Are the police clamping down on lane splitting?

[strandedinnz]

Hi all,

For the past few weeks I've seen a lot of bikes pulled over by a motorcycle policeman on SH1 just past (or on) the Constellation Drive on-ramp (south bound), anyone know if they are being nabbed for lanesplitting/filtering or something else ?

Wondering if I should ease off on my lane splitting on that stretch in the mornings ... want to spend my money on more fun things :-)

Ta!

[vifferman]

There's a couple of guys at work that ride that way (and lanesplit), and they've said that they've been slowed down by a cop on a bike, but not pulled over and/or ticketed.
I've been communtering by bike on the Norfshaw for over 15 years, and I must say that in the first couple of years the cops were hammering bikers, but in the last few they seem to be ignoring lanesplitting and the like. I don't know if this is an actual thing (like they've been instructed to not worry about it), or they're too busy with more important stuff, or the increase in traffic means it's impractical to devote much effort to it.
My advice to you is to carry on, but keep your speed down, and be careful and responsible about it.

[TheDemonLord]

I had a lovely chat with an Office in the location - Wasn't stopped, it was while we were riding tandem in Traffic:

"when the traffic hits 40 - find a gap"

I think this is one of those 'people complain about the speed of lane splitters' (I split higher than 40....) and so the police are having a word with Bikers - haven't heard of any tickets though.

[MD]

So that's where our most unpopular Cop has been transfered to. You boys in Auckland are welcome to him.

Haven't seen him for a month or so down here. He's a nasty vindictive type with an ego problem hiding behind a badge. Goes by many aliases; Ginger Infringer, Nauranga Nuisance, Motorway Menace, Infringement Inflictor, Penalty Punisher, Lane Enforcer.


http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/170541-Crooked-biker-cop-in-Wellington-lane-splitting?highlight=lane+splitting

[rua]

MD - he is still in Wellington, lurking in the gorge. Had a "chat" with him the other day.

[Devil]

I've just started splitting from Greville to town. Havne't seen a bike cop yet, but have been past two marked cars. THey didn't even blink. But I also split pretty sensibly and smoothly - so I doubt i'd attract attention. More likely to get spotted due the missus on the back with her crutches and broken foot!

[Old Steve]

Here in QLD, the Government emphasises the difference between lane filtering (OK, allowed up to 30 km/hr in stationary or slow traffic) and lane splitting (not OK).

I'm in favour of Lane filtering, but you won't catch me lane splitting - I'd rather be late timewise than be the Late Old Steve as in obituary wise..

[khabel]

If I get in an accident while lane splitting which isn't my fault. Am I automatically at fault because I'm lane splitting?

[MD]

MD - he is still in Wellington, lurking in the gorge. Had a "chat" with him the other day.

Bugger. I'm lane splitting full time now with our congested M/W. Almost seems weird when I actually get to ride in the middle of a lane.

Can we start a collection to pay to have him shipped to Auckland?

[samgab]

...Can we start a collection to pay to have him shipped to Auckland?

No thanks we don't want him... How about Gore?

[Latte]

If I get in an accident while lane splitting which isn't my fault. Am I automatically at fault because I'm lane splitting?

Sounds like a tongue twister, she sells sea shells.

[Reckless]

If I get in an accident while lane splitting which isn't my fault. Am I automatically at fault because I'm lane splitting?

Usually your at fault as its legal to overtake on the right side of the car but left side of the lane marker (overtaking within your lane).
But in practice most cars travel too close the RH lane marker (so they can see down the line) and you end up undertaking the line of traffic on your right most of the time which is illegal.
Putting it simply the slower you lane split, the less chance you will have of fucking up, or have time to see someone open their door or change lanes on you without warning.

[bsasuper]

If you are lane splitting and you crash in NZ, its your fault, its called dangerous riding and that's what you could be charged with, your fault or not.

I have seen some marked police cars ,with about 100 cars,using the left lane emergency stopping lane on the northern south bound m/way to get to the exit in heavy traffic though, you bad popo you!

