Lanesplitting Courtesy

[madboy]

I feel compelled to express my opinion and seek feedback regarding the art of lanesplitting in relation to other bikers around you at the time. I don't care about the moral/legal implications of splitting, nor how to do it without dying. I just want to know whether my thoughts are in the right place for me.

I travel approx 15k of motorways each way commuting. Since I live south of Auckland, it's not all lanesplitting. But a fair bit of it is. Now I doubt I'm the quickest lane splitter out there, but I sure ain't the slowest. That said I obviously catch up to a fair few bikes as I cruise the ghost lane. And many of these bikes are either splitting, or flowing with the traffic but sitting either hard right or hard left (depending on what lane they're in) effectively blocking the ghost lane. None of this I disagree with.

Most bikers I come up on will move over as soon as they see me in their mirrors, or as soon as practical anyway, making it both obvious they they've seen me, and leaving me with space to safely pass them. Because their attention may be focused ahead (and quite rightly so if they're splitting or following close), sometimes this can take a minute or so until they notice you there. Of course, sometimes they're really quick and have moved before you've even got there, waving you through. Thanks to those guys/girls.

But quite a few don't. I don't know whether it's because they aren't checking their mirrors that often, or whether they just don't want to let me through. I would have thought not checking your mirrors at least every 30s or so was bloody dangerous. I would also think that not letting faster moving traffic through put you in the same category as cage drivers - ignorant and discourteous. I believe bikers should be above that.

Unfortunately with me striking this day in, day out, my patience is not what it used to be. The reason I write today is because I literally cut up a bike that was the 2nd chicane I struck this morning. I sat behind for a minute or so, no sign of this bike moving over despite a clear left lane toward the end. I had the option of undertaking them in the left hand lane (which they were in the RH wheel track of), or through the ghost lane, which would leave about a foot or two of clearance between my bike and theirs, side to side. I don't mind cutting into the space of cages, but not bikes. I thought it would be rude to invade their space. So I invaded their space and took the ghost lane. I have no idea whether they saw me behind them, were expecting it, or not. I didn't really care.

So can someone enlighten me on whether there is a proper etiquette for passing bikes/lanesplitting bikes? I don't want to get labelled as that mad f***er on the green bike with no plate that just pushes past - he nearly took me out today! I think I have a reasonable expectation that if a faster moving bike appears behind you that you display it the courtesy of allowing it through as soon as practicable. That's what I'd do.

[ManDownUnder]

I've practiced (and perfected) a "bip" on the horn, just brushing my thumb over it to let them know I'm there.

If they stay put I hop into another ghost lane till I pass them enough to get safely back into the better one.

There are not too many that don't pull over, an I make sure I pull over for those that I can too.

[Str8 Jacket]

I don't want to get labelled as that mad f***er on the green bike with no plate that just pushes past - he nearly took me out today! I think I have a reasonable expectation that if a faster moving bike appears behind you that you display it the courtesy of allowing it through as soon as practicable. That's what I'd do.

But you ARE that mad ******.... (no offence meant) :msn-wink:

All I can say is that if a bike wants to get passed me then get passed me, I aint moving why should I? If you want to lane split etc its no one elses responsibility to look out for you, I look out for myself yes I check my mirrors but Im not gonna get stressed cause some mad ****** wants to get passed me.

I am in no way getting at you madboy, but you asked for feedback so you got mine.... :bleh:

[Devil]

I find it silly that people dont see you coming.

My belief is that if you think you dont have time to look in your mirrors while splitting, you're probably splitting too fast.

I am a very gentle "safe" splitter, consequently, I have plenty of time to check my mirrors and shift for faster splitters.

[madboy]

All I can say is that if a bike wants to get passed me then get passed me, I aint moving why should I? No offence taken. But the way I see the "ghost lane" is the same way I see the fast lane on the mway. If a faster moving car comes up behind you, you move over as soon as practicable, let them through, then resume doing whatever you were doing. It's courtesy. Although in NZ it's more like enter the mway, head straight for the fast lane, and park there.

[Grahameeboy]

See your point.....problem with lane splitting is that even with mirrors others may not see you....mirrors on bikes not being best eh....my view is that when lane splitting you need to be courteous to those in front because you are not flowing with traffic so harder to pick up..........bit like the sking rule.

