Using Bus Lines on the Northern Mway in Auckland

[pommie girl]

yay another girlie!! I just started riding- someone in a bike shop said it was sweet to use the bus lanes so I did- but then switched to the fast lane as it moves along OK on the north western most of the time. i see a good few bikes in the bus lanes tho... but the north western always seems to have a cop just before the patiki off ramp heading into town so... me a drivin in da other lane...not have time to stop and get my lane ettiquite education from ze traffic cop- no matter how big heees flashing lights...

Hey there surfchick! Was beginning to think there weren't any other girlies in the forum!! I've only been riding for about 14 months myself and can't wait to upgrade my bike to something with a bit more va-va-voom :-) Been just filtering through the traffic on the northern, which is ok, but keep eyeing up the woefully empty bus lanes and wondering whether it's worth taking the chance ... A girlfriend of mine travels in on the north western as well every day - says it's always pretty packed! I've seen cops waiting on the northern - one by the Northcote and occasionally just after the bridge in town. Very cheeky!!

[surfchick]

I would go for it in the bus lanes if the rest is at a stand still, as my guess is that you can plead ignorance and bat your eyelids... I've never been stopped. maybe flag it if the other lanes are going OK. I might have been passed by you about a month ago- a girl was in the fast lane (i think) in all black leather pants?? that you? my helmet&bike are white. me got bright red trim on the shoulders of my new (old school) jacket-not ze one in my pic. toot if you fly by me.

there are other girls here- I've met some of them- but i think there's miles more- it's such a boy thing riding eh?

[pommie girl]

I would go for it in the bus lanes if the rest is at a stand still, as my guess is that you can plead ignorance and bat your eyelids... I've never been stopped. maybe flag it if the other lanes are going OK. I might have been passed by you about a month ago- a girl was in the fast lane (i think) in all black leather pants?? that you? my helmet&bike are white. me got bright red trim on the shoulders of my new (old school) jacket-not ze one in my pic. toot if you fly by me.

there are other girls here- I've met some of them- but i think there's miles more- it's such a boy thing riding eh?

If I was on a grey GSX250 then yep, that was me :-) I'll keep an eye out for you next time! Think I'm just going to go ahead and use the bus lanes - after all, what's the point in having a bike in commuter traffic if you can't leave everyone else behind?? Plus you get to avoid the complete idiots who seem to have forgotten what their wing mirrors are for. If I get pulled over I'll just plead ignorance and flutter my lashes, feign distress that I hadn't realised I was doing something illegal - one of the many benefits of being female

[placidfemme]

wow, I'm glad I read this thread, I ride on the northern motorway from Onewa Rd to Fanshaw street eeryday and I use the bus lane... guess I should stop :P

[pogz88]

Probably nothign new to the answers you've already received but thought I'd share my experience. I used to live on the shore. One day coming down the harbour bridge there is a section there that changes from "Lane Ends" to "Bus Lane" during peak hours. I was caught in this section and got a ticket. Actually I got 2 tickets, one for riding on the buslane and the other for changing lanes too quickly after I saw a cop camping around the bend. $300!

So answer is no to bikes on mway bus lanes but yes to bikes on normal road bus lanes.

Now about the filtering, I read it on the herald 2-3 weeks ago that yes it is allowed at traffic lights and mway if the traffic is very slow or not moving but then again no body really knows. Apparently, Pheobe Flaconer (journalist for herald) called and ask a Andy some rather from LTSA...so far I've called them myself and none of them knew. I've searched their site and there is nothing there. If someone knows, please do tell so I can read it myself.

Stupid cops on a blitz today. Ticketed me on Lincoln road.

[Yarg]

Welcome aboard , and using the bus lanes at present is a No No.

[Zed]

Now about the filtering, I read it on the herald 2-3 weeks ago that yes it is allowed at traffic lights and mway if the traffic is very slow or not moving but then again no body really knows. Apparently, Pheobe Flaconer (journalist for herald) called and ask a Andy some rather from LTSA...so far I've called them myself and none of them knew. I've searched their site and there is nothing there. If someone knows, please do tell so I can read it myself.

I think many of us motorcyclists are in the same predicament as you L-Plate Rider, we know that the laws are 'cloudy' about filtering and we also know that a policeman can enforce these laws at his own discretion depending on the circumstances...keeping these things in mind we still *carefully* filter through traffic and take our chances with the law!

Btw, no-one likes being ticketed, but only you know if you truly deserved it! But if you were wronged then you have my sympathies.

[pogz88]

I think many of us motorcyclists are in the same predicament as you L-Plate Rider, we know that the laws are 'cloudy' about filtering and we also know that a policeman can enforce these laws at his own discretion depending on the circumstances...keeping these things in mind we still *carefully* filter through traffic and take our chances with the law!

Btw, no-one likes being ticketed, but only you know if you truly deserved it! But if you were wronged then you have my sympathies.

Thanks for the sympathies..but I don't think I deserve it..I do know I was on the wrong but I would appreciate a warning from them rather than a ticket. because I do not do it all the time. It was just by chance that when I decided to do it and a cop was there. But what's done is done so never mind that.

About the cloudy rules..hopefully we all get clarification. I do filter carefully. I've seena couple of guys on the nw mway that zooms pass everyone at 50 or something. Some of you might have seen them. One is a hayabusa (dark) and a GSXR1000 with a pillion.

[chris]

Hi

I'm new to the site and not sure if this has been answered elsewhere, but does anyone know what the deal is with using the bus lanes on the northern motorway in Auckland? Thought the govt had ruled bikes could use all bus lanes, but someone else said there was some local bylaw that prevented bikes from using the bus lanes on the northern.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Are you really Wonder Woman??