Riding in QLD vs VIC

(X-posted to BrizBike as well; sorry if you see it twice.)

G'day all,

I'm moving back to Brisbane from Melbourne (can't wait to get out of this
Nazi state) in November and am looking for information on what's different.

In VIC you can park on the footpath and lanesplitting is (generally) legal
provided the traffic is stationary.

What's the deal with lanesplitting? I understand that it's illegal (well,
effectively anyway) but how often do people get booked for it? Provided you
do it safely, do the coppers really care?

What about parking in the city? How much parking is there? Is it signed?
When you're riding in to the city do you generally have to pay for it? Do
you get discounts from Kings Parking etc? Do they let you just ride around
the boomgates like they do here if you wave nicely?

Do you have to pay tolls on all the toll roads? If so, can you use an e-Tag
equivalent and just ride on through, or do you have to stop and fish out
change? Does a Transurban e-Tag work on any Brisbane tollways?


If there are any other pearls of wisdom that people are willing to share,
please yell out

 

Re lane-splitting: I can only give the NSW perspective, but...

Technically lanesplitting IS illegal in NSW, you can be booked for 'Improper
use of the roadway' in addition to a variety of all sorts of other things
("Failing to take due care" was another possibility).

Having said that, I've consulted about a dozen cops over the past 2 years
and they all say basically the same thing: IF you are being sensible, riding
at 'not much more' than a walking pace, and in general not being a dickhead
about it, most cops are unlikely to care enough to actually book you. If you
fly through two lines of cars at 50 kms and then pull a mono out of the
lights, well, you'll get what you expect.

I only lived in Qld for 6 months last year, but I suspect the attitude of
the police is fairly similar. Parking in Brisbane is not impressive, but you
learn where the good spots are fairly quickly, and I never had too much
trouble getting a free spot.

Enjoy Brissie - I loved it and would go back in a second if the opportunity
arose.

Cheers Manning

 

No footpath parking but lanesplitting is OK. (Stay out of emergency-lanes, bicycle-lanes and bus-lanes
though!)
~

No. (With your proviso)
~

Yes, Nope, Nope.
~

None.
Clem-the-quiet

 

Yes, buy a litre plus bike, nancy.

Hammo

 

Try not change lanes safely, 3 points.

Hammo

 

Hmph. I'm working on it, but insurance for me would be a killer. I'm 25 in
Feb so will look at it then

 

I guess that's good to know.. If I went hooning through moving traffic on
the freeway I'd expect to get booked, but as long as they generally overlook
it when you're being safe, that sounds fair enough..

 

I commute daily in Brisbane and lane split every time. If you're going to
sit and wait in the peak hour traffic, you may as well sit in your car
aircon and listen to the radio.
I was booked for lane splitting about four years ago. The cop booked me for
"failing to pass a moving vehicle on the right" $100 and no points
(probably more now). The traffic wasn't moving but there was no way to
prove it.

Brett
R80

 

emergency-lanes, bicycle-lanes and bus-lanes

Can't ride in bus-lanes in Qld? I thought NSW was the Nazi state, but at
least you can ride in a bus lane... (very nice during rush hour).

(To be precise, you can't ride in a bicycle, emergency or 'bus only' lane,
but you can ride in all transit and regular bus lanes).

Manning

 

We don't have "Bus only" lanes.
We have Bus lanes and Transit lanes (T2 and T3).
Bikes are welcome in Transit lanes.

 

Manning wrote:

You can ride in Transit Lanes though, there are bugger-all bus lanes, mostly Transit
Lanes.

Doug.

 

Knobdoodle wrote:

hehe, we do have at least 2 Clem, but they might be in places you'd never go, Ann St
in the city and Coronation Drive, the whallopers have been booking bikes in Coro Dve
recently again but they don't seem to worry as much about Ann St.

Doug.

 

Erm read what I said Doug.
We don't have lanes called "Bus Only". We have "Bus Lanes" that bike (and cars) can't go in.

 

bus lanes that other vehicals can use under very awkward conditions.