Lane-splitting on the Southern Motorway - Auckland

[McJim]

When I first started lane splitting I was flabberghasted by the number of motorists that see you coming and try to block your progress. Thought this was a bit rude and dangerous.

The past week I've noticed that almost every second driver is courteous and makes space for me as I'm coming along - is this some sort of New Years' resolution I wasn't aware of?

Anyone else noticed an improvement in cage manners?

Regardless of the reason I like it - long may it continue (I've taken to cheery gestures to thank the drivers involved).

[GR81]

it's a pretty mixed bag.

[James Deuce]

They're not blocking you. 99% of what you think is a blocking move is just sheer inattention. They have no idea you're there.

Now that a chunk of the population has had a break, their situational awareness has probably temporarily improved. It will be back to normal in 3 months.

[ArcherWC]

I have noticed a big difference between the three motorways, with West Aucks the worst and the Northen Motorway the best by far.

[ManDownUnder]

In general yes. What really floored me was my trip Auckland to New Plymouth.

I passed a few cars in each direction (round trip of 800km?) and all but 2 got out of my way... seriously - all but 2. Was most impressive!

[McJim]

In general yes. What really floored me was my trip Auckland to New Plymouth.

I passed a few cars in each direction (round trip of 800km?) and all but 2 got out of my way... seriously - all but 2. Was most impressive!

Yeah - the manners on the open road has improved too - a fella in a Cobra pulled over to let me past in Twilight Road the other month.

Nice car too...

[Devil]

yeah lately ive had heaps of people moving over for me.
Southern has been ok lately. I prefer splitting on the NW though (which is just about never) because there's a bit more room.

[Disco Dan]

Lane splitting on northwestern yesterday about 8:40am - two bikes in front of me, not sure what they were. One of them clipped a cars mirror pushing it right the way forward on its mount, the driver then stuck his arm out and made a fist as second bike appoached... he went straight through... ...oh my turn.. oh great... "give him a kick for being a prick". Then a Telcom van moved right accross blocking all three bikes! def on purpose! other bikes skipped a lane and continued.. I went up along side van, stopped next to the window and just gave him the finger. then continued lane splitting. Cages just wind me up now!! They get so dam jelous of you cos they are sitting there doing fark all when you zoom past!!

[BarBender]

Might be that people pick up on that mature and positive aura you have McJim...OR...have you been wearing your kilt again on the motorway? :gobsmacked:

Agree with Jim 2 in the holiday mindset/space and Archer on the manners.
My experience in Jafaland central from Feb to Dec is that the NW has a few nutters on it but has by far the wider lanes. Southern is tight all the way to Ellerslie but the animals tend to play nice. Dont do the Northern alot but when I do I feel like Moses.

[James Deuce]

I accidentally knocked a mirror off one morning in stopped traffic. I stopped, back pedaled, put the mirror back on and got the guy to check the electrics.

All sweet. Gave him a business card. Rode off. Guy rings up to thank me and says, "no damage, no drama, and sorry I couldn't talk, I thought you were going to kill me."

[Ixion]

I find that almost everyone moves over for me when I'm splitting on the BMW. Often make quite extreme efforts to get out my way. Dunno why.

[Jimmy B]

They're not blocking you. 99% of what you think is a blocking move is just sheer inattention. They have no idea you're there.

Now that a chunk of the population has had a break, their situational awareness has probably temporarily improved. It will be back to normal in 3 months.


Asolutley agree with Jim,

10 years commuting on Sthn,NW and SW lead me to believe that we just arent seen, people are more interested in whats going on in front, hence the weaving across, looking for a gap to change into. If it was raining I only lane split if the traffic was either stationary or close to it, some pretty radical moves out there. Also by lane splitting every Cage you pass you would spend at least some time in their blind spot, critically the Cage you are about to overtake, just off their right or left tail light, its amazing the amount of folks that only look quickly in the rear mirror, with out checking their side mirrors before they shoot across your path without indicating.

Good to hear that youve had some good riding on our fair motorway system of late but I am sure that this will be a temporary feature

[McJim]

I find that almost everyone moves over for me when I'm splitting on the BMW. Often make quite extreme efforts to get out my way. Dunno why.

No-one's had a word with you about them red and blue lights you fitted then?

