I got split on! [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

mangell6

17th June 2004, 21:59

FROSTY

17th June 2004, 22:19

Scarey isnt it ? Tempting to lean back on him and see what he does but heck its you that will always come off second best

mangell6

17th June 2004, 22:29

Gave me hell of a fright, as the road splits into three lanes at the point he passed me. I figure that he must have had a hard morning so far, 7am, and wanted to prove a point, go figure. :)

Zed

17th June 2004, 23:48

Let's face it, commuting on a bike in traffic is dangerous!

Things I am eagle-eyed about when filtering/splitting:

1. Whenever gaps appear in front of me always slow down, cos some plonker will cut in there quickly without indication if given the chance.

2. Other bikes, cos sometimes they pull out suddenly to lanesplit also and may not see you coming from behind.

3. Cages that purposely pull over so you can't get passed, cos these are the ones who will kill you if given the chance! Like the maniac who lanesplit you today Mr mangell6. These psychos are out there people, and they will go to all extremes to make sure they ruin your day. :angry2:

Zed

FROSTY

17th June 2004, 23:56

Gave me hell of a fright, as the road splits into three lanes at the point he passed me. I figure that he must have had a hard morning so far, 7am, and wanted to prove a point, go figure. :)
had a similar experience on the ol FXR a couple of weeks ago.A boy racer in his rumde dum thump de thump lowered mobile. I'd split to the front of the line at lights and he diddn't like it. he kept pulling forward on the line
trying to push me over.
I guess its just part of being a biker.

18th June 2004, 05:51

I saw your headlights in the mirror, and I said "that's Mike I think" and Hamish said "no it's not, he'd be lanesplitting". Then you passed us (legally!) so I knew it was you.

I'll tell him on the way to work why you were not your normal self.

What a prat in the Falcoon. Hope his is one of the ones that needs recalling.

RiderInBlack

18th June 2004, 07:16

What a prat in the Falcoon. Hope his is one of the ones that needs recalling.Lane Splitting in a Falcon with a steering fault:doh:I hope not:eek5:

riffer

18th June 2004, 07:49

Splitting in Welly traffic is dangerous. Ask anyone...

Didn't see you this morning though Mike, though you probably passed me and John in the silver Honda Accord. We were at Korokoro lights at 7.28 approx.

That Silver Falcon sounds a worry though. Maybe his steering was a bit funny..... <_<

Devil

18th June 2004, 08:11

had a similar experience on the ol FXR a couple of weeks ago.A boy racer in his rumde dum thump de thump lowered mobile. I'd split to the front of the line at lights and he diddn't like it. he kept pulling forward on the line
trying to push me over.
I guess its just part of being a biker.
Heh. ok, dont know if it was the same sorta situation, but...

When im in my car at the front of a queue at traffic lights, there are times when I want to just boot it out of there. It fucks me RIGHT off when a biker splits up next to me and pulls in front of me. Ok if they stay off to the side then fine, but swerving in front of someone who's just about to launch a it...

Watch what you pull in front of!

Omega1

18th June 2004, 08:36

Yes,I am in Lower Hutt and do commute often to Wellington.Last night I picked up my Seven from Motorad after getting a WOF and rode home to Lower Hutt at aprox 5.30pm obviously it was dark. I did lane split thing several times on the way but later when I was putting my bike away at home it struck me how freaky it is to ride down the middle of two rows of cars with their lights flashing past you in the dark, the whole line splitting exercise requires a heap of concentration.just my thoughts....

Dr Bob

18th June 2004, 09:05

I had a thought this morning, about those cars that sit in the right hand side of the lane. From the statutory regs (Traffic Regs 1976) we have...

(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of subclause (3) of this regulation, where a driver's speed is such as to impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic, he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, move his vehicle as far as practicable to the left side of the roadway when this is necessary to allow following traffic to pass.

Which means that if a motorbike could normally and reasonably overtake the vehicle then they should move to the left. So....

Overtaking—
(1)No driver shall pass or attempt to pass on the left of another vehicle moving in the same direction unless—
(a)The movement can be made with safety and is made with due consideration for other users of the road; and
(b)Either—
(i)The 2 vehicles are in different lanes; or
(ii)The overtaken vehicle is stationary or its driver has given or is giving the prescribed signal of his intention to turn to the right; or
.....
(2)No driver shall pass or attempt to pass on the right of another vehicle moving in the same direction when approaching or crossing an intersection, unless—
(a)Where the roadway is marked in lanes, his vehicle does not encroach on a lane available for opposing traffic; or
(b)The manoeuvre can be made with safety and is made with due consideration for users of the intersecting road.
.....

