A new road rule change will give Australia’s most vulnerable motorists a safer alternative that could saves lives and eases peak-hour traffic.
The Victorian Government’s decision to allow motorcycle riders to use designated bus lanes along three key routes in Melbourne will be welcomed by many riders.
Even if it exposes confusing differences between states.
In NSW, riders can use transit lanes, taxi lanes and bus lanes to free up the flow of traffic – but they can’t use “bus only” lanes, which attract a $423 fine.
If that sounds a little complicated or baffling, try making sense of it while you’re on the road.
Motorcycle riders in Queensland and Western Australia can use transit lanes but not bus lanes. Riders are banned from using bus lanes in South Australia and Western Australia.
In a bid to reduce dangerous lane-weaving and improve safety, Victorian riders may now use bus lanes on the Eastern Freeway (westbound) between Chandler Highway and Hoddle Street. Victoria Parade will also be shared by buses and motorcycles in both directions between Hoddle and Nicholson streets.
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Riders will need to keep an eye on signage, as access is limited to certain times of day.
The Victorian government says the shift is about reducing risk for one of the most vulnerable groups on the road. Motorcyclists account for 21 per cent of road deaths in 2025 despite making up less than 4 per cent of registered vehicles.
The reform sits within the state’s broader Road Safety Strategy, which aims to halve road deaths and significantly reduce serious injuries by 2030.
The initiative is being funded by the Motorcycle Safety Levy, which adds roughly $84 a year to a rider’s registration costs.
Victorian Roads and Road Safety Minister Ros Spence said the change was a practical step toward improving rider safety.
“Motorcyclists are some of our most vulnerable road users, and we’re making practical changes to help them stay safer on our roads,” she said.
“This is about helping riders avoid traffic, travel more safely and get to their destination sooner.”
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Since its introduction, more than $100 million has been invested in targeted initiatives, including infrastructure upgrades and education and research.
The aim is to provide motorcyclists with a predictable path through traffic rather than relying on lane splitting or lane filtering, a practice that has long proved a point of tension with motorists.
An initial trial found there were “no negative safety impacts for riders or other motorists, and no impact on bus travel times.”
In fact, early feedback suggests riders are already embracing the change and opting for routes that allow bus lane access.
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Victorian Motorcycle Council chair Rob Salvatore described the move as “very welcome news,” noting the trial proved the lanes could be shared safely.
As first reported by the Herald Sun, Mr Salvatore said he “looks forward to this primary road safety benefit expanding more broadly throughout the network.”
“This is a great example of the Motorcycle Community Engagement Panel, working steadily with government to improve motorcycle safety in Victoria,” he said.
