What are some general rules for lane splitting?

[Rajol]

I've done it in the mornings and afternoons on the motorway in Wellington, I've only done it if the traffic is going slower than 40km/hr of which I'm only passing at that speed. However I've noticed some guys ride past me at ~ 60km/h and even faster when the traffic is moving at ~ 60km/h.

I learnt how to do it by following some guys lane splitting and feel more comfortable doing it now

but just curious to know if you guys have your own rules for lane splitting

how does indicating work???

What are the legal rules for lane splitting?

[iYRe]

I dont know the "actual" rules, but I once asked a policeman and he said if I was doing less than 20km more than the traffic and going through staggered traffic (ie not going directly between too cars, but zigzagging like -_-_-_-_- ) he would not stop me.. but I got the impression that some officers would be stricter and some less..

[Scuba_Steve]

asking "rules" round a somewhat grey area... this should be fun

Legally to the right of left lane you are legal, to the left of right lane you are not. Unless of course traffic is stopped, then it doesn't matter.

as for advice - DON'T lane split unless you are comfortable doing it, you will learn to "read" traffic as such. You'll get a feeling of which car is going to be the wanker that'll switch with no indication or looking, you'll get an idea of what's "safe" & what's not. You'll learn where cars do what & adjust accordingly. Most of lane splitting IMO comes down to experience & comfort levels.

I have found keeping steady speed (within reason) is a good idea, it becomes even harder to judge a bikes position when they're constantly changing speeds.
Don't go too much faster than surrounding traffic but go fast enough you are making progress.
Don't try to keep up with anyone else, likewise don't hold others up. If you notice someone following, pull into traffic let them past & then just continue as usual. Also if you are being held up by another bike be patient, don't ride their ass, it's not always safe or easy to check bike mirrors they probably just haven't seen you yet.
At the end of the day "ride your own ride" be careful & like I said only do it if comfortable

As for indication, legal or not I don't, unless I'm pulling into the traffic flow or lane switching rather than splitting (which I tend to do at the higher speeds). My reasons for not indicating are pretty simple, we all know car drivers have tiny little brains not even fully capable of operating the device their sitting in properly, I don't want to confuse them by flashing my indicators when I'm not going to be directly affecting them. In saying that tho, if I had hazard lights I might use them?

[rastuscat]

tHE LAW (Road User Rule 2004) doesn't mention lane spilitting, or filtering.

Every passing manouvre is deemed as passing on the left, or passing on the right.

Here's what the law says about that.

General requirements about passing other vehicles
(1)A driver must not pass or attempt to pass another vehicle moving in the same direction unless—
(a)the movement can be made with safety; and
(b)the movement is made with due consideration for other users of the road; and
(c)sufficient clear road is visible to the driver for the passing movement to be completed without impeding or being likely to impede any possible opposing traffic; and
(d)until the passing movement is completed, the driver has a clear view of the road and any traffic on the road for at least 100 m in the direction in which the driver is travelling.
(2)Subclause (1)(c) and (d) does not apply if the passing vehicle and the vehicle being passed are in different lanes and are, throughout the passing movement, either on a one-way road or on the same side of the centre line.
(3)A driver must not, when passing another vehicle moving in the same direction, move into the line of passage of that vehicle until the manoeuvre can be made safely and without impeding the movement of that other vehicle.

Passing on left
(1)A driver must not pass or attempt to pass on the left of another vehicle moving in the same direction except in accordance with this clause.
(2)In any case in which the movement referred to subclause (1) may be made,—
(a)the 2 vehicles must be in different lanes; or
(b)the overtaken vehicle must be stationary or its driver must have given or be giving the prescribed signal of that driver's intention to turn right; or
(c)if the overtaken vehicle is a light rail vehicle moving in the same direction, the light rail vehicle must not be—
(i)signalling an intention to turn left or to stop; or
(ii)stationary for the purposes of allowing passengers to alight or board.
(3)If the roadway is marked in lanes, the driver may make the movement referred in subclause (1) only if the driver's vehicle does not encroach on a lane that is unavailable to a driver.

Passing on right
A driver must not pass or attempt to pass on the right of another vehicle moving in the same direction when—
(a)approaching or crossing an intersection unless—
(i)the roadway is marked in lanes and the driver can make the movement without the driver's vehicle encroaching on a lane available for opposing traffic; or
(ii)in any other case, the driver can make the movement with safety and with due consideration for users of the intersecting road; or
(b)approaching or passing a flush median, unless the driver—
(i)intends to turn right from the road marked with the flush median into another road or vehicle entrance; or
(ii)has turned right onto the road marked with the flush median; or
(iii)can make the entire movement without encroaching on the flush median.

You can't ride your motorbike or moped in cycle lanes either.

Just a wee drop of info to absorb, then ponder why it's all so bloody confusing.

Back to my donuts.

[pzkpfw]

The legal thing is you need your right side indicator on, because you are passing the car that's on your left.

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I always feel safer going between two cars. When there are long lines of cars, bumper to bumper, that's when I split the "fastest".

