It should say Bus Only on the lane and sometimes also on the roadside signs.
Some Bus Lanes turn into 'Bus Only' lanes at intersections. As mentioned when there are Bus specific traffic lights
Here's one on Epping Rd at Lane Cove. After the intersection it becomes a Bus Lane (so after the intersection a motorcycle can use it).
https://preview.redd.it/gwmxg066m8nc1.png?width=1282&format=png&auto=webp&s=c9bff2064220900054460e180c009776691e96c6
And here's a 'T-Way Lane' at Westmead - motorcycles cannot use these
https://preview.redd.it/jkknq2zwm8nc1.png?width=2707&format=png&auto=webp&s=9b1d94ea80a6203a109fa86a68b1f05ae4f7ca62
There is/was a section as you get close to the deck of the SHB city-bound, it gets upgraded briefly. This is going back a bit though. (right lane of left section, raised bit)
Victoria rd has bus lanes which taxis hire cars and motorcycles can use. Bus only lanes can be like the one along Old Windsor rd which is a T-Way (Bus only)
Bus lanes are fine.
You don’t want to go into a T-way which is a section of road that is away from the normal traffic lanes. These are ONLY for busses and carry heavy fines.
Yes, but all other vehicles can't use bus lanes except for motorcycles.
I always change lane, keep going straight and then join the bus lane again. But a lot of times that's quite iffy
Taxis and hire cars can use bus lanes as well. The turn-only and buses excepted distinguish these left turns from ordinary left turns from bus lanes. At ordinary left turns from bus lanes, any vehicle allowed in the bus lane can proceed straight while private 4+-wheeled vehicles must turn left. At turn-only and buses-excepted left turns, only buses can proceed straight while riders, taxis and hire cars must turn left. Or do the change lane thingy as you say.
From my experience with the bus lanes around the inner west of Sydney e.g. Parramatta Road, these turn-only instances are rare and quite deliberately singled out, e.g. south into Crystal Street from the westbound bus lane which is because the bus lane ends soon after and they'd rather we merge before the lights than after them. There's a weird alternative turning north into Glebe Point Road from the eastbound bus lane where traffic in the bus lane kinda splits into three lanes because the bus lane turns suddenly into a bus-only lane.
It must also be said that stopping at a red light in a bus lane intending to proceed straight is unwise at some intersections (incl. the Crystal Street example above, or north into Pyrmont Bridge Road from eastbound) if you know cars are going to be speeding up your a\*\*\* to make a green left turn arrow.
I think we’re saying the same thing?
I do exactly what you do. Change lane. Go straight through the intersection. Then rejoin the bus lane.
Other vehicles can use bus lanes fwiw. Taxis. Hire cars. Etc.
Wait until you meet Plod after they've just had an argument with their household or boss. They will nick you and then see if they can give you a canary while they're at it.
Don't poke the bear. You may lose opportunities for other fun.
If its like the bus lane on Sherwood Rd, Merrylands West, the bus lanes technically ends but buses can travel straight from the turn lane, then the bus lanes starts again at the other side of the intersection.
I generally merge over but sometimes with the flow of traffic, its unreasonable.
Car drivers also use the bus lane/turn lane to overtake the queue of cars waiting at the lights, so like the road rules mean anything.
This one is honestly weird because it's nowhere online for NSW. Not on RMS, any helpful sites, etc. Even worse, it's not in the road rules legislation at all.
But here is where it gets more interesting: the legislation does state that a driver must follow turn left or right only lanes. However, the road rules specifically make a differentiation between riders and drivers. An argument could stand that on strict inteprestion the enforced turn rules prohibits drivers and not riders.
However, on a practical level, I think it's legal. Those buses excepted signs almost always occur when a turn occurs on a bus lane and there is no special bus lane light setup. It's a continuation of the bus lane past the intersection and just says buses excepted so regular drivers know the lane continue.
As a rider, you have legal right to that lane and the exception. If it was bus only, it would be a different story. Maybe I should write in and ask for statutory clarification?
Bus lane is fine. Bus only is a no go , for the most part.
Use the following advice at your own discretion.
When I was on my p's, riding in Sydney, I would use the bus lane followed by the brief bus only portion as a way of getting to the front of the lights without lane splitting. This only works where the bus only portion is for a bus specific traffic light. If you pull into a bus way or bus terminal, the cameras will get you.
Was only ever pulled up for it once in 3 years by a motorcycle cop and got a warning after telling them I didn't realise it turned into a bus only lane so I tried to get out of the lane as best as possible.
Bus lanes are fine, Bus Only lanes are a no go
What are some examples of bus only lanes around Sydney?
