'This should be illegal': Motorists' fury as cyclist is spotted hogging an entire lane at a set of traffic lights instead of using the bike lane next to him
- Motorists have expressed their fury at a cyclist using a road instead of a bike lane
- The man who took the photo claimed the cyclist was not turning right at lights
- Cyclists are required by law in NSW to give hand signals when turning
- It is also against the law to use a road when a bike lane is available and practical
Motorists have expressed their fury after a cyclist was spotted hogging up an entire lane at a set of traffic lights instead of using the bike lane next to him.
A photo of the incident, which took place at an intersection near the Pacific Highway on Australia's east coast, showed the cyclist gripping his handles while waiting.
'Now THIS should be illegal and when caught be handed a $1,000 fine for disrupting the bloody roads! A bike lane available and he needs to take up an entire lane,' wrote a man alongside a version of the photo.
The man clarified that the cyclist went straight at the intersection, shutting down any suggestion the man may have been turning right like the car waiting behind him.
If the cyclist wished to make a right hand turn they would be in the correct position, however the person who posted the picture said the bike continued straight
Social media users were quick to condemn the cyclist for not using the bike lane.
'So annoying and completely selfish because as post states he was going straight,' one man wrote.
'I hate it when there is a lane for them and they do not use it, or are riding on the line so you cannot get passed when there is nothing stopping them from riding over to the left,' added another.
Motorists were not alone in their fury, with a number of cyclists also enraged by the man's apparent actions.
'I’m a cyclist and yep I agree this guys a f***head,' wrote one person.
'(This man) gives all cyclists a bad name,' another said.
Another user posted this picture of a similar experience where a cyclist was not using the bike lane correctly
Other users said it was possible the photo was a misunderstanding, claiming the cyclist had to have been turning right and the original poster had got it wrong.
'Look I’m not a fan of bikes on the road... but what if he is turning right? He legally can’t do that from the bike lane?' wrote one man.
'Possibly turning right, just like the car behind him?' added a second.
Another user posted a similar experience where they were unable to pass a cyclist who was taking up a main road instead of using a bike lane.
According to NSW's Centre for Road Safety, it is against the law for cyclists to ignore marked bicycle lanes.
'When a bicycle lane is marked on the road and has bicycle lane signs, bicycle riders must use it unless it is impracticable to do so,' according to official road rules.
Cyclists are also required by law to stop at red lights or stop signs, give way by road signs and give hand signals when changing direction.
