il padrone wrote:Yes, that disappearing left lane is the result of them. I believe they are called S-lanes because that is the path the two right lanes follow, a flat S-shape to curve around right-turn-only lanes at intersections. The left lane disappears to allow room, and vehicles in that lane are required to give way. I remember hearing a lot of complaints about them from Sydney riders in the '90s
In Melbourne to provide space for right-turn only lanes we either widen the road at the intersection, have the lane-width to narrow the lanes a little, or have a parking lane that ceases before the intersection. Regardless of the method, if you are in the left-most lane you virtually always can count on a clear run through an intersection (other traffic permitting). In general I believe we are lucky enough to have a wider basic road design in Melbourne.
aye - the correct road design is to resume structures or space on the cheapest side of the road, and redo the lanes such that you both have the turn pockets and all the regular lanes. That has kinda been recognised here (with their pinchpoint strategy), but not a lot of actual work has been done to fix these. The worst problem is that the lane that ends is also the bus lane, which means that spacewasters in cars are perpetually blocking the space efficient.