So a motorbike can overtake moving traffic in a lane even on the left!!! Obviousley there has to be an assessment of safety - however; prima facie it can be done legally.

Dr Bob

18th June 2004, 09:44

No, hang on there's an AND in there. The vehicle has to be stationary - bugger.

That means that you do have to be on the left hand side of the dotted line.

Posh Tourer :P

18th June 2004, 09:45

Heh. ok, dont know if it was the same sorta situation, but...

When im in my car at the front of a queue at traffic lights, there are times when I want to just boot it out of there. It fucks me RIGHT off when a biker splits up next to me and pulls in front of me. Ok if they stay off to the side then fine, but swerving in front of someone who's just about to launch a it...

Watch what you pull in front of!
Yes but unless I'm sure I can boot it infront of other people, I'd prefer to claim a lane to use after the intersection. I do *not* want to be caught between two cars accelerating to 60 or so. I lanesplit in traffic up to about 10kmh, I dont like doing it any faster, let alone 60. If it was me Devil, your launching will just have to wait. My safety comes first.

Having said that, I often choose which vehicle to pull infront of by choosing the slower looking one.

Also, pulling over to the side allows another biker to lanesplit up to the front and get infront of the traffic too. More room, more safer. I just dont trust cagers to see me and not move slightly to left or right and hit me. Nor do I quite trust myself to stay in a perfectly straight line, as I have a habit of weaving a little when taking off in first.

Devil

18th June 2004, 09:46

No, hang on there's an AND in there. The vehicle has to be stationary - bugger.

That means that you do have to be on the left hand side of the dotted line.
Heh i got confused with all the debate previously.
So right hand side of lane, but staying in it of course, with lane markings on your right...

Devil

18th June 2004, 09:58

Yes but unless I'm sure I can boot it infront of other people, I'd prefer to claim a lane to use after the intersection. I do *not* want to be caught between two cars accelerating to 60 or so. I lanesplit in traffic up to about 10kmh, I dont like doing it any faster, let alone 60. If it was me Devil, your launching will just have to wait. My safety comes first.

Having said that, I often choose which vehicle to pull infront of by choosing the slower looking one.

Also, pulling over to the side allows another biker to lanesplit up to the front and get infront of the traffic too. More room, more safer. I just dont trust cagers to see me and not move slightly to left or right and hit me. Nor do I quite trust myself to stay in a perfectly straight line, as I have a habit of weaving a little when taking off in first.

Yeah, of course have to wait. No question, wouldnt risk hitting a bike. But the times its happened hasnt even been rush hour or anything, just stopping at a multi lane set of traffic lights...I dont see the point of lane splitting there.

As far as your safety is concerned. The safest option would be to not split at all..

Dr Bob

18th June 2004, 10:31

Heh i got confused with all the debate previously.
So right hand side of lane, but staying in it of course, with lane markings on your right...
Yep, you can overtake within a lane on the right hand side of the vehicle. Or on the left if the vehicle is completely stationary and you are doing it in a safe and considerate manner.

However, the cars that don't move to the left of the lane are breaking the law.

Devil

18th June 2004, 10:33

However, the cars that don't move to the left of the lane are breaking the law.
Thats definately an interesting point to try and argue heh.

Posh Tourer :P

18th June 2004, 10:34

Devil

18th June 2004, 10:36

But bikers like to take off fast too..... And splitting I take as a necessary risk in Auckland traffic. I do what I can to minimise the risk, but whatever you do, you have to accept some level of risk.

Warning: ridiculous sarcasm>>
I could stay at home in bed, but wait, thats dangerous too... health risks...
Hehehe.
Ok, How about if any biker see's a dark dark green VR4 at the front of the queue, dont pull infront of him ok? :wavey:

James Deuce

18th June 2004, 10:45

I've been commuting on the bike for 3 weeks now.

There are some utter retards out there (inc. motorcyclists) who have little regard for human life. Well they APPEAR to have little regard. I think it is more likely that they have never had to deal with the consequences of seriously injuring or even killing someone, so it doesn't enter their head to be careful around bikes. The motorcyclists who lane split at warp speed are (brace yourselves) asking for an accident. Most people in ciommuter traffic are NOT very attuned to what is going on around them and only drive to car in front.

