Lane Spliting

[Slingshot]

Hi all, I have a gripe!

When you are lane splitting, pay attention to what's going on around you.

It seems as the weather is getting better, more & more people are riding to work, my gripe is that more & more often bikers are doing stupid things.

The prime example of this is a biker will be sitting in a queue of traffic, I approach them as I'm happily splitting along, then...with no warning just as I'm about to pass the biker they decide to start splitting, I'm always very cautious when splitting pass bikes but it's frustrating that they simply don't look in the mirrors.

My other gripe is this: I'll be splitting between the middle and right lanes on the motorway, the biker that's splitting between the left & middle lanes sees a gap in the middle lane and decides he/she needs to get into my space, again, no head check, no mirrors check.

My last complaint is if you're splitting at the same speed that the cars are going at, move over for other bikes. So many times I get stuck behind really really slow bikes (more often than not it's one of those big new BMWs, the one that's as wide as a truck). Again, it's all about checking your mirrors and knowing what's going on around you.

Gripe ends!

[James Deuce]

I tooted at you (sitting next to you at the lights at the end of the tunnel) and you both ignored me.

:finger:

So there!

[jrandom]

I've often thought about posting the same gripe, but I've just decided to go the mellow route.

Filtering generally involves breaking traffic laws about lane usage and passing. I don't feel comfortable pressuring others to do what I do, and I've slowed down a bit in traffic since my last crash, too. (I'll speed up again in good time, of course...)

If I get stuck behind another rider in those circumstances, I just slow down, hang back and go Zen. And I view it as valuable training when someone else, bike or cage, does something unexpected - after all, I should have been prepared for it.

I was horrified to hear from a colleague when I got in this morning that I'd pulled in front of him on the motorway and caused him to brake - I didn't realise. I'm tired this morning, and I also think I need to twiddle the Zeal's mirrors a bit. I suspect they have a slightly different coverage than I'm subconsciously expecting.

[Hitcher]

A good gripe! I had a heart-stopper a few months ago, and my fault too. I only split when traffic is stopped or almost stopped. On this occasion both lanes of traffic stopped and I moved across to cut down between them. I checked my mirrors but should have done a head check as well and nearly took out another biker who was already running the gap. I learned from this and now do a lot more checking for other bikes.

[vifferman]

It's very easy to miss seeing other bikes, especially when traffic is moving very slow if at all and the approaching bike is travelling much faster.

An an unrelated note: I had a guy on a Firestorm follow me the other night, and despite what people have said about the noise from pipes NOT travelling forward, I could definitely hear him behind me. Very sinister he looked too: matte black bike, black leathers, black streetfighter helmet and tinted visor. I'd definitely get out of his way if he was filtering.

On a note related to both these topics: on several occasions recently (including the black Firestorm one), I've had bikes follow me, or filter to come up beside me at the lights (guy on a Kawasaki 750(?) the other night), and not say, "Hi!", wave, nod, or anything. Is this because we as bikers are generally insular and anti-social loners? Shy? Or because my bike is intimidatingly good-looking? :spudwhat:

[jrandom]

On a note related to both these topics: on several occasions recently (including the black Firestorm one), I've had bikes follow me, or filter to come up beside me at the lights (guy on a Kawasaki 750(?) the other night), and not say, "Hi!", wave, nod, or anything. Is this because we as bikers are generally insular and anti-social loners? Shy? Or because my bike is intimidatingly good-looking? :spudwhat:

Personally, I just can't hear bugger-all through my helmet on top of my engine noise, the other guy's engine noise, and all the ambient traffic mumble going on around us. So I just nod and smile and hope he can decode the smile by watching the skin crinkle around my eyes or summat, because he sure can't see my mouth.

There is also the "I'm in the city, can't be friendly" thing. As soon as I get more than 50km from a built-up area, I start getting big friendly waves from EVERY biker going the other way.

Within the city, not a sniff of a wave. Ever. I'm lucky to get the occasional nod.

[Sniper]

Dammit, I dont have any lanes to practise splitting on but I will keep this discussion in mind when I take the bike on the boat to Welly on Friday.

