Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[Latte]

Can someone please explain what happened to me and why.

I had just gotten on at tristram ave heading for aucks. as i crossed lanes i noticed several bikers (about 5) lane splitting. i let them pas before clipping on to the back. We went for about 500m before we past a motocop. 10seconds later i hear a siren and light flick behind me so i pull into the right hand lane (the fast lane) safely. He then yells at me to pass on the right hand side which is the fricken barrier. I just nodded. he then proceeds to pull into the middle lane 2 cars ahead of me and i can see him watching me in his mirrors. over the next 5 minutes 4 bikes go past him lane splitting and he doesnt do anything. All i can think of is he targeted me because I had a L plate and because i was indicating right when everyone else and hazards on (my bike dont got hazards).

Anyone