You can get squeezed if a guy on the left drifts to the right of their lane, and a guy on the right drifts to the left of their lane; but in general, the cars don't bang into each other so there's usually space for your bike.

On the other hand, when there are large gaps between the cars, and they are staggered, you can get someone in one lane diving over into the other lane without warning. If you are splitting or zig zagging down between the lanes, these are the guys who take you out (or maybe, whom you allow to take you out).

----

One of my worst motorway-car experience was once when I wasn't splitting. I was just in the middle lane, because it was moving well enough. And a car in the right lane just drifted over into my lane on top of me. I looked at the driver and she just looked at me and kept coming. (So I gassed it and went ahead; though might have had to brake in another situation).

Another time, splitting past a long truck on the straight before J'Ville, the truck drifted over right against the centre line. I saw him watching me in his mirror so knew he did it on purpose. I had to squeeze in between two of the cars in the right lane. There are dangers to watch for.

[Scuba_Steve]

You can't ride your motorbike or moped in cycle lanes either.

Can you produce that law??? I have not seen it & I was of the thought it was totally legal, just not usually worth it.

[FJRider]

Can you produce that law??? I have not seen it & I was of the thought it was totally legal, just not usually worth it.

From the Act ...

Using special vehicle lanes
What’s the definition of a special vehicle lane and what does it include?
A special vehicle lane is any lane marked on the roadway for exclusive use by cyclists or specific classes of vehicle, eg bus and transit lanes.

What does the Road User Rule say about using special vehicle lanes?
The rule says that you must not drive in a special vehicle lane unless you are operating a vehicle of a type that is permitted to use that lane.

If you’re not driving a vehicle that is entitled to use a special vehicle lane, the only circumstances in which you may legally be able to use that lane are:

1.if your vehicle is too big or the load you’re carrying is too large to be contained within one lane
2.if the lane you’re in is obstructed
3.if you need to cross the lane in order to turn or park clear of the lane.
If any of these reasons apply, the rule says you must use the lane safely, for as short a time as you can, giving-way to, and not impeding, vehicles that are entitled to use that lane. In addition, you must not stop, stand, or park your vehicle in any special vehicle lane, unless your vehicle is entitled to use that lane and stopping is permitted by signs or markings.

[Gianz]

what do they mean for "encroaching" exactly?

[sleemanj]

From the Act ...
2.if the lane you’re in is obstructed

Hmm.

I wonder if one could argue that stopped cars in a queue constitutes an obstruction in the lane for a motorcyclist and make it legal to use a cycle lane to get around said obstruction to the head of the queue.

[FJRider]

what do they mean for "encroaching" exactly?

Buy a dictionary .... or google it ...

but just for you ...

en·croach (n-krch)
intr.v. en·croached, en·croach·ing, en·croach·es
1. To take another's possessions or rights gradually or stealthily: encroach on a neighbor's land.
2. To advance beyond proper or former limits: desert encroaching upon grassland.
3. Football To commit encroachment.

[FJRider]

Hmm.

I wonder if one could argue that stopped cars in a queue constitutes an obstruction in the lane for a motorcyclist and make it legal to use a cycle lane to get around said obstruction to the head of the queue.

You decide ...

The rule says that you must not drive in a special vehicle lane unless you are operating a vehicle of a type that is permitted to use that lane.

If any of these reasons apply, the rule says you must use the lane safely, for as short a time as you can, giving-way to, and not impeding, vehicles that are entitled to use that lane.

[sleemanj]

You decide ...

I do, and have no qualms about using the cycle lane in exactly that situation... as long as I don't see no likely popo in the queue ahead of me

[FJRider]

I do, and have no qualms about using the cycle lane in exactly that situation... as long as I don't see no likely popo in the queue ahead of me

It's the one's you dont see ... that cause the prob's ... and *555

[Scuba_Steve]

From the Act ...

Using special vehicle lanes
What’s the definition of a special vehicle lane and what does it include?
A special vehicle lane is any lane marked on the roadway for exclusive use by cyclists or specific classes of vehicle, eg bus and transit lanes.

What does the Road User Rule say about using special vehicle lanes?
The rule says that you must not drive in a special vehicle lane unless you are operating a vehicle of a type that is permitted to use that lane.

If you’re not driving a vehicle that is entitled to use a special vehicle lane, the only circumstances in which you may legally be able to use that lane are:

1.if your vehicle is too big or the load you’re carrying is too large to be contained within one lane
2.if the lane you’re in is obstructed
3.if you need to cross the lane in order to turn or park clear of the lane.
If any of these reasons apply, the rule says you must use the lane safely, for as short a time as you can, giving-way to, and not impeding, vehicles that are entitled to use that lane. In addition, you must not stop, stand, or park your vehicle in any special vehicle lane, unless your vehicle is entitled to use that lane and stopping is permitted by signs or markings.

if that is the only law surrounding it then there is no reason we cannot use the cycle lanes, still don't change the fact I usually would not want to tho

Anyways back on topic this is about lane splitting not cycle lane use, I just wanted to know if there is actually a law dedicated to it. we can always start a new thread if people want to take this further

[SMOKEU]

This is how it's meant to be done: