Lane Splitting on multi-lane roads

[Rhino]

Every working day i travel in the work cage along several roads that have two lanes in each direction and get passed by many bikes that are lane splitting (nothing wrong with that;) )

The question is where would you ride in this situation, and why?

1. To the left of the leftmost lane (in the gutter)
2. Between the two lanes
3. To the right of the rightmost lane (close/over the centre-line)
4. Stay in a wheel track in either lane

My observations are that most of the scooter/L plate riders choose option 1 while the larger capacity bike riders seem to choose option 2.

When in the situation on a bike, I would avoid #1 like the plague, as I usually see at least one passenger exit a stationary cage at traffic lights/stop signs every day on my journey.

[jrandom]

Option 1 will kill you.

Option 2 is correct technique.

Option 3 is for use when there's insufficient space for Option 2.

Option 4 is much more comfortable in a car with AC and stereo.

[James Deuce]

My observations are that most of the scooter/L plate riders choose option 1 while the larger capacity bike riders seem to choose option 2.

When in the situation on a bike, I would avoid #1 like the plague, as I usually see at least one passenger exit a stationary cage at traffic lights/stop signs every day on my journey.

They won't learn until they are picking door out of their teeth, so I wouldn't have wasted keystrokes with that observation (even though it is a REALLY good one) quite honestly.

Even after they've finished picking door out of their teeth they'll just complain that it wasn't their fault, "the passenger should have looked before they got out".

[vtec]

I split anywhere as long as I feel that I can get clear of any car. Often when I join the motorway I ride along the small bit of tarseal that overflows onto the red breakdown lane and I just stay there for quite a bit until all the cars have sorted themselves out into a lane. Most often though I'll go between two lanes. But there is no reason you can't do to the right of the right lane when the circumstances are good or to the left of the left lane.

[Rhino]

The only problem with option 3 is the number of dipshits that decide to do a u turn without looking when stuck in traffic. A mate of mine had his knee stuffed and bike written off by cage that did that recently.

I would agree that option 2 is where I would be, although the 'Wing is a tad portly for lane splitting.:eek:

[imdying]

"the passenger should have looked before they got out".Which of course is their legal obligation... plenty of cyclists have nailed people in court for this.

[crashe]

Just riding a scooter in a lane - slightly off topic

Rhino - seen two scooter riders very recently riding along in option 1......
and I felt for their safety as to what car drivers were doing, being so close to them.
I managed to chat to them both and get them to OWN their lane.....

Saw one of them later on that arvo on the same day, and he was OWNing his lane...
When he saw me and realised I was the one who had chatted to him earlier, he said "Hows this" I gave him the thumbs up and he grinned.

I would hate to see them get taken out by cars forcing them off the road into the gutters and them falling off their bikes and being injured.


This is where scooter riders who only have a car license really dont seem to know how to own the road when riding this 49cc scooters.
They dont have to do the 'Basic Handling Course' at all.
Which is a shame, as I reckon they would learn so much more about road skills when riding a scooter.

[James Deuce]

Which of course is their legal obligation... plenty of cyclists have nailed people in court for this.

Yes, it couldn't possibly be the motorcyclist at fault for performing an illegal overtaking move could it?

[Katman]

Yes, it couldn't possibly be the motorcyclist at fault for performing an illegal overtaking move could it?

How dare you even suggest it Jim!

[imdying]

Yes, it couldn't possibly be the motorcyclist at fault for performing an illegal overtaking move could it?Personally, I'm of the opinion that being in the right does you bugger all good when you're in hospital :(

I only split traffic that isn't moving... of course, we don't get 5km/h traffic jams here...

[Toaster]

Lane-splitting has become a hard more challenging now the bike is a foot wider than the last one.

Passing on the left of the left lane is illegal. But hey, so is speeding and tax evasion, or flashing my balls to the world.

[Subike]

I only do this when aproaching traffic lights
at a speed which would allow me to stop within a bike length if a door opened
The difference in time on twin laned roads to get to my destination is not much faster if I traffic split, so I dont bother.
Traffic jams can be quickly threaded trough at walking pace safley
Lane changing on multi lane roads when gaps allow is safer for me, and the cages know I am there.
I have seen too many close calls for splitting to be an option just because the oppotunity is presented.
I like my bike and my skin, it dont belong on a car door :whistle:

[McJim]

Ahhhh - how refreshing - another splitting thread.