Yesterday I was in traffic and this dude appears right next to me, like inches away, I did not see him before but then I was only creeping due to SWAT but given what he did after not surprising.....he had to stop quick too...I pulled over let him by and he accelerates hard in between traffic...in and out etc....anyway, got off the bridge and he was having a chat with a Biker Cop who was doing a ticket......sorry but this guy deserved it the way he was lane splitting......

That's it folks.

[Str8 Jacket]

Maybe I should have clarified myself more. If im in a postion to move over then I will, same if I filter through traffic at the lights and theres a bike behind me, I will move over and let them in as well. However if Im doing the speed limit or a wee bit over and theres some mad ****** screaming up behind me then all im worried about is filtering safely myself and I see it as the mad ****** problem.

[deathstar]

well i just laughed and sat behind a business man riding a scooter and i didn't want to go past i just wanted comedy hour that i missed on tv this morning

[Grahameeboy]

Maybe I should have clarified myself more. If im in a postion to move over then I will, same if I filter through traffic at the lights and theres a bike behind me, I will move over and let them in as well. However if Im doing the speed limit or a wee bit over and theres some mad ****** screaming up behind me then all im worried about is filtering safely myself and I see it as the mad ****** problem.

Sounds fair and reasonable to me Str8....

[Lou Girardin]

I sympathise Mad Boy. If they haven't seen you after a reasonable period, they have observational problems. A little wake up wouldn't go astray.
I'll sit behind them till I'm sure they've seen my lights searing their retinas, then I'll move. But I usually try to pass when I can use a gap in the next lane.

[Mattyc]

to be honest i lane split a little and i just go into another lane and pick my way round them.

on a side note
theres this guy who rides a bandit1200 with white alpinstars Mx boots has anyone seen him - cracks me up every time - he rides citybound from south

[snuffles]

get big headlights and airhorns

[NC]

Yeah! I see you waiting all the time in traffic, you never lane split.:whistle:

I guess the rules would be, don't get infront of someone that can lanesplit fast

Don't just pull out, look behind first.

[riffer]

I know where you're coming from MB.

Since I started working back in town on Monday, commuting 37kms each way from Upper Hutt, I've noticed this happening a bit. Most are good, but a few are just irritating.

However, I do believe the onus is on the overtaking vehicle to get past. A friendly blip on the horn is good, and most bikers are apologetic as you go past.

Now to sort out the SUV drivers that hug the right edge of the left lane....

[sAsLEX]

Dont know how many lanes your dealing with, but looking well ahead as well as scanning for lane changing suicide drivers, allows you to just use other lanes such as the bus lane, 1a,2a,3a etc

One point that may not be relavant to you MB is that sometimes bikers are going slow for a reason. ie a Undercover cop is a few cars infront, or even worse a bike cop that may stand a chance of actually catching a bike (not you though :wait: )

[Sutage]

saw the end of exhaust off, no worries then
try explaining that to the pigs tho

[justsomeguy]

I too have the problem you speak about. Usually they move over if you give a little blip on the horn like MDU said. Otherwise I treat them like just another obstacle and ride around them.

[James Deuce]

There's a dude on a HD who is an unthinkably ignorant swine. He had a pillion this morning, and he was not only wobbling all over the ghost lane, but he had 4 bikes stacked up behind him. He looked in his mirrors. I was close enough to see him do it travelling at 5km.hr in stopped traffic. Too slow even for me. He passed up opportunity after opportunity to move 2 feet to the left and I had to hold the horn down for about 15 seconds to get him to even consider moving. I then got the finger and a big lurch in my direction as I went past.

NZers have to get everywhere "first". I felt like a bastard getting this guy to move, but he was creating a traffic jam in the ghost lane for goodness sake.

Riffer, it is actually on the slower vehicle in front to get out of the way. What you say is true for the race track. On the road, if you aren't able to maintain a pace commensurate with following traffic, then get the hell out of the way.

[Skunk]

If you're holding up the traffic and know it you such get the ***** out of the way.

Holds for car bike whatever.

Anything else is a lack of curtsey - which NZ drivers are VERY good at showing.

I move as soon as I'm able.

[Fatjim]

ASA someone who has visability problems behind, (VTR and I'm rather wide) I must admit i do miss some bikes ciming up behind me, but as I'm prolly in the faster 20% of lane splitters this doesn;t cause me much grief.
Apologies to anybody I haven't seen.

I think a little tottle on the horn goes a long way if you've already gone a long way, following someone that is.

