Police Behaviour on the Morning Commute.

[Slingshot]

On my morning commute this morning I was happily splitting through traffic until I reached a group of bikes waiting in traffic. Sure enough, there was a motorbike cop a couple of hundred meters ahead.

So as things transpired, I got into a lane that was moving pretty quick and in next to no time I was in front of the cop. He made a quick lane change and did a little filtering (not splitting) to catch up with me and then he sat behind me. So we carried along like this for a bit then I decided to change lanes, he continued on past me and gave me a nod.

Next thing I see is this cop filtering again to catch up with another bike, once he caught up it looked like he was trying to get close enough to read the reg label on the bike he was following, then it looked like he was writing something down and he continued to follow this poor rider through every lane change and eventually the offramp that this guy took.

So, it seems that the moral of the story is...if your bike isn't exactly legal...don't let the cops get behind you, keep them in front at all costs.

Interestingly enough, he didn't seem to be checking out any cars...just bikes.

[James Deuce]

Yep, that dude's followed me as well. He's actually a nice bloke. He followed me to work one day, pulled in front and severely reduced my splitting options. Then pulled behind and followed me to work. When I left work he was waiting for me at the end of Manning Lane. I stopped and had a chat he is checking motorcycle behaviour and identifying "problem riders".

Basically take it easy around him and you'll be sweet and he has no issue with lane - splitting through stopped or slow traffic, but filtering, aggressive or otherwise is frowned upon. We may be getting advanced stop lines at intersections in town so we get a head start away from the lights too.

[Sniper]

Seems like a normal thing to do. The CHCH biker cops used to do the same.

[Slingshot]

We may be getting advanced stop lines at intersections in town so we get a head start away from the lights too.

This sounds interesting...tell us more!!!

[SVrunner]

Great now I know where all the cops are, as have found none in the Auckland area this morning.
My change onb way home the afternoon.

[madboy]

That could be the cop parked on Murphy St when I went past. He pulled in a car behind me but thank God the traffic stopped so I could split off again. By that stage of the commute the splitting options are somewhat narrowed and sedate anyway. He'd be better off talking to me earlier on... Didn't seem to pay any attention to me today. Which is silly, cos I'd be pretty offended if I couldn't make the problem rider posters at the station.

And if he can see my rego sticker or WOF while riding then he should sell his eyes to the military and retire a rich man.

[oldrider]

Having read how many bikes are mentioned on here as having been stolen, do think he might just be looking after our interests and checking for stolen bikes. He doesn't sound as if hes picking on the bikers.
Maybe we could cut him some slack before condemning him. :buggerd: Cheers John.

[Slingshot]

Maybe we could cut him some slack before condemning him. :buggerd:

i wasn't condemning him, just making an observation.

MB...I'm pretty sure it was the Murphy St offramp that he took...probably around 8:20ish.

[Blackbird]

Well, my only experience of Wellington bike cops was a positive one. I was in a hurry to catch the ferry for the Southern Cross ride and was indulging in filtering/splitting in morning rush hour traffic under a bit of stress. I caught him up on a roundabout somewhere south of Paecack. He was just sitting with his helmet front up waiting to get onto the roundabout and he asked me where I was going when I pulled alongside. When I said the ferry, he gave a "come on" nod with his head and gave me a rapid tow right to the top of the gorge which I thought was fantastic. He had a trim fair beard. What a great intro to the police in the Capital.:first: :niceone:

[James Deuce]

.....He had a trim fair beard. What a great intro to the police in the Capital.:first: :niceone:

That's the guy. He's good value.

[Korea]

sounds like a diamond in the rough :ride:

[thehovel]

In Auckland the first rule of filtering is don't pass Mr Plod the second rule is refer to first rule . Also if your filtering is no wore that 10Km faster than the flow to a max of 50Km Mr Plod will generally leave you alone.BUT there is one officer( car only )who is very pragmatic. Ride safe Richard

[XP@]

If anyone has the chance can you please ask the cop why he rides through town with his right foot almost touching the floor....

