About cycling

Cycling through intersections

General information for using intersections

Cycling straight through at an intersection

Approach

1. If there is a cycle lane use it.
2. If there is a lane that vehicles use for travelling straight through, look behind and when it's safe move into the lane for traffic travelling straight ahead. If there is a continuous stream of fast flowing traffic that makes this unsafe, it will be safest to ride just to the left of this lane.

At the intersection

3. Obey all signs, signals or markings and use the give way rules.
4. Cycle in a straight line, maintain your speed, but be ready to stop if you need to.

After the intersection

5. When you are through the intersection, check behind and return to the left.

Turning left at an intersection

Approach

1. Keep left throughout the manoeuvre.
2. Signal left for at least three seconds before you reach the intersection. Return your left hand to the handlebar.

At the intersection

3. Slow down at the intersection and look right and ahead. If necessary, stop.
4. Obey all signs, signals and markings and use the give way rules.
5. If there is nothing coming, turn when clear, keeping to the left.

Turning right at an intersection

Approach

1. Start looking behind well before the intersection to find a gap.
2. Signal right for at least three seconds before you move to the right. Return your right hand to the handlebar. Do a quick check behind.
3. When there is space for you to do it safely, move towards the centre line or into the right turning lane.

At the intersection

4. Slow down at the intersection. Look right, left, right and ahead. If necessary, stop.
5. Obey all signs, signals or markings and use the give way rules.
6. If there is nothing coming, turn when clear. Do not cut the corner.

After the intersection

7. Move to the left after turning.

Doing hook turns

A hook turn is a different way for cyclists to turn right at an intersection. This means that you can stay on the left side of the road at all times and mean that you don't need to move across traffic to turn right.

Hook turns can be done at any intersection, except at intersections that have signs banning hook turns. At some intersections there may be special marked areas to stop in at the half way turning point. It should be noted that hook turns can be done at intersections with or without the marked stopping area.

How to do a hook turn

1. Keep in the cycle lane, the left lane or the left most lane that goes straight ahead.
2. Cycle across the intersection when the way is clear or the traffic signal, for going straight ahead, turns green.
3. Stop in the marked area of road just before the footpath. If there is not a marked place, stop ahead of the lane for the direction you wish to travel in. When choosing a place to stop be mindful of:
   • crossing pedestrians
   • traffic behind you that is travelling straight ahead
   • traffic that will want to turn left from the second arm of the intersection.
4. Wait until the way is clear, or the traffic signals on the other side of the road turn green and then cycle across the intersection keeping left.

The give way rules at uncontrolled intersections

An uncontrolled intersection is an intersection where there are no give way signs, stop signs, roundabouts or traffic signals to tell you who has to give way. At uncontrolled intersections, road users need to use the ‘give way rules’.

Two vehicles coming towards each other and turning right at an uncontrolled intersection

When two vehicles are coming towards each other at an uncontrolled intersection and both are turning right, no one should have to give way.

This is because normally neither will cross the other's path, so both vehicles can turn safely. However, be careful if the other vehicle is a large truck or bus as they may need more room to make the turn.

Turning at an uncontrolled intersection when others are not

You are turning, so you must give way to vehicles not turning.

Turning left at an uncontrolled intersection

You are turning left, so you must give way to vehicles coming towards you and turning right.

Note: Be aware of the traffic behind you. Vehicles travelling behind you may affect whether the vehicle can turn or not.

Going straight through at an uncontrolled intersection

You are going straight through, but you must give way to straight-through traffic from your right.

Turning right at an uncontrolled intersection

Give way to the right when both are turning right.

Leaving the path of the centre line at an uncontrolled intersection

If you are leaving the path of a marked centre line at an uncontrolled intersection, you must give way to vehicles following the centre line. This is because vehicles leaving the path of the centre line are legally turning (even though sometimes they might actually be going in a straight line) and the give way rules apply.

Stop and Give Way sign controlled intersections

Intersections with Give Way or Stop signs are controlled intersections because there is information to tell you who has to give way.

At a Stop sign you must come to a complete stop in a position where vehicles coming from all directions can be seen. Look right, left, right and move ahead when the way is clear. If another vehicle is also stopped at a Stop sign then use the give way rules. Don't forget, at a cross intersection, check straight ahead as well.

At a Give Way sign, slow down and be ready to stop. Give way to all other vehicles except those that have stopped at a Stop sign. If you and another vehicle are coming towards each other and you are both at Give Way signs, use the give way rules. You must not go until it is safe for you and all other traffic.

Traffic signal controlled intersections

The following rules apply at an intersection controlled by traffic signals (also known as traffic lights):

• A red signal means stop.

• A yellow signal means stop, unless you are so close to the intersection that you can't stop safely. A yellow signal indicates that the lights will soon turn red.

• A green signal means you can go, provided it's safe and:
  • if you are turning right, you give way to vehicles coming towards you that are going straight through
  • if you are turning left, you give way to vehicles coming towards you that are turning right
  • you give way to pedestrians crossing. This includes riders of mobility devices and wheeled recreational devices.

• A flashing yellow signal means the traffic signals are not working. In this case you must apply the give way rules for uncontrolled intersections.

Arrow traffic signals

When arrows are displayed on traffic signals, they apply only to vehicles going in the direction the arrow is pointing. For example:

• A red arrow means you must stop if you are travelling in the direction the arrow is pointing.

