Lane splitting crackdown in Wellington?

**Voltaire** · 10th October 2014, 05:43

Originally Posted by pzkpfw

I lane split, but there's no way in heck I can ever actually stay to the left of the lane dividing line the whole way. I spend as much time passing - moving - cars on the right of me (naughty) as I do passing cars on the left of me (not naughty).

So technically, whether or not any officer thinks I'm splitting "dangerously" or not, I could easily be given a ticket any day I ride to work.

I'd be very surprised if there are many that didn't apply to.

+1
I lanesplit from time to time and put my right indicator as a token gesture and end up mainly on the right of the line.
Pathetic really that they even bother worrying about a handful of bikes doing it when you see so many car and truck drivers on the phone.

**willytheekid** · 10th October 2014, 06:58

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**oneofsix** · 10th October 2014, 07:40

Originally Posted by Voltaire

+1
I lanesplit from time to time and put my right indicator as a token gesture and end up mainly on the right of the line.
Pathetic really that they even bother worrying about a handful of bikes doing it when you see so many car and truck drivers on the phone.

actually what this indicates is the pathetic failure of cage drivers to stay as far left as practical. If the cage was in the center of their lane then it woud be as easy to the left as the right and if they were to the left of their lane, to give following traffic a better view. splitting to the left of the line (right of the cage) would be easier than to the right. So perhaps mr popo is mis-targeting his efforts .

**Voltaire** · 10th October 2014, 08:17

They are always saying that they want to bring NZ into line with other overseas countries.
Just been in Vietnam for a month riding about......

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Who needs a family car

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Saigon Roundabout

Horns rule.

not sure if the vid will work.
They do have a road toll that is over 10 000 per year though.

**Ulsterkiwi** · 10th October 2014, 08:40

Originally Posted by Voltaire

They are always saying that they want to bring NZ into line with other overseas countries.
Just been in Vietnam for a month riding about......

Who needs a family car

Saigon Roundabout

Horns rule.

not sure if the vid will work.
They do have a road toll that is over 10 000 per year though.

Interesting that the little kid doesnt warrant a helmet, must have criteria to meet before that happens

**Voltaire** · 10th October 2014, 08:58

Helmets are compulsory, although the helmets on sale are not much more than a hard hat merely meeting the requirement " of wearing a helmet"
Young guys ( surprise surprise) seem to be the ones who don't bother the most, and their riding style is not exactly cautious.
There was a poster campaign showing a mother putting a helmet on a child, but the up take is slow.
Babies are just carried about on bike in backpacks or on the mothers lap.
Its a different world to here, you can however get free wifi just about anywhere there is a cafe or small town.

**rua** · 10th October 2014, 09:18

Didn't see him today but this week I have seen him pulling over cars too.

Could it be that he isn't persecuting bikers but just pulling over motorists who he sees breaking the law?

I split all the time, not had a ticket yet but I pretty much know its not legal and when/if I get a ticket its probably fair.

NZ Police have never pinged me for something I have not deserved, maybe others have had different experiences.

**Scuba_Steve** · 10th October 2014, 11:52

If this is the guy I'm thinking of he's a cock & should himself be charged with at minimum dangerous use of a motor vehicle, impeding the flow of traffic & use of a motor vehicle likely to cause annoyance. Cause he is fucking useless on his bike & dangerous to boot

**oneofsix** · 10th October 2014, 12:13

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

If this is the guy I'm thinking of he's a cock & should himself be charged with at minimum dangerous use of a motor vehicle, impeding the flow of traffic & use of a motor vehicle likely to cause annoyance. Cause he is fucking useless on his bike & dangerous to boot

what?! you wouldn't be suggesting that he would be judging others by his own low standards, Because it is dangerous for him it must also be for others?

As to staying in step with other peoples laws;
http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov....lanefiltering/
jeez it would be hard for some to slow down to the 30k when splitting.

**BlackSheepLogic** · 10th October 2014, 15:35

Originally Posted by Ulsterkiwi

I dont but in forae other than this one there has been discussion of a particular cop, on a bike, who tends to pull people for filtering/splitting....

Muppets get tickets,
It’s just how life works.

When Muppets get tickets,
Muppets don’t shut the fuck up.

Muppets know it ‘ant right,
So Muppet tells Muppets,
‘Cause Muppets know best.

It ‘ant right to pay the fuck up,
’Cause it’s just how life works.

**Welly-Ray** · 10th October 2014, 17:38

I have been given different opinions on the legality of lane-splitting. What's your interpretation?

Originally Posted by NZTA

Lane splitting and filtering can be legal, depending on the situation in which the manoeuvre is undertaken. As long as you are complying with the road rules regarding passing, it would be legal. If you were in violation of any of these rules, it would make it an illegal manoeuvre.

You can find these rules outlined here:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ro...g/passing.html

The terms 'lane splitting' and 'filtering' are not currently used in the motorcycle road code.

**cheshirecat** · 10th October 2014, 18:03

This effectively negates any passing of moving traffic in urban areas and lane splitting
" ..at least 100 metres of clear road ahead of you once you have finished passing"

**Welly-Ray** · 10th October 2014, 18:22

The definition of lane-splitting on NZTA site:

Lane splitting - relates to moving through the traffic travelling in the same direction (that is in motion) by travelling between the lanes.

How could this be established with the 100 meter requirement?

**oneofsix** · 10th October 2014, 19:02

Originally Posted by cheshirecat

This effectively negates any passing of moving traffic in urban areas and lane splitting
" ..at least 100 metres of clear road ahead of you once you have finished passing"

that would also negate the use of passing lanes and many other things, like ever passing a scooter or cyclist or turning traffic.

I think looking closer you will discover clear road refers to opposing traffic

**Stonecold** · 20th October 2014, 16:36

Hi, Got stopped at the base of Ngauranga Gorge this morning by officer number LVBA75. Nice chap, all things considered.

I have never been stopped for lane-splitting before, but I have always taken the opportunity to ask when I got the chance.

Like the 3 other cops before him, he was is and always will be convinced that he is right. However, unlike the other three cops before him, he issued me a ticket. I now have 150 reasons why lane splitting is not a good idea (and they will all be leaving my account within the next 28 days. As per the notice.

His explanation is that it is simple.

If traffic is moving it is illegal to overtake a cage on the left side, unless it is turning right.
So being on the right of the cats eyes, and passing a cage that is on our right, when it is not turning right, is illegal.
If traffic is stationary, it is OK.

If we are on the left of the cats eyes, with a cage on our left, this is not AS illegal, but the thinking goes that we are overtaking, and so we should have 100m of clear road ahead of us and 1m clear gap between us and the cage we are overtaking.

Therefore unless the traffic is stationary, lane splitting is illegal.

Officer LVBA75 says this is the final word.