Also good job I missed him this morning .... no number plate / wof or reg.
But tonight I will be on my way home with a brand spanking new plate / wof and reg all in my pocket :-) so if you see, wave cos I will be smiling :-)

[Scouse]

In Auckland the first rule of filtering is don't pass Mr Plod the second rule is refer to first rule . Also if your filtering is no wore that 10Km faster than the flow to a max of 50Km Mr Plod will generally leave you alone.BUT there is one officer( car only )who is very pragmatic. Ride safe Richard
Err dont you mean pedantic....?

[madboy]

no number plate / wof or reg...
But tonight I will be on my way home with a brand spanking new plate / wof and reg all in my pocket :-) Cool, I'm not the only one then.

[sedge]

Hi, my name is Sedge and I am a problem biker.

Hi Sedge.

<*cough**cough*> Erm, Thanks.

Sedge.

[sels1]

. Which is silly, cos I'd be pretty offended if I couldn't make the problem rider posters at the station. .

Yeah, its prolly you he's looking for...

(dont buy a green bike folks - the cops are watching for them...:laugh: )

[Dafe]

I saw a Silver kwawa ZX12 getting ticketed on the way home, by a bike cop.

The kwaka was in the slow lane, we were doing about 20-25kph. Traffic was shit! I saw the Kwaka pull into the shoulder and carry on overtaking at about 40-45 kph.
1km down the road, I saw the bike cop ticketing him.
Seems to me these cops are hard up for issueing tickets, they're on the verge of actually harassing riders and drivers now.
I'm really starting to hate the cops more and more.:tugger:

[madboy]

Can't say I really get into using the shoulder if I don't have to. Too much crap on there, you're asking for a puncture. You don't go far with no air in your tyres.

And Sels, I was just thinking that the other day as I looked at, umm, is it flyinpony?, with a ZX6R that looks pretty damn close to mine... poor bugger. He's gonna have the Upper Hutt cops thinking it's payback time, the Lower Hutt guys blocking the road successfully this time and the Wgtn units ready with spikes... just in case.

[James Deuce]

Guys, it actually is an offence to ride in the service lane. They have ticketed people who use it for a good couple of decades now, particularly on SH2 between Petone and Ngauranga.

[DMNTD]

...i found most bikers are pretty pro police if respect is given both ways..
Ya got it in one mate

[XP@]

Guys, it actually is an offence to ride in the service lane. They have ticketed people who use it for a good couple of decades now, particularly on SH2 between Petone and Ngauranga.

What gets me is that the service lane is a really safe place to be (except maybe the chance of a puncture which at < 50kph is only an annoyance)

Why don't they let us use them if the traffic is less than 30kph and we go no faster than 40kph and the lane is clear?

It would be less danger for us and less annoyance for the cagers.

[James Deuce]

Because it's for service vehicles. Ambulances, Fire Engines, and Police Cars/bikes use it in an emergency. We can;t be trusted to get out of the way. Survivors Motorcycle Club helped BRONZ raise the issue of using the service lane in 1990 and again in '91 and both times we were turned down. I can't be bothered going there because the paper trail is 10 times bigger than what it was then.

[XP@]

Because it's for service vehicles. Ambulances, Fire Engines, and Police Cars/bikes use it in an emergency. We can;t be trusted to get out of the way. Survivors Motorcycle Club helped BRONZ raise the issue of using the service lane in 1990 and again in '91 and both times we were turned down. I can't be bothered going there because the paper trail is 10 times bigger than what it was then.

Can't be trusted to get out of the way? yeright! Imaging tootling down the service lane, traffic stopped good possibility there is an accident ahead. You hear a siren and look behind there is a fire engine coming what do you do...

a. stay in the service lane
b. get the F out of the way

But yup, I guess the paper trail would be huge :( but may be now we are allowed in the bus lanes....:)

[James Deuce]

That was the serious response. Paraphrased response: "The general public have difficulty identifying vehicles with lights and sirens in good traffic conditions. We don't believe that motorcyclists are any different and in peak hour travel conditions we believe that their situational awareness is even more compromised."

I got in to trouble for pointing out that Senior public officials are supposed to be able to tell the difference between a belief system and empirical data, and how about doing a study on the differences in situational awareness between motorcyclists and car drivers who have never ridden a motorcycle.

