Oct 032021
 
Incorrect advice from the Dept. of Transport.

The rollout of protected bike lanes has left an old road rule out-of-date and incompatible with the new road layouts.

Road rule 141(2) states that, ‘The rider of a bicycle must not ride past, or overtake, to the left of a vehicle that is turning left and is giving a left change of direction signal.’

This rule seemed fair enough in the old days when bike lanes (if one was marked at all) would end well before an intersection and bicycle riders would merge with traffic in the left lane and pass to the right of left-turning cars.

Older design. Bike lane ends prior to the intersection with bicycle riders needing to mix with vehicles.

However, in these new days of protected bike lanes, bicycle riders are directed to the left of vehicles by design and this has not been accompanied by any new regulatory requirements for turning drivers to give way to bicycle riders.

Newer design. Bike lane continues to the stop line at the intersection and is protected from motor vehicles with a kerb.

This post will outline an interpretation of road rule 141(2) before discussing the reality on the ground and will close with suggestions for reform.

Side note: This post should not be interpreted as being opposed to protected bike lanes. They are necessary for safety and provide bicycle riders with much greater confidence. We just happen to find ourselves in a transitional stage and the road rules have not caught up.

Interpreting road rule 141(2)

When interpreting this road rule, it is important to note what the rule does not say.

There appears to be an understanding that the rule requires bicycle riders to give way to left-turning vehicles and that drivers turning left do not need to give way to bicycle riders.

This is incorrect. Road rule 141 does not refer to giving way and it is not found in one of the sections in the road rules that refers to giving way.

This misunderstanding is not helped by the Dept. of Transport graphic at the head of this post that refers to giving way.

Rule 141 provides rules for overtaking. For bicycle riders, rule 141(2) does exactly as it says. ‘The rider of a bicycle must not ride past, or overtake, to the left of a vehicle that is turning left and is giving a left change of direction signal.

Ambiguity arises when we try to determine when a vehicle is turning left.

It is probably correct to say that a vehicle stopped in a line of traffic is not in the act of turning left and so bicycle riders are free to pass to the left of the vehicle.

However, the Magistrates’ Court appears to have decided that a vehicle is in the act of turning left when it enters an intersection even if that vehicle is stopped to give way to crossing pedestrians.

In that instance, a bicycle rider must not pass to the left of the vehicle.

But there are times that other road rules (and combination of rules) instruct a driver wishing to make a turn to give way to bicycle riders.

For these rules to have any effect in the shadow of rule 141(2), we must assume that rule 141(2) does not apply when the driver is instructed to give way to bicycle riders.

For instance, road rule 62(1)(b) states that, ‘A driver turning at an intersection with traffic lights must give way to— any rider of a bicycle at or near the intersection with bicycle crossing lights who is crossing the road the driver is entering.

This arrangement is found at the new bicycle protected intersection at Albert and Lansdowne streets in East Melbourne, which has been specifically designed to replicate bicycle infrastructure from the Netherlands.

The new protected intersection can only function as intended if turning drivers give way to bicycle riders.

New protected intersection in East Melbourne that is designed to require turning drivers to give way to bicycle riders.
Bicycle crossing with bicycle crossing lights at the new protected intersection.

There is also a combination of rules that imply that a driver intending to turn left at an intersection must first merge into the bike lane and, in doing so, give way to any bicycle riders in the bike lane.

This combination is made from rules 15, 153, 27, 158, and 148 that say, respectively:

  1. A bicycle is a vehicle
  2. A bike lane is a marked lane (but is not included in the definition of a multi-lane road)
  3. A driver must turn left from the far left of the road (except in the case of a multi-lane road)
  4. A driver may enter a bike lane for up to 50 metres to make a left turn
  5. A driver who is moving from one marked lane (whether or not the lane is ending) to another marked lane must give way to any vehicle travelling in the same direction as the driver in the marked lane to which the driver is moving.’

This is clear enough (if you have followed the points above) to apply to a traditional painted bike lane that comes within 50 metres of an intersection.

However, in the case of protected bike lanes, a driver cannot effectively merge into the bike lane to make a left turn. Instead, the driver must cross the bike lane in a similar fashion to the pedestrian crossing.

Drivers turning at an intersection are required to give way to pedestrians crossing the road the driver is entering (per multiple rules set out in parts 6 and 7) but no blanket rule exists for giving way to crossing bicycle riders in similar circumstances.

