Ask Phoebe: Cyclists on crossings must hop off and walk

Some intersections have special signals for cyclists. Photo / Martin Sykes

Are cyclists now allowed to cross the road with pedestrians (as long as it is done safely) when the intersection is controlled by traffic or crossing lights? I was told this was considered as a possible change to legislation at the same time as the hand-held cellphone ban was introduced for drivers, but I have heard no more. Greg Webb, Remuera.

And Ron Jamieson asks if cyclists are allowed to ride across a pedestrian crossing, expecting motorists to give way to them.

The Road Code for cyclists states that if you want to use a pedestrian crossing of any sort you must dismount and wheel your bike across. The exception is at crossings with special traffic signals for cyclists (there's one, for example, at the Motat end of St Lukes Rd near the motorway bridge). At these crossings you can cycle across the crossing when the signal shows the green cycle symbol.

And a duty of care applies for all road-users. Although cyclists may not ride across a pedestrian crossing, you may not mow down those who do in a fit of fury.

A work colleague tells me it is possible for motorbikes to use some bus lanes, including those leading on to motorways. Is this so? What is the situation at the bus lane that comes off Akoranga Drive on to the Northern Motorway southbound lane? Ross Collinson, North Shore.

Work colleagues can lead you astray, as I well know. The Akoranga Drive/Esmonde Rd onramp leads directly to the Northern Busway and motorcyclists are definitely not allowed to use it. Nor may they use any other bus lanes on the Auckland motorway system. There are safety issues attached to vehicles in general, and motorcycles in particular, in using the onramp shoulder as a lane because of different carriageway heights and different levels of skid resistance.

Licensed bus operators are allowed to use the shoulders at specified peak times to ease congestion.

And, in similar vein:

In respect to the Greville Rd (and various other) T2 onramps, what are the rules when the phasing signals are off?

Are cars still allowed to bypass the queue by using the T2 lane or should they join the queue like everyone else during rush hour? I have noticed that once the queue has slowed to a crawl, the signals are turned off anyway. Alastair Smith, North Shore.

The Transport Agency says all its priority bypass lanes, such as the T2 ones, are operational at all times, even when ramp signals are off.

There are signs at all the onramps explaining which vehicles are allowed to use the lanes.

And although the T2 signs permit all vehicles carrying two or more people, they can be used by taxis and motorbikes carrying only one person.

* The Seddon Memorial, mentioned in last week's column, was built in 1908 by stonemason John Aitkenhead. It was dismantled in 1947 and stored in the old Onehunga Borough Council depot in Princes St.

Parts of the memorial were found in a shed in the old Seddon High School, now Western Springs College, in Motions Rd, more than 20 years ago, but their whereabouts are now unknown. Thanks to all those who responded to my cry for help.