[biketimus_prime]

Lane split every weekday for the last year from albany to town or highbrook and back in peak traffic time. Passed cop cars numerous times and they don't care. Passed motorcycle cops who choose not to lane split and they don't say/do anything. Lane split over the harbour bridge and cops haven't said anything either.
Also lane split between cars going up to the on-ramp traffic lights with cops standing there watching some mornings.
Great fun.

I do know however that a lot of bikers hoon up the constellation on ramp and also that cops like to do days where they pull bikers over for random checks (seen 3 or 4 in a day pulled over for checks, including myself that day).
Nothing to worry about. Just worry about the idiots who change lanes without really looking. 3 close calls all happened between the constellation off ramp and a bit after the on ramp, people seem to suck at merging or changing lanes in that particular stretch of road.

[vtec]

I've seen a lot of bike cops on the Northern heading into town in the mornings the past few weeks. Making me edgy. They often had motorcycles pulled over. Stay aware of the cops, they can just say careless use and you're donesky.

I think there has been a blitz, but the last week I didn't see many. I had one point at me when I went past while he was dealing with another motorcyclist.

[FJRider]

If you are lane splitting and you crash in NZ, its your fault, its called dangerous riding and that's what you could be charged with, your fault or not.



Fault in an accident situation can be two sided. If those involved are BOTH at fault in some way ... BOTH can / will be charged. (at the discretion of the attending officer)

[mossy1200]

I had to do some splitting from Welly to Palmerston North on Friday. Mana to Otaki traffic doing a crawl so slow idd have been a clutchless wonder before trip end. I don't normally split unless its stationary traffic at lights but I also don't commute on the bike.

[PrincessBandit]

I suspect the number one gripe by car drivers re lane splitting is when it is done at speed. By that I would consider anything above 50 "at speed" to travel between moving vehicles in a non-existent lane. Is it being in the wrong place at the wrong time when a cop just happens to see you or a pissed off driver *555ing you for doing 'dangerous stuff' ?
As a rider I try to be aware of bikes splitting when I'm in the car but some come up pretty quickly and don't leave much wiggle room. I've also been in motorway traffic where cars are moving at 80/90kph and bikes still split. My sphincter has tightened a few times watching them play the odds with mere centimetres to clear the corner of a car or truck.
Personally I've never been pulled over for it but would have to accept that if I was I've gotten away with it all those other times. A bit like speeding really.

[mossy1200]

The Easter queue seemed happy to pull left to make room.

[swbarnett]

but you won't catch me lane splitting - I'd rather be late timewise than be the Late Old Steve as in obituary wise..
Lane splitting is safer than sitting in traffic. The best way to keep yourself safe is to be in control. If you're in a line of stop-start traffic you're at the mercy of the vehicle behind you.

Are you willing to put your life in the hands of some spaced out moron*?



*There's nothing to keep the mind going sitting behind the wheel in a motorway queue.

[Big Dog]

14 years lane splitting in Akl and anywhere else I run into dense traffic.

If anything attitudes from enforcers has gotten better. Cars used to light me up but not stop me. Just waggle a finger.
Nowadays they wave me on if I slow down for marked cars.

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

Fing tapatalk.

[Micmac]

I have been guilty of it when in heavy traffic at a standstill (Charlotte, Atlanta, DC) I know it is not safe when doing it (for me I am not that experienced, only been riding about 50 years), but when it is 40 degrees and yer throat feels like sandpaper, and sitting atop a 1900 CC air-cooled engine, "turn on the juice and turn the fucking thing loose" I say. I don't care what anyone else does, I am not being critical, just talking about me.

[Micmac]

PS, they will write you a ticket in a heartbeat if caught. In KALI they do it all the time (lane split)..

[Devil]

Bikey cop around Greville pulled me this morning, not for splitting, or even riding in the bus lane briefly but for my dodgy plate (well aware of that). Turns out he's actually a good bugger and we ended up just chatting about bikes, gear and horns of all things for a while.

[TheDemonLord]

Bikey cop around Greville pulled me this morning, not for splitting, or even riding in the bus lane briefly but for my dodgy plate (well aware of that). Turns out he's actually a good bugger and we ended up just chatting about bikes, gear and horns of all things for a while.