Used to travel about 25km to work and 25km back along the Southern Motorway in Auckland. Had a friend got booked for lane splitting. I never got stopped however...probably coz I'm so sensible :rofl:

Option 2 is the only option. (unless you're not actually splitting at all....)

I've said this before: It's legal to lane split in Britain - it's actually expected - The authorities encourage it because it eases congestion.

[Boob Johnson]

I split anywhere as long as I feel that I can get clear of any car. Often when I join the motorway I ride along the small bit of tarseal that overflows onto the red breakdown lane and I just stay there for quite a bit until all the cars have sorted themselves out into a lane. Most often though I'll go between two lanes. But there is no reason you can't do to the right of the right lane when the circumstances are good or to the left of the left lane.
As above is what I do :yes:

[sunhuntin]

Personally, I'm of the opinion that being in the right does you bugger all good when you're in hospital :(

I only split traffic that isn't moving... of course, we don't get 5km/h traffic jams here...

ditto... ive only done it once, and that was on the road to taupo from turangi... damn round the lake run *fucking bullshit* bike was slowing turning my legs into a roast, so it was the only option. split a couple of cars at a time, forcing my way back.

and the strangest thing? i got to the end, and never did see the reason for the damn hold up! it wasnt support vehicles as they were already parked up... must have been damn rubber neckers.

it is tons of fun when playing pillion, as mr disco showed me earlier this year.

[madbikeboy]

here's my two cents worth:

I lane split on the northern / southern if the traffic is below about 50 kph. I ride option 2. Ther rule of thumb for safety:
* If two cages are beside each other, it's safe to go through (intuitively this makes sense because even dumb ass car drivers can see they've got no gap)
* If the traffic is slowing ahead, be REALLY careful, you'll get the last minute diving for gaps and a faster lane thing going on
* If there is a big gap in front of either car, be careful, the car beside that gap will almost always want to fill it.
* No one indicates unless they are already moving in that direction...

I ride with commitment, use the throttle to get through the gap - don't hesitate. By the time you brake, you're already in the shit.

I never bother with the horn, you can't hear a bike horn over the radio and 3mm of glass. I use 117db of revving Yoshi. Loud pipes have their place, the cages will feel and hear it better.

If you get inappropriate behaviour (blocking, agression, pushing), then use your brains to work out the response. It the behaviour is stupid, but not bad, tap the mirror. If it's agressive and bad, then remove the mirror.

If you get good behaviour - reward it visually - the other cagers will see this, and they start to do it too.

When you're in your cage - exagerate pulling aside for lane splitters - the people ahead of you and beside you do the same thing and it sometimes causes a chain reaction...

Don't pull wheelstands between other traffic - I know this because Frosty reckon's it "fucking disrespectful". Judges don't think it's funny either.


The bike will fit anywhere you can walk through (unless you own a cruiser in which case, none of this applies because you'll be too busy adjusting your panty liners).

[avrflr]

I always ride between lanes through the parking lot we laughingly call "The Auckland Motorway System". Except going south through spaghetti junction where the lanes aren't wide enough so I go to the left all the way. Feels much safer and I'll be buggered if I'm stopping. Northbound, between Khyber Pass and Nelson St, I just don't think there's enough room to filter safely, although I see a few brave souls do it.

[Matt]

Gotta be Option 2, although I'm always amazed at how many people choose Option 1 along SH2 into Welly in the morning (especially that bit from Petone to the interchange), normally guys on proper bikes rather than scooters too...

[jim.cox]

Option 1 will kill you.

agreed


Option 2 is correct technique.

maybe


Option 3 is for use when there's insufficient space for Option 2.

This is my prefered option


Option 4 is much more comfortable in a car with AC and stereo.

My bike has air conditioning - the fasterer I go the more conditioned it gets.

And it has a stereo - a pair of conti's :)

[Blue Velvet]

Gotta be Option 2, although I'm always amazed at how many people choose Option 1 along SH2 into Welly in the morning (especially that bit from Petone to the interchange), normally guys on proper bikes rather than scooters too...