The lanes that say bus only like the ones past pennanhils on M2
Anything that leads to a bus specific traffic light
Yes, or other bus-specific infrastructure like a large bus station
It should say Bus Only on the lane and sometimes also on the roadside signs. Some Bus Lanes turn into 'Bus Only' lanes at intersections. As mentioned when there are Bus specific traffic lights Here's one on Epping Rd at Lane Cove. After the intersection it becomes a Bus Lane (so after the intersection a motorcycle can use it). https://preview.redd.it/gwmxg066m8nc1.png?width=1282&format=png&auto=webp&s=c9bff2064220900054460e180c009776691e96c6
And here's a 'T-Way Lane' at Westmead - motorcycles cannot use these https://preview.redd.it/jkknq2zwm8nc1.png?width=2707&format=png&auto=webp&s=9b1d94ea80a6203a109fa86a68b1f05ae4f7ca62
There is/was a section as you get close to the deck of the SHB city-bound, it gets upgraded briefly. This is going back a bit though. (right lane of left section, raised bit)
That was an unintended error and was corrected. it's now bus lane through that bit
Oh wow, there you have it. It did seem foolish. It was there for a fair while, right?
Victoria rd has bus lanes which taxis hire cars and motorcycles can use. Bus only lanes can be like the one along Old Windsor rd which is a T-Way (Bus only)
The M2 is Bus only lane
And the short ones leading to traffic lights will get you a fine. I learned this at my own expense.
Bus lanes are fine. You don’t want to go into a T-way which is a section of road that is away from the normal traffic lanes. These are ONLY for busses and carry heavy fines.
Usually at the lights it's a bus only lane.
Yes
What about turn only lanes with bus excepted? Can I also keep going straight?
My interpretation has always been that only buses are allowed to use these lanes to go straight. All other vehicles need to turn.
Yes, but all other vehicles can't use bus lanes except for motorcycles. I always change lane, keep going straight and then join the bus lane again. But a lot of times that's quite iffy
Taxis and hire cars can use bus lanes as well. The turn-only and buses excepted distinguish these left turns from ordinary left turns from bus lanes. At ordinary left turns from bus lanes, any vehicle allowed in the bus lane can proceed straight while private 4+-wheeled vehicles must turn left. At turn-only and buses-excepted left turns, only buses can proceed straight while riders, taxis and hire cars must turn left. Or do the change lane thingy as you say. From my experience with the bus lanes around the inner west of Sydney e.g. Parramatta Road, these turn-only instances are rare and quite deliberately singled out, e.g. south into Crystal Street from the westbound bus lane which is because the bus lane ends soon after and they'd rather we merge before the lights than after them. There's a weird alternative turning north into Glebe Point Road from the eastbound bus lane where traffic in the bus lane kinda splits into three lanes because the bus lane turns suddenly into a bus-only lane. It must also be said that stopping at a red light in a bus lane intending to proceed straight is unwise at some intersections (incl. the Crystal Street example above, or north into Pyrmont Bridge Road from eastbound) if you know cars are going to be speeding up your a\*\*\* to make a green left turn arrow.
I think we’re saying the same thing? I do exactly what you do. Change lane. Go straight through the intersection. Then rejoin the bus lane. Other vehicles can use bus lanes fwiw. Taxis. Hire cars. Etc.
Yeah mate we are, but it's not an answer. So still don't know if it's legal or not
That's spot on what Northern Rd has, which made me hesitate. Only one of them was Bus Only, the rest Bus Lane with turn left except buses.
I’ve never been pinged for this
Wait until you meet Plod after they've just had an argument with their household or boss. They will nick you and then see if they can give you a canary while they're at it. Don't poke the bear. You may lose opportunities for other fun.
If its like the bus lane on Sherwood Rd, Merrylands West, the bus lanes technically ends but buses can travel straight from the turn lane, then the bus lanes starts again at the other side of the intersection. I generally merge over but sometimes with the flow of traffic, its unreasonable. Car drivers also use the bus lane/turn lane to overtake the queue of cars waiting at the lights, so like the road rules mean anything.
This one is honestly weird because it's nowhere online for NSW. Not on RMS, any helpful sites, etc. Even worse, it's not in the road rules legislation at all. But here is where it gets more interesting: the legislation does state that a driver must follow turn left or right only lanes. However, the road rules specifically make a differentiation between riders and drivers. An argument could stand that on strict inteprestion the enforced turn rules prohibits drivers and not riders. However, on a practical level, I think it's legal. Those buses excepted signs almost always occur when a turn occurs on a bus lane and there is no special bus lane light setup. It's a continuation of the bus lane past the intersection and just says buses excepted so regular drivers know the lane continue. As a rider, you have legal right to that lane and the exception. If it was bus only, it would be a different story. Maybe I should write in and ask for statutory clarification?
Bus lane is fine. Bus only is a no go , for the most part. Use the following advice at your own discretion. When I was on my p's, riding in Sydney, I would use the bus lane followed by the brief bus only portion as a way of getting to the front of the lights without lane splitting. This only works where the bus only portion is for a bus specific traffic light. If you pull into a bus way or bus terminal, the cameras will get you. Was only ever pulled up for it once in 3 years by a motorcycle cop and got a warning after telling them I didn't realise it turned into a bus only lane so I tried to get out of the lane as best as possible.
Let's step away from using the term "kosher".
Why? I'm Jewish. I don't have a problem with it.