So that was you I saw as I was filtering up - I waved to both you and the Cop

[Devil]

We ended up discussing the bus lane, and he was firmly of the belief that we can use the bus lane on the motorway (obviously not the northern bus way), but that bit of bus lane from Greville to Constellation, and also the piece from Esmonde that goes around Onewa (he said go around it, don't try and cut back onto the motorway - and watch out for the bump around the corner). As far as he was concerned the loophole is quite clear about bikes not being "specifically excluded" when it says "bus only". Which is what I believe, but didn't want to chance my luck. He said if I get any shit then to refer to him (Constable Turner - Motorway policing unit). British fella.

He said my splitting was all good, and just said try keep it below 35km/h and wont be an issue - mentioned something that their boss has pretty much said just to ignore it as long as the speed is low and people are being sensible.

[f2dz]

If you are lane splitting and you crash in NZ, its your fault, its called dangerous riding and that's what you could be charged with, your fault or not.

What information are you basing this on?

I've talked to a handful of officers about the legality of lane splitting and they have each said that it is completely legal to do so. It's a bit of a grey area in the sense that there isn't clean cut rules as to maximum speed you can go, but I've never heard of a police officer saying that you could get charged with dangerous riding.

I've split on the southern motorway from Manukau to the city and back on weekdays without being stopped or talked to once by police officers in cars or on bikes. I've had one officer in a car wave at me to slow down as I rode past but this was just after a guy blasted past him doing 70kph whilst he was doing 20.

[Jezxa]

We ended up discussing the bus lane, and he was firmly of the belief that we can use the bus lane on the motorway (obviously not the northern bus way), but that bit of bus lane from Greville to Constellation, and also the piece from Esmonde that goes around Onewa (he said go around it, don't try and cut back onto the motorway - and watch out for the bump around the corner). As far as he was concerned the loophole is quite clear about bikes not being "specifically excluded" when it says "bus only". Which is what I believe, but didn't want to chance my luck. He said if I get any shit then to refer to him (Constable Turner - Motorway policing unit). British fella.

He said my splitting was all good, and just said try keep it below 35km/h and wont be an issue - mentioned something that their boss has pretty much said just to ignore it as long as the speed is low and people are being sensible.

I saw a bike cop ride down the northern bus way once when I was waiting for a bus. It was raining quite heavily and he looked a bit miserable.

Interesting about using the motorway bus lanes though. I might try it sometime

[Puk]

I've only been riding 3 months now and commute each day from Albany to the city on SH1. Been lane splitting since I started and was told by the instructors I did my basic skills and general road practice with that lane splitting is fine, just don't be stupid with speed. Initially I wouldn't go above 30km/h and I still won't if traffic is stopped, but if its moving I will go up to 50km/h if they are doing say 20, but 50 is my cut off and I'll find a gap then.

Noticed the cops the last few weeks and had one look at me as I filtered the other day and then pull out and come behind me. Thought "here we go" so I pulled in and he went around me and got the car in front. Put his lights and sirens and the guy was oblivious, so he pulls round to his drivers door and sirens again and I then see this guy drop his phablet :)

FWIW yesterday in the pouring rain, I was doing 30 splitting when 2 bikes come behind me, I pull in a gap to let them past and its 2x scooters, look like 125's doing an easy 70km/h in stationry traffic! Nuts! Oh, and the guy this morning on a Triumph I think, doing god knows what speed on the shoulder near the centre! :blink:

[Erelyes]

If you are lane splitting and you crash in NZ, its your fault, its called dangerous riding and that's what you could be charged with, your fault or not.

I have seen some marked police cars ,with about 100 cars,using the left lane emergency stopping lane on the northern south bound m/way to get to the exit in heavy traffic though, you bad popo you!

Don't agree. General concensus on previous threads is that legally speaking, filtering (i.e. past stationary traffic) is legal, splitting (i.e. past moving traffic) is a very dark shade of grey, or illegal, depending on circs. But Dangerous is a stretch. Careless, perhaps.

I regularly split/filter down Crawford Street on the way to work. I go past either marked or unmarked police cars perhaps once or twice a week and have never had an issue.

