Ask Phoebe: Cycle lane no-go for motorbike commute

Scooters and motorbikes are not allowed in bike lanes or shared paths like those in Tamaki Drive (or in Advanced Stop Boxes, for that matter). Photo / Stephen Parker

My question is, are motor scooters and motorbikes allowed in cycle lanes? Frequently, motorcycles use the one on Tamaki Drive in the morning commute. Dot Richardson, Auckland.

Scooters and motorbikes are not allowed in bike lanes or shared paths like those in Tamaki Drive (or in Advanced Stop Boxes, for that matter). They are allowed in some bus lanes, as are people on bikes, where it is indicated on the relevant signage.

I am new to this country. What is the speed limit on Great South Rd? If there are no signs I was told it is 50km/h. Kim Brownlow, Auckland.

It rather depends on whereabouts in Great South Rd you are. As a general rule, 50km/h is the standard speed limit on urban roads, with reductions to 40km/h near schools and pre-schools.

I am curious to know if there are different-coloured markings in the bus lanes for:

(i) the 24-hour bus lanes and for

(ii) the peak-hour only bus lanes, and then again

(iii) for the morning-only bus lanes and for the afternoon-only bus lanes.

I have noticed that the former blue colour has been replaced now by the green colour for certain bus lanes. Ganesh Dixit, Auckland.

No, the colour regime has not changed. The original green markings have faded somewhat, and may now appear bluish, in comparison with the new bright green markings.

For many months now, just north of Mercer at the Pioneer Rd intersection, they have changed around 15 lightheads to a new vivid white light instead of the orange type there previously, so I assumed it was a test function. Now I notice on the south side of the Bombays on SH1, they appear to be changing many more. Is this a new type of highway lighting system? And how far will it go? Allen Grainger, New Windsor.

The lighting system on New Zealand roads is being changed from sodium lamps to LED (light-emitting diodes).

New Zealand has around 370,000 road lighting luminaires consuming about 116 GWh of energy per annum. Road lighting accounts for up to 70 per cent of urban territorial authority and up to 40 per cent of rural territorial authority total energy costs, of which around 80 per cent is provided by High Pressure Sodium (HPS) luminaires.

LED road lighting offers a number of benefits compared to HPS lighting, including reduced energy costs (30 to 60 per cent lower), wider maintenance intervals and better light quality leading to increased public safety.

• Last Thursday's column stated that it is an offence for a vehicle to omit a stream of smoke or vapour. That of course should have read emit. The error was mine.

Do you have a question for Phoebe? It can be about transport or any Auckland issue. Email askphoebe@nzherald. co.nz