Lanesplitters! PLEASE slow down!

[Edbear]

Heading into Central Auck on Tuesday morning and keeping an eye on the mirrors for lanesplitters, (I always try to allow room when I see them coming through), I was disturbed at the speeds you guys were doing!:nono:

From the bigger sports and nakeds to the smaller 250's and learners, everyone who passed me was going too fast for the conditions! I winced as most bikes split at speeds that would leave them no chance if anything went wrong, such as cars changing lanes.

In heavy traffic, cars will dart from lane to lane suddenly and with little more than a single flick of their indicator if at all. I just hoped that no-one came to grief on their way to work!:bye:

[Swoop]

I am wondering about the chap on the black 2008 Katana this morning though. Hazard lights on while filtering... at a quick-ish pace?

[rasty]

Heading into Central Auck on Tuesday morning and keeping an eye on the mirrors for lanesplitters, (I always try to allow room when I see them coming through), I was disturbed at the speeds you guys were doing!:nono:

From the bigger sports and nakeds to the smaller 250's and learners, everyone who passed me was going too fast for the conditions! I winced as most bikes split at speeds that would leave them no chance if anything went wrong, such as cars changing lanes.

In heavy traffic, cars will dart from lane to lane suddenly and with little more than a single flick of their indicator if at all. I just hoped that no-one came to grief on their way to work!:bye:

And 90% of the guys on the Nor'Western as well.

[NOMIS]

And 90% of the guys on the Nor'Western as well.

I do the Nor western binned on the way home the other day some dumb bitch rolling a fag decided to change in front of me, put the shits up me glad my bikes ok landed on me at bout 20 kmph just 1 lil scratch and a tad brethless for a bit, but yeh i definatly slowed down now... :weep:

they should let bikes use the bloody bus lanes so much safer and no way we will get in the way. Im gunna do it any way especially on days like to day

[jrandom]

Heading into Central Auck on Tuesday morning and keeping an eye on the mirrors for lanesplitters, (I always try to allow room when I see them coming through), I was disturbed at the speeds you guys were doing!

Back in the day, I crashed twice while filtering on the motorway in the wet on my old FXR150, braking hard for cars that switched lanes without indicating.

I'm lucky I didn't get run over, really.

These days I definitely filter differently when it's raining. I still move through gaps, but I do it with distinctly more deliberation and caution than is evident in my usual reasonably-quick filtering pace on dry clear days. Haven't had any 'moments' since I adopted that conscious approach.

Perhaps some riders need to listen to their gut more, and slow down until they know they feel comfortable with their pace in heavy traffic on wet roads.

Then again, maybe you're just a nana.

:laugh:

[Blue Velvet]

Burn them!!

[Mully]

Yeah, seen several people doing the Northwestern Carpark at speed which make me wince. See a blue R1 most mornings. Today, he wasn't splitting, just sitting in the queue like a good boy.

Also saw someone riding up the shoulder behind a bus (citybound). My thoughts would be that I'd rather get a ticket for riding on the shoulder than a cage taking me out.

Cops/those in the know: What is the official "crime" for riding on the shoulder of motorways and how much is the fine??

[jrandom]

My thoughts would be that I'd rather get a ticket for riding on the shoulder than a cage taking me out.

Whether or not a cage takes you out while filtering is in your control. Don't put yourself in the wrong position doing the wrong velocity at the wrong time, and you'll stay upright.

Riding on the emergency shoulder is dangerous and illegal. Other vehicles shouldn't have to check for traffic overtaking them there.

:nono:

[Ixion]

Riding on the emergency shoulder is dangerous and illegal. Other vehicles shouldn't have to check for traffic overtaking them there.

:nono:

So, where does that leave the buses ?

[jrandom]

So, where does that leave the buses ?

Bus lanes are not emergency shoulders. I agree that Transit should open them to motorcyclists.

Mully didn't make a clear distinction between bus lanes and shoulders not intended for traffic, though, so I thought I'd maintain KB tradition and post a hasty and vitriolic response.

:niceone:

[Edbear]

Then again, maybe you're just a nana.:laugh:


Yup!:clap:

[Grahameeboy]

So, where does that leave the buses ?

There are buses in Auckland?

