New road rules and 'hook turns'

New rules:
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/General_information/Rules_and_regulations/Road/

Bicycles:
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/General_information/Rules_and_regulations/Road/Cycling_rules/Road_rules_bicycles

Hook turns:
http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/~/media/files/driving-in-queensland/road-users/cyclists/hook_turn_storage_boxes.pdf

But what is a 'hook turn'?

You need to learn how to do these handy little moves at intersections, particularly along the new work on Ruthven Street where no facility has been created for cyclists who wish to turn right anywhere from James to Nelson Streets, when riding from the city, or back the other way from Nelson Street to James Street.

Particularly at Ruthven and Nelson Street, a section of road that is, in TBUGs opinion, too fast at 70 kph and requires cyclists to cross two lanes of fast-moving traffic to turn right, and west, down Nelson Street, towards the USQ.

Hook turn storage boxes: a first for cyclists on Queensland Main Roads:
http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/Driving-in-Queensland/Road-users/Cyclists.aspx

"With Main Roads commitment to improving safety and achieving a high standard of cycling facilities, new on road "hook turn storage boxes" were recently installed at the Mulgrave Road – Severin Street intersection in Cairns. These were the first in the state to be installed on our road network and Main Roads will continue to promote their installation on future intersection upgrades where possible".



Cyclists are legally able to make a right turn at intersections by keeping to the left of the road, unless a "no hook turn by bicycles" sign is displayed. The way to do a hook turn depends on whether or not the intersection is controlled by traffic lights.

If the intersection does not have traffic lights:

* Keeping to the far left side of the road, move forward through the intersection.
* After moving directly across the intersection and keeping to the left side, pause and give way to drivers moving through the intersection.
* When the road is clear, then move forward across the road.

If the intersection is controlled by traffic lights:

* Move forward through the intersection from the bicycle lane on a 'green' light. Stop in the box in the opposite corner — turn right (in the direction of the marked arrow). If there is no linemarking for hook turns, cyclists should stop where they are clear of traffic.
* When the light turns green, move forward through the intersection into the bicycle lane ahead.

Where possible, future intersection upgrades will include linemarking to reinforce the hook turn movement; however, cyclists can perform this movement at intersections without this linemarking.

What is a hook turn storage box?

It is an area linemarked on the road within a multi-laned signalised intersection showing a cyclist where to position themselves to do a "hook turn".

What about motorists?

When stopped at traffic lights where "hook turn" storage boxes have been installed cyclists will be positioned in front of queued traffic. When the light turns green motorists will need to be aware of cyclists in front of them when moving through the intersection.

Watch a short video here:
http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/~/media/files/driving-in-queensland/road-users/cyclists/short-film-of-hook-turn-procedure_150807-mp4.ashx



TBUG attended a meeting with the Main Roads people in Toowoomba some weeks ago and requested hook turn boxes be installed at Ruthven and Nelson Streets.

So far, the Department has shown no willingness to discuss this with us, or to mark the road as their policy suggests they might have been well advised to on such a fast section of highway.