[Swoop]

I find that almost everyone moves over for me when I'm splitting on the BMW. Often make quite extreme efforts to get out my way. Dunno why.
Perhaps it has something to do with the Rastafarians chasing after you... They think it stands for Bob Marley and the Wailers!!!:done:

[ArcherWC]

Most of the time when you see them weaving all over they lane, you get alongside and they are giving all their attention to their cell

[McJim]

Perhaps it has something to do with the Rastafarians chasing after you... They think it stands for Bob Marley and the Wailers!!!:done:

Wailers? I thought Bob Marley was Japanese all these years - I thought it was Bob Marley and the WHALERS...Doh!

I know it sounds a bit Ghey but I think it's important to thank cagers that acknowledge you and help you lane split safely - makes them feel the warm glow of gracious magnanimity (sp?) and they can feel they've made the world better in some small way - also means they'll do it again.

Flipping the bird to the drivers that don't will just cause some idiot to kill the next rider he sees with his cage.

[Jimmy B]

Most of the time when you see them weaving all over they lane, you get alongside and they are giving all their attention to their cell

Yep that as well, together with reading the paper, eating breakfast, having a shave, putting on makeup, fiddling with the radio etc

[hXc]

Was splitting up between two lanes of traffic at a light controlled intersection the other day...
I was approaching the front two vehicles and they were fairly close, but still enough room for me to go through. So me being a considerate motorist, I walk the bike through, rather than carving it up and causing a riot.

The guy on the left of me with his arm out the window said exactly this, "Hey, what the fuck do you think you're doing? You'd be a right fucking dickhead wouldn't ya?" And I noticed a slight accent in his profanity.

Now, I know this light sequence well enough to insert a witty comment back, as the lights are coming up green. My witty comment just happened to be, "Nah mate, you're the only fucking Aussie here."

Of course, just as I suspected, the lights turned green and I rode away with a big smile. Never did see him again either...

[Hellraiser]

Lane splitting on northwestern yesterday about 8:40am - two bikes in front of me, not sure what they were. One of them clipped a cars mirror pushing it right the way forward on its mount, the driver then stuck his arm out and made a fist as second bike appoached... he went straight through... ...oh my turn.. oh great... "give him a kick for being a prick". Then a Telcom van moved right accross blocking all three bikes! def on purpose! other bikes skipped a lane and continued.. I went up along side van, stopped next to the window and just gave him the finger. then continued lane splitting. Cages just wind me up now!! They get so dam jelous of you cos they are sitting there doing fark all when you zoom past!!

Bloody Hell i'm still getting over the fact you are able to find your way through the traffic with out getting lost ....... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[KLOWN]

Had a friend tell me a story about when he was lane splitting the northern motorway following two bikes, the first bike was purposely blocked by a car, so when he finally got past he kicked the cars wing mirror off, next bike through was purposely hit by the car and the guy was badly injured. Second biker did not know first biker. Moral of the story is be careful what you do to cages because they think we are all the same person and some innocent biker will bear the brunt of it.

[forkoil]

I've found on the Nthern that the vast majority get out of my way once they see me. No experience really on the other two splitting.

[Karma]

Lane splitting on northwestern yesterday about 8:40am - two bikes in front of me, not sure what they were. One of them clipped a cars mirror pushing it right the way forward on its mount, the driver then stuck his arm out and made a fist as second bike appoached

Cages just wind me up now!! They get so dam jelous of you cos they are sitting there doing fark all when you zoom past!!

I wouldn't call that jealousy, I'd call that rage that the tard clipped his mirror and didn't even apologise.

If someone was splitting past my car and clipped or broke a wing mirror and just rode off, too right I'd be pissed to, I'd get out and hunt that fucker down on foot!

[Blairos]

As you saw this morning McJim - the Southern Motorway drivers were most courteous with regards to us lane-splitters this morning...

Mind you, Traffic Volumes arent as hideous as usual, wait till the Universities go back... :ride:

[McJim]

As you saw this morning McJim - the Southern Motorway drivers were most courteous with regards to us lane-splitters this morning...

Mind you, Traffic Volumes arent as hideous as usual, wait till the Universities go back... :ride:

So it's all the fault of the students then?

[Blairos]

I have nothing against students :)

Just the extra traffic volume LOL

[McJim]

Just the extra traffic volume LOL

If you buy ear-plugs the traffic volume drops immensely! :rofl:

[Blairos]

Especially with my nice quiet Micron eh :)

[Jeaves]

i only had one person pull over to stop me from lane splitting on the Southern , other than that it was generally good :scooter: , however i usually merged back in with traffic quicker than i had too once it all got moving .