[skidz]

I was sure that you could use the bus lanes on a motorcycle. It's been the law for a few years hasn't it?

[Grahameeboy]

The trick is to hop traffic when filtering...by this I mean you see a nice gap ahead, filter aiming for gap. Pause and so on. This gives you a breathing space and you don't get stuck in that filter vison when you are likely to miss a hazard and think about what you are doing.

[Grahameeboy]

I was sure that you could use the bus lanes on a motorcycle. It's been the law for a few years hasn't it?

Not Transit NZ ones you cannot. Some Council ones you can but not sure if this is 100% in each case.

[Usarka]

The northern is cool for splitting, unlike the southern jungle. Ride on the right hand shoulder, if a cop stops you tell 'em you were overtaking and the -f-wit in the car squeezed you out so it was an emergency please let me off kind mr *coughbastardcough* policeman :innocent:

[Grub]

I was sure that you could use the bus lanes on a motorcycle. It's been the law for a few years hasn't it?

I believe there's two different types but then it gets confusing about the rules for different roading authorities ... in Welly

"BUSES ONLY" = no bike
"BUS LANE" = bikes allowed

[Morcs]

Everyone stop holding me up :yes:

I really hate having to pull a 90 degree turn round the back of a car into the next lane and back again.

I give myself 25 minutes to lanespit 35kms of solid motorway traffic...

[Mully]

Mully didn't make a clear distinction between bus lanes and shoulders not intended for traffic, though, so I thought I'd maintain KB tradition and post a hasty and vitriolic response.

Sorry, I meant proper bus lanes. Please put your pitchfork away.

[swbarnett]

The trick is to hop traffic when filtering...by this I mean you see a nice gap ahead, filter aiming for gap. Pause and so on. This gives you a breathing space and you don't get stuck in that filter vison when you are likely to miss a hazard and think about what you are doing.
And the faster you go once you've decided to pass that one car the better, less time exposed to danger.

Also, if I'm filtering past a car where there is a gap in the lane on the other side of me I move into the empty lane just in case the car decides to move over. This gives you more time to react if need be.

[NOMIS]

meh i usually ride quite fast thru lanes..... untill i crashed

[unrealone]

meh i usually ride quite fast thru lanes..... untill i crashed

Learn the hardway huh?

[breakaway]

Some people have to fall off to get out of that that 'I'm bulletproof, that don't happen to me' mindset

I was certainly one of them.

[Swoop]

What is the official "crime" for riding on the shoulder of motorways and how much is the fine??
I have heard it is a $150- donation to the cullen "bribe the stupid voters" fund...

I was sure that you could use the bus lanes on a motorcycle. It's been the law for a few years hasn't it?
The difference is the motorway lanes Vs all the other bus lanes.
The motorway lanes are "speshul".

[FFS]

Im starting to lane split more and more, but there are parts of my commute (upper hutt to welly) that I try and refrain. The first bit is the area around the petone overbridge (because lotsa cars change lanes there) and the next is where SH1 meets SH2 at Ngaraunga (again cos lotsa cars are changing lanes.
Some days I dont even bother because "Ya cant beat Welly on a good day" The view of the harbour is nice to look at! and slow riding gives me practice of slow bike control.

Then theres Friday arvo's, lane split all the way to get home and start on the vods! :shifty:

[Mort]

I ride the Northern in to AKL every morning. I used to use the right hand hard shoulder until I was stopped by a cop and "advised". Actually he said it WAS legal to use the left hand shoulder... but I dont because its full of gravel.

Lane splitting is fine if you have your headlight on full beam and use an indicator.... don't go over 20KPH above the speed of the cars and dont lane split above about 60kph.

[Cr1MiNaL]

Yeah, seen several people doing the Northwestern Carpark at speed which make me wince. See a blue R1 most mornings. Today, he wasn't splitting, just sitting in the queue like a good boy.

Also saw someone riding up the shoulder behind a bus (citybound). My thoughts would be that I'd rather get a ticket for riding on the shoulder than a cage taking me out.

Cops/those in the know: What is the official "crime" for riding on the shoulder of motorways and how much is the fine??


That would be me.

[Disco Dan]

There are buses in Auckland?

