Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[MarkH]

Is this typical or am I a loose unit?

Looks pretty normal to me - the speed you split matters, but being alert and anticipating what the drivers are going to do matters so much more. Keep your eyes open and stay as safe as you can.

[Berries]

Is this typical or am I a loose unit?

It didn't look out of order. Seemed a bit close to the truck and trailer, but then you waited for a Volvo. Obviously not in that much of a hurry at the time.

[swbarnett]

Is this typical or am I a loose unit?

Looks pretty similar to what I do on that same stretch of road most mornings.

The only comment I have is not really a negative, just a matter of personal paranoia. I tend to be weary of gaps in traffic where one lane is empty for a car-length or two. I usually swing in to the empty space so that if the car in the other lane suddenly decides to take the gap I'm already out of their killing zone.

[hamd0g]

Yea, im extra cautious aproaching the empty lanes also, u never know when that car is going to decide to suddenly change lanes.

multiple bikes splittng cars either side is a bit dodge. it could bite either of you if the driver sees only one of you and moves over.

[flyingcrocodile46]

Yea, im extra cautious aproaching the empty lanes also, u never know when that car is going to decide to suddenly change lanes.

multiple bikes splittng cars either side is a bit dodge. it could bite either of you if the driver sees only one of you and moves over.

Yes, I agree with both observations. I usually swing across into the empty lane a little bit but obviously not consistently.

I have thought about the additional riskd involved in splitting both sides of a vehicle at the same time but the alternative is most often having to halve my speed due to the rider in front either not noticing me behind them (too busy looking forward to look in their mirrors I guess) or in some cases noticing but not pulling over (possibly because they feel that going faster than them is wrong?). I am also conscious that some riders are rather obviously nervous and I don't want to fluster them into doing something panicky so I just flick across and pass on the other side.

[R-Soul]

something I have noticed:
I move the bike from lane to lane a lot, moving to the side of the white line that has the most space. I also try and miss the white lines by doing a quick hip "shimmy".

When I do the shimmy from side to side, I notice that cars tend to notice me more, and I get a lot of cars purposefully moving over a little for me. More than normal. Very nice of them.

I think it is because the side to side movement of the handlebars causes a flashing of my headlight in their rear view/side view mirrors, making me more noticeable.

It would be ideal if the government just marked out a bike lane 1 metre across on the right hand side of the motorway though...

[superman]

It would be ideal if the government just marked out a bike lane 1 metre across on the right hand side of the motorway though...

To dream!

Did my first early morning commute into uni today which meant the first time I was lane splitting on the motorway.

Shat myself a few times, especially when you're going inbetween a couple and it feels like they are about to sandwich you in. And bloody annoying when you get people sitting on the very left or very right of their lane meaning you can't get through!

But I guess practice makes perfect, shall try again tomorrow morning

[C.Linnell]

Just watch out for those opportunistic lane changers on the motorway. They don't look, they don't indicate, they just go. Fucking hate them!

[superman]

Followed a cop on his big BMW motorcycle as he was lane splitting yesterday. He had a car just cut in front of him changing lanes bet that car felt a little silly after.

Getting quite used to it now after 4 days... I make sure to always be very weary if there is a gap anywhere in traffic and think that any one of the cars next to the gap will just jolt over willy nilly. I give a wave to any car that sees me and shoves off to the side, they definitely make life easier. Positive reinforcement maybe more will do it! Today my 50km journey into the city, leaving 8:15am from my house and on motorway all the way from Manurewa only took 45mins. Damn happy I was

Oh and blooody following bikers that go from splitting inbetween the fast lane and middle lane as I do and then they just switch over to slow and middle lane splitting. All the bloody cars he comes up to are then going to move over further towards my splitting lane seeing him first! Bloody idiot, bit of an effort trying to follow his lane splitting lane changes. Yesterday morning was rather funny though, super congestion everywhere and even the splitting lane I must have had about 6 bikes in front of me. Lane splitting congestion... BLOODY AUCKLAND!

[Latte]

Yeah the southern is the hardest to split imo, the nw is easier in general, but more aggro Drivers (not many, just notice one or two trying the squeeze/block routine) But the southern seems narrower, and traffic seems more oblivious of us.

The northern is a breeze in comparison, very little lane jumping, wide gaps on the most part, people shift over - including slower splitters. If they'd only have a coffee stand on my onramp, so I could sip my latte' on the way to work

[Swoop]

even the splitting lane I must have had about 6 bikes in front of me. Lane splitting congestion...

