Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[BMWST?]

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.

because if you are to the right of the dividing line you are actually passing on the left but are not in a seperate lane which is illegal.If you are the to the left you are overtaking legally(but dangerously imho).You are placing your immediate fate in the cagers hands.You are to close to evade them

[flyingcrocodile46]

because if you are to the right of the dividing line you are actually passing on the left but are not in a seperate lane which is illegal.If you are the to the left you are overtaking legally(but dangerously imho).You are placing your immediate fate in the cagers hands.You are to close to evade them

Yup, pretty much. However the rule is an ass in this instance because it wasn't the car to his right that ran into him. I'm imagine that the rule wasn't made for multiple lane situations but rather intended to benefit the driver of the car to your right when overtaking illegally on a normal (one lane each way) road. I doubt that it was intended that a car to your left (on multi lane roads) should be in the right in this situation. However it doesn't really matter what is right or wrong in most respects. More important is what is the best practice to avoid incidents such as this, period.

[swbarnett]

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.

However, if, at the time of impact, there was no vehicle in the lane to the rider's right could it not be said that the rider was wholly within their own lane and not to the left of anybody?

[swbarnett]

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.

Had a similar incident yesterday. I'd been off sick for a couple of days so wasn't as alert as I should've been. The car had indicated but I didn't see them until they'd crossed the centre line. The difference was that I was travelling at a speed that I could've easily stopped short of the car once I did see them. As it happened they stopped and I just went around them in the empty space to their right (and afterwards waved an apology - totally my fault if we'd collided).

[oneofsix]

Had a similar incident yesterday. I'd been off sick for a couple of days so wasn't as alert as I should've been. The car had indicated but I didn't see them until they'd crossed the centre line. The difference was that I was travelling at a speed that I could've easily stopped short of the car once I did see them. As it happened they stopped and I just went around them in the empty space to their right (and afterwards waved an apology - totally my fault if we'd collided).

But you don't even have to be lane splitting. Seems like a few of the cagers forgot their coffee this morning. I was using the lanes, indicated and changed left, frigging cager all done up in jacket and hat (wasn't that cold but could be why he didn't turn his head) indicates and changes on top of me. I managed to flick right, into the space he left, then split the ute that was ahead of him and the van just about to over take it in the right lane and find some space.

[superman]

But you don't even have to be lane splitting. Seems like a few of the cagers forgot their coffee this morning.

I was half splitting next to a car this morning, on the left 1/3 of the fast lane because there was a small gap and I didn't want to be right next to him incase he decided the gap was his. Sure enough he started coming over quickly, no blinker just as I'd started passing his rear quater panel. I swerved hard towards the barrier, flicked bike down gear and wide open throttled her so he wouldn't have a chance of squishing me into the barrier incase he did come all the way. A 1/3 of the way into my lane he realised I was there anyway and swerved back into his lane.

Was just a matter of time before it happened splitting every morning, and glad I didn't react like an idiot in the situation.

[R-Soul]

I had an incident when I moved from a right hand lane into a space in middle one, and a cage moved from the far left lane into the same space. I was already in the lane (as I accelerated much quicker than him into the gap) and he had prolly checked for space before he started moving across. I flicked right again, back to the line, and then accelerated past.

Whether lane splitting or not, car drivers will move without looking (and sometimes its dangerous for you even when they do look). And the fact is that the agility of bikes sometimes surprises good drivers too. Which is why you just have to be playing worst case scenarios in your mind all the time, and looking for options and plan B's and C's.

[R-Soul]

I was half splitting next to a car this morning, on the left 1/3 of the fast lane because there was a small gap and I didn't want to be right next to him incase he decided the gap was his. Sure enough he started coming over quickly, no blinker just as I'd started passing his rear quater panel. I swerved hard towards the barrier, flicked bike down gear and wide open throttled her so he wouldn't have a chance of squishing me into the barrier incase he did come all the way. A 1/3 of the way into my lane he realised I was there anyway and swerved back into his lane.

Was just a matter of time before it happened splitting every morning, and glad I didn't react like an idiot in the situation.

I have come to the conclusion that staying in their side view mirror (even if you can see them) is just not safe. When I am alongside a car, I make sure that I am alongside their bonnet, in the drivers direct field of view, with my exhausts making a great big noise next to their window (to remind them that I am there).

Until I am in that spot, I accelerate quickly, to minimise time in the blind spot, but covering brake ( I cover it always anyway) in case they start moving across.

[Timmeh:P]

I ride my bike most days over the bridge from the shore to Auck, but occasionally take the car in. This morning myself and gf took the car into work. We were coming up to the harbour bridge second lane from the left heading into town, she started to indicate to change lanes to her right, had a good look (as I ride and she rides we ALWAYS double and triple check for bikes) and started to make the move.

A harley muppet who was moving well over 30km faster than the traffic also must have seen this gap and decided to make his way to it from what I would guess a couple of cars behind. We ended up in the same spot at the same time, obviously he was pushed aside by the cage.

He took offence to this and decided to use the harley rider wave.

Anyway, point of the story is even if the driver looks once, twice, thrice, if you are a couple of cars behind you may not be seen. So if you see a gap a few cars ahead, BE WARY!!

Wouldn't expect much from a harley rider with a leather singlet anyway!!

[superman]

A harley muppet who was moving well over 30km faster than the traffic also must have seen this gap and decided to make his way to it from what I would guess a couple of cars behind. We ended up in the same spot at the same time, obviously he was pushed aside by the cage.

He should have seen you indicating, if I see a car ahead indicate I wait until they've done their lane change before I even think of going up past them since they've got lane change on their mind. Lane splitting is more a privelage than a right (or so I think) so why he got all wavy on you is probably down to the fact he rides a harley and he doesn't want to get issued a non-compliance with the stereotype.

[MarkH]

He should have seen you indicating, if I see a car ahead indicate I wait until they've done their lane change before I even think of going up past them

+1

I wish all cars would indicate for at least 3 seconds before changing lanes, it would be nice to know what they intend to do so I can avoid being in an accident. They should make a law . . .

[Timmeh:P]

Agreed, If all cars indicated for at least 3 seconds it would be great! We definitely did, and still we almost collided.

Fact of the matter is, not all drivers do indicate for 3 seconds if at all... if you decide to lane split (and I have, and do) then you have to be prepared, split at a reasonable speed and be vigilant.

We did everything we could to check for a bike before making a lane change, especially as we ride that same stretch regularly. We could not see him as he was obscured by other vehicles.

[oneofsix]

+1

I wish all cars would indicate for at least 3 seconds before changing lanes, it would be nice to know what they intend to do so I can avoid being in an accident. They should make a law . . .

+1 however enforcing it might take resources from speed enforcement.

[over5tayer]

I wish all cars would indicate for at least 3 seconds before changing lanes.

On my way to uni everyday (shore to city) i notice many cages taking the outside lanes on the harbour bridge and then cut over the lanes as they make their way south. If they do indicate (3 seconds +) into a gap then it usually gets closed by the cage thats been sitting in the heavier traffic. So the cheeky cages simply accelerate into gaps and indicate(about 2/3 of the time) as they change to make sure the gap stays open for them.

I wish that every cager would show their intentions but i personally think its a pipe dream - anticipating what the cager is gonna do next is half the fun anyways

[Swoop]

Had to have a great laugh over a scooterist filtering in 2a on Wednesday. Heading straight into the sun on the NW and sitting right between two cars was the scooter. No intention to speed up as s/he seemed quite happy to be the meat in a 2-sunblinded cager sandwitch.