[Hitcher]

Within the city, not a sniff of a wave. Ever. I'm lucky to get the occasional nod.
Poor baby. Sniff. Wave. Nod. No emoticons necessary.

[Slingshot]

I tooted at you (sitting next to you at the lights at the end of the tunnel) and you both ignored me.

:finger:

So there!
Was that this morning? And I assume you were in the cage. Please accept my apologies.

I was clipped this morning and it freaked me out a bit.

I wasn't splitting at the time but you will have noticed the havoc coming up to the tunnel this morning, heaps of cage drivers deciding that they were to good to join at the end of the queue to get off on The Terrace but instead would stop in the left lane that heads on into the tunnel and wait until they were let in. Well I was in the right lane and moving fairly slowly, the 4WD that I was passing decided to serve around a car that had stopped, and before I knew it he was in my lane and our mirrors clipped. Could have been a lot worse, if I hadn't served I would have been on my arse, I just didn't have time to serve enough.

I've calmed down now though.

[Slingshot]

It's very easy to miss seeing other bikes, especially when traffic is moving very slow if at all and the approaching bike is travelling much faster.
Isn't this what we get pissed off about cage drivers for? The whole I didn't see you thing, more like you didn't look!
I guess all I expect from bikers, being superior beings in all, is that we would practice what we preach and head check when changing the lanes that we're splitting between as well as checking mirrors etc.

When I first started splitting I too had a fairly close call from not looking behind me, just wanted to raise the point so perhaps others that split may think about this before they too have a close call.

[Fryin Finn]

I was lane splitting on the way home last night and came up behind one of those monster Triumph Rockets splitting as well but he soon got stuck and I found my way past him. (Triumph sounded nice but muted) Didn't see him again but I also had to lane split again later and failed to check my mirrors immediately prior to the manouever (I check em every 10 secs) no one coming but I heavilly chastised myself when I got home. Out with the flails and handcuffs.

[James Deuce]

Was that this morning? And I assume you were in the cage. Please accept my apologies.

Hey! No need for that. :) No worries. If I was in your state I would have smacked my mirror off. Sorry if I added to the stress load.


I've calmed down now though.

Good.

Go have a beer at lunchtime.

Cheers

Jim

[James Deuce]

Isn't this what we get pissed off about cage drivers for? The whole I didn't see you thing, more like you didn't look!
I guess all I expect from bikers, being superior beings in all, is that we would practice what we preach and head check when changing the lanes that we're splitting between as well as checking mirrors etc.

When I first started splitting I too had a fairly close call from not looking behind me, just wanted to raise the point so perhaps others that split may think about this before they too have a close call.

Sometimes I find the observation load overwhelming me so I pull in. I always let people past who lane split faster than me. I have checked one instant, moved, and then found a bike behind me that wasn't visible in the general melee because they too have pulled out of traffic to split at the same time I have. Particularly around trucks and buses.

[Slingshot]

Hey! No need for that. :) No worries. If I was in your state I would have smacked my mirror off. Sorry if I added to the stress load.



Good.

Go have a beer at lunchtime.

Cheers

Jim
Who has time to take lunch breaks, a quick smoke is normally all I can fit in.

[sedge]

Rant hijack... (well in addition)

I try to let other splitters through, it's the proper thing to do, if someone is quicker than you, you move over and wave them by...

Then again there's a few splitters in Wgtn that regularly do 50k above the traffic... If you're going to split that fast other bikers will pull out on you coz it's impossible to look in all directions at once... Best bet is to play it safe when you catch up to someone, slow down and make sure they've seen you before you pass or you're asking for it.

The onus is on the passer, not the passee.

Splitting is a priviledge and the cops turn a (mostly) blind eye to 'judicious' use, anyone abusing the priviledge by speeding will eventually stuff it for the rest of us.

Well, cheers all...

Sedge.

ps. I've got a couple of tickets for high speed splitting myself so I'm probably not a good example ;) But the rest of you tsk tsk... bad, bad...

