Motorway splitting - safety shoulder?

**DougieNZ** · 14th October 2009, 12:08

Hi All,

I would be interested to know what people's opinions are on this?

Why don't we just bite the bullet and make the safety shoulder a M/C lane? I reckon it's a lot safer to use this than it is to "split" between the lanes.

1. There could be a 50km/h speed limit, so that only slow speed splitting was allowed.

2. Yes there could be a problem if there was a disabled vehicle there, but it should be easy to see/dodge.

3. The lanes would have to be clearly markeed, so cagers would expect to see you there.

4. There is always talk of people pulling off the motorway in front of you, but they should indicate before doing this?

5. I reckon there is a lot more danger of someone not seeing you when changing lanes than pulling off the m/way in front of you.

Thoughts?

**PirateJafa** · 14th October 2009, 12:11

Because if you ever look at it, you'll see that ALL the shit off the motorway ends up there. Fuck that, tyres are too expensive for me, and I cannot be fucked fixing that many punctures.

ALSO we would need to merge in and out at EVERY on-ramp and off-ramp as cars/trucks/buses/horses etc get on and off the motorway. And the council would want to put buses in it too.

And not to mention that motorbikes aren't even allowed to use the motorway buslanes as it is, let alone having a dedicated lane just for us.

Stupid idea. Get the fuck off my internet.

**Laxi** · 14th October 2009, 12:13

^ wot he said

**James Deuce** · 14th October 2009, 14:06

$150 fine for riding in the service lane.

**DougieNZ** · 14th October 2009, 14:18

Yeah, I know...

Probably would suit the Wellignton situation a bit better than Auckland. There are no off/on ramps on SH1 from the bottom of the gorge to Aotea Quay off ramp. The trafic congestion normally occurs at the bottom of the gorge and at the SH1/2 merger.

Point taken about crap on side of M/Way too, though it doesn't appear to be too bad.

I just think that splitting between lanes can be more hazardous with cagers changing lanes suddenly etc etc...

Blooody shame they won't open those bus lanes up for you guys... Especially at the moment!

**James Deuce** · 14th October 2009, 14:20

Originally Posted by DougieNZ

I just think that splitting between lanes can be more hazardous with cagers changing lanes suddenly etc etc...

Since I started splitting in peak commuter time I've had no near misses. When I was a goody two shoes I had several near misses and one collision I don't want to repeat. Lane splitting opens up options, it doesn't reduce them like riding in your lane does. Having said that if the traffic gets up to 60 km/hr I blend back in.

**Nasty** · 14th October 2009, 14:56

Originally Posted by DougieNZ

Hi All,

I would be interested to know what people's opinions are on this?

Why don't we just bite the bullet and make the safety shoulder a M/C lane? I reckon it's a lot safer to use this than it is to "split" between the lanes.

1. There could be a 50km/h speed limit, so that only slow speed splitting was allowed.

2. Yes there could be a problem if there was a disabled vehicle there, but it should be easy to see/dodge.

3. The lanes would have to be clearly markeed, so cagers would expect to see you there.

4. There is always talk of people pulling off the motorway in front of you, but they should indicate before doing this?

5. I reckon there is a lot more danger of someone not seeing you when changing lanes than pulling off the m/way in front of you.

Thoughts?

Because it is a service lane and often there are cars in it .. and they are quite hazardous things to hit.

**DougieNZ** · 14th October 2009, 15:59

Yeah, so are cars when they change lane in front of you when they don't expect you to be lane splitting!

I see your point - but I haven't seen any cars stopped/stopping in the "service lane" in the last 6 months of commuting - but then again maybe I have been lucky!

**BMWST?** · 18th October 2009, 21:22

i use the "service lane" when the traffic is really slow and or stopped.IMO it is safer less intrusive than splitting and that will be my argument to the lawmen

**Bald Eagle** · 18th October 2009, 22:15

Originally Posted by BMWST?

i use the "service lane" when the traffic is really slow and or stopped.IMO it is safer less intrusive than splitting and that will be my argument to the lawmen

I regularly do a bit of both at pukerua bay merge. Come up the shoulder from whenua tapu and then cut in to middle merging near the front of the queue where the cars are almost stationary. At the back of the queue the cagers tend to be a bit ragged and still prone to random lane changes while they see if one sides moving better than the other.

Also recent experience they seem to be a bit more used to us bikes doing this and have had several times when cars in the left lane have moved left on my approaching.

**Swoop** · 19th October 2009, 07:18

If in doubt, refer to post #6.

+1.

**PrincessBandit** · 19th October 2009, 18:54

Originally Posted by BMWST?

i use the "service lane" when the traffic is really slow and or stopped.IMO it is safer less intrusive than splitting and that will be my argument to the lawmen

I have seen bikes using the shoulder and the strip nearest the median barrier (done it myself a couple of times when traffic has been bad). Guess it's like all things, you take the risk and can't complain if Mr. Policeman pings you (or an enthusiastic *555 user dobs you in). Like lane splitting, it's all about risk assessment.

**Maki** · 20th October 2009, 14:40

My tires are too expensive to expose them to the kind of crap that lies in the shoulder. No thanks.

**st00ji** · 21st October 2009, 18:04

i honestly believe that in auckland at least, you are as likely to be spotted by cagers while splitting as any other time. (which is not saying that much really, hah)

in fact i often feel safer lane splitting than i do passing intersections etc where cars are wanting to turn across my path and im the only other traffic on the road