The Law Handbook 2024

664 Section 6: Houses, communities and the road Turning and signalling If you intend to change direction when riding, the safest option is to signal your intention to do so. How to signal is explained in Road Rule 50: extend the right arm and hand horizontally and at right angles to the bicycle, with the hand open and palm facing forwards. When intending to turn right, cyclists should look back to check what is coming and, if the way is clear, signal, merge towards the centre of the road and turn when appropriate. Whenever you are moving over to the right (including when changing lanes or turning right), you must signal with your right hand (RR 48(1); 3 pu). Cyclists and riders of electric scooters must not make a U-turn at a place with traffic lights if there is a ‘no U-turn’ sign (RR 43A; 3 pu for cyclists, 5 pu for drivers of other vehicles). Cyclists and riders of electric scooters should turn left by moving towards the left kerb and then making the turn (RR 27). If you are turning left on a bicycle, you do not have to signal (RR 46(5)). Hook turns A hook turn is a right-hand turn started from the far left of an intersection. If there is a hook turn sign, cyclists and riders of electric scooters must do a hook turn to turn right (RR 34; 3 pu). At all other intersections, Road Rule 35 allows cyclists and riders of electric scooters to do a hook turn rather than cross lanes of traffic unless a sign prohibits it (RR 36; 3 pu). If a hook turn is not performed in this way, a fine of 2 pu may apply. Cyclists and riders of electric scooters do not need to indicate a right turn if they are making a hook turn (RR 48(5)(b)). Bicycle zones at intersections The curiously named ‘bicycle storage area’ or ‘hook turn storage area’ is a painted rectangle marked at an intersection with a bicycle symbol inside it. These areas are also applicable to electric scooters that are permitted on roads. These areas are safer places for riders to stop as cars are not allowed to enter them until the lights change. The intention of bicycle hook turn storage areas is to make hook turns safer to execute, as riders can gather in the rectangle and all take off at the same time when the traffic lights turn green. If you are riding on the road and there is a bicycle storage area and you need to stop, you must stop inside it. If there is a bicycle lane leading into the bicycle storage area, you must use the bicycle lane to enter the area unless that is not a practical option (RR 247A; 3 pu). Road Rule 247B(1) requires riders, when entering a bicycle storage area, to give way to: • any vehicle that is in the area; • if green or yellow traffic lights are showing, any motor vehicle that is entering or about to enter the area, unless the motor vehicle is turning in a direction that is subject to a red traffic arrow; and • if the area forms part of a lane to which traffic arrows apply – any motor vehicle that is entering or about to enter the area at a time when those arrows are green or yellow (3 pu). Riders who are in a bicycle storage area that goes across all traffic lanes must, if any green or yellow traffic lights are showing, give way to a motor vehicle that is in any lane other than the lane that the bicycle or electric scooter is directly in front of, unless the motor vehicle is turning in a direction that is subject to a red traffic arrow (RR 247B(2); 3 pu). If turning at an intersection where there is a bicycle storage area, it is an offence for bicycles and electric scooters to fail to enter and exit the part of the bicycle storage area that is in front of the lane into which they intend to turn, unless there is a parked car or other obstruction (RR 28, 31, 32; 3 pu). Motor vehicles are prohibited from entering bicycle storage areas before the lights change. Road Rule 60A(1) says that ‘if there is a bicycle storage area before traffic lights that are showing a red traffic light, a driver of a motor vehicle must not allow any part of the vehicle to enter the bicycle storage area’ (10 pu). Subrule (2) says that ‘if there is a bicycle storage area before traffic arrows that are showing a red traffic arrow, and a driver of a motor vehicle is turning in the direction indicated by the arrow, the driver must not allow any part of the vehicle to enter the bicycle storage area’ (10 pu). Riding in groups You cannot have more than two cyclists next to each other, except when overtaking (RR 151; 3 pu). When riding next to someone, you must not ride more than 1.5 metres apart from them (1 pu). As mentioned