A simple formula for you. If you see someone was injured in an MVA on the news and they rate the injuries? This is how it works.

Minor injuries: Broken bones and abrasions. 2-6 weeks off work.
Moderate: Broken bones requiring fixation, abrasions and gashes requiring skin grafts or stitches. Possibly concussion as well. 6-12 weeks off work, some long term implications and possible minor disability.
Serious: Barely alive, possibly bits missing, serious head injury. Long term hospital stay of 3 weeks or more. Up to 6 months off work. Disabled to a greater or lesser extent. Might not be an obvious disability, but quality of life will be affected from time to time.
Critical: Was dead at the accident scene and revived. Will never be the same again and probably won't have much in the way of quality of life. Probably shouldn't have been revived but because medical technicians can, they do it anyway.

Only takes being run over by following traffic when you do get knocked off at motorway speed to get a critical rating.

Commuting isn't a race, and how is getting to work first any sort of prize?? :Pokey: (Except for jrandom who likes his job - freak)

Take it easy.

Nice to see you avoided the bugger and can vent here mangell.

vifferman

18th June 2004, 10:47

Yeah, of course have to wait. No question, wouldnt risk hitting a bike. But the times its happened hasnt even been rush hour or anything, just stopping at a multi lane set of traffic lights...I dont see the point of lane splitting there.

As far as your safety is concerned. The safest option would be to not split at all..
Well, I like to go to the front regardless of how heavy the traffic is, blah de blah blah. The reason is twofold:
1. When I'm commuting, the cars' engines are still cold, and spewing out heaps of crappy unburnt fuel etc into the air, and if I'm following them, I'm riding in this. My jacket has black 'highlights' (or should that be 'lowlights'?)from all this crap, and every time I clean my visor and helmet, they're the same. I guess I should really take the bus, but I value my indendence, and riding to work is the best part of the day. I can't completely eliminate the risks (including pollution) but I can minimise them.
2. The cars accelerate much slower than my bike. Yawn....

Yeah, not lane-splitting at all is the safest option. I rarely do it, and only where I can do so easily and safely, and where the traffic is stationary. I'm not riding a bike for economy, but because it shaves up to an hour off my commute, which is less than 20 minutes (taking a round-about, scenic route), but has taken up to 90 in the car, and about 40 in the bus. The route I choose avoids stops (where I'd be sucking in fumes, and yawning...), has more corners, is longer, but means I'm almost always in motion, as opposed to taking the direct route, which would save as much as 25% or more distance, but take about the same time. Or longer.

If it comes to that, not riding at all is the safest option, and one I have considered. Riding is a calculated risk.
And life is a terminal disease, and I have no desire to prolong it, nor make it seem even longer and more tiresome by increasing the boredom factor.

vifferman

18th June 2004, 10:49

Hehehe.
Ok, How about if any biker see's a dark dark green VR4 at the front of the queue, dont pull infront of him ok? :wavey:
Why - is it one of those ones subject to a recall for being defective? :Pokey:

Devil

18th June 2004, 10:52

...stuff...
Heh. Definately not trying to get into the risk argument here.
I was just pointing out that some of you buggers ruin my fun just to get two seconds ahead (without realising it). Not talking about morning/evening rush hours here, totally accept the benefits of safe lane splitting on motorway etc.

Maybe im just going to have to take the car to puke and have a blat and get it out of my system.

Devil

18th June 2004, 10:54

Why - is it one of those ones subject to a recall for being defective? :Pokey:
Heh. Nah, they didnt want mine (fuck knows why, its '97 with ASC, maybe its slightly later in '97??), but they've taken my dads one to get fixed.

And anyway, wouldnt that be "dont sit in front of me coming up to an intersection" :2guns:

Jackrat

18th June 2004, 10:57

Couldn't believe it.

This morning riding to work traffic was moving nicely and as I came up to the Melling Lights (Wgtn) I couldn't split as a silver falcoon was in the right hand lane hugging the centre line. Tosser I thought as I idled past. Well the lights were about to change to go so I decided to just idle behind the traffic noticing that the silver car had moved in behind me, Ah well.