[Slingshot]

Rant hijack... (well in addition)

The onus is on the passer, not the passee.I agree to a certain extent...the onus is on the passer to slow down and assess the situation, the passer should be continually assessing the situation anyway though.

The onus is on the Passé to check mirrors/head check before moving from a non-splitting position to a splitting position.

So far this thread is having the desired impact...that is to bring this to the front of people's minds. Hopefully, tonight on the way home the people that have read this thread will be a little more aware.

Thank me later :cool2:

PS...I'm not trying to say that I'm perfect, I might be guilty of splitting a little too fast

:Police:

[vifferman]

I guess all I expect from bikers, being superior beings in all, is that we would practice what we preach and head check when changing the lanes that we're splitting between as well as checking mirrors etc.Fairy Nuff.
I was merely admitting to sometimes being surprised by bikers (who I hadn't previously noticed) suddently appearing behind me. On reflection, this has happened when I'm concentrating on looking where I'm going, not where I've been, or I'm in "nah, I'll just sit in the traffic - no hurry to get to work" mode, or I'm in the car in "ordinary dozy commuter" mode.

By and large, riding a bike has made me much more alert, aware and observant than Joe Plonker, which makes it annoying when I drive my wife (who mostly travels by bus, so isn't 'streetwise') somewhere, and she's practicaly having a heart attack at all the mentalness that's going on around us. She'll go, "Look out!!" and I'll think it's something I haven't noticed, when it's something I've long since noted, reacted to, dismissed. Then it's me who nearly has a hear attack! :eek:

But I must admit to being caught out a few times; once, I was waiting (on my bike) to take off at an intersection, and I didn't (at first) see a scooter that was coming, even though it had its light on. Plus you get very good at reading the traffic, and anticipating what Joe and Jo Plonker are going to do merely by observing the position of their vehicle prior to a lane change, subtle changes in speed, head movements, etc. (Can't rely on confirminators, coz the eedjits don't use 'em). That's how I crashed my VFR750, because I'd become really adept at reading the traffic AND ignored the little voice that said "tootle him melodiously just to make sure he really has seen you", when the Audi driver's actions pointed towards "he's seen me, and pulled over to let me past", when in fact it was "he's a plonker, and is about to crack a U-turn without checking his mirrors.":buggerd:

[Dr Bob]

I am sorry, but there is an important point to be made here. Passing vehicles within a lane is not illegal, passing on the left of a vehicle is illegal unless it is indicating right or it is stationary. If I am travelling behind cars and they are still moving I will pull out and pass them on the left only when they are coming to a stop, and I will be indicating to pass them on the left. Likewise when I am passing within a lane, then I will wait for there to be sufficient space on the right hand side of the cars, then I will indicate, then I will pass.

I may fall into the category of this gripe; however, I will always be indicating my intentions. Never overtake a vehicle that is indicating to go in the direction you wish to overtake it.

If your definition of lane splitting is simply to go between the cars irrespective of the regulations, then if you hit me you will be responsible for the damage to my bike, your bike, and all of the cars we bounce off.

[Dr Bob]

Although, on the other hand, I think I am very observant and I do check my mirrors etc. I have never caused a close call, but I have been on the receiving end.

[Slingshot]

I may fall into the category of this gripe; however, I will always be indicating my intentions. Never overtake a vehicle that is indicating to go in the direction you wish to overtake it.
Very good points Dr Bob, my intention wasn't to debate the legality of lane splitting, or where blame would lie if the worst was to happen.

Big thumbs up to you indicating your intentions!! Don't you hate it when someone changes lanes and indicates half way through the manoeuvre!

[Coldkiwi]

If I am travelling behind cars and they are still moving I will pull out and pass them on the left only when they are coming to a stop, and I will be indicating to pass them on the left. .

mate, if you're stopped, I'll give you a very wide berth until I know you've either a) seen me or b) are in a position that I can get past you before you can move into my way. No probs with that. But forget the legality issues already, its all about how to do it safely!

