An Auckland motorist has been left stunned after watching six cars drive down a bike lane in the CBD to “skip traffic”.
The late-night Waitangi Day incident on Beach Rd sparked reminders to motorists from Bike Auckland, police and Auckland Transport to stay out of bike lanes, with the latter organisation reviewing footage of the incident and reminding people they can be fined $150 for such an offence.
The person who filmed the rule-breaking was in the passenger seat of a car travelling on Beach Rd near Spark Arena, when he spotted one car after another driving past inside the barrier-blocked bike lane to his left.
Footage sent to the Herald showed at least six cars using the bike lane during the incident, which occurred just after 11pm last Friday.
“This video shows these clowns using the bike lane as a road to skip traffic … [they were] heading towards the motorway and it was a whole group of cars, so I think it was definitely intentional,” the man said.
In audio accompanying the footage, the witness is unmistakenly incredulous at what he’s seeing.
“Look at these f****n muppets, bro. They’re sitting in f****n bike lane … and look [there’s] another one, oh look and another one.”
The man didn’t call police as he initially “wasn’t sure if it was something to report”.
Police weren’t aware of any reports relating to vehicles travelling on the bike lanes on Beach Rd on Friday night, a spokeswoman said.
But they encouraged anyone with information on the incident, including the witness who filmed the alleged incursion, to report it to police “so we can assess whether further action can be taken”.
“We remind motorists to pay attention to their surroundings, including signage relating to usage of the road. Unauthorised use of a special vehicle lane is an offence and can result in a $150 fine.”
Meanwhile, Auckland Transport’s transport and parking compliance teams would review footage from the incident “and assess it through their usual compliance process”, an Auckland Transport spokesperson said.
All drivers were responsible for making sure they were safely and considerately on the city’s roads, and driving in a cycle lane was a “clear breach of New Zealand’s road rules”, the spokesperson said.
“[It] can carry an infringement of $150 or further penalties if a person’s driving is found to be careless, reckless or dangerous.
“Fortunately, people driving vehicles in cycle lanes is a relatively rare occurrence in Auckland, but it is something our teams keep a close eye on because of the potentially fatal consequences of this type of illegal driving behaviour.”
However, Bike Auckland co-chairwoman Karen Hormann said vehicle incursions on bike lanes occurred regularly, including one that led to a cyclist coming off their bike a few weeks ago.
“We’re aware of an episode on Great North Rd where a car was parked in a cycleway and it was raining and the cyclist had to swerve out to avoid the car and then fell off their bike … they weren’t badly hurt … [but] yeah, it does put people at risk.”
Bike lane incursions not only forced cyclists on to roads where they might not feel safe, they also meant those on bikes might have to use narrow footpaths that aren’t suitable, or put pedestrians at risk.
“There’s a reason these spaces are marked out for the use of bikes.”
The motorists filmed on Friday night also risked damaging the concrete separators laid between the bike and car lanes, although some separators were rubber and would likely escape damage.
“I was trying to figure out how [those motorists] were going to get out if they were hemmed in by the [separators] … you know, it’s just surprising and baffling actually because it’s very hard to see how they would get ahead [of traffic] either.”
The cycle lobby co-chairwoman had a final message for motorists, and that was to consider whether driving in the city at all was the best idea.
“When you’re going into the city, try to use public transport or some other way of getting in there. Expecting to be able to just drive around the city and park where you like and drive where you like is quite an old-fashioned premise.
“It’s a busy place for everyone and, if you leave your car at home, then it’s just safer for everybody.”
Cherie Howie is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features.