Side note: The circumstances outlined by the points above do not appear to apply to a multi-lane road if the left vehicle lane is marked with a left turning arrow and also if the driver chooses not to merge into the bike lane (per rules 28 and 92).

There are other combinations of rules and definitions that may have a similar effect to that outlined above, including rules regarding multi-lane roads and a long tangent into the impact of a ‘line of traffic’, but that has been omitted for length.

Reality on the ground

Road rules are one thing, but the experience on the ground is something much different. Almost no-one is likely to understand road rule 141(2), if they know it exists at all.

Instead, the design of the road and the characteristics of traffic in any given place are likely to determine whether drivers intending to turn will give way to bicycle riders.

While not the best example, a location with a new protected bike lane where turning drivers nearly always give way to bicycle riders is from William Street southward into Franklin Street eastward.

Here turning drivers are slowed by the tighter turning radii and the bicycle movement is clearly defined with a green surface treatment and bicycle markings.

A truck slows to turn from William Street across the bike lane into Franklin Street.

An example with a new protected bike lane where turning drivers tend not to give way to bicycle riders (especially when the rider arrives during rather than at the start of the green phase) is from Rathdowne Street southward into Victoria Street eastward.

Turning vehicles obstruct bicycle movement on Rathdowne Street at Victoria Street.

Suggested reform

In reforming road rule 141(2), we should look to the road user hierarchy that shows which modes should be prioritised and who should be presumed at fault in a crash.

Numerous local council strategies have incorporated the road user hierarchy, including Maribyrong, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Stonnington, Yarra, and a modified version in Melbourne.

Since the hierarchy places bicycle riders above public transport and private motor vehicles, road rules should be reformed and roads should be designed to highlight this principle.

Road rules and road design should aim to enforce the road user hierarchy.

Using the hierarchy principle, the burden placed upon bicycle riders in rule 141(2) should instead be placed upon drivers turning left. This reversal of the burden is the first suggested reform from consultation in a VicRoads review of bicycle-related road rules (page 85).

The outcomes in accordance with the above principle should be as follows:

  • Drivers merging into a bike lane should give way to any bicycle rider in the lane. This is already the case as outlined by the combination of rules above
  • Drivers should not enter a bike lane to turn left. Further discussion is needed into the practicality of this point
  • Drivers who need to cross, rather than merge into, a bike lane to make a left turn should give way to bicycle riders in the bike lane or riders coming from the bike lane in the instances where the lane is not continued through an intersection
  • Where there is a bicycle lane, road design should clearly delineate and prioritise the bicycle movement on the approach to and through intersections.

Adopting these principles in the road rules and in design guidance could be achieved as follows:

  • All rules in parts 6 and 7 that refer to giving way at intersections should be amended to include a subclause such as, ‘If there is a marked bicycle lane in the direction a driver is moving on the approach to, or through, the intersection, a driver turning left must give way to any rider of a bicycle in, or near, the bicycle lane who is travelling across the path of the driver’.
  • Rule 141(2) should be amended to state e.g., ‘Unless there is a marked bicycle lane on the approach to, or through, an intersection, the rider of a bicycle must not ride past, or overtake, to the left of a vehicle that is turning left and is giving a left change of direction signal’.
  • Discussions should consider an amendment to Rule 27 to permit road authorities to direct drivers to turn left from a specific lane and not from the far left of the road. For example, ‘Subrule (1) does not apply if a left direction arrow is marked in one, or more, lane(s) in which case the driver must turn left from the lane(s) in which an arrow is marked’.
  • Discussions should consider an amendment to Rule 158 to permit road authorities to prevent drivers from entering a special purpose lane. For example, ‘Subrule (1)(b) does not apply if a left direction arrow is marked in one, or more, lane(s) beside a special purpose lane in which case the driver must turn left from a lane in which an arrow is marked’.
  • A road design note or supplement to existing road design guidance should be developed to specify the necessary design and delineation of bike movements on the approach to and through intersections.

The example amendments to rules 27 and 158 (that currently require/permit drivers to enter special purpose lanes for a permitted distance) would give full discretion to road authorities to determine whether or not a vehicle can effectively make a left turn without merging into a special purpose lane.

These amendments would be along the lines of the third option for reform suggested by VicRoads’ review into bicycle-related road rules. Of course, achieving the principles outlined above is bound to be possible in a number of ways and not only by the road rule amendments proposed in this post.

Conclusion

In the second half of 2021 the Dept. of Transport resumed its review into bicycle-related road rules including those regarding giving way at intersections. We hope that the review will strive to simplify conditions on the ground and maximise the importance of good design, and will rectify the current outdated and dangerous rules.