Yesterday in particular I was splitting (doing about 20 past traffic doing 10), went past a mufti commodore, and as traffic was then speeding up, I slotted into a gap which the mufti commodore graciously made between them and the car in front. I was then riding ahead of them for a good way (until I split/filtered through slowing traffic to the red lights at Jetty St). Despite me being immediately ahead of them and there being ample free parks to pull me over, they saw no need. :Police:

[Moi]

We ended up discussing the bus lane, and he was firmly of the belief that we can use the bus lane on the motorway...

My concern with the bus lanes on any of the motorways round Auckland is the condition of the road surface in the bus lane. If there's rubbish there or uneven surface or shoulders then a bus is not likely to notice it, however on a bike would be a different matter. Was told that motorway bus lanes were a 'no-no' because NZTA do not maintain those lanes to the same standard as the other traffic lanes and was a safety issue and not a legal issue...

Don't start me on bus lanes on arterial roads... the whole bus lanes issue needs to be revisited by someone who has some common sense and make it apply through out the country as a standard... and that 50metres only before turning left from a bus lane! Why not, if you are in a bus lane to turn left who MUST turn left at the next intersection... or a decent sized fine: might stop those who believe they have the right to drive some distance in a bus lane in their car...

Just my tuppence worth...

[MonkeyJim]

We ended up discussing the bus lane, and he was firmly of the belief that we can

The rode code specifically states "bus lane"s can be used by busses, motorcyclists and cyclists, while "bus lane only" is for buses only, although they can be used by anyone to turn left if driving for no more than 50m only

[Gremlin]

The rode code specifically states "bus lane"s can be used by busses, motorcyclists and cyclists, while "bus lane only" is for buses only, although they can be used by anyone to turn left if driving for no more than 50m only
a) the road code isn't law (it even mentions this)
b) the law states vehicles must be specifically excluded
c) I wouldn't use them anyway...

[Swoop]

Examples of "specifically excluded" are like this:

310919310920



To find a sign which says "Only Gay Pink Elephants" simply does not meet the requirement of the law.

[Big Dog]

a) the road code isn't law (it even mentions this)
b) the law states vehicles must be specifically excluded
c) I wouldn't use them anyway...

Not to mention there are bylaws that need to be taken into account.
AKL city and North Shore city had differing laws. AKL yes, North shore say no unless specifically included. (OR so I was told by the cop who came to a couple of wednesday night rides)
I suspect this position would be somewhat differnet now with the supercity and the passage of 7-8 years.

[Gremlin]

Not to mention there are bylaws that need to be taken into account.
AKL city and North Shore city had differing laws. AKL yes, North shore say no unless specifically included. (OR so I was told by the cop who came to a couple of wednesday night rides)
I suspect this position would be somewhat differnet now with the supercity and the passage of 7-8 years.
Now throw in that NZTA actually manages the highways, not the local councils (or something like that) and I believe the motorway bus lanes aren't legal (a body without the authority declared to do so, created them).

[Moi]

Now throw in that NZTA actually manages the highways, not the local councils (or something like that) and I believe the motorway bus lanes aren't legal (a body without the authority declared to do so, created them).

Which is why I said earlier that it is about time that the whole issues of bus lanes was looked at and standardised for the whole country - and stop this ridiculous nonsense of every little village and hamlet having their own special rules about bus lanes... and while they are doing that they could ad to the list - lane markings and early warning for intersections...

Grump, grump, grump...

[madbikeboy]

I suspect the number one gripe by car drivers re lane splitting is when it is done at speed. By that I would consider anything above 50 "at speed" to travel between moving vehicles in a non-existent lane. Is it being in the wrong place at the wrong time when a cop just happens to see you or a pissed off driver *555ing you for doing 'dangerous stuff' ?
As a rider I try to be aware of bikes splitting when I'm in the car but some come up pretty quickly and don't leave much wiggle room. I've also been in motorway traffic where cars are moving at 80/90kph and bikes still split. My sphincter has tightened a few times watching them play the odds with mere centimetres to clear the corner of a car or truck.
Personally I've never been pulled over for it but would have to accept that if I was I've gotten away with it all those other times. A bit like speeding really.

Splitting at 150 is speed (*MPH). This is why I won't ride on the street anymore… :)