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SteveD wrote:Should we try to explain the "hook' turns in Melbourne? That might be a tad difficult.

Please do. My brother once described it to me (he visited down that way a number of years ago), but I'd love to hear it from a motorcyclist's perspective.

My first experience with the 'hook turn' happened to be on Grand Final Day (some sort of ball-chasing sport thingy, apparently) in 1970. I had just ridden the 600 miles from Sydney (we used that measure of distance back in those dark ages) and had all my worldly possessions tied to the 1951 Matchless I was afflicted with at the time. Anyways, here I was in the middle of an intersection in the middle of Melbourne (after slipping around on fekkin' tram tracks), with my right arm out, waiting to turn right. Car drivers were beeping and a very large policeman came over, pointed ahead and waved me on. I didn't move; just stuck my right arm out a bit more assertively. He came right up to me, pointed ahead even more assertively, leaned over and helpfully suggested, "Fuck off, that way, NOW". I did.

O yeah, the turn involves turning right from the left lane after all through traffic has passed. I think the system is only used at about 6 sets of traffic lights.

There can't be many traffic maneuvers anywhere else on earth that warrant their own coffee mug.



I also believe that there are videos of it on the interweb somewhere.

Cheers
Ray

ps the back of the mug says that we've been doing 'hook turns' in Melbourne since 1916.

Doin' a hook turn.

http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbour ... p?id=21337

SteveD wrote:Doin' a hook turn.

http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbour ... p?id=21337

I'm heading to Germany in a few weeks. I'll be watching out for that situation. I'll know what to do. Thanx for the post!

Airbear wrote:My first experience with the 'hook turn' happened to be on Grand Final Day (some sort of ball-chasing sport thingy, apparently) in 1970. I had just ridden the 600 miles from Sydney (we used that measure of distance back in those dark ages) and had all my worldly possessions tied to the 1951 Matchless I was afflicted with at the time. Anyways, here I was in the middle of an intersection in the middle of Melbourne (after slipping around on fekkin' tram tracks), with my right arm out, waiting to turn right. Car drivers were beeping and a very large policeman came over, pointed ahead and waved me on. I didn't move; just stuck my right arm out a bit more assertively. He came right up to me, pointed ahead even more assertively, leaned over and helpfully suggested, "Fuck off, that way, NOW". I did.

O yeah, the turn involves turning right from the left lane after all through traffic has passed. I think the system is only used at about 6 sets of traffic lights.

Who signals with the right hand? What?

OK...got it..."hook" turn....can't wait

Zombie Master wrote:

SteveD wrote:Doin' a hook turn.

http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbour ... p?id=21337

I'm heading to Germany in a few weeks. I'll be watching out for that situation. I'll know what to do. Thanx for the post!

Do they do hook turns in Germany?

SteveD wrote:Do they do hook turns in Germany?

They will in a few weeks!

Zombie Master wrote:
Who signals with the right hand? What?

I was riding a 1951 Matchless in 1970. Without indicators one was required to give a hand signal. This is Australia where we ride on the left hand side of the road, therefore we used our right hand to signal. Simple, huh?