NSW lane filtering trial
The NSW Government has announced it will be conducting a trial of motorcycle lane filtering in a portion of Sydney's CBD in early 2013The NSW Government has announced it will be conducting a trial of legalised lane filtering for motorcycles – specifically for filtering between stationary vehicles stopped for a red light, and not moving vehicles – in a northern portion of Sydney’s CBD from February 1, 2013. The trial will be restricted to an area bordered by Sussex Street, Market Street, St James Road, Macquarie Street, Alfred Street and Hickson Road.
The Government says the trial will seek to monitor any resulting impact of the practice on traffic flow and congestion, and is in response to calls from motorcycle lobby groups to legalise filtering, while also due to consultation resulting from the NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan.
NSW Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, said the trial will last for three months, with the subsequent data collected being reviewed by the NSW Centre for Road Safety.
“Lane filtering is currently against the law but there will be an exemption for motorcyclists in this part of the CBD which will permit them to filter through traffic when vehicles are stopped at traffic lights.
“The NSW Police CBD Motorcycle Response Team, recently funded by Transport for NSW, will also be policing the intersections to ensure road rules are still being adhered to. This trial is not about favouring one road user group over another; it is a system that could benefit all motorists in the CBD. It needs to be tested to ensure it improves traffic flow while not jeopardising road safety,” he said.
The trial does have several conditions, however, namely:
- Lane filtering means motorcyclists can only move between stationary vehicles at intersections.
- Specific conditions will include taking extra care when filtering near buses, no filtering on the left in the kerbside left lane or dedicated turning lanes, and riders must stop at the intersection stop-line.
- Lane filtering has to stay within a lane – it is not overtaking.
- Lane splitting will not be allowed – this involves motorcyclists weaving through moving traffic instead of stationary traffic.
While riders in NSW will no doubt welcome the trial, a couple of those stipulations are of concern. If a motorcycle can’t cross the intersection stop line it will invariably be taking off on the green light with vehicles either side of it, as will any motorcycles filtering that are trapped immediately behind the lead motorcycle - far from safe. Also, the fact that lane filtering has to remain within a single lane will raise other issues – as any motorcyclist who has ever filtered will know, in many instances there simply isn’t room to do so safely without crossing or riding on lane markings.
Bikesales Network will bring you more on this trial – which the NSW Government is claiming is a first in this country – as it comes to hand.
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