Auckland commuters

[C.Linnell]

....

@Aprilia. I can't wipe the smile off my face... I just can't tell if you're kidding... either way that's fucking hilarious (for very different reasons).

[cheshirecat]

Was riding out to the Le Mans 24 hr bike race once on the autoroute (as one does) and as the traffic became nose to tail doing 50/70; the bikes kept doing 130/150 through all the gaps, between cars, outer median etc. I decided to join them and picked a goup doing the lower end (130ish) and ended up riding between cars relying on my high bars and mirrors (CBX1000) to avoid clanging the cars. It was so close you daren't even think about the gap. Throughout the entire weekend not one bike accident did I see - apart from the track.
I might add the cars are very bike disciplined there - they have to be and they will take you on.

[Swoop]

@Aprilia. I can't wipe the smile off my face... I just can't tell if you're kidding...

It is simply "the law".
If you do not know you are being chased, then it is not a "chase".

[flyingcrocodile46]

I have seen a couple of other bikers get pulled over when they were lane splitting (one looked very nervous while riding, but I couldn't guess as to why the other was pulled over) and have been waved at to slow down as I passed a caged plod a couple of times (when going 40+ kph faster than the traffic), but otherwise have passed both caged and bike plods while lane splitting with no problems at speeds of around 20-30kph faster than traffic. Once while lane splitting I had bike plod come roaring up behind me with lights and sirens going. I pulled over and he kept going, so I pulled out behind him and found he was leaving me behind untill I picked up the pace to around 60kph faster than the traffic. I then backed off as I was a bit nervous about lane changers

I reckon if you aren't nervously wobbling or splitting at excessive speeds, plod will ignore you.

[MaxCannon]

I split past cops cars every week.
Have never been pinged.
If you are sensible, ride at a reasonable speed and keep your nose clean I don't think they will care.

However - on trying to get out of the way of a patrol car with it's lights and siren going I pulled onto the hard shoulder of the motorway.
The officer decided that whatever emergency he was trying to get to was now less important than issueing a ticket for me riding on the hard shoulder.
When I tried to explain I was just trying to get out the way so he could go past he wouldn't listen.
Ticket is yet to turn up (he said he'd post it) so when it does I'll be writing to them and quoting the section of the road code that says what I did was right.

Moral of the story - just because you aren't breaking the law doesn't mean a cop having a crap day won't try to give you a ticket.

[Toaster]

After all Cop bikes do lane split to get through the traffic, so it must be OK...........

It is a bit more complex than that mate, police are entitled to overrule and give direction to drivers in contravention of a road rule if the circumstances require it. Lane spilitting is a grey area and depends on a number of factors as to whether it would be breaching a specific rule or as bad as careless driving.

In my experience, there was a time and place for everything and if the rider or driver was not presenting any danger to themselves or others... well common sense prevails.

Using a flush median is illegal and it is not a lane available to bikers just because they are narrower than cars.

I am a great believer in taking a pragmatic approach and using discretion where appropriate... but hey, I am no longer in that career.

[MarkH]

However - on trying to get out of the way of a patrol car with it's lights and siren going I pulled onto the hard shoulder of the motorway.
The officer decided that whatever emergency he was trying to get to was now less important than issueing a ticket for me riding on the hard shoulder.
When I tried to explain I was just trying to get out the way so he could go past he wouldn't listen.

A fuckwit in the police force, who'd have thunk it?
Yeah, I'm afraid that fuckwits infest every part of society.

Good luck contesting the ticket - a well written letter will often get a response that they are dropping the matter. If the idiots don't listen then let them know you are going to contest it in court, chances are that they wont be willing to go to court to push the matter and look like dicks in front of a judge.