I treat other motorists with caution in this order.

Taxi drivers, because they're frekin useless drivers.
Motorcyclsts, cause they're prone to move all over the road with little warning.
Bus drivers, cause they're sadists.
2.5tonners cause they tend to be mindless gits who think it's fun to run anybody faster than them over.
Trailers, cause they're always wider than they think they are.


so I'm always careful when overtaking other motorcyclists and make sure they know I'm there. The no. of times somebodies given me a "flyby" just before I've started to pull out is the reason. If I can f&ck up, so can the next guy.

[Jackrat]

ANYBODY trying to pass me on the left within MY FUCKING LANE can GET FUCKED.Lane splitters are just passing in a manner that if any other road user did it to them,they would and do have a major whinge over.
As long as bikers think it's ok to pass me on the left within my lane "I reserve the right to do the same".And I drive a truck.
Courtesy my Arse!!!

[James Deuce]

I do my best not to pass on the left, but there are a significant minority that can't stay to the left of their lane, so you have to cross the lane divider and then you end up passing on the left. I always indicate lane changes too.

I only filter through traffic travelling at 20 km/hr or less. If you can't do it there's no point riding a bike to work. Apart from fun of course. I chop 20 minutes off my car commute, by filtering through stopped traffic at two junctures on the Hutt motorway, and filtering to the front of the queue at about 7 sets of lights.

It's not illegal, provided you overtake within the same lane, and indicate any lane changes.

[madboy]

Jim2, the fella 2up on the Harley, wasn't between 8.40 and 9ish by any chance? That was the third rolling road block I discovered today, some overweight cruiser 2up hogging the lane 2/3 ghost lane doing bugger all more than the cars. Which wasn't really much of a problem, cos I cut to lane 1/2 and within 2 cars was ahead so could drop back into 2/3 again. But I can see how a queue could have formed behind that one. And thye had no excuse - the mirrors were sitting so wide I can kinda understand why he was lanesplitting so slow!

[LXS]

I swallow my pride and get outta the way, takes a few seconds.

[James Deuce]

Yeah that's the dude. I caught him at Ngauranga so there was no lane 1/2 or 2/3. Only two lanes. I made a hole when 3 lanes reappeared. Seriously though, 4 bikes queued behind him including a scooter.

[madboy]

Given the speed differential between my "lanesplitting" and your "lanesplitting" I must have only been milliseconds behind catching you today then - unless the new Kwaka has unleashed the beast :devil2:

[Skyryder]

Whatever the rights or wrong of lane splitting.......... run into the bike ahead and your're in the wrong.


Skyryder

[James Deuce]

And who said they had run into the bike in front?

[NinjaBoy]

I will pull over when I can but as you should know MB that the 636 mirrors are useless. It could easily be a minute or more before I notice someone behind.

[pritch]

I've practiced (and perfected) a "bip" on the horn,

And you could also buy an aftermarket horn(s). Just in case they saw you but were thinking of ignoring you.

The dual FIAMMS on my Hornet take some considerable ignoring...

[sedge]

Ah Madboy, you're obviously a splitting god and want everyone to worship your mightiness...

'bow... scrape... bow... scrape.. So mighty... Your splittingness shined forth and blindeth me'

Sedge.

[thealmightytaco]

I'd move out of the way but yeah it's up to the passer to get past ultimately, no major. Mirror checkin' every 30 seconds is still gonna be longer than you feel like waitin' I imagine too, especially if you're coming up on stopped traffic.

[TygerTung]

What if you don't have any mirrors on your bike? I don't!

I reckon if they don't notice you, beep the horn.

[sAsLEX]

Met a new pain in the arse this morning! Fuckin buses driving across multiple lanes! What cocks event though they could fit quite clearly in the left lane, this bus was following a identical bus staying within his lane, he made quite sure my ghost lane was blocked.

Along with stagecoach 2477 ,who decided to take me out in my jeep but I managed to get out of the way, all buses now will not get room from me and I will endeavour to make their life hard, they can come beat me up if they wish but carbon knukles will go along way if it comes to that :mega:

[madboy]

Sedge, thank you. I appreciate someone finally recognising my brilliance.

Saslex, you're not a chick so they won't bother giving you the bash.

[riffer]

Followed a guy on a new-looking blue ZX6R this morning.

He was doing about the same speed as me so it was nice to stay a car or so behind him and have him running interference for me.

