Giving way to pedestrians when turning left
Posted: 27 Jun 2016, 12:45
As we were about to turn from Lawson St (in front of Redfern Station) into little Eveleigh St on our return from LaPas last week, there was a lot of imperious bell ringing. Perhaps it was just to warn the pedestrians flocking across Little Eveleigh St of our imminent approach but it seemed also intended to tell them to get out of the way. When I mentioned to the rider beside me that actually, there is a road rule requiring us to give way to pedestrians in such situations, the reply I got was something like "I didn't know that - that must be an obscure archaic road rule" an I suspect there is widespread ignorance of this rule.
So spread the word, there is a rule 72(3)(b) and it applies to people riding bicycles.
"If the driver is turning left (except if the driver is using a slip lane), the driver must give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road the driver is entering."
That means the pedestrian has right of way in this situation. Ring your bell by all means to avoid scaring them but not as a way to tell them to get out of your way.
So spread the word, there is a rule 72(3)(b) and it applies to people riding bicycles.
"If the driver is turning left (except if the driver is using a slip lane), the driver must give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road the driver is entering."
That means the pedestrian has right of way in this situation. Ring your bell by all means to avoid scaring them but not as a way to tell them to get out of your way.