• A yellow arrow means you must stop if you are travelling in the direction the arrow is pointing, unless you are so close to the intersection that you can't stop safely.

• A green arrow means you can go if you are travelling in the direction the arrow is pointing, provided it is safe.

Reading the traffic signals

The following examples will help you to get to know what traffic signals and arrows mean.

Signal	Vehicle path	Action
	Turning left	Must stop. The red arrow protects pedestrians crossing the road.
	Straight through	May go, provided it is safe.
	Turning right	May go provided: > it is safe, and > you give way to vehicles coming towards you that are going straight through the intersection.
	Turning left	May go, provided: > it is safe, and > you give way to right-turning vehicles coming towards you.
	Straight through	May go, provided it is safe.
	Turning right	Must stop, unless it is not safe to do so.
	Turning left	May go, provided it is safe.
	Straight through	May go, provided it is safe.
	Turning right	May go, provided it is safe. All vehicles coming towards you should be stopped.
	Turning left	Must stop.
	Straight through	Must stop.
	Turning right	May go, provided it is safe. All vehicles coming towards you should be stopped.

Giving way when there are flashing lights

Red flashing lights can be found in various places including near railway crossings, fire stations and ambulance stations. When you see red flashing lights you must stop and stay stopped until they stop flashing. Yellow flashing lights are found at roadworks. You can continue cycling, but you must be careful.

Using intersections with traffic signals

The key thing when approaching traffic signals is to check you are in the correct lane, and be ready to stop, give way or go.

If there is a queue of traffic waiting at the intersection, you will need to decide whether you stay where you are in the queue or whether it is possible to get to the front of the queue safely. Drivers in queues will have their view restricted by other vehicles, so you will need to be very wary of passing motor vehicles as they may change lanes unexpectedly.

Using advanced stopping places at intersections with traffic signals

Some intersections with traffic signals have places where you can stop your cycle ahead of the other traffic waiting at the intersection. Use these places because they will help make you more visible to other traffic. However, if there is no traffic waiting behind you at the traffic signals, you may not get a green signal. The following section gives more information about vehicle detectors at traffic signals.

Using vehicle detectors at traffic signals

All intersections with traffic signals have vehicle detectors set in the road surface just before the intersection's white stop lines. When a vehicle is on top of the detector, a ‘message’ is sent to the traffic signal controller to ‘tell it’ you are waiting. Sometimes cycles aren't detected because they are smaller than other vehicles on the road. Here are a few ways to improve your chances of being detected:

• If there is traffic around, try to time your arrival at the signals with a larger vehicle that will trigger the detectors for you, or wait for the arrival of a larger vehicle.
• If there is no traffic around, look for the tell tale signs of the detector's location (tar filled saw cuts near the stop lines) and stop your cycle directly over any one of the tar cuts running in the same direction as you are riding.

• If you have been waiting for a while, no larger vehicles have arrived and you can't see the vehicle detector, re-position your cycle so that you can press the pedestrian crossing button. You may be able to do this from the road, in which case you will be able to cross by cycling (you will need to give way to any pedestrians). Where you need to cross the road from the footpath, you will need to get off and walk.

Note: When you know your cycling routes better, you will get to know where the vehicle detectors are and whether they work for you.

Using cycle detectors

Cycle lanes or roads that have a lot of cyclists may have a special detector at intersections with traffic signals or crossing points. This detector is designed to be sensitive enough to pick up the presence of cyclists. The location of the detector is marked on the road surface either with three or more diamonds in a line or an arrow and is positioned where cyclists would normally stop. You should stop your cycle directly over the markings when waiting for green signals at crossing points.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are another type of controlled intersection. Roundabouts can be difficult for cyclists, especially when there is a lot of traffic.

Cycling straight through at a roundabout

• When cycling straight through a roundabout intersection get into the correct lane. If you need to change lanes before the roundabout you must indicate for at least three seconds before making your move.
• When you are at the roundabout you need to give way to vehicles already on the roundabout or entering the roundabout from a road to your right. When clear, move into the roundabout.
• Ride around the roundabout in the middle of the lane, not around the inner or outer edge.
• When you pass the exit before the one you want to leave from, check behind you and if you can indicate safely, indicate left.

Turning left at a roundabout

• When turning left at a roundabout stay in the left lane.
• When approaching the roundabout indicate to show that you are turning left.
• When you are at the roundabout you should continue indicating left and give way to vehicles already on the roundabout or entering the roundabout from a road to your right.
• When clear move into the roundabout, and continue indicating left if you are able.
• Maintain a position to the left of the left hand lane.

Turning right at a roundabout

• When turning right at a roundabout get into the correct lane. In most cases you will need to move into the right hand lane - before making your move you must indicate for at least three seconds.
• When you are at the roundabout you need to indicate that you are turning right and give way to vehicles already on the roundabout or entering the roundabout from a road to your right. When clear move into the roundabout.
• When you are on the roundabout, try to continue indicating right if you are able, or indicate occasionally while you ride around the roundabout - this will let drivers waiting to enter the roundabout know your intentions. Ride in the middle of the lane, not around the inner or outer edge.
• When you pass the exit before the one you want to leave from, check behind you and if you can indicate safely, indicate left.

Multi-laned roundabouts

Be careful to get in the correct lane to start with. Be assertive and ride quickly. Multi-laned roundabouts are difficult, so in some situations it may be easier to take a route that will avoid the roundabout altogether.

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Last updated: 15 February 2010