The yellow bikes mean absolutely nothing. They are merely suggestions/warning simple that bikes may be present. Originally they were meant to be painted to indicate where bikes may be and the width they will need to pass. However the government watered it down to the point where they are just abused, painted little yellow bikes in the middle of the shoulder line. IMO its a deliberate ploy by the government to encourage the misconception that cyclists should be off in the shoulder somewhere.Inwood wrote:Well there you go, I wasn't fully aware of the road shoulder thing. So does that include an on-road "bike lane" - the brisbane style ones which just involve yellow bicycles painted on the edge lines?
I have seen cyclists at an intersection pass a row of queued cars on the left, but then stop on a section of tarmac with painted cross hatches (kind of like a painted island) and then wait there for the lights to go green. To me this means they have to give way to the cars so there's no point in doing what they do. As you normally get through on the first change of lights I just end up queuing with the cars and take the middle of the lane. Personally I still haven't quite figured out the exact rules that apply to passing queued cars on the left - in particular rejoining the traffic up the front. The rules say something about "when safe" and I hardly ever feel safe doing it - usually only when its a single lane each way and the lanes are very wide.
A bike lane is part of the road proper. A bike lane has a white bike and/or a sign saying bike lane. You don't have to give way at an intersection.
Rejoining is simple: If you are on the road (ie. right of the shoulder line - which includes a painted island) then you have the right the lane. If you are over the lane in the shoulder or on the painted island you are not technically on the road and have to give way to anyone on the road.