Reminds me of this one time, at band camp... Was on the overbridge after Ngauranga Gorge (Wgtn) on one of those really-windy-not-quite-gale-force-but-actually-it-probably-was days, and I saw a scooter pretty much going backwards on the left hand shoulder trying to fight the wind. Further up I saw she'd been pulled over by a cop, not surprising. Shit I'm amazed she actually ended up moving forward.

Disclaimer: I wasn't splitting at that point cos that part is so darn gusty in a gale that I didn't want to risk an insurance claim, and the traffic was actually moving, so uh yeah... :bleh:

[90s]

Everyday I do rata-gt nrth rd-SH16 into town. A large portion of that is a two-lane road (each way) with a large central meridian marked out.
I ride down the middle, as do about 60% of the bikes.
I feel uneasy about the 40% who use the large central meridian (edit: median - or maybe I have been driving up the tropic of capricorn or something). It is a clear option, but overtaking on the meridian (median - happy now!!!???) is illegal.

Also if the on-ramp is very busy I overtake correctly, whilst many bikes use the hard shoulder to undercut all the cars.
Personally again it is a sensible option, but it is never legal in any circumstances.

Just my way - not judging those who opt for doing these things, but I am not comfortable with them. Lane-splitting, yes - grey areas, fine - clearly illegal acts - no.
(obviously out-of-town speeding not included ... go figure ... )

[scorpious]

I only split traffic that isn't moving... of course, we don't get 5km/h traffic jams here...

Isn't it more likely that in slow traffic some idiot will want to change lanes because they think the other lane is moving faster than their's, and pull in front of you?

[imdying]

Isn't it more likely that in slow traffic some idiot will want to change lanes because they think the other lane is moving faster than their's, and pull in front of you?How can the other lane be moving faster if the traffic isn't moving?

[vifferman]

I used to go around the cars wherever I could (including once on the grass next to the motorway), but now I've cut my lanesplitting back to only when it's really necessary.
Which usually means if I feel like it, or the bike's getting really hot, or there's some really smoky piece of shit car ahead (like last week, when I lanesplit just one (1) place, to get around the car in front).

[rok-the-boat]

I like option 2, but will split wherever I feel is safe in the moment. But generally, option 2.

[PuppetMaster]

Gotta be Option 2, although I'm always amazed at how many people choose Option 1 along SH2 into Welly in the morning (especially that bit from Petone to the interchange), normally guys on proper bikes rather than scooters too...


I very occasionaly will go option 1 on that stretch from Lower Hutt to Petone (not quite to Petone). It is actually safer than splitting along there and a darn sight quicker. but definetely not from Petone onwards, that would be madness.

Yesterday I had the misfortune to get stuck behind a bike cop. Traffic stopped at one stage and he lane split very slowly for about 5 cars. but then it moved again and we moved back into traffic, and then it was a crawl all the way into town.<_<

[Swoop]

Loved the lanesplitting I spotted the other day...
Was passed by a headhunter on a gsxr 1000! Guess his Harley was in for servicing?

The traffic was moving enough at the time, so was sitting happily "pootling" along.

[SinstaNSR]

Option 1 will kill you.

Option 2 is correct technique.

Option 3 is for use when there's insufficient space for Option 2.

Option 4 is much more comfortable in a car with AC and stereo.

Couldnt Say it better myself dude fully agree, I understand the people who don't want to lane split as it is potentily dangerous in anyone of the options though provided you've perfected reading the dumb drivers out there eg: watching for head movement (excessivley checking mirrors) and the obvious indicator action then you'll be sweet :rockon:

[MWVT]

I go option 2 predominantly, but a range when conditions suit.

Things to watch for:
when one lane is moving faster than the other, dickheads will make poor lane changes. Just be happy you are in the faster moving lane (which of course you are).

Immediately after onramps and preceding offramps dickheads will make poor lane changes.

The throttle is a more effective safety device than the brake in many situations, use the more appropriate one.

Never ever play with wankers that have a problem with you splitting. Give them a wide berth.

Police in general have no problem with splitting if you dont taunt them or behave like a dickhead. Regardless of the letter of the law, if you act reasonably, normally fine.