I was approximately one metre to the left of the line and about a car length behind the car in front when the silver falcoon decides to move up on the inside and undertake me!!!! :wacko:

Couldn't believe it! So I thought sod you and split through the remaining moving vehicles (admission of guilt) to the intersection.

As a result of this "shocking" event, I didn't even notice Hamish, of Lynda fame, pulling to the extreme right to allow me past when I was behind him.

I mean incredible :blank:

Mike

I split at the lights just like you,I know most car drivers hate it "I don't give a fuck what they think" and I'm definatly never suprised if one of them takes offence and acts on it,or just drives like a pushy bastard.
So it's not shocking or unbelivable at all,just par for the course.
The guy just showed you the same consideration you showed him and all the others you/we/I split on.
You didn't really think they like it did you??
I'm just Glad he didn't cause you any real harm.
Welcome to the real world.

vifferman

18th June 2004, 11:53

I split at the lights just like you,I know most car drivers hate it "I don't give a fuck what they think" and I'm definatly never suprised if one of them takes offence and acts on it,or just drives like a pushy bastard.
So it's not shocking or unbelivable at all,just par for the course.
The guy just showed you the same consideration you showed him and all the others you/we/I split on.
You didn't really think they like it did you??
I'm just Glad he didn't cause you any real harm.
Welcome to the real world.
In five years of commuting in D'Auckland, I've seen hardly any drivers take offense at me cutting throught the traffic, and in fact I'm usually surprised at the number that pull over to make room. Most of my riding doesn't impede them or affect them at all, so if they get pissed off then that's their problem, and is just an outward manifestation of a "sour grapes" attitude: "Hey! I'm stuck in this traffic - how dare you avoid being stuck too!" :angry2: So therefore it's easy to shrug off any negative stuff that occurs.

merv

18th June 2004, 12:04

You may have got split on but at least you didn't get "spit" (or "spat") on.

Jackrat

18th June 2004, 12:54

In five years of commuting in D'Auckland, I've seen hardly any drivers take offense at me cutting throught the traffic, and in fact I'm usually surprised at the number that pull over to make room. Most of my riding doesn't impede them or affect them at all, so if they get pissed off then that's their problem, and is just an outward manifestation of a "sour grapes" attitude: "Hey! I'm stuck in this traffic - how dare you avoid being stuck too!" :angry2: So therefore it's easy to shrug off any negative stuff that occurs.

Errrrr,so we fully agree with each other then.
It only takes one and it seems Mr Mangell just met one.
I'm just saying is it shouldn't come as a suprise if it does happen.
As you say, shrug it off, it's their problem.
Or as I say "fuck em" it's their problem.
On a slightly different note,Iv'e been driving into the city every day for the last week and have only seen two bikes on the southern going my way,both spliting and leaving me sitting.So where the heck is everybody??

mangell6

18th June 2004, 14:13

Errrrr,so we fully agree with each other then.
It only takes one and it seems Mr Mangell just met one.
I'm just saying is it shouldn't come as a suprise if it does happen.
As you say, shrug it off, it's their problem.
Or as I say "fuck em" it's their problem.

Quite agree with you Jackrat, its his problem not mine.

I figure that it is like there are only seven dickheads in the world and they get around a lot.

I also figure that I made his day for him.

Isn't it all happy when we agree with each other. :grouphug:

Celtcno6 - I was already at work while you were in the car chatting with John. When do you get his bike to ride?

Zed - Like you I keep a real eagle eye on the traffic around me, trying to gauge what the drivers mood is and their next move. Thought the guy was moving into the further left lane, musta changed his mind, yeah thats it :rolleyes:

But the thrill of the split is . . . . .

Mike

riffer

18th June 2004, 14:24

Celtcno6 - I was already at work while you were in the car chatting with John. When do you get his bike to ride?
It needs a warrant first. Hopefully the fork seals don't have to be done (they're slightly leaky on one fork) and I have to make a claim on the stuff that was damaged.

Still waiting on a quote from Capital Watch Services on the repair of the strap and face on my Citizen Wingman and The Last Footwear Company on the repair of my custom riding boots. White Trash has already sorted me on the quotes for the rest of the gear.

So, probably about 2 weeks all going well... I am so hanging out to get back on a bike. Probably best not to at the moment, as my left ankle is still pretty sore. Those ligaments took a fair twist and really make themselves known at the end of the day.