I agree about the emphasis being on the faster lane splitter. There's enough to worry about in front of you without worrying about whats behind. The ONLY exception would be on a two lane road where there is only line to split along. If you're good enough to be going faster than someone on the 3 lane mwy, you should be good enough to change lanes, split ahead and then move back in front.

I do occasionally check in my mirrors while splitting but most of the time its too see if a) the cops are out of view b) the cop I didn't spot earlier has turned the party lights on or c) to see if some other biker is likely to be willing to indulge in some mutual speedy splitting :)

[jrandom]

She'll go, "Look out!!" and I'll think it's something I haven't noticed, when it's something I've long since noted, reacted to, dismissed. Then it's me who nearly has a hear attack! :eek:

You too?

Mrs Random does that to me all the time, when I'm driving.

On a related note (hope she doesn't read this post) her driving put me in complete sphincter-clenching mode along the length of Scenic Drive a few weeks ago. It wasn't particularly fast, just jerky and, well, random, IYSWIM.

Halfway along I finally screwed together enough courage to pipe up about braking on the straight and accelerating from the apex (we were in the Camry) which she angrily rubbished... I just shut my eyes for the rest of it.

*Don't* believe all that stuff about women being safer drivers, people. :sweatdrop

[vifferman]

Is there a Lane-Splitting Code? Mebbe we should create one.
The 10-point Lane-Splitting Code.

Only lane-split when the traffic is stopped or moving very slowly. 'Slowly' being some arbitrary figure much lower than how fast you'd like to be travelling.
Don't lane split at more than x km/h (30? 100?) faster than the traffic. This is inconsiderate to other motorists who could suffer coronary damage while being startled from their slumber.
Lane-split only when doing so is going to save a significant amount of time. Or you feel like it. And you're on a bike (lanesplitting in a truck is fun, but ultimately ineffective).
If you are lanesplitting, and come up behind a slower bike, tootle him/her melodiously. If he/she doesn't get the hell out of your way, lane-split him/her. If he/she reacts badly to this, give a friendly wave, with your hand, or various digits. If he/she reacts badly to this, kick his/her mirror off, and speed off into the distance (this is sure to make the other lanesplitter speed up. As he/she tries to catch up to thank you).
Be sure to use your mirrors when lane-splitting. They are like a cat's whiskers and have been provided on your bike to help you gauge whether that gap you're trying to squeeze in is big enough, before you get your fat butt bike stuck.
If you are lanesplitting, and are surprised by a faster bike coming up behind you, tootling melodiously, don't be alarmed. They are merely complementing you on your expert lane-splitting. You may either slow down so he/she can get a clearer view of your skills, or speed up to show him/her how a real expert does it. If you are stuck because you ignored point 5, you're a plonker.
Lane-splitting requires more vigilant attention and superior skills than normal commuting, so stunts should be kept to a minimum. Unless, of course, you possess more vigilant attention and superior skills than your average biker, in which case it is your responsibility to entertain and amaze the punters by stunting most ferociously.
If you are lanesplitting and find a gap where your progress is hindered by the mirrors of the vehicles on either side of the gap, it is dangerous to try to squeeze through and possibly bump your mirrors so your rearward view is hindered. Stop. And kick the offending mirrors out of the way. The mirrors are obviously dangerous and illegal for protruding so far from the sides of the vehicle.
If, while lane-splitting, you accidentally bump another motorist's mirrors so they are out of adjustment, endeavour to stop and adjust them so they are flat against the vehicle. This will ensure they are not subject to further maladjustment or damage, and also will not hinder any other bikers who may be following you.
Lane-splitting more than two abreast is just plain wrong.
If you have more than two breasts you should be in a circus.
If someone opens their vehicle's door to impede your progress, thank them by bumping into it vigorously with your front wheel so that it bangs violently into the vehicle next to theirs. The melee that ensues will teach 'em not to do that again in a hurry.
If your lane-splitting results in a road-rage incident, just remember that you are equipped for just such an event: helmets are excellent for vigorously hongi-ing an angry motorist, and carbon-fibre knuckles (even if fake) are perfectly legal knuckle-dusters. They are also quite handy for impromptu panel-beating or mirror adjusting.

