Splitting lanes, how often and to what extent?

[h211]

I was just wondering (since im relatively new to bikes), how often you split lanes and to what extent. A couple of examples below:

1. Three lane one way, 3 to 4 cars in each lane, Red light. Would you split the lanes or go along the cycle lane and wait for the green?

2. One lane, 1 to 2 cars, red light. Would you go up the inside on cycle lane and wait for green?

3. Same as above but 5 to 6 cars.

I often don't bother when its 1 or two cars ahead of me but would like to know your thoughts.

[James Deuce]

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[Maha]

Im normally never in that much of a hurry to be honest but, if the Motorway is congested then hell yeah, keep moving.

[vtec]

Simple answer is follow the path of least resistance, use the path with the most space, and you'll get a feel for the best options very quickly after a while... Experience is a wonderful thing. Take care, and keep your relaxed attitude and you should be fine.

P.S. Nothing wrong with a bit of bicycle lane as long as you don't cut off any bicycles entering it.

[CookMySock]

Anywhere and everywhere when its legal. Sometimes I can't be effed. Around here theres lots of painted median strip (can't ride on that) or other crap that makes it a little grey.

Some days I just don't want to deal with the fuzz if they stop me, but also I have been very surprised to discover what I can get away with. Once I hoofed it out from behind a car to pass on the centre median strip (VERBOTEN!!!) and came face to face with teh fuzz going the other way... I braked really hard and got back in, and quickly rehearsed a good story in my head, but they gave me a puzzled look and continued on their way.. whew..

Steve

[Elysium]

I only lane split if I have to. And I mean when traffic moves to slow for the bike to idle in first gear which then requires me to continuesly use the clutch and I risk suffering a cramp or some damage to the hand and may end up slipping the clutch by mistake.

[slofox]

Living in The Tron, it is rarely necessary to split - the queues are just not that long.

However, if you get the rushquarterhour peak, it can be done - and even I do it from time to time. Just depends on how I am feeling and in how much of a hurry I am...I usually don't bother if there are only two or three cars ahead of me.

[vifferman]

I still don't get it, Steve.
How could there ever be enough traffic in Edgecumbe to warrant needing to lanesplit?

In a typical day, on the way to work I might need to lanesplit past a couple of buses which have stopped in the transit lane, then at the roundabout a few km from work, split past maybe 10-15 cars queuing , because they're SO slow to take off. If there's only a few cars waiting, I usually don't bother.

Then on the way home, I sometimes split to the front of the lights around the corner (because they're SO slow to take off), then that's about it. If I time it wrong, and the traffic's backed up anywhere and moving slowly, then I'll lanesplit till it's moving again so the bike doesn't get too hot. This is never more than about a couple of hundred metres on the motorway, although one day I had to lanesplit from Albania to Northcote as the traffic was barely moving and had backed up all the way to work.

The thing is, I *hate* lanesplitting - it increases the risk of an 'incident' of some sort, and although some drivers make room, generally nearly everyone drives on the right of the lane, forcing you (at best) to have to ride frequently on the catsyes, or pass on the left of the adjacent lane. Neither is ideal.

[breakaway]

1. Legally, there is no such thing as "lane splitting".

2. When you are "splitting lanes", "making your way up to the lights", whatever you want to call it, you are actually executing a passing maneuver.

3. Passing stopped cars is legal (this means if the lights are red, or the traffic as at a standstill, you can do whatever you please, but within reason. If you're passing stopped cars on the back wheel, this could possibly be illegal ).

4. You can pass these "stopped cars" (stationary traffic) on the their left or right (undertaking or overtaking), as long as they are stationary. If you are passing (splitting) on the left of cars (right of the lane divider), the moment they start moving, you're doing something illegal. Otherwise, it is legal, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ASCERTAINED IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

5. Passing moving cars on the right is also legal. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ASCERTAINED IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

6. However, if its a 2 (or more) lane road, and you're passing (splitting) between two lanes, and your tyres cross the lane divider, you are seen as passing moving vehciles on the left. This is illegal.

If the cops see you 'splitting' doing this, they MAY try to ticket you. I have split past cop cars without incident, and have also been ticketed for doing it. I was it legally, and after I bitched to the cops them about it, I got a letter saying the officer wasn't familiar with the law, and had my ticket withdrawn. They give up the moment they know you have some fight in you, and aren't like everyone else who just takes the Police officers' word for it.

[Ducface]

Lane splitting is one of the big advantages of being on the bike but.... dont forget someones going to crash the red when you least expect it.

Oh,, and you had better make it look 100% under control splitting past cops they seem to have good days and bad like everyone.

[Maki]

Lane splitting is one of the big advantages of being on the bike but.... dont forget someones going to crash the red when you least expect it.

Oh,, and you had better make it look 100% under control splitting past cops they seem to have good days and bad like everyone.

Just how are the cops supposed to catch you if you are lane splitting? Corner hard and get the Common-door up on 2 wheels???

[Maki]

I was just wondering (since im relatively new to bikes), how often you split lanes and to what extent. A couple of examples below:

1. Three lane one way, 3 to 4 cars in each lane, Red light. Would you split the lanes or go along the cycle lane and wait for the green?

2. One lane, 1 to 2 cars, red light. Would you go up the inside on cycle lane and wait for green?

3. Same as above but 5 to 6 cars.

I often don't bother when its 1 or two cars ahead of me but would like to know your thoughts.

Firstly, forget cycle lanes. They are usually full of puncture inducing debris or cyclists... Secondly, it makes no difference how many cars are waiting at the lights, in fact the more the better.

I split, unless I am to early for wherever I happen to be going. Then I might waste time by sitting behind cars....

[Cheshire Cat]

I still don't get it, Steve.
How could there ever be enough traffic in Edgecumbe to warrant needing to lanesplit?

Did he say hes always in edgecumbe when he lanesplits?

Maybe he goes out of town to busy places like everyone else does where you have to lanesplit to get anywhere on time!

[st00ji]

i almost always move to the front of the queue at lights, waiting for dozy drivers to get moving is bad enough when you are in a car yourself - dont know why you would want to wait when you have choices. i guess its different in smaller places but in dorkland there is almost always enough cars around to cause queues night or day. my trip home is now a reliable 20 minutes, when in a car it could be anything from 30 minutes on an awesome (maybe twice a year) day to 60 min + on a bad one.

i also tend to try and avoid attracting the attention of the police, mainly because my license conditions may or may not be 100% met at all times - so will behave more like a car than a bike if im feeling a bit paranoid and they are around. bus lanes n stuff make it easy to ease past them and get some blocking traffic in the way.

the other great thing i have found is with a bike you have no traffic dread. i used to get really antsy if i ended up leaving work at 505, instead of 5 - because it could easily add 20 mins or more to my drive home due to increased traffic.

[ajturbo]

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