Rumour of lane-splitting crackdown

[Aerox50]

From the roadcode, you are also;
'not allowed to share a lane' the only vehicles that can share a lane with cars/motorbikes/bicycles, are other bicycles.

that would mean even if you keep on the left of the lane marking, so you are 'overtaking' since you are sharing a lane with the car you are 'overtaking' it is a no-no.

[swbarnett]

From the roadcode, you are also;
'not allowed to share a lane' the only vehicles that can share a lane with cars/motorbikes/bicycles, are other bicycles.

that would mean even if you keep on the left of the lane marking, so you are 'overtaking' since you are sharing a lane with the car you are 'overtaking' it is a no-no.

Depends what you mean by sharing. If overtaking in the same lane was considered sharing that would mean a car/motorbike could never legally overtake a bicycle on a one lane road without crossing the centre line. Because of this I don't think that lane splitting can be considered sharing.

Sharing probably means that the two vehicles are doing the same speed.

[idleidolidyll]

They can and will do you for passing on the left and/or failing to indicate properly.

Yep, from what a cop mate has told me you can only pass on the left (in the same lane) if the traffic is actually stopped. If it's moving at all you can be busted.
Filtering is not illegal as long as you do it right. You can pass to the right of a car if you are in the same lane or you can use the space between cars to switch lanes in a passing manoeuvre. What you can't do is pass on the left while in the same lane if the cars are moving at all and you cannot pass outside the lanes in the 'gutter' areas on either side.

Of course what usually happens is that bikes don't stay in the same lane and to the right of the cars they are passing, they constantly switch lanes depending on space which might be safer but remains illegal.

Some cop might be able to clarify this of course.

[UberRhys]

They'd need to devote all the bikes to anti-filtering duties if they were having a 'crackdown'.

No four-wheeled vehicle has a shit-show of keeping up with me during Auckland rush hour.

I followed a cop on a cycle splitting lanes all the way from Drury through to Mt Wellington and before anyone jumps on me - no he wasn't on the way to an event, just making his way through rush hour traffic.

Felt pretty good about that one having a cop run blocker for me. Not that I am of the religous type at all but it was like Moses parting the sea having all those cages move over a little.

[idleidolidyll]

I followed a cop on a cycle splitting lanes all the way from Drury through to Mt Wellington and before anyone jumps on me - no he wasn't on the way to an event, just making his way through rush hour traffic.

Felt pretty good about that one having a cop run blocker for me. Not that I am of the religous type at all but it was like Moses parting the sea having all those cages move over a little.

Sure, and how often do you see cops tailgating on the motorway? I see it almost every day. Hypocrites are they.

Tell it like it is; they work for the IRD

[UberRhys]

My boss (who rides a big BMW bike) got behind the BRONZ Ride to Work Day, as did a number of North Shore bike riders.

The POLICE where wading into the traffic around Tristram Ave pulling bikers off the road for lane splitting!!!!

Groups were being pulled off at a time - my boss was one of 8.

They got a $50 fine each.....

The ticket is for "failing to stay within the entirety of a lane"...

I guess it is a bit more than a rumour

[Pancakes]

Yeah the part people seem to miss in the rules is it's not your tyres that have to be in the lane, it's the whole bike and with most bikes coming up 800mm wide and a comfort zone of 200mm you need to find a full meter next to the cars. Fat chance! Just look like your in control and don't give the cop shit. I split 100% of my M'Way riding and get stopped maybe 2 times a year for it, get let off one of those and it's $2.50ish a week. I can budget for that easy.

[klingon]

My boss (who rides a big BMW bike) got behind the BRONZ Ride to Work Day, as did a number of North Shore bike riders.

The POLICE where wading into the traffic around Tristram Ave pulling bikers off the road for lane splitting!!!!

Groups were being pulled off at a time - my boss was one of 8.

They got a $50 fine each.....

The ticket is for "failing to stay within the entirety of a lane"...

OMG! That's horrible! Today of all days. Those polices need to get themselves a new PR person

[Ewan Oozarmy]

OMG! That's horrible! Today of all days. Those polices need to get themselves a new PR person

Easy money? Today = extra bikes on the road = higher odds of nabbing bikes for lane splitting whilst ignoring the hoards of moronic car drivers committing life threatening manouvers......

[mdooher]

I seem to remember something about lane splitting was made legal in California because if air-cooled bikes got caught in traffic jams they would eventually overheat ..... and something about the physical impossibility of riding a bike a bike at walking pace for very long because your left hand gets too tired on the clutch... we could try that here..

[Pancakes]

I seem to remember something about lane splitting was made legal in California because if air-cooled bikes got caught in traffic jams they would eventually overheat ..... and something about the physical impossibility of riding a bike a bike at walking pace for very long because your left hand gets too tired on the clutch... we could try that here..

It'd work too, your bike would be deemed unroad-worthy and the fine would be added to your ticket.

[EJK]

Oh man I'm so confused now...

I'll lane split and see if I can catch an officer
And when he pulls me over, I'll say "FINALLY! finally I got your attention! Now, can you tell me the rule/ law of lane splitting? I must know this officer!"

Hope he will explain and gives me a warning

[Banesto John]

I saw a tosser split lanes on Moorhouse Ave yesterday. He cut between two cars at a set of lights just as they were accelerating. I can imagine the reaction from riders if he was knocked off, but it would have been his own damn fault. Plonka.

[Swoop]

Oh man I'm so confused now...

I'll lane split and see if I can catch an officer
And when he pulls me over, I'll say "FINALLY! finally I got your attention! Now, can you tell me the rule/ law of lane splitting? I must know this officer!"

Hope he will explain and gives me a warning

You'll get a different answer from every cop that you talk to.
"Interpretation" of the law would be better coming from ecilop prosecutions.

[Lil_Byte]

Sounds all very confusing.
We don't need to lane split down here as there is never any more than 3 cars on the road at any given time