[The Joka]

I totally agree with who ever said that we should all acknowledge people that move over! shows them that we appreciate it... :rockon:

[Grahameeboy]

I never have a problem with traffic...if they pull over, cool, if not, no russians.................given up worrying about bad drivers.......never smashed a wing mirror............:innocent:

[Fub@r]

Today I had the luxury to lane split all 3 motorways this afternoon getting around Auckland to various meetings.

For me even though its my home turf the NW motorway is by far the easiest to lanesplit on, nice big gap to slide through, although a guy up ahead of me did punch a wingmirror (didnt break) for an intentional block. I have only clipped a cages wingmirror once and I didn't slow etc as the guy saw me coming and moved across intentionally.

I would say the next easiest was the northern including splitting south to the city. Was a bit cramped compared to the NW but the roadworks don't help. Even did some splitting over the bridge (don't know if the plod frown on that)

Worst would be the southern and in particular spaghetti junction, almost get claustrophobic and I find the cagers way more aggressive

[Chisanga]

I did my first ever lane split today :) Not on the motorway though but up Great South Road from Penrose to Newmarket, was quite nervous at first but as long as you keep your eyes peeled and your brakes covered and don't go too fast the nerves disappear as rapidly as the lines of stuck cars :)

[Ixion]

Spaghetti Junction is tricky cos of the bends , the cages get all bolloxed up when the road isnt straight.

[Gremlin]

I have no idea how you guys see what people are doing in their little boxes, time to punch shit, etc. I'm busy focusing on the road ahead, and any threats.

Haven't split on the northern much, NW seems very well behaved, and considerate towards bikers, and lanes are really wide. Too many bikes use it tho, on the southern, I'm normally alone, or find the odd bike. Being in a stack of 3 or more was really weird... and slow :zzzz:

Southern seems to have quite a few plonkers, is prone to stopping quite quickly, and lanes are narrow at points. Some cars move, which is nice, some cars move as you pass by, which is kinda useless. Some cars block, which is funniest of all, as usually their efforts are in complete vain :shutup:

cb900 is a bit more tricky through traffic, being wide bars... but you just have to learn if its the height of a mirror or not, so you can go over the top of the mirrors :D

I do miss being able to blast the blockers with my muzzy pipe tho :(

[Lou Girardin]

It's always been like this. For every blocker, there's 6 mover overs.

[BigB]

I lane split every day though Spaghetti Junction and you just get used to it, most people when they see you get out of the way.

The only comment I have is from my partner who uses the cage ever day. She was in the middle lane and had bikes split on either side of her, she will always move to give room a bike but when you have one either side it's asking for trouble.

cheers

B

[Dai]

Picked up a bad habit from my courier days in London and the UK.

When I get cut up too badly by a cage and I see it is a deliberate act, I dont punch mirrors. My delicate little hands may get hurt.

What I learnt from the other couriers in "the smoke" was to gently get to the side of the car and then ever so gently

kick the door panel.

Has a few results

The cage driver shits themselves as they think they have hit you.

Generally they stare straight ahead, hoping that by ignoring the act that it didnt happen.

Leaves them with a hefty great bill. Unlike the old days, car bodies are quite flimsy things and a good boot will usually right off a door panel.

Done it a few times over here and get the same result. Driver hears the big bang and thinks they have hit you. They try hard to pretend it hasnt happened.

[90s]

I did my first ever lane split today :) Not on the motorway though but up Great South Road from Penrose to Newmarket, was quite nervous at first but as long as you keep your eyes peeled and your brakes covered and don't go too fast the nerves disappear as rapidly as the lines of stuck cars :)

I reckon the secret to lanesplitting (long-term) is to keep those nerves ...

[90s]

Picked up a bad habit from my courier days in London and the UK.

Dude, as also an ex-london rider years of lanesplitting both on motorbikes and cycles convinced me that for every biker that 'retaliates' to cages lowers the overall consideration / raises hostility to us.

I knew a lot of couriers that used to do crazy stuff, inc. one who keep a fish in his bag to throw into any open back car windows he saw. Another with a long screwdriver for more obvious purposes. Pretty sure they did no actual good for us.

