(1)  The driver of any vehicle may drive for up to the permitted distance in a bicycle lane, bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane if it is necessary for the driver to drive in the lane –

(a) to enter or leave the road; or

(b) to enter a part of the road of one kind from a part of the road of another kind (for example, moving to or from a service road, the shoulder of the road or an emergency stopping lane); or

(c) to overtake a vehicle that is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road, and is giving a right change of direction signal; or

(d) to enter a marked lane, or part of the road where there is room for a line of traffic (other than motor bikes, bicycles, motorised wheelchairs or animals), from the side of the road.

Note 1 : Permitted distance is defined in subrule (4) .

Note 2 : Bicycle lane is defined in rule 153 , bus lane is defined in rule 154 , emergency stopping lane is defined in rule 95 , centre of the road , marked lane , overtake , right change of direction signal , service road and U-turn are defined in the dictionary, shoulder is defined in rule 12 , tram lane is defined in rule 155 , transit lane is defined in rule 156 , and truck lane is defined in rule 157 .

Note 3: A driver must keep clear of a tram travelling in a tram lane – see rule 76 .

(2)  The driver of any vehicle may drive in a bicycle lane, bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane if –

(a) it is necessary for the driver to drive in the lane to avoid an obstruction; or

(b) information on or with a traffic sign applying to the lane indicates that the driver may drive in the lane; or

(c) the driver is permitted to drive in the lane under another law of this jurisdiction.

Note 1: Obstruction , traffic sign and with are defined in the dictionary.

Note 2: See clause 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 6 for jurisdictional qualifications.

(3)  It is a defence to the prosecution of a driver for an offence against a provision of this Division for driving in a bicycle lane, bus lane, tram lane, transit lane or truck lane if –

(a) it is necessary for the driver to drive in the lane to stop at a place in the lane; and

(b) the driver is permitted to stop at that place under the Road Rules or another law of this jurisdiction, or it is a defence under rule 165 for the driver to stop at that place; and

(c) if the lane is a bicycle lane – the driver drives in the lane for no more than the permitted distance.

Note: Rule 165 provides a defence to the prosecution of a driver for an offence against a provision of Part 12 (Restrictions on stopping and parking). The defence is available, for example, if the driver needs to stop to deal with a medical or other emergency.

(4)  In this rule –

permitted distance means –

(a) for a bicycle lane or tram lane – 50 metres; or

(b) for any other lane – 100 metres.