That is the reason for riders to scan mirrors every few seconds. The danger is ahead, but we might be holding up a quicker splitter. Let them through and then carry on as you were (probably with an easier opening that the departing bike has left you!).

[superman]

Yeah the southern is the hardest to split imo, the nw is easier in general, but more aggro Drivers (not many, just notice one or two trying the squeeze/block routine) But the southern seems narrower, and traffic seems more oblivious of us.

The northern is a breeze in comparison, very little lane jumping, wide gaps on the most part, people shift over - including slower splitters. If they'd only have a coffee stand on my onramp, so I could sip my latte' on the way to work

Oh my god. Coffee stand at onramps for congested car drivers. Now that right there is an epic buck earning idea. Not allowed to stop there unfortunately. Maybe pay the council a % and then they wave any law they have when they see $$$ Could be done a couple places before the onramps though, just sit on the left side on a footpath with some epic trolly coffee maker. Put a sign a hundred metres back saying go leftlane for a coffee for $x... lower your passenger window. Hmm... might try that if I got around to it

[R-Soul]

I was following a lane splitter on a 250 cruiser this morning, who was going REALLY slowly (might as well have been in a cage really). Never mind, I was being patient and respectful. I saw them look in their rear view mirror and see me.

They carried on. They did not move over. Never mind, I said to myself, they are learners, and very nervous. They will let me through when there is space for themselves to move into. So I waited, and waited. And waited.

Then, finally, a big gap opened up in the left lane, and they moved into it (not fully mind you). so I came up closer, slowly, being careful and all. Then, as I was about to pass them, they looked at me in the mirror, and started moving over towards the line again! At the same time, a gap had opened up in the right lane. I had had enough. So I blitzed past them in the right hand lane, in a legal overtaking manouver.

That was pretty selfish behaviour though. Maybe just lack of skill/nervousness, and uncertainty as to how filtering works, but no effort at all to be considerate.

I have no issue if a bike has not seen me. But this guy had clearly seen me twice.

[superman]

Yeah the southern is the hardest to split imo, the nw is easier in general, but more aggro Drivers (not many, just notice one or two trying the squeeze/block routine) But the southern seems narrower, and traffic seems more oblivious of us.

The northern is a breeze in comparison, very little lane jumping, wide gaps on the most part, people shift over - including slower splitters. If they'd only have a coffee stand on my onramp, so I could sip my latte' on the way to work

Did my first southern jaunt 4:30pm Friday. You couldn't have been more correct. I bet car drivers are just buggered after a day of work and cbfd, while in the morning they are fresh and ready for action.

Thank goodness I never finish lectures after 3pm from now on, then the traffic is barely an issue.

[flyingcrocodile46]

I was following a rider on a BMW GS650 (older model) yesterday morning from Greville Rd through to and past upper harbour drive. I was about 4 or 5 car lengths behind him when I saw a f#kwit pull over from the left lane to the right lane just as the rider was about half a car length behind him. He did not indicate and it was a fast lane change rather than gradual.

It was a bit of an eye opener for me (prolly a different orifice that opened up on the other rider). The rider applied his front brake hard almost or slightly lifting the rear wheel in the air as the car came across. The rider did a great job of controlling his machine, as the rear wheel came down he leaned the bike hard right just as the car impacted first his wheels then the body of the bike as the car pushed him to the side and the bike came upright.

I pulled over in front of both of them (all of us hard to the centre barrier) and left my card with them. The rider was ok. It looked like a broken indicator and some panel scratches were all the damage (though didn't look long enough to be sure). The car driver (F#ing import) had the nerve to complain that the rider shouldn't have been in between the lanes. I abused him telling him that the rider was allowed to lane split and that he should keep his F#n eyes open and then accused him of trying to run the rider off the road. I couldn't wait around so told the rider I was glad he was ok then left for work.

I got a call from plod later in the day asking me details about the accident then asked me which lane the rider was in at the time of the accident. I didn't want to lie so I told him "I think he was to the left of the line but can't be sure as my attention was focused on the car cutting the rider off and his amazing work in controlling the event, but that I had followed him for some time and had observed that he was on the left side most of the time, only moving to the right side as cars to his left moved accross and forced him to cross the line" Plod then responded Ok we will leave the issue as to which side of the line he was on for now. He pointed out that if the rider was on the right (as opposed to left) side of the line when the event occurred that he would be in the wrong.

In summary, if you are on the right you are in the wrong. If when lane splitting, you are run off the road by a lane changer, then you had best be to the left side of the white line otherwise you might be paying to repair a cage as well as your bike.