Yellow Schmellow

[mossy1200]

Is the bit between 2 yellow lines another lane for bikes. Obviously you need pre plan entry prior and remain until they finish to not cross a yellow line though.

[Maha]

Non-legally, sure, but in law, there is no double yellow line. There is one yellow line for each direction of traffic.

Legally, so long as you do not cross the yellow line, and pass on the right of the vehicle (ie, vehicle, you, yellow line) then you may do so. However, most roads don't have that width available, and if you've been on the right side of the vehicle, are you sure the left side of the lane is clear? ie, let's say there is a cyclist you didn't see, and the car moves right to give him space... you could find yourself nowhere to go.

Crossing yellow lines to overtake? Nope, a, what's the rush, b, hopefully it's been put there for a reason, limited visibility, dip in the road so you can't see oncoming etc. Yes, sometimes the placement does make you wonder, but I still wait and I wouldn't want to ride close to anyone that does think it's a good idea.

We are talking about someone who rarely talks about things with legality in mind.... even you agree that colloquially they are known as double yellows lines, there are two of them together at times.. two=double.

[nzspokes]

It is unacceptable.

Agree, work on the idea that its there for a reason.

[ellipsis]

...I find them as slippery as the white ones...

[OddDuck]

Agree, work on the idea that its there for a reason.

+1, got some quite subtle ones where I live... hidden bits of road, very easy to lose track of an oncoming car for just long enough to commit to the overtake.

[WristTwister]

Is it generally acceptable (when you’re out riding) to pass on yellow lines where you perceive it to be safe to do so?

The reason for the question is that I have seen it done so many times over the years.

Personally I don’t cross the yellow lines in an effort to decrease my arrival times by three seconds. Generally, there always seems to be a place to pass when the lines run out and let’s face it, a passing manoeuvre on a bike does only takes three seconds or so. I guess it’s more a conscience question more than anything.

People who do it probably know they're breaking the law, but don't care The vehicle you're passing wouldn't be expecting you to come past them, which could be dangerous. There are usually good reasons for why the road has yellow lines anyway.

Some statisticians said if you overtake you might save a few minutes per hour of travelling - so it's not worth the risk crossing a yellow line.

[Banditbandit]

Generally not on double yellow lines unless there is a very clear path i wait until white or yellow+white.

Wot he says - there is no legal meaning to double yellow lines at all.

there's no such thing as "double yellow lines" you fucking idiot.

lanes of traffic are "controlled" by ONE line painted on the drivers' side of the centre

I ride by the rules unless nobody's looking. The sound of a one handed man clapping and all that. Can't do a decent wheelie for shit, either.

Habitually treating traffic as a series of chicanes is usually a temporary riding style.

But fuck it's fun - and I've been doing it for more than 40 years ... and I intend to enjoy whatever is left of my life ...

[Banditbandit]

People who do it probably know they're breaking the law, but don't care The vehicle you're passing wouldn't be expecting you to come past them, which could be dangerous.

Yeah - they are not expecting it - if you bang it downtwo gears and open the throttle you're passed them before they even know .. they don't have time to react badly ..

There are usually good reasons for why the road has yellow lines anyway.

For cars and idiots ..

Some statisticians said if you overtake you might save a few minutes per hour of travelling - so it's not worth the risk crossing a yellow line.

Who said anything about saving time? It's all about playing on the road ..

[Jin]

Fuckwits responding to this thread saying its not acceptable because its illegal should probably just sell their bikes and get scooters. OP wasnt asking if its illegal.

[trufflebutter]

Legal reasons and braking the law comments was not the intention surrounding the original question. Just a general question.

Is it generally acceptable (when you’re out riding) to pass on yellow lines where you perceive it to be safe to do so?

[george formby]

But fuck it's fun - and I've been doing it for more than 40 years ... and I intend to enjoy whatever is left of my life ...

Fairy snuff. Admittedly I do make exceptions for campervan's, Yaris's with hats in the back and any other vehicle which poses a bigger threat in front of rather than behind me. And, yes, braaaaaaaaaaaap is always fun!

[pritch]

I have a thing about yellow lines, when you've got a team set up to paint them you have to keep the guys busy so we are forever getting new yellow lines. Some of these areas of yellow might be a bit marginal for overtaking in a car but are totally safe for a bike. How do we know which ones are which on a new piece of road? We don't.

For me the ultimate irony was when they painted a yellow line on the road outside my gate. The last accident on this piece of road was back about 1961 when I was driving a friends V8 and he was riding a borrowed bike; we were racing. Problem was we hadn't discussed the course and I ran him off the road, through a hedge and into the side of a house. This little mishap certainly never came to the attention of the authorities, so why there is a yellow line there now is anybody's guess. Other than that they are just giving the guys something to keep them busy.

Then there's the 80kph limit on stretches of open road...

[george formby]

Then there's the 80kph limit on stretches of open road...

Ahh, that would be my commute.

I just had a thought, I will recover shortly. My bike is yellow, so if I were to be caught crossing a yellow line, or a pair of such, could I use merging as an excuse?

[roogazza]

They must have got a 'job lot'on yellow paint cos they're everywhere now and in some cases really stuupid places.
before I moved two years ago,my regular haunt was the Rimutakas for 50 yrs. I was doin my usual Sunday brisk run real early and on the home run was #555'd by some concerned citizens in a car.Pfffft.
A road block was set up close to Upper Hutt to nab me.(crossed some yellow line or something?).
Lot of yapping to and fro while I had a cigar under a tree. Then a nice Policeman came over and said , you know we don't do anything about these ???? and I was sent on my way.Pissed me off tho !

[old slider]

Fairy snuff. Admittedly I do make exceptions for campervan's, Yaris's with hats in the back and any other vehicle which poses a bigger threat in front of rather than behind me. And, yes, braaaaaaaaaaaap is always fun!

lol, I think I will trade the wifes Yaris, but probably be easier to trade the wife.

While talking about the center lines, I see some bikers ride close to the center line and others ride closer to the road edge, I presume that gap in the middle usually in between most 4 wheeled vehicles is where most oil etc is dropped from leaky engines, diffs, gearboxes etc.