Cycling in Sydney Australia
One year on.. any changes?
Well, we've just passed the one year anniversary of the 1 July 2008 changes to the NSW road rules which were supposed to introduce some megre gains for Sydney cyclists such as bicycle storage areas:
From http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/roadrules/2008nswrrulech...
New bicycle storage areas at intersections
Some intersections that have traffic lights may now contain bicycle storage areas. These are painted areas on the road in front of the stop line that allow cyclists to wait at the traffic lights in safety.
There are a number of new rules relating to driver and cyclist responsibilities at bicycle storage areas. For example, when traffic lights or arrows are red, drivers must not allow any part of their vehicle to enter the bicycle storage area.
My question is... has anyone actually seen one of these marvels of on-road-paint-induced safety improvements? I can't say that I have.
From http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/roadrules/2008nswrrulech...
New bicycle storage areas at intersections
Some intersections that have traffic lights may now contain bicycle storage areas. These are painted areas on the road in front of the stop line that allow cyclists to wait at the traffic lights in safety.
In the diagram (left) the green area in front of the car is an example of a bicycle storage area.
There are a number of new rules relating to driver and cyclist responsibilities at bicycle storage areas. For example, when traffic lights or arrows are red, drivers must not allow any part of their vehicle to enter the bicycle storage area.
My question is... has anyone actually seen one of these marvels of on-road-paint-induced safety improvements? I can't say that I have.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Susan on -
William street all the way from the city to Kings Cross now has lovely green painted bike lanes and one of them continues up and over the kings cross hill down towards Rushcutters, but it doesn't have the extra storage areas at intersections.
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Permalink Reply by Al on -
and I saw a truck parked in it late last night, but then again it is always parked out there so this is to be expected. a pity
to see such things the bloke delivered his milk and he was away.
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Permalink Reply by Bob Moore on -
Some of these have been proposed for Booth St in Annandale and Lilyfield Rd, and plans were drawn up with consultation with one part of the RTA, but another part of the RTA has said the Council must pay a fee for approving the design and for overseeing construction. The fee was quite high, as much as the actual cost of construction. Negotiation is still going on, with one idea being that the Council coughs up the fee but then asks for a grant from the RTA to cover it. Dont understand how this is better than just waiving the fee, but apparently its easier to do this way!
There are some advanced stop lines in Union St, Pyrmont, and Ultimo Rd, which are similar. A bike lane extends a metre into the ped crossing area to give cyclists a little head start on motorists and more prominence.
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Permalink Reply by CM on -
Yet they somehow seem to have found an enormous amount of more-or-less permanent bus lane coloured tarmac to cover the park street bicycle lanes. Funny that...
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on -
Haven't seen them.
Why can't we just j ride?
Its still safer than taking off in front of buses.
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Permalink Reply by Carolyn on -
Our advice had been that they cant be approved until the RTA produce their design guidelines..
When the detour route due to the proposed bus layover at Cammeray on the Waringah Freeway (which will take out the existing breakdown/bike lane) was initially shown to us it included a couple of bicycle storage boxes. Then they were deleted because they wouldn't meet the RTA design guidelines. When we asked to see a copy of the guidelines we were then told they weren't finalised as yet. Seems to me the RTA is using any excuse they can to avoid their implementation.
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