Cyclists
Main Roads considers all road users in the design and maintenance of our state-controlled road network. This includes motorists, public transport users, pedestrians and cyclists.
Main Roads has a policy on cycling on state controlled roads (PDF, 211 KB) which states that along priority cycling routes (as shown in regional or local cycle network plans), Main Roads will positively provide for cyclists in road-upgrading projects. On other routes, Main Roads will seek to make state-controlled roads cycle-friendly by incorporating cycle-friendly design in traffic operations, road-upgrading, and maintenance projects. This may include the economical retrofitting of roads where necessary to accommodate cyclists. See the policy for further details.
Positive provision for cyclists includes marked bicycle lanes, bicycle or shared paths or other suitable facilities. Cycle-friendly provision involves road design that makes it easier and safer for cyclists to use a particular section of road.
As a result of this policy, many of our new projects include facilities for cyclists to commute to work and school as well as riding for leisure and fitness.
Current and future projects catering for cyclists include:
- Acacia Ridge rail crossing overpass
- Bribie Island Road upgrade project (Aerodrome Road to Saint Road)
- Bundaberg Ring Road
- Deception Bay Road (Bruce Highway to Lipscombe Rd)
- Forgan Bridge duplication
- Gateway Upgrade project (bridge duplication)
- Gold Coast Highway (Government Road to North Street)
- Granard Road intersections at Balham Road and Beatty Road
- Houghton Highway Bridge duplication
- Ipswich–Logan interchange
- Ipswich Motorway
- Maroochy Boulevard interchange
- Morayfield Road upgrade project (Bruce Highway to Gaffield Street) — preferred upgrade option
- Pacific Motorway V1 bikeway (Logan River to Nathan)
- Port of Brisbane Motorway upgrade planning study
- Sunshine Motorway Projects — Maroochydore Road to Pacific Paradise including Maroochy River Bridge
- Townsville–Thuringowa Ring Road Sections 2 and 3.
National online cycling resource centre
The cycling resource centre is a national online information hub on cycling. It is a convenient and user friendly "one stop shop" for cyclists, cycling groups and those involved in the planning and provision of cycling facilities and programs, including planners, engineers and others. Users can access a wide range of topics in one central location, with thousands of online pages with information and links covering:
- engineering and planning
- education and training
- encouragement and promotion
- enforcement and road safety
- recreation
- funding
- research.
Hook turn storage boxes: a first for cyclists on Queensland Main Roads
With Main Roads commitment to improving safety and achieving a high standard of cycling facilities, new on road "hook turn storage boxes" were recently installed at the Mulgrave Road – Severin Street intersection in Cairns. These were the first in the state to be installed on our road network and Main Roads will continue to promote their installation on future intersection upgrades where possible.
What is a hook turn?
Cyclists are legally able to make a right turn at intersections by keeping to the left of the road, unless a "no hook turn by bicycles" sign is displayed. The way to do a hook turn depends on whether or not the intersection is controlled by traffic lights.
If the intersection does not have traffic lights:
- Keeping to the far left side of the road, move forward through the intersection.
- After moving directly across the intersection and keeping to the left side, pause and give way to drivers moving through the intersection.
- When the road is clear, then move forward across the road.
If the intersection is controlled by traffic lights:
- Move forward through the intersection from the bicycle lane on a 'green' light. Stop in the box in the opposite corner — turn right (in the direction of the marked arrow). If there is no linemarking for hook turns, cyclists should stop where they are clear of traffic.
- When the light turns green, move forward through the intersection into the bicycle lane ahead.
Where possible, future intersection upgrades will include linemarking to reinforce the hook turn movement; however, cyclists can perform this movement at intersections without this linemarking.
Please open the hook turns (PDF, 72 KB) document for instructions and a diagram detailing how to make a hook turn at traffic lights.
To view a short video on the procedure to follow when making a hook turn, open the below file with Windows Media Player.
What is a hook turn storage box?
It is an area line marked on the road within a multi-laned signalised intersection showing a cyclist where to position themselves to do a "hook turn".
What about motorists?
When stopped at traffic lights where "hook turn" storage boxes have been installed cyclists will be positioned in front of queued traffic. When the light turns green motorists will need to be aware of cyclists in front of them when moving through the intersection.
Further information
Please contact Main Roads' public consultation office in Cairns on phone +61 7 4040 6358.
Last updated: 08 June 2009