 Posted by at 6:27 pm

  13 Responses to “Road Rules – left turning cars”

  1. As others have stated. Vehicles have blindspots. Think delivery vans and trucks. Once at a certain angle become effectively blind on the left. Have the authors experience with driving different sized vehicles. Please note. Heavy vehicles state. DO NOT OVERTAKE HEAVY VEHICLE.
    You actually can see the problem in one of your images.
    The truck turning from William into Franklin street.
    Now if he hits a cyclist. (God forbid)
    The cyclist will say he has right of way because of his lane and the rules you pointed to.
    Where the truck driver will rightly say he is working on the rule of do not overtake heavy vehicle as per signs on back of the truck.
    To a cyclist all vehicles are heavy. Also blind spots. I as a driving instructor think the rule is essentially correct. Dedicated bike lanes just make it harder for vehicles to see bikes when turning left. At the end of the day you can legislate and change the infrastructure all you like. Will it change the driving behaviour and make the roads safer? Now this is my opinion only. Having said everything above I teach my clients they must expect the bikes to ride past them on the left. IE look out for them despite anything in the road rules. Do the safest action at the time. At the end of the day we all need to share the road.

  2. Vehicles have a blind spot when turning left . If this problem cannot be overcome how can any law re left turns be implement safely???

    • Works OK in the Netherlands. Drivers have mirrors.

      Personal observation: I can see Rathdowne St/ Victoria St intersection from my office window. Bikes arriving after the lights changed and after the initial group of cyclists has crossed encounter left turning cars. Almost without exception, the left turning car at the head of the queue waits for the bike(s) to go through. Similar situation to that pictured in the article for William St. So the drivers, including buses and trucks, are able to see the cyclist coming down on their left.The driver has right of way but still lets the bike through.
      The main point from all of this is that the physical design of the road matters far more than what the road rules say.

  3. Thanks for a very clear explanation. Has clarified many points for me – however my question revolves around that video going around social media regarding the BMW that turned from a ‘straight ahead’ lane and collected a cyclist who was going ahead from a ‘left turn only’ lane. Irrespective of the faults of the driver of the BMW – was the cyclist correct in his actions. IN my case I would have done exactly the same as it is safer to travel in the left lane (even if it becomes a left turn only lane) rather than sit in the 2nd lane causing a hazard to traffic ( and endangering the cyclist)
    Your thoughts and interpretations would be appreciated.
    Thanks and regards

    Link to video –

    • In the Road Rules, a motor vehicle must turn left if the lane is so marked, but bicycles are exempt from this rule. So it’s perfectly legal to go straight ahead from the left-turn lane. The car driver doesn’t have a leg to stand on in the case shown in the video, as far as we can make out.

      Also if the car driver had done the right thing and moved into the left turn lane, they are required to give way to any vehicle already in that lane, i.e. the bicycle.

      A bicycle may not overtake to the left of a vehicle which is both indicating and turning left. From the video it appears the car was the one overtaking.

      • I greatly appreciate this blog post and the follow up replies! Can you point me to where it states bikes are exempt from turning left in the left turning lane. In practice this is often necessary but I couldn’t find the part of the road rules that supports this.

  4. Thanks for this excellent analysis! Change had better be coming soon!

  5. Thanks for the very detailed analysis.
    I think left turning vehicles across bike lanes was highlighted in the Crashspot exercise a year or two ago. Note that on La Trobe St, approaching the Harbour Esplanade, cyclists are given a head start green to access the Harbour Esplanade before cars get the go ahead to turn left.

    • We are seeing many more of these advanced green signals for bikes around City of Melbourne, and they certainly help, but here’s a comment on our twitter account:
      “It’s a bigger problem when you have a queue of bikes at the lights. The first few bikes can get through before the turning car, but then everyone else is blocked until the next light cycle. I’ve been in a 20 bike queue blocked by one turning car that is waiting for pedestrians.”

  6. Thanks for this. A very informative piece.

    I’d like clarification on the rules when a bicyclist approaches a signalised intersection on a protected bike lane, the signals have already turned green, and motor vehicles are already turning left. Who has right of way then?

    • We aren’t lawyers so we can’t give advice, but our analysis of the laws in the blog post is that you can’t overtake a left-turning vehicle, therefore the bike lane is effectively blocked. Maybe physically blocked as well, as in our photograph of Rathdowne St above.

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