[Slingshot]

**ROtFLMAO**:killingme

[Coldkiwi]

I like it! point 5 is especially good :) I'm often suprised at how often the gsxr's mirrors DON'T get clipped when breathing in (stupid thing to do incidentally since it makes you bigger) to get between big trucks!

[jrandom]

The Zeal's mirrors stick out more than the FXR's.

On the Zook, I never hit nuffin'.

Now, I'm accepting the tink-tink-donk of regular mirror-clippings as part of my filtering life.

If I keep riding fast enough through the traffic, justice will never catch up...

[sedge]

So far this thread is having the desired impact...that is to bring this to the front of people's minds. Hopefully, tonight on the way home the people that have read this thread will be a little more aware.
:Police:

Mwahhahaha... I'll be watching for you tonight... Was on the GSXR yesterday... but I'm on the whale tonight... watch out scared little Honda, the big bikes are all out to get you.

Sedge.

[Storm]

Words of wisdom for us all to take home people- isnt vifferman smart !! :done:

[vifferman]

The Zeal's mirrors stick out more than the FXR's.

On the Zook, I never hit nuffin'.

Now, I'm accepting the tink-tink-donk of regular mirror-clippings as part of my filtering life.

If I keep riding fast enough through the traffic, justice will never catch up...Ooh - that brings to mind (the cogs turn verra slowly...) point number 15 of the 10-point splitter's guide:
13. Your mirrors are there to guide you, when you've got your eyes shut and are filtering by feel / using the force. If your mirrors are too narrow, not musical enough, or missing (too much filtering), kevlar-armoured elbows or knees may be substituted.

[sedge]

So far this thread is having the desired impact...that is to bring this to the front of people's minds. Hopefully, tonight on the way home the people that have read this thread will be a little more aware.
:Police:

Actually... just reading that again... So... you're saying someone who has replied to this thread cut you off...

Shit... it wasn't me was it ?

Sedge.

[vifferman]

Words of wisdom for us all to take home people- isnt vifferman smart !! :done:If that were true, I wouldn't be guilty of:

Breaking two of my mirrors and none of anyone else's
Sideswiping a car by undertaking it when it had its left confirminator on (thank goodness for over-engineered zorsts and armoured kneepads)
Trying to squeeze through gaps narrower than the cat whiskers - oops - I mean 'mirrors' (thank goodness for armoured kneepads)
Getting numerous bits of crap in perfectly good tyres from riding in the gutter, including a puncture in a brand new set of Azaros
Running out of road while filtering, and having to resort to riding on the footpath (three times) and on the grass beside the motorway (once)
Getting stuck while riding beside the motorway because the tarseal lip was too high to get back up
Overtaking a U-turning car (D'Oh!!).
Best lanesplitting moment: Squeezing past a parked Volvo, whose driver banged frantically on the window because there wasn't time to wind the window down to tell me off. :killingme

[Slingshot]

Actually... just reading that again... So... you're saying someone who has replied to this thread cut you off...

Shit... it wasn't me was it ?

Sedge.No...not that I'm aware of, all I was saying is that people that have read or posted to this thread should theoretically be more aware now, the comments/thread wasn't directed at any one person.

I might just have saved your life :innocent:

[sedge]

Heh heh... just paranoia then... I thought I may have cut you off and not even noticed...

That's what happens when you ride a ZZR, the little sports bike guys keep getting stuck in the tread, I have to pick them out when I get home.

Sedge.

[vifferman]

Heh heh... just paranoia then... I thought I may have cut you off and not even noticed...

That's what happens when you ride a ZZR, the little sports bike guys keep getting stuck in the tread, I have to pick them out when I get home.

Sedge.Yeah, you've got to watch that. And if they're little Italian sports bikes, you need to use something to wash the olive oil off the tyres too. :eek:

[jrandom]

And if they're little Italian sports bikes, you need to use something to wash the olive oil off the tyres too. :eek:

It's true.

*My* bike leaks teriyaki sauce.

Good thing I didn't buy a Kawasaki, because there's nothing worse than wasabi on the driveway.

