Riding on the left shoulder?

**piston broke** · 31st December 2009, 21:15

what is the law regarding this?
sh1 was stopped just past the tunnels today (nth auck).
i found it easiest and safer to ride to the left of all the stopped cars,
i hope i didn't freak out too many people.
i didnt go much over 40k's,and was on the lookout for anyone moving into my self made lane.
to me the only naughty thing i did was ride on the puhoi bridge footpath.
it can't have been too bad as i stopped just past the pohuehue viaduct for a coffee and noone stopped to give me grief.
so with the traffic as it was,where on the road should i have been "legally".
cheers muchly,and happy new year.

**Berries** · 31st December 2009, 23:58

I think you are supposed to ride/drive in marked lanes where available. As the shoulder is not a marked lane then I would assume you are committing an offence, at the least you could be done for failing to stay in your lane. Have a read of the Road User Rule on the NZTA website. I'd have a look myself but I've got some fireworks to set off.

**Leyton** · 1st January 2010, 00:16

If you are riding on your left shoulder, May I suggest taking a different line around those bends Mr!

**davebullet** · 1st January 2010, 06:53

Im not sure about the legality, but I've done this a few times coming into Otaki which gets bunched up. The shoulder is plenty wide and if you go slow enough (eg. 40kms or less) then you pose little risk.

To me, it's little different from lane splitting. In some ways safer as vehicles are less likely to switch into your path.

The biggest risk is to your tyres picking up some stray nail or other impailment.

I think the Police would have more of a problem than most motorists.

**pzkpfw** · 1st January 2010, 07:54

Left shoulder IS illegal.

The riders, for example, using the left shoulder to pass traffic going into Wellington in the mornings are breaking the law, while lane splitters (if they do it properly) are actually riding legally.

(Having said that, I do it too if "required". Last time was going up the hill, South towards Pukerua bay. The two lanes were at a standstill, and I don't like stopping in traffic on an uphill.)

**fliplid** · 1st January 2010, 08:57

Originally Posted by davebullet

The biggest risk is to your tyres picking up some stray nail or other impailment.

Bit like all them folk who ride across the line towards the median then?

**Bald Eagle** · 1st January 2010, 14:04

Originally Posted by pzkpfw

Left shoulder IS illegal.

The riders, for example, using the left shoulder to pass traffic going into Wellington in the mornings are breaking the law, while lane splitters (if they do it properly) are actually riding legally.

(Having said that, I do it too if "required". Last time was going up the hill, South towards Pukerua bay. The two lanes were at a standstill, and I don't like stopping in traffic on an uphill.)

I think you need to check your compass the two lane merge/split to Pukerua Bay is northbound

**pzkpfw** · 1st January 2010, 18:46

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

I think you need to check your compass the two lane merge/split to Pukerua Bay is northbound

Yes, just a stupid typo. (If that's the word for it. Maybe "momentary direction dyslexia"? I'm sure I was facing the proper way on the bike, because I wasn't operating the indicators with my right foot.)

**FJRider** · 1st January 2010, 19:00

Berries is actually correct ..... legally .... but if traffic is stopped. And speed is not "excessive" .... law enforcers seldom get to upset.

**p.dath** · 1st January 2010, 19:32

Check out the motorcycle laws section of the Wiki, particularly the passing on the left section.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/wiki/Cate...otorcycle_Laws

**FJRider** · 1st January 2010, 19:39

(2)(b) means he WAS legal ...

**Genie** · 1st January 2010, 19:43

Originally Posted by piston broke

what is the law regarding this?
sh1 was stopped just past the tunnels today (nth auck).
i found it easiest and safer to ride to the left of all the stopped cars,
i hope i didn't freak out too many people.
i didnt go much over 40k's,and was on the lookout for anyone moving into my self made lane.
to me the only naughty thing i did was ride on the puhoi bridge footpath.
it can't have been too bad as i stopped just past the pohuehue viaduct for a coffee and noone stopped to give me grief.
so with the traffic as it was,where on the road should i have been "legally".
cheers muchly,and happy new year.

naughty for sure...apparently in the bike road code...you have to sit in the traffic and wait like everyone else.