As I say, I can't be bothered going there any more. There are rules for them, rules for us, and with the exception of election time (What a joke - most of the people screwing up our enjoyment of motorcycling aren't elected) we don't have a hope in hell of altering policy unless the entire population kicks up a stink, a la nuclear weapons, or the anti-apartheid protests.

[Sniper]

Err dont you mean pedantic....?

No, pragmatic.


Definition of pragmatic: matter-of-fact: concerned with practical matters; "a matter-of-fact (or pragmatic) approach to the problem"; "a matter-of-fact account of the trip"

[Lou Girardin]

In Auckland the first rule of filtering is don't pass Mr Plod the second rule is refer to first rule .

I pass them legally all the time. I've never been pulled for it.

I wonder if these policy makers realise that bikers are safer filtering in very heavy traffic than when it's less busy.
Even the most moronic cager is not going to change lanes when he's got another car right alongside. So if we're in the middle we're OK.

[XP@]

That was the serious response. Paraphrased response: "The general public have difficulty identifying vehicles with lights and sirens in good traffic conditions. We don't believe that motorcyclists are any different and in peak hour travel conditions we believe that their situational awareness is even more compromised."
That is probably the most uninformed nonsense I have ever heard!
I don't think there is any time when I am more aware of my surroundings than during peak traffic. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the same for most riders.

But as you say.... :doh: :argh: :doh: :argh:

[mikey]

the old guy on the bmw caught me riding in the service lane between nagaranga an petone, had no helmet on to, to make thigns a bit easier to identify me, as i had no plate on.
they wont come out an play if there always goign to lose you see
he even made me push it home. i had it tapped out on the limiter. an was having a ciggy at same time.

revenge was sweet though. still is. got off that ticket. same with every other ticket ive got.

[Pieyed]

I use the service lane before the terrace tunnel. Am aware that an ambulance could come up behind me so look out for them. Otherwise, I lane filter and find that if I am sensible, i.e. look, indicate and move between cars one at a time, a cop will not pull me over. I've always wondered why people sit behind cars in peak traffic and now I know its becase they may have been ticketed.
:doh:

[nudemetalz]

Did I see you this morning, Slingshot, in the fast lane on Southbound leading to Aotea Off-Ramp at about 8.45ish?
There was a bike cop about 2 cars down from you, looked like he was shadowing you !!!

I was on my blue ZX-10 on the inside, was lane-splitting til i saw him then stayed in my lane.

Next time I see you, I'll wave, wasn't sure this morning.

[James Deuce]

That wasn't Slingshot, because he went past me at about 8:15am at Ngauranga. :)

[Slingshot]

I use the service lane before the terrace tunnel.

I do too, as do heaps of other bikes...what time do you head through there, I'm normally at the tunnel by about 8:20ish.

Oh, and congratulations on your first post!


Did I see you this morning, Slingshot, in the fast lane on Southbound leading to Aotea Off-Ramp at about 8.45ish?

Not guilty! See above for my usual timings.


That wasn't Slingshot, because he went past me at about 8:15am at Ngauranga. :)

Were you in the car or on the bike? I tend to zone out when I'm splitting so probably wouldn't have recognised you.

[hXc]

Cops are human too so therefore I apply this rule - "To earn respect, ye shall give respect"

[madboy]

I passed the bike cop just after Ngauranga prob about 8.40ish this morning. He was two cars behind a bike that looked like it had suddenly stopped splitting. But given as it's 3 lanes, I chose ghost lane number 1 and left the cop and other bike to get paranoid about each other in ghost lane number 2.

And Mikey, you've gotta start giving the pigs your real name. Makes it easier for the tickets to stick.

[nudemetalz]

I passed the bike cop just after Ngauranga prob about 8.40ish this morning. He was two cars behind a bike that looked like it had suddenly stopped splitting. But given as it's 3 lanes, I chose ghost lane number 1 and left the cop and other bike to get paranoid about each other in ghost lane number 2.


That was exactly the same time as me. That bike I saw looked like a black Yami R6 that the cop was checking out.

Must have missed you by minutes.

[James Deuce]

Were you in the car or on the bike? I tend to zone out when I'm splitting so probably wouldn't have recognised you.

Bike. I don't have a car any more.