Shake-up of road rules ranges far and wide

Cyclists will be able to ride across the road with pedestrians after November 1. Photo / Martin Sykes

Banning hand-held phone calls while driving and requiring motorcyclists to ride with lights on at all times are just two of a raft of road-user rule changes.

Eighteen other changes coming into force on November 1 will run the gamut of life on the road, from towing speeds to child-safety locks in taxis and the use of motorcycles on footpaths to deliver mail or newspapers.

Three are aimed at giving cyclists more riding flexibility, but another prescribes a $100 fine for anyone riding a bicycle, mobility scooter or skateboard at a hazardous speed on pathways shared by pedestrians.

A definition of just how fast is hazardous is absent from Transport Agency background information, although 10km/h is proposed as the maximum for motorcycles or mopeds using footpaths with the permission of local councils for delivery purposes.

Vehicles towing others without rigid towing systems will also be restricted to a maximum 50km/h, compared with 90km/h for hauling trailers on towbars on the open road.

Cyclists will be able to make "hook turns" at four-way intersections, meaning they will be able to accomplish a right-turn in two manoeuvres, starting by veering left into a side street.

They must then wait at the head of the side street for a green light before riding straight across an intersection.

The Transport Agency says the double manoeuvre may often prove safer for cyclists than expecting them to move from the extreme left of an approach road to the centre line, across two or more lanes of traffic, before turning right.

Nor will cyclists be required to offer hand signals where they risk losing control, although the agency says they should still try to give other road users clear indications of their intentions.

An existing requirement for cycle lights to illuminate the road up to 100m ahead at night will also be relaxed, so they need only be visible for that distance, although an infringement fee of $150 will remain.

Cycling Advocates Network spokesman Stephen McKernan said these were all sensible measures, and he also welcomed a 50m limit on how far general traffic will be allowed to travel in shared bus and cycling lanes to allow them to turn left or to park.

But Auckland City transport spokesman Councillor John Lister said cyclists had to be mindful that the rules were for everyone and it would be unacceptable for them to begin "hook turns" against red lights, which he understood was a common cause of complaints from other road users.

The Transport Agency says motorists will also be required to give way to people who are "obviously" waiting to use a pedestrian crossing, rather than waiting for them to set foot on the crossing before stopping.

Taxis will be allowed to use child safety locks, but only at a passenger's request and an agency-approved sign must be displayed at the outer door handle. That follows concerns raised by passengers about possibly being locked in, or feeling trapped.

In other changes, vehicles carrying officials - such as fisheries officers - authorised to stop drivers will be allowed to display blue beacons as clear signals of their powers, and buses will no longer have to stop at level crossings controlled by flashing lights unless these are operating.

The agency says that follows reports of motorists overtaking buses that have stopped, perhaps unaware they did so as a legal requirement.

Veteran motorcycling safety consultant Alan Kirk is pleased with a change allowing riders to use lights on both sides of their machines to offer greater visibility than single headlights.