Motorway filtering mentor

[Old Steve]

Left Cambridge about 4.00 pm after the Toy Run and visiting rellies. From Taupiri, SH1 turned into a double lane carpark, so after refuelling at Huntly I slipped between the lanes and filtered all the way home. I passed a HD rider with a camping roll on the back of their bike sitting in the inside lane shortly after Huntly, and next time I checked my mirror there was a headlight right behind me between the lanes of cars. I pulled over into the outside lane as soon as I could in case I was holding them up but they pulled in behind me and waved me on.

So the two of us filtered all the way from just north of Huntly to the North Western motorway turn off at Symonds St, where they pulled up alongside in the inner lane, waved, and peeled off onto the NW M/way. We must have ridden maybe 85 km together and I feel I'd introduced someone to the art of lane filtering.

To the unknown rider behind me all the way, thanks for the company.

[rastuscat]

I like to think of filtering as moving between stationary vehicles.

I think lane splitting is moving between moving vehicles.

Am I right? I know the terms get interchanged, just looking to clarify.

The Road User Rule 2004 doesn't mention filtering or lane splitting. It talks about passing. Passing on the left, and passing on the right. When you can do either, that sort of thing.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...resel_25_a&p=2

I personally don't do either, but can sure see why you would.

[Laava]

I like to think of filtering as moving between stationary vehicles.

I think lane splitting is moving between moving vehicles.

Am I right? I know the terms get interchanged, just looking to clarify.

The Road User Rule 2004 doesn't mention filtering or lane splitting. It talks about passing. Passing on the left, and passing on the right. When you can do either, that sort of thing.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...resel_25_a&p=2

I personally don't do either, but can sure see why you would.

If you live there or have to pass through, you will soon be lane splitting like everyone else.
It is by varying degrees though and if you are following another bike who is pissing people off, that is best left alone. I will happily sit in the traffic above about 20 kmh but when it is sub 10, i am fucked if I am going to sit there for an hour.

[TheDemonLord]

Everyday I'm filterin'

[Old Steve]

I started lane filtering in Queensland, who actually adopted the NSW lane filtering law. I only lane filter up to a speed of 30 km/hr, if the traffic is travelling at that speed then I slip back into the lane.

Queensland law states:

"Lane filtering is when you ride your motorcycle at low speed between stationary or slow moving vehicles travelling in the same direction you are.

"You're only allowed to lane filter in Queensland if you hold an open licence for the motorcycle you are riding and:

"your speed when filtering is 30km/h or less
"it's safe to do so.

"You're not allowed to lane filter:

"at a speed more than 30km/h
"in school zones during school zone hours
"if you're a learner or provisional licence holder
"if it isn't safe."

I think it's the NSW law which mentions lane splitting and declares that it is illegal and subject to large fines and demerit points.

I know we don't ride to QLD law here in NZ, but it's a good guideline for something which seems to be uncovered by local regulations. And I've ridden passed Police cars when filtering and none of them has given any reaction - probably because they were stuck in the bloody traffic!

[rastuscat]

And I've ridden passed Police cars when filtering and none of them has given any reaction - probably because they were stuck in the bloody traffic!

That reaction is hardly surprising. Most cops have no idea as to the technicalities of the Road User Rule.

Don't take inaction as approval. Probably they just couldn't be arsed.

[nzspokes]

I personally don't do either, but can sure see why you would.

Because you ride a couch with wheels that wouldnt fit?

[Berries]

I personally don't do either, but can sure see why you would.

If I am going to sit in traffic I might as well have a car.

[rastuscat]

Because you ride a couch with wheels that wouldnt fit?

Sprung.

10 char

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[Gremlin]

Sprung.

While rush hour traffic is certainly present in Chch, it's nothing compared to the almost city-wide deadlock that Auckland gets on a regular day. Throw in a few accidents in the morning commute and it's barely recovered by the time it builds in the early afternoon... If I hit the motorway 20km out of the CBD in the south, I can expect to split most of the way into the CBD any time after 3pm ish, often it seems more like 2pm. Long weekends, Friday is terrible most of the day.

Motorway is actually one of the best places to be, as the lanes are wider and most of the time the cars aren't even moving. The urban roads are more tricky, narrower, plenty of side streets etc.

Oh, even on the weekend, south of the city, it grinds to a slow crawl with everyone trying to get back in on a Sunday afternoon.

[rambaldi]

While rush hour traffic is certainly present in Chch, it's nothing compared to the almost city-wide deadlock that Auckland gets on a regular day. Throw in a few accidents in the morning commute and it's barely recovered by the time it builds in the early afternoon.

Or this morning, I believe it was a lady having a baby on the side of the Southern.

[Runty]

Or this morning, I believe it was a lady having a baby on the side of the Southern.

Dont confuse the symptoms with the cause - she wasnt even pregnant when the traffic jam started

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[TheDemonLord]

That reaction is hardly surprising. Most cops have no idea as to the technicalities of the Road User Rule.

Don't take inaction as approval. Probably they just couldn't be arsed.

I've had 2 police vehicles stick on their lights after I have gone filtering passed (okay, admitedly one was when I was using the Central Median but you know - details) - suffice to say that Bike vs Car in heavy traffic, I didn't even need to attempt to getaway - just continue riding as normal.

[bmws1r]

Was in the tintop trying to get to greenlane after a long trip up, saw a bike go down filtering , traffic speed was 20kph car just changed lanes and took rider down, rider was OK as got up straight away, Why I don't filter.

[pritch]

I like to think of filtering as moving between stationary vehicles.

I think lane splitting is moving between moving vehicles.

Am I right?

Well slim evidence I know, but I have a pair of CRG bar end mirrors model "lane splitter". They flick back out of the way to split between cars at the lights. They have a detent so they return without losing adjustment once you don't need them folded. So the folk at CRG seem to regard what you call filtering as lane splitting.

David L Hough in his book Proficient Motorcycling uses the terms "lane splitting" and "white lining" interchangeably. In both cases he is referring to moving traffic.