Yeah they are the giant ugly square things with illegal immigrants behind the wheel that indicate and pull out into the stream of traffic cutting anyone nearby off.... I never give way to the fuckers.


Everyone stop holding me up :yes:

I really hate having to pull a 90 degree turn round the back of a car into the next lane and back again.

I give myself 25 minutes to lanespit 35kms of solid motorway traffic...

I know!! Sheesh there is always some noob riding along at 5kph and I have to change lanes and overtake the 'overtaker'... they sometimes can actually get overtaken by a few cars when the the cars move a bit!!!

....im the guy with hazards lights on and splitting through the traffic... stopping everyso often to fold in some boi-racer-zit-faced-homo mirror when he/she pulls in to close the gap so I cant pass... I usually shout abuse through their window and inform them of my complete lack of care for my pipes scratching their car if they move over to block my car... *pussys* :headbang::headbang:


...anyone ever noticed the scratch marks on my mirrors? :whistle:

[Magua]

I never give way to the fuckers.

Awesome. That's probably why they pull out in front of people. _b

[skidMark]

Heading into Central Auck on Tuesday morning and keeping an eye on the mirrors for lanesplitters, (I always try to allow room when I see them coming through), I was disturbed at the speeds you guys were doing!:nono:

From the bigger sports and nakeds to the smaller 250's and learners, everyone who passed me was going too fast for the conditions! I winced as most bikes split at speeds that would leave them no chance if anything went wrong, such as cars changing lanes.

In heavy traffic, cars will dart from lane to lane suddenly and with little more than a single flick of their indicator if at all. I just hoped that no-one came to grief on their way to work!:bye:

Yeah admitedly i used to be one of those.

Until a car changed lane with one flick of the indicator 3 cars ahead...went oh fuck swerved and plowed into the back of a van.

Slow down guys, 6 months with your leg in a cast is not fun.

Not fun as the footpeg goes through ya foot either.

slow it down guys.

ive had the worst happen. i thought it would never happen to me, but it did.

[fredie]

my mate was car doored . when splitting . broken wriste hand . passed out . knocked out . bike wrecked right off. :crybaby:

[DingoZ]

Haven't got that far as to be lane splitting yet. Although there is not much call for it when I ride to and from work. I'm usually riding to work before the traffic starts flowing and coming home long after it has got busy...

[surfchick]

Everyone stop holding me up :yes:

I really hate having to pull a 90 degree turn round the back of a car into the next lane and back again.

I give myself 25 minutes to lanespit 35kms of solid motorway traffic...

maha...I do te atatu-otara...even further... i must say I've been going in the car over summer to stop my arse getting burnt off. i have to lanesplit pretty fast to keep the heat back... definitely the southern is skinnier... esp tds the CBD offramps. hard to fit between two big curtainsiders anyway...

[NOMIS]

Learn the hardway huh?

yeh learned the hard way, didnt get hurt just my pride even tho it wasnt my fault, still felt like a bit of a dum ass. they shoul open the bloody sholder to motorbikes man would be so much friging safer

[Tricia1000]

Which indicator do you use. If you use your right hand indicator, it means I am going to move to the right or turn right. Most people at this point are using the left hand side of the right hand lane, so the indicator is giving a conflicting message.
If you use your left hand indicator, it means I am going to turn left or move to the left, again, usually used when staying in the left hand side of the lane. Again it gives conflicting information.

I ride the Northern in to AKL every morning. I used to use the right hand hard shoulder until I was stopped by a cop and "advised". Actually he said it WAS legal to use the left hand shoulder... but I dont because its full of gravel.

Lane splitting is fine if you have your headlight on full beam and use an indicator.... don't go over 20KPH above the speed of the cars and dont lane split above about 60kph.

[Badjelly]

Lane splitting is fine if you have your headlight on full beam and use an indicator

How does this help when a significant minority of drivers don't look behind?

(I don't lane-split myself, but I drive on roads where it's not necessary.)

[Swoop]

Which indicator do you use. If you use your right hand indicator, it means I am going to move to the right or turn right.
You are always overtaking the cages on your left! Keep your right indicator on.