When you here people talking about driving at a barbie (which is always) eventually it turns into a slagging off of crazy things motorbikes have done, esp. hitting mirrors etc. Agression rises and next time they see someone splitting up behind them ...

Let's take their ammo away ...

[davereid]

I think its carrot and stick time.

If a motorist pulls left to help you past, a cheery wave by way of thank you is a great idea.

Most simply dont see you until you are past, so they dont help or hinder.

The odd tosser who blocks you deliberately deserves a bit of stick. For lane splitting my HD was great - it had big wide HD saddle bags, with ornate buckles on. They stuck out even wider than the handle bars and were great paint scratchers. I would just squeeze through, and clean the paint of the affected buckle when I got home.

Mirror punching - kicking ? Have done it in anger to cars that have stopped, but never done it mobile. I'd probably bloody crash !

I know its a dumb idea, but in that few seconds of rage after you have been deliberately cut off or whatever its hard not too.

I don't suffer road rage in my car, but on the bike I'm a shocker. I guess its because the other person is risking my life, just for their pride or arrogance, and that winds me up big time.

Overall, I think its actually quite good if a healthy percentage of motorists think "give way to the biker, it'll hurt me as well if I don't"

[jrandom]

My personal favourite is the driver who sees you coming in lane 2A just before you arrive alongside them, and wildly swerves into the central barrier area in an attempt to get out of the way.

Most commonly encountered with DWAs.

Can't say I've ever encountered any real aggression or obstruction while filtering.

Dark visors and black gear help. Make you look like a well 'ard not-to-be-fucked-with rufty tufty biker type.

[Ixion]

White helmet and yellow fluoro vest help more. Especially on a white bike.

[90s]

White helmet and yellow fluoro vest help more. Especially on a white bike.

My mate has got a fluoro vest with inbuilt lights that goes like a Christmas tree :sunny: .

I can see it actually provoking a bit of raod rage ...

[SPman]

The last 9 years - I've never had any trouble on Aucklands motorways - and that included 2 yrs, Nth Shore to Takanini. You get the usual mix of fuckwits and dead heads, but, so what!
I found it helps if you ride assertively - and lane split at speed - thats good for getting the adrenaline going!.

Now - Perth motorways, however.........:eek:!!!!

[McJim]

Now - Perth motorways, however.........:eek:!!!!

From memory Perth isn't big enough to have a motorway - there's only the A9 Inverness to Stirling road that goes through there. And that's never busy enough for lane splitting! :rofl:

[MSTRS]

BASIC RULES FOR DRIVING IN PERTH
Perth, as many of you know, is renowned for its bad drivers. Everyone just seems to hoon around with their eyes closed, never checking mirrors and completely oblivious to the fact that there are actually other road users. That's where this list comes in - it's so absolutely true it's almost not funny...

1. Indicators will give away your next move. A real Perth driver never uses them.

2. Under no circumstances should you leave a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, or somebody else will fill in that space, putting you in an even more dangerous situation.

3. Crossing two or more lanes in a single lane change is considered "going with the flow."

4. The faster you drive through a red light, the less chance you have of getting hit.

5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive repairs. The other guy doesn't have anything to lose.

6. Braking is to be done as hard and as late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a nice, relaxing foot massage as the brake pedal pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to stretch your legs.

7. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as suggestions and apparently not enforceable in the metro area during rush hour.

8. Please remember that there is no such thing as a shortcut during rush-hour traffic in Perth.

9. Always slow down and rubberneck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tyre.

10. Everybody thinks their vehicle is better than yours, especially 4WD drivers.

11. Learn to swerve abruptly. Perth is the home of High-Speed Slalom Driving thanks to Main Roads, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them on their toes, not forgetting the 'Test your skill' chicanes in suburbs.

12. It is traditional in Perth to honk your horn at cars that don't move the instant the light changes.

13. Seeking eye contact with another driver revokes your right of way.

14. Never take a green light at face value. Always look right and left before proceeding.

15. Remember that the goal of every Perth driver is to get there first, by whatever means necessary.

16. Real Perth women drivers can put on pantyhose and apply eye makeup at 75 kph in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

17. Real Perth men drivers can remove pantyhose and a bra at 95 kph in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

18. Heavy fog and rain are no reasons to change any of the previously listed rules. These weather conditions are God's way ensuring a natural selection process and creating a need for panel beaters, junkyards, and new vehicle sales. It is an acceptable practice to increase your speed in comparison to the rate of rain fall, i.e.: the harder it rains, the faster you go.

