would they stop anyway? Wouldn't matter so much in Auckland as the traffic is pretty much parked up anyway at rush hour I spose.

**Parlane** · 31st May 2012, 13:57

Originally Posted by meteor

Yeah and it's funny watching how many cars get a shunt coz they stop in the middle of the tracks wanting to turn right.

And to Hellzie, I'd be really dubious for the T3/T2 or bus lanes to be in the middle of the road as peds would need to cross traffic to get to the stops and where would they stop anyway? Wouldn't matter so much in Auckland as the traffic is pretty much parked up anyway at rush hour I spose.

Could run a pedestrian tunnel.

**Hellzie** · 31st May 2012, 14:01

Originally Posted by meteor

I'd be really dubious for the T3/T2 or bus lanes to be in the middle of the road as peds would need to cross traffic to get to the stops and where would they stop anyway? Wouldn't matter so much in Auckland as the traffic is pretty much parked up anyway at rush hour I spose.

Easily solved with pedestrian crossings. The bus stops would be in the same places where they currently are, just moved to the middle of the road. It actually makes it better for pedestrians, as they have shorter distances to cross before they get to a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road. A lot less daunting than crossing 3 - 4 lanes of traffic.

**meteor** · 31st May 2012, 14:11

Parlane/Hellzie,
Totally agree we need a better way. I hate to see how quickly the buses go right next to the footpath, I crap myself when on a bus going down Symonds past the varsity (figurativly speaking!)
I've worked through some road engineering issues with councils and what seems easy and common sense to most is quickly put through the regulations and beurocracy complicator and if that doesn't kill good ideas out comes the cost/benefit analysis of injury history over/on that particular road and if you're still wining, it has to fall in that years budget...
Sorry, hate to sound negative but if you have a great idea to save lives... don't go to council