[Mort]

The advice I was given by a cop was :


Drive between Lane 2 and 3 where possible (counting from the left for the hard of thinking)
Full beam on
Right hand indicator on
Watch your speed - if the cops think you are driving with excess speed you will be ticketed even if you are within the speed limit.
If the traffic is moving at speed (say over 60kph) - don't lanesplit.
Right hand shoulder riding is illegal.
Left hand shoulder is Legal (But to be honest I doubt that and wouldnt do it anyway)



The main thing is to take it steady... watch for gaps left or right which cars can move in to (often without indicating). Also , watch out for trucks - you can get an angle on a car to get out of the way but trucks need a full lane and it halves you options for manouvre.If you ride to the conditions you have time to react to cars changing lanes etc....

I've seen one accident while lane splitting ... on the Northern by Wairau Park.... a total idiot on a 900 Hornet doing 120+ in slow moving traffic... a car changed lane (quite properly) and he had no chance of stopping. He escaped injury (despite being thrown over the car)... and his new bike was a wreck.... Total lunacy...When I stopped he asked for the police not to be called because he had no licence... made me very angry. People like him deserve what they get...

[NOMIS]

The advice I was given by a cop was :


Drive between Lane 2 and 3 where possible (counting from the left for the hard of thinking)
Full beam on
Right hand indicator on
Watch your speed - if the cops think you are driving with excess speed you will be ticketed even if you are within the speed limit.
If the traffic is moving at speed (say over 60kph) - don't lanesplit.
Right hand shoulder riding is illegal.
Left hand shoulder is Legal (But to be honest I doubt that and wouldnt do it anyway)



The main thing is to take it steady... watch for gaps left or right which cars can move in to (often without indicating). Also , watch out for trucks - you can get an angle on a car to get out of the way but trucks need a full lane and it halves you options for manouvre.If you ride to the conditions you have time to react to cars changing lanes etc....

I've seen one accident while lane splitting ... on the Northern by Wairau Park.... a total idiot on a 900 Hornet doing 120+ in slow moving traffic... a car changed lane (quite properly) and he had no chance of stopping. He escaped injury (despite being thrown over the car)... and his new bike was a wreck.... Total lunacy...When I stopped he asked for the police not to be called because he had no licence... made me very angry. People like him deserve what they get...

Must be something about people and hornets :laugh: And no licences:laugh:
wouldnt do 120 that just dumb i can off at 35kmph pulled my bike onto me so i wouldnt wreck it got away with a scratch on the mirror was only doing about 10k when i fell was my fault and the stupid cage driver rolling a smoke arrrrggghh

[Edbear]

The advice I was given by a cop was :


Drive between Lane 2 and 3 where possible (counting from the left for the hard of thinking)
Full beam on
Right hand indicator on
Watch your speed - if the cops think you are driving with excess speed you will be ticketed even if you are within the speed limit.
If the traffic is moving at speed (say over 60kph) - don't lanesplit.
Right hand shoulder riding is illegal.
Left hand shoulder is Legal (But to be honest I doubt that and wouldnt do it anyway)


The main thing is to take it steady... watch for gaps left or right which cars can move in to (often without indicating). Also , watch out for trucks - you can get an angle on a car to get out of the way but trucks need a full lane and it halves you options for manouvre.If you ride to the conditions you have time to react to cars changing lanes etc....

I've seen one accident while lane splitting ... on the Northern by Wairau Park.... a total idiot on a 900 Hornet doing 120+ in slow moving traffic... a car changed lane (quite properly) and he had no chance of stopping. He escaped injury (despite being thrown over the car)... and his new bike was a wreck.... Total lunacy...When I stopped he asked for the police not to be called because he had no licence... made me very angry. People like him deserve what they get...


Good advice! Having a larger bike and usually being two-up I'm generally over-cautious sometimes to the wife's frustration, but I'd rather be a live dog, if you get what I mean.

"Total idiot!" and "Total lunacy!" are apt descrptions of the biker and his actions. No sympathy whatsoever for these morons.

[Usarka]

The advice I was given by a cop was :


Right hand shoulder riding is illegal.
Left hand shoulder is Legal (But to be honest I doubt that and wouldnt do it anyway)


Both are emergency lanes, both are illegal to ride in.

