Riding on the left shoulder?

[piston broke]

what is the law regarding this?
sh1 was stopped just past the tunnels today (nth auck).
i found it easiest and safer to ride to the left of all the stopped cars,
i hope i didn't freak out too many people.
i didnt go much over 40k's,and was on the lookout for anyone moving into my self made lane.
to me the only naughty thing i did was ride on the puhoi bridge footpath.
it can't have been too bad as i stopped just past the pohuehue viaduct for a coffee and noone stopped to give me grief.
so with the traffic as it was,where on the road should i have been "legally".
cheers muchly,and happy new year.

[Berries]

I think you are supposed to ride/drive in marked lanes where available. As the shoulder is not a marked lane then I would assume you are committing an offence, at the least you could be done for failing to stay in your lane. Have a read of the Road User Rule on the NZTA website. I'd have a look myself but I've got some fireworks to set off.

[Leyton]

If you are riding on your left shoulder, May I suggest taking a different line around those bends Mr! :) :innocent:

[davebullet]

Im not sure about the legality, but I've done this a few times coming into Otaki which gets bunched up. The shoulder is plenty wide and if you go slow enough (eg. 40kms or less) then you pose little risk.

To me, it's little different from lane splitting. In some ways safer as vehicles are less likely to switch into your path.

The biggest risk is to your tyres picking up some stray nail or other impailment.

I think the Police would have more of a problem than most motorists.

[pzkpfw]

Left shoulder IS illegal.

The riders, for example, using the left shoulder to pass traffic going into Wellington in the mornings are breaking the law, while lane splitters (if they do it properly) are actually riding legally.

(Having said that, I do it too if "required". Last time was going up the hill, South towards Pukerua bay. The two lanes were at a standstill, and I don't like stopping in traffic on an uphill.)

[fliplid]

The biggest risk is to your tyres picking up some stray nail or other impailment.
Bit like all them folk who ride across the line towards the median then?

[Bald Eagle]

Left shoulder IS illegal.

The riders, for example, using the left shoulder to pass traffic going into Wellington in the mornings are breaking the law, while lane splitters (if they do it properly) are actually riding legally.

(Having said that, I do it too if "required". Last time was going up the hill, South towards Pukerua bay. The two lanes were at a standstill, and I don't like stopping in traffic on an uphill.)

I think you need to check your compass the two lane merge/split to Pukerua Bay is northbound

[pzkpfw]

I think you need to check your compass the two lane merge/split to Pukerua Bay is northbound

Yes, just a stupid typo. (If that's the word for it. Maybe "momentary direction dyslexia"? I'm sure I was facing the proper way on the bike, because I wasn't operating the indicators with my right foot.)

[FJRider]

Berries is actually correct ..... legally .... but if traffic is stopped. And speed is not "excessive" .... law enforcers seldom get to upset.

[p.dath]

Check out the motorcycle laws section of the Wiki, particularly the passing on the left section.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/wiki/Category:Motorcycle_Laws

[FJRider]

(2)(b) means he WAS legal ...

[Genie]

what is the law regarding this?
sh1 was stopped just past the tunnels today (nth auck).
i found it easiest and safer to ride to the left of all the stopped cars,
i hope i didn't freak out too many people.
i didnt go much over 40k's,and was on the lookout for anyone moving into my self made lane.
to me the only naughty thing i did was ride on the puhoi bridge footpath.
it can't have been too bad as i stopped just past the pohuehue viaduct for a coffee and noone stopped to give me grief.
so with the traffic as it was,where on the road should i have been "legally".
cheers muchly,and happy new year.

naughty for sure...apparently in the bike road code...you have to sit in the traffic and wait like everyone else. :dodge:

[FJRider]

...you have to sit in the traffic and wait like everyone else. :dodge:

You must be looking at the wrong Road code ... Bikers are not like everyone else... :mad: :innocent:

[Genie]

You must be looking at the wrong Road code ... Bikers are not like everyone else... :mad: :innocent:

oh I know this....bikers....a law unto themselves :headbang:

[peasea]

oh I know this....bikers....a law unto themselves :headbang:

Which is why you're saving for a bike, right?????

[The Everlasting]

what is the law regarding this?
sh1 was stopped just past the tunnels today (nth auck).
i found it easiest and safer to ride to the left of all the stopped cars,
i hope i didn't freak out too many people.
i didnt go much over 40k's,and was on the lookout for anyone moving into my self made lane.
to me the only naughty thing i did was ride on the puhoi bridge footpath.
it can't have been too bad as i stopped just past the pohuehue viaduct for a coffee and noone stopped to give me grief.
so with the traffic as it was,where on the road should i have been "legally".
cheers muchly,and happy new year.

Yeah I too did this in the same highway,there was no way I was gonna be stuck in a 10km traffic jam,legal or not.

[peasea]

Yeah I too did this in the same highway,there was no way I was gonna be stuck in a 10km traffic jam,legal or not.

Yes, well.....I did it on Auckland's motorway a few years ago and got a ticket for it. Traffic was backed up from the North Shore to Mt Wellington on a holiday w/e Friday and the cop (complete wanker) caused even further disruption weaving his way through the traffic to nab me.

[MIXONE]

On the day of the Bikoi it cost me $150 even though the cop admitted it was safer then lane splitting.

[peasea]

On the day of the Bikoi it cost me $150 even though the cop admitted it was safer then lane splitting.

And they say they aren't revenue collectors. Tui ad.

[Tink]

what is the law regarding this?
sh1 was stopped just past the tunnels today (nth auck).
i found it easiest and safer to ride to the left of all the stopped cars,
i hope i didn't freak out too many people.
i didnt go much over 40k's,and was on the lookout for anyone moving into my self made lane.
to me the only naughty thing i did was ride on the puhoi bridge footpath.
it can't have been too bad as i stopped just past the pohuehue viaduct for a coffee and noone stopped to give me grief.
so with the traffic as it was,where on the road should i have been "legally".
cheers muchly,and happy new year.

My bad riding.... no not really but I did the same after the northern tunnel... left of the cars, who were almost at a dead stop... then left into Puhoi, the cars were cool let us in when we had to move with indicator... my worst mistake,,, another red light... damn I hate following they get the orange, and swing it, and I get the red to stop. As a learner that sux.... no way never again... red means stop and I shall... lucky mistake... PRETEND YR A CAGE THAT IS NOT STUPID.. and you will make it home hopefully!

[rideon]

We decided to head north on the Sunday after Christmas, thinking that mostly everyone would have traveled on the Saturday. How wrong we were. Got stuck in a 20+ Km Que of traffic moving at snails pace from just past Northgate, right into Warkworth. Traveling with 2 learner ladies I was not sure weather they would follow us up the inside , but decided to slowly lead them up the left hand side at slowish pace to start with. They quickly got comfortable on this line & we traveled the best part of 15 - 20 kms (even through the tunnels) on the left. Most drivers were petty good about it but the odd 1 or t 2 made attempts to move left & narrow down the room a bit - SODS . There was plenty of room in this margin, speed was safe , no problems at all. Think though we got pinged on camera at the exit end of the tunnels as there was a flash and a loudish beep as we neared the exit????