Lane splitting (from the other point of view!)

[sturm]

For the last couple of weeks I've had to drive in to work in Wellington on 4 wheels instead of my bike

I've lane splitted (splat?) along with everyone else, so when driving I always take extra care to check for bikes coming past.

Last week I was driving down the gorge in the outside lane. I needed to get in the middle lane, so I indicated, had a look around - no car next to me in the middle lane - and was about to pull across when I just felt like I should double check again. Just then a guy on a silver bike (maybe a zx10?) came past in my lane doing easy 70 compared to my 30-40.

We would collided for sure if I had pulled across without doing a double check - it was scary close. And I was the one in the cage...

Was that anyone here? If so, be careful! I would bet most of other drivers that morning would have pulled out right into you without looking.

From a car its actually quite hard to see bikes coming up between the lanes. And when you're trying to change lanes in a car in rush hour, you have to do it quickly, so theres not a lot of time to look for bikers.

Its made me much more aware of how careful we need to be when lane splitting. I try and keep the speed down, watch for gaps in lanes that cagers might try and get into, especially impatient looking tailgaters that might change lanes quickly.

And if a car is indicating, and has a clear lane next to them, hit the anchors, because they aren't likely to wait for you to get past.

God, am I starting to sound like a cager? Hope not!

[MSTRS]

God, am I starting to sound like a cager?

Nope. You are sounding like a motorist with a bit of sense, and not scared to give out good advice.
Not every car driver is a prat, and not every prat drives a car....

[Clivoris]

The lane splitting in Welly cracks me up when I get to see it. It's amazing that there isn't carnage every day. But we must be getting away with it cos all I hear about are near misses.

[White trash]

The lane splitting in Welly cracks me up when I get to see it. It's amazing that there isn't carnage every day. But we must be getting away with it cos all I hear about are near misses.

I'd hazard a guess that Wellington bikers are amongst the nuttiest "splitters" on the planet, myself included. Because we do so much of it, you sort of get quite comfortable with it.

[Clivoris]

I'd hazard a guess that Wellington bikers are amongst the nuttiest "splitters" on the planet, myself included. Because we do so much of it, you sort of get quite comfortable with it.

I hear ya Trashie. I'm an average splitter by my estimation and appreciate the thrill of getting away with it. I'm guessing that despite the apparent risk nobody gets killed or badly hurt doing it. It would be all over KB wouldn't it? I saw some geezer heading north around Johnsonville a couple of weeks back on an RF900 who must have had the theme from "Top Gun" on his Ipod. He was flying and the traffic must have been doing 90-100kmh. Gotta respect that craziness. Just like Playstation, only not.

[Kendog]

I'm guessing that despite the apparent risk nobody gets killed or badly hurt doing it. It would be all over KB wouldn't it?
About three ish weeks ago I saw a biker on the ground with a number of people looking after him. This was morning rush hour, on one of the long straight sections of SH1 prior to Jville. I instantly thought splitting gone bad.

Never saw anything about it on here, so I guess it didn't happen :innocent: :shutup:

[trumpy]

........ Just like Playstation, only not.

Thing is though, if you fuck it up on Playstation you just restart the game. Doesn't seem to be the case in real life unfortunately.

[BIG DOUG]

I do it everyday and you get a sixth sense on what car drivers might do,I can be riding down the middle and look at a car and think he's going to change lane and sure enough they do and then indicate when they are in the lane.

[Str8 Jacket]

There is a fuckwit on a dark maroon ZZR that has overtaken me in my own lane while travelling at around 100 more than once (note, not even filtering). He appears out of nowhere, suddenly appears next to you and then off again.
If I was a big brave man I may have tried to push him off his bloody bike!

I have to say that Wgtn road users in general are pretty retarded..... I have often thought about carrying ball bearings in my pockets :whistle:

[Sable]

anyone that splits in traffic moving above 50 kmph is a cocksucker waiting to get bowled

[davebullet]

You gotta be weary of gaps. What you did is perfectly acceptable. If there is a gap, I either move into it or slow down using the vehicle behind the gap as protection until the gap closes.

I have been known to be a cocksucker on a few occasions. I use a speed differential more than absolute speed. I generally won't split above 70kph and just merge in with the traffic. For example - if the traffic is crawling - you could argue no gaps so cane it, but I generally keep to 30kph max (just in case 2 wing mirrors from opposing lanes come into moon alignment and I need to stop quickly).

[marty]

i got splat last night heading south by the zoo turnoff on the north western - about 9.45pm - not really splatted but an SVthou with the COOLEST sounding yoshis went caning up the left, gave me the shits, then slowed down to slower than me in my car.

Was poetry in sound. I miss my TL with Rs3's :(

[RnB Fan]

Agree with Big Doug - you do get a 6th sense about what cars are about to do. The other thing I, as the worlds slowest most cautious lane splitter, have to watch out for are the fast guys on bikes coming up behind me. I just slide over quietly into the traffic flow and then pull back out after they have gone past and continue on my merry way :yes:

[dipshit]

And if a car is indicating, and has a clear lane next to them, hit the anchors, because they aren't likely to wait for you to get past.

In fact isn't it illegal to carry on passing another vehicle that is indicating to change lanes...???

I believe you are required by law to stay behind a vehicle that *is* indicating to change lanes.

[Str8 Jacket]

In fact isn't it illegal to carry on passing another vehicle that is indicating to change lanes...???

I believe you are required by law to stay behind a vehicle that *is* indicating to change lanes.

Darwin says no.....

[bsasuper]

When I lane split, there is a chance I will end up squashed, If this happens I have no one to blame but me, I took the chance.If I was in a car and I changed lanes and squashed a lane splitter who was doing a silly speed ( yes a do always look for lane splitters), he took a chance and lost.

[Toaster]

I'd hazard a guess that Wellington bikers are amongst the nuttiest "splitters" on the planet, myself included. Because we do so much of it, you sort of get quite comfortable with it.


Lets not get too comfortable.... staying alert is everything in lane slpitting. I do it a lot for work in Auckland and its some serious distances with some of the most impatient cagers (and stupid for that matter).

Seems the rules around this form of overtaking are a bit of a grey area too with half the cops pulling riders over for something that was clarified in the Herald as a legal passing move as long as its done carefully and at slow relative speeds.

[shrub]

I was following a mate splitting many few years ago and the car in front of him moved to the right about a metre just as he was about to pass with a predictable outcome - it turned out the car driver had dropped his fag and bent down to pick it up. I generally only split when traffic is stationary because a still car isn't much of a threat and when the traffic starts moving I pull into the flow, wait for it to stop and carry on. Ive done it for years and never even had a close shave, so I'm guessing it's a way that works.

BTW my mate was the one who got the ticket.