Bus lanes?

[dobbo]

Can an Omnibus get busted in the bus lane?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Can an Omnibus get busted in the bus lane? :Rolling: :Rolling:

One would imagine that it would depend on what your 110 wagon was registered as.

I know that lots of the Airport shuttles using the white Japanese microbuses can use the bus lanes, but whether the Mum's taxis and even old State Transit buses converted to motorhomes is stretching the friendship.

In Sydney the Bus Lane cameras are linked the the RTA computer so they will know exactly what you are registered as, and if not registered as a bus then a ticket will be in the mail.

Diana

[isuzurover]

Bus = omnibus.

However - are minibuses allowed to use bus lanes??? If not, then you wouldn't be able to either...

If I suspect you did use one though, you would be sent a fine (automated cameras in NSW?) and you would probably have to fight it.

[mudmouse]

G'day Dobbo.

Under the Australian Road Rules a 'Bus lane' can only be used by a 'public bus' but they also seem to allow taxi's, hire cars (HC number plates) and motorcycles to hoon around in them.

A 'Bus' is defined as a vehicle designed to carry 12 or more people including the driver (so my memory says)...

So, if the County's plate says it's an omnibus then unfortunately it doesn't qualify under the current rules. Any other vehicle can only travel in a 'Bus lane' for the purpose of turning off or leaving that road.


Matt

[dobbo]

This is it

The RSL buses in use it, one went right past an RBT today. Thats what got my thinking would I be entitled to drive over the harbour bridge in that magical lane? Imagine the look on the other drivers faces as a dodgy old 110 goes screaming by the peak hour crawl.

[isuzurover]

A quick search turns this up - an omnibus can have less than 12 seats:


Light omnibus MD M2 up to 3.5 tonnes ‘GVM’ and up to 12 seats


http://legislation.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrument1.nsf/bodylodgmentattachments/1BBABDCFD73612FACA2571680001CE44?OpenDocument

[mudmouse]

Yeah, it's like transit lanes - hire cars aren't allowed to use them but they do and no one does anything about it.

I reckon if the law isn't enforced or it's just accepted that it won't be enforced then get rid of it.

- there are signs that says 'hire cars excepted' for the bridge - we just need to stick one up that says 'Land Rovers excepted'. Take a photo of it first and then present it at court:D

Ten bucks to whoever beats the ticket:p

[isuzurover]

No mention of what a "bus" is here...


ROAD TRANSPORT (SAFETY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) (ROAD RULES) REGULATION 1999 - REG 15
Vehicles permitted to travel in bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane
15 Vehicles permitted to travel in bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane

(cf MTR, r 54 (6) (z) and (aa))

(1) For the purposes of rule 158 (2) (c) of the Australian Road Rules :

(a) a person is permitted to ride a bicycle in a bus lane (other than a bus only lane), tram lane, transit lane or truck lane, and

(b) a person is permitted to drive a taxi or motor bike in a bus lane (other than a bus only lane), and

(c) a person is permitted to drive a special purpose vehicle in a bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane, and

(d) a person is permitted to drive an NRMA Road Patrol vehicle in a transit lane if the person is on duty with the NRMA Road Patrol service and is responding to an urgent or priority call, and

(e) a person is permitted to drive a police vehicle, ambulance or fire brigade vehicle in a transit lane or bus lane (other than a bus only lane) while returning to base after proceeding to the scene of an accident or other emergency, and

(f) a person is permitted to drive a vehicle in a bus lane (other than a bus only lane), tram lane, transit lane or truck lane if the vehicle is being operated by or at the direction of the Authority for the purpose of conducting road and traffic surveys.

Note: Rule 158 of the Australian Road Rules provides generally for exceptions to the prohibition on driving in bus lanes. Also, rule 306 of the Australian Road Rules provides that the provisions of those Rules do not apply to emergency vehicles (as defined in those Rules) in certain circumstances.

(2) In this clause:
"bus only lane" means:

(a) a bus lane beginning at a bus lane sign of the kind referred to in rule 154 of the Australian Road Rules where the words “bus only” or “buses only” appear on or with the sign, or

(b) a bus lane beginning at a bus lane road marking (within the meaning of Schedule 1) where the road marking consists of the words “bus only” or “buses only”.

"special purpose vehicle" means a motor vehicle (whether a tow truck, a vehicle used for repairing traffic control light signals or another vehicle) being operated by or at the direction of the Authority and proceeding to the scene of an accident or other emergency.