Cops are like GP's, alright with the law when it's clear cut and common. Oh and they are on drugs and have syphyllis. :whistle:

compare that to something else someone heard from a cop here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=31688&highlight=splitting)


In the ensuing 'grilling' what did become evident is that with the current regulations splitting on the right in the inner or 'fast' lane (observing the rules stated above) is acceptable.

The thin shoulder lane between the dividing barrier and the lanes is designated for an emergency and that if you have to go into it to avoid a vehicle it would be 'an emergency.'

[Mort]

Thanks for the link... I must say I thought (after my chat with the cop) that lane splitting was legal.... But I am from the UK and so was the cop who told me.

Won't stop me lane splitting though... but you are a mug if you don't do it right.

[Edbear]

[QUOTE=Mort;1428840].... But I am from the UK and so was the cop who told me...[QUOTE]


Awww! We'll forgive you...:yes:

[EJK]

Why lane split? :whistle:



....I travel to work in opposit direction



....But cops lurks!

[breakaway]

I don't indicate while splitting. I just do it at a sensible pace.

Someone I know got pwned for 'false indicating' while splitting recently.

[Hellraiser]

The advice I was given by a cop was :


Drive between Lane 2 and 3 where possible (counting from the left for the hard of thinking)
Full beam on
Right hand indicator on
Watch your speed - if the cops think you are driving with excess speed you will be ticketed even if you are within the speed limit.
If the traffic is moving at speed (say over 60kph) - don't lanesplit.
Right hand shoulder riding is illegal.
Left hand shoulder is Legal (But to be honest I doubt that and wouldnt do it anyway)



The main thing is to take it steady... watch for gaps left or right which cars can move in to (often without indicating). Also , watch out for trucks - you can get an angle on a car to get out of the way but trucks need a full lane and it halves you options for manouvre.If you ride to the conditions you have time to react to cars changing lanes etc....

I've seen one accident while lane splitting ... on the Northern by Wairau Park.... a total idiot on a 900 Hornet doing 120+ in slow moving traffic... a car changed lane (quite properly) and he had no chance of stopping. He escaped injury (despite being thrown over the car)... and his new bike was a wreck.... Total lunacy...When I stopped he asked for the police not to be called because he had no licence... made me very angry. People like him deserve what they get...

+1

I lane split all day long it's what makes me my $$$

If the traffic is Traveling at 80k + then I won't lane split i'll get through it by choping and changing lanes.

I won't lanes split any faster than 20k above the speed of the traffic unless they are stopped of cause then i'll travel at a max of about 40-50km/h

When i'm lane splitting i am always looking at the body language of the drivers ahead it's really hard to discribe but you can tell when someone is about to change lanes.
You also need to always be aware of your exit point so if someone does move with out warning you are able to react in some way, this does not mean slam on the brakes. To be honest hitting the brakes is usually my last option when in a sticky situation.

[90s]

The advice I was given by a cop was :


Drive between Lane 2 and 3 where possible (counting from the left for the hard of thinking) TICK
Full beam on X
Right hand indicator on TICK
Watch your speed - if the cops think you are driving with excess speed you will be ticketed even if you are within the speed limit. TICK
If the traffic is moving at speed (say over 60kph) - don't lanesplit. TICK
Right hand shoulder riding is illegal. TICK
Left hand shoulder is Legal (But to be honest I doubt that and wouldnt do it anyway) TICK


Good list, but the high-beams - as explored on other threads - generally counter-productive. They irritate more than they protect us. Lights on as usual I think is better. Noise is another good one - keep a few revs on as cages seldom see but often hear us.

And no skidmark, the WORST hasn't happened to you yet. And I hope it doesn't. Sounds as though you got off lightly. I split everyday, but only when I think that it would make a 15 min difference to my commute. If not, I am happy to drift along in the traffic at 60ks on the NWern.

[MaxCannon]

In the mornings I find the traffic is usually moving quick enough that I don't have to split

Over about 40kph and I'm happy to follow the queue

Like most people have mentioned a +20kph speed difference is a sensible limit. I find that if the cars are doing 20 and I'm doing 50 then the decision making window get too small.

One of my rules is to not split when the relative speed between the lanes is different by more than a few kay.
When drivers in a stopped or very slow lane see the other lane moving quicker they are apt to swap with no consideration as to what is behind them.