I leave Upper Hutt about 7.30am, get into town (I work corner Kent Tce and Majoribanks St) about 8.00am.

[Sutage]

FUck mirrors use your head and your own eyes
only way to be CERTAIN

[raster]

to be honest i lane split a little and i just go into another lane and pick my way round them.

on a side note
theres this guy who rides a bandit1200 with white alpinstars Mx boots has anyone seen him - cracks me up every time - he rides citybound from south

I ride from Pka to Mt Welly some mornings, red zzr with road rash, I try and pull over before yous get to me, no I dont ride a bandit.

Give me a blip as you go past if you want :corn:

[XP@]

I got well and truly trapped the other day, I followed another bike up to the front of the lights. I only did so because there was heaps of space at the front for the bike in front to swing left and give me room to get up there too.

WRONG. They just sat there eeek.

It would be nice if we all made room, where possible, for other bikes coming through to the front of lights.

I think Jim2 said the other day that we were possibly getting a bike zone at the front of some lights? that would be nice :0)

On the original topic, When I get the chance i try and pull over far enough to allow the passing bike to use the same space if they need to. But it may take a while to notice them, I try and give other bikes the same courtesy.

And yup those Harleys can be a tad wide. I too came across the same road block

[tracyprier]

Funnily enough yes I did, yesterday. Noticed the boots straight away but hey, to each their own eh? Maybe they are his fav boots or maybe he rides MX as well and doesn't see the point in buying 2 pairs of boots.

At least he ain't wearing jandals :)



to be honest i lane split a little and i just go into another lane and pick my way round them.

on a side note
theres this guy who rides a bandit1200 with white alpinstars Mx boots has anyone seen him - cracks me up every time - he rides citybound from south

[raster]

I think Jim2 said the other day that we were possibly getting a bike zone at the front of some lights? that would be nice :0)



I think you'll find it is for push bikes only :brick:

[Ixion]

Well, they have them already out Manukau.. And it doesn't SAY push bikes only, just has a bike icon painted on it. So I'm taking that as "anything wiv two wheels" until someone shows me the law otherwise.

[Groins_NZ]

I travel into town from Upper Hutt at about 6:45 a.m. and there's a few other regular motorocyclists splitting their way in. There's two motorcyclists (don't know them) that peeve me off in particular as they have no respect for other bikers.

If I see (or hear) a faster bike coming through behind me then I look for a space to let them through safely (for me and them), most times I indicate once or twice to let them know I've seen them and I'm not just moving aside because I had a sudden urge to. I figure this is a good way to do things since when I've come up behind some slower lan-splitters myself, I don't know what the F$@K they intend on doing sometimes - they could easily decide to jump into the GHOST lane at the last minute so to me it makes sense if they can acknowledge your presence where possible.

When I'm occupying the front at the lights I'll check my mirrors for other riders coming up towards me and try to give them some space if I can (most times I can't). It's easier and safer if you can start off from the lights infront of vehicles rather than trying to squeeze in a cap because they have started moving off.

I've had a couple of instances where there's been no room up front and so had to sit a couple of cars back waiting for the lights to go green. I've ridden off taking the small space behind the car infront and the cunty bastards behind have tried to then pass me on the right halfway across the intersection (one guy tried doing it twice). I think they (he) must of got pissed off with the guy on the bike getting ahead of them (mofos?! - "if you don't like it, go buy yourself a bike cunt!").

My 2c

[Skyryder]

And who said they had run into the bike in front?

Well if you had read the oiginal post on this thread 'Jimmy two times' you would have noticed that the rant was about bikes in FRONT not moving over so that the rear bike can pass. That's what I thought this thread was about. But I guess I was wrong. The ones that fall out of the sky can be just as dangerous.

Skyryder

[James Deuce]

Sorry I missed the bit where motorcycles running in line astern automatically run into each other. My mistake.

[mdb]

mmmm lane splitting .... in England they call it filtering

[Brett]

If you are going hard enough, they will hear the intake form your engine before they see you.
Nah seriously, i guess it comes down to what is sensible...if you can slip by safely, then go for it. If they are hogging lane, let them know your their. I tend to ride with brights on if I am splitting. Seems that cars notice you better anyhow!

[Groins_NZ]

Yeah I recently starting riding into work with lights ablaze - main beam and two auxiliary driving lights. So many people changing lanes at the last minute, not indicating at times so I like to know people can see me errrr.... coming.