[crashe]

Well I must admit that I do check my mirrors, not only for other riders coming up from behind, but also for the cops on bikes :Police: and emergancy vehicles as well...... plus if a rider comes up fast behind me I pull in and let them go.... they obviously need to get home much faster then me....

I have come up against some slower riders out there lane splitting.... so if they don't move over then I jump (no not literary) into the other lane and lane split until I get ahead of them.... I do find that most do move over....

They may be new at lane splitting.... just like we were when we all started out riding.... its a confidence thing.... But I have seen a few riders hoon throu lane splitting at a really fast speed. :moon:

[vifferman]

But I have seen a few riders hoon throu lane splitting at a really fast speed. :moon:
Thats just plain stupid, nowhere to go if things go pear shaped. :buggerd:

[vifferman]

If that were true, I wouldn't be guilty of:

Breaking two of my mirrors and none of anyone else's
Sideswiping a car by undertaking it when it had its left confirminator on (thank goodness for over-engineered zorsts and armoured kneepads)
Trying to squeeze through gaps narrower than the cat whiskers - oops - I mean 'mirrors' (thank goodness for armoured kneepads)
Getting numerous bits of crap in perfectly good tyres from riding in the gutter, including a puncture in a brand new set of Azaros
Running out of road while filtering, and having to resort to riding on the footpath (three times) and on the grass beside the motorway (once)
Getting stuck while riding beside the motorway because the tarseal lip was too high to get back up
Overtaking a U-turning car (D'Oh!!).
Best lanesplitting moment: Squeezing past a parked Volvo, whose driver banged frantically on the window because there wasn't time to wind the window down to tell me off. :killingme

Sounds like your a real disaster zone, viffer.

[vifferman]

Sounds like your a real disaster zone, viffer.Not at all.
Well... not anything related to that little list.
Apart from breaking mirrors, I've had no real grief while 'lanespliting' [sic]. :mellow:

[RiderInBlack]

the little sports bike guys keep getting stuck in the tread, I have to pick them out when I get home.

Sedge.:laugh:

Yeah, you've got to watch that. And if they're little Italian sports bikes, you need to use something to wash the olive oil off the tyres too. :eek::lol:

It's true.

*My* bike leaks teriyaki sauce.

Good thing I didn't buy a Kawasaki, because there's nothing worse than wasabi on the driveway.:killingme
Are. so it's Suzuki Sushi that was on "Roxanne's" tyres not cow shit.

[sAsLEX]

always slow down for a helmet noticed in front, might be someone off here needing a wave!, or they could jump into your lane.

I split every day during uni, gets a little interesting in the wet but.....

Only hit mirrors once coming up from the second exit into the city, guy started tootling and shit shame I was already gone!

Started to hit my elbows, well scrape gently caress, on mirrors as i pass, must be that cat whisker thing

[ktulu]

Those are some very good points viffer man, I will try to remember them next time I am lane splitting..... but if i do I will probably fall of my bike and smash into a car or something because I will be laughing so much :shifty:

[Eyetie]

I was heading out of Manukau on the Southern M'Way in the left lane (there are three of them), traffic fairly heavy and I was doing 95Km/h all of a sudden I had a bike (sure it was a firestorm) come through between myself and another car, normally I always make room when I am in the cage if a bike is behind me but as the bike would of been doing 140+ did not even know he was there until he went past and f****n close causing me to do a minor swerve thankfully away from him, and my pulse took a minute to return to normal, that sort of riding is definitely not me by any stretch of the imagination and hope whoever it was either is skilled enough (if it is possible to read other drivers minds) to judge cms at speed or realises that riding that close between cars at that speed will end up in some serious hurt one day.

[Coldkiwi]

hmm, 'red sea effect'. Good point. I'm always aware of it when overtaking the slower rider as sometimes cars move over forthem into my way before I get level with the other bike... but it doesn't happen that often. So long as I change lanes back relatively quickly I think the effect is minimised (and if done with a reasonable degree of smoothness and courtesy it prevents many cagey's from getting the shakes)