I’m fairly sure you always have to give way when turning on to a side street - you would need to give way to a pedestrian (at least in NSW) so I don’t se why you wouldn’t to a bike, especially with that green paint to emphasise

I find listening to audiobooks much more difficult, but I still do it sometimes because reading is impractical, or to practice listening comprehension in my second language. I think specifying the medium is useful though - even when reading some parts of one book and listening to others

Audiobooks are great but what does “don’t count as reading” even mean? If you are in primary school and learning to read, then sure the medium is important and what “counts” as reading and what doesn’t may be important. But for literate adults who cares? You get the same content either way.

Sadly you can’t cycle on George st, but there are parallel cycleways on Kent and now Castlereagh streets a few blocks either side. Not nearly as nice (or busy) as George street, but the new cycleway and wider footpaths on Castlereagh has made it much nicer too.

I’d say the benefits of reduced noise and pollution where they are running would more than outweigh a slightly higher cost. Especially when they are running in urban environments (which is most of the time, right?)