[dobbo]

need to find 8 blow up dolls and some Dobbo's bus service signage

I just think it's a con that the RTA will charge rego as an omnibus yet the driver of the said vehicle cannot get all the benifits of driving such a vehicle

[mudmouse]

The 'bus' bit is in the definitions and theres more on bus lanes in the ARR section. Either way, it's a negative ghostrider...

[isuzurover]

need to find 8 blow up dolls and some Dobbo's bus service signage

I just think it's a con that the RTA will charge rego as an omnibus yet the driver of the said vehicle cannot get all the benifits of driving such a vehicle

Looks like you can!!!


"bus" means a motor vehicle which seats more than 8 adult persons, and includes a vehicle of any class prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.
PASSENGER TRANSPORT ACT 1990 - SECT 3 Definitions (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/pta1990248/s3.html)

EDIT - seems I spoke too soon:


AUSTRALIAN ROAD RULES - REG 158

158—Exceptions to driving in special purpose lanes etc

(1) The driver of any vehicle may drive for up to the permitted distance in a bicycle lane, bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane if it is necessary for the driver to drive in the lane:

(a) to enter or leave the road; or

(b) to enter a part of the road of one kind from a part of the road of another kind (for example, moving to or from a service road, the shoulder of the road or an emergency stopping lane); or

(c) to overtake a vehicle that is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road, and is giving a right change of direction signal; or

(d) to enter a marked lane, or part of the road where there is room for a line of traffic (other than motor bikes, bicycles, motorised wheelchairs or animals), from the side of the road.

Note 1—

"Permitted distance" is defined in subrule (4).

Note 2—

"Bicycle lane" is defined in rule 153, "bus lane" is defined in rule 154, "emergency stopping lane" is defined in rule 95, "centre of the road", "marked lane", "overtake", "right change of direction signal", "service road" and "U-turn" are defined in the dictionary, "shoulder" is defined in rule 12, "tram lane" is defined in rule 155, "transit lane" is defined in rule 156, and "truck lane" is defined in rule 157.

Note 3—

A driver must keep clear of a tram travelling in a tram lane—see rule 76.

(2) The driver of any vehicle may drive in a bicycle lane, bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane if:

(a) it is necessary for the driver to drive in the lane to avoid an obstruction; or

(b) information on or with a traffic sign applying to the lane indicates that the driver may drive in the lane; or

(c) the driver is permitted to drive in the lane under another law of this jurisdiction.

Note—

"Obstruction", "traffic sign" and "with" are defined in the dictionary.

(3) It is a defence to the prosecution of a driver for an offence against a provision of this Division for driving in a bicycle lane, bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane if:

(a) it is necessary for the driver to drive in the lane to stop at a place in the lane; and

(b) the driver is permitted to stop at that place under the Australian Road Rules or another law of this jurisdiction, or it is a defence under rule 165 for the driver to stop at that place; and

(c) if the lane is a bicycle lane—the driver drives in the lane for no more than the permitted distance.

Note—

Rule 165 provides a defence to the prosecution of a driver for an offence against a provision of Part 12 (Restrictions on stopping and parking). The defence is available, for example, if the driver needs to stop to deal with a medical or other emergency.

(4) In this rule:

"permitted distance" means:

(a) for a bicycle lane—50 metres; or

(b) for any other lane—100 metres.



AUSTRALIAN ROAD RULES - REG 154

154—Bus lanes

(1) A driver (except the driver of a public bus) must not drive in a bus lane, unless the driver is permitted to drive in the bus lane under rule 158.

Offence provision.

Note 1—

"Public bus" is defined in the dictionary.

Note 2—

Rule 158 provides additional exceptions applying to this rule, and also provides a defence to the prosecution of a driver for an offence against this rule.

(2) A "bus lane" is a marked lane, or the part of a marked lane:

(a) beginning at a bus lane sign; and

(b) ending at an end bus lane sign.

Note—

"Marked lane" is defined in the dictionary.


Bus lane sign

1999.219.un159.jpg


End bus lane sign

1999.219.un160.jpg

Note for diagrams—

There are a number of other permitted versions of each of these signs—see the diagrams in Schedule 3.

HOWEVER - in the NSW regs - there is obviously a difference between a "bus lane" and a "bus only lane" ???