Message to the City of Melbourne submitted through their contact form.

A new sign "LEFT LANE MUST TURN LEFT" has been installed on the west bound approach to the intersection of Royal Parade, Gatehouse Street and College Cresent. The northbound approach of Rathdown Street and Eastern Highway has a similar sign bit with the addition of "BICYCLES EXCEPTED". In both cases it is better for bicycles to use the left lane through the intersection.

I had a call back from the Engineering department at the City of Melbourne about this issue today. They told me that engineering activities within 20 metres of the intersection are the responsibilty of Vic Roads. They are going to write to Vic Roads on this issue and send me a copy.

The engineer from the city of melbourne told me that he had met with Vic Roads on site and that it had been decided that no change was required. The justification was that travelling directly ahead in the left turn lane would integrate with the flow turning left and so would not be in conflict with left turning traffic.

I agreed to with this point but I reiterated my original complaint: It is unsafe for all bicycle users to use the right hand lane to ride directly ahead across Royal Parade. For this reason it should be permitted for bicycles to travel directly ahead in the left lane. The engineer from the city of melbourne agreed to call me back on this issue.

The engineer from the city of melbourne called me back and told me that the signs which mark the left lane as being for left turns only would be modified to exclude bicycles. The signs will go up in six to eight weeks.