19. There is a commonly held belief in Perth that high-speed tailgating in heavy traffic reduces petrol consumption as you get sucked along in the slipstream of the car in front.

20. It's OK to cut off fully loaded semi-trailers, road trains and buses because, hell - they have brakes.

21. It is an essential duty of the driver to preserve the life of his passengers. Hence no matter how much of an inconvenience it may be, always find a detour around The Causeway, The Narrows, and Guildford.

22. Always anticipate oncoming traffic while driving down a one-way street.

23. Its O.K when driving in Northbridge to air your grievances at bad drivers by giving the "one finger salute" while screaming out "cunt". However, it is imperative you are driving at least a 5-litre V8 with a crow bar in your lap.

24. Perth drivers are experts at merging, when in two or more lanes travelling in the same direction, ensure that if you see someone politely indicating, waiting slowly trying to merge into your lane, show them that they must 'Wait their turn' to use your lane. Speed up, try to cut them off, should they succeed and get into your lane never mind that it was actually legal for them to do that, ensure that your flash your lights, honk your horn, use extreme hand gestures, even tailgate them, just to let them know, IT WAS YOUR LANE.

25. Ensure that when merging into traffic travelling at any more than 40kph that you stop in the merging lane, backing up traffic for miles behind you, ensuring that you have given yourself or no-one else that opportunity to merge. Again, forget that the traffic handbook states that you should speed up to meet traffic speed then merge. If you are travelling in a lane near a merge lane, don't change lanes to make it easy for them, instead see rule 24, after all they deserve it.

26. While using Perth roundabouts, particularly two lane roundabouts, ENSURE that you are in the left lane to turn right, or the right to turn left, hell lets keep those people in those other lanes on their toes.

27. If you are a TransPerth bus driver, you must win at all costs, getting to your destination prior to any other driver is life and death. Never worry about your passengers bouncing round in the back like tennis balls, hell it's a cheap form of theme park, in fact Perth's very own.

28. Perth taxis see rule 27, except you are now qualifying for the GMC 400.

29. Pedestrian crossings - What are they?

30. If you are a cyclist remember YOU ARE INVINCIBLE, you are stronger than ANY vehicle travelling at speed, MAKE SURE you take the whole lane for yourself, and at night NEVER use lights, remember They Will See You!

31. Remember, the wider, smoother, and safer the road... the lower the speed limit.

32. When driving on the freeway, find somebody who is going slow, drive next to them, so that nobody can pass you. It's called, speed prevention. It's your duty!

[xxblackbirdxx]

lot of people slowly getting on bikes now. awareness grows and they start behaving a little better cause they know its thier turn when they get out on two wheels

[rc_36_rider]

people get to know a bike on there work run, if you ride at 160 kph every where and pass up the middle with or without oncoming traffic, or up the inside or where ever theres a gap they realise your gonna get past no matter what, they soon decide to increse your life expectancy and get the fuck out of your way :)

[Swoop]

White helmet and yellow fluoro vest help more. Especially on a white bike.
Sounds like your ensemble should be finished off with some blue lettering across the brow of your helmet...

POLITE

[SPman]

BASIC RULES FOR DRIVING IN PERTH
..............................................

Ahhh - I see you know it well!


5. Never get in the way of an older van that needs extensive repairs. The other guy doesn't have anything to lose.

That's the one I use a lot......

[hXc]

BASIC RULES FOR DRIVING IN PERTH...
Blah blah blahSome of them sound familiar actually. Not just here either.

[mstriumph]

.............31. Remember, the wider, smoother, and safer the road... the lower the speed limit.

...........

ain't THAT the truth!! :no:

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[WarlockNZ]

I've been trying for ages to get some decent footage but traffic has been really light over the last week ..

anyway... this is what i have.

Lane splitting the North-western.

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[SlowHand]

I wouldn't call that jealousy, I'd call that rage that the tard clipped his mirror and didn't even apologise.

If someone was splitting past my car and clipped or broke a wing mirror and just rode off, too right I'd be pissed to, I'd get out and hunt that fucker down on foot!

Fuck I'd pay to see that.

How do YOU split?? or is that lane squeezing...

[Karma]

Fuck I'd pay to see that.

How do YOU split?? or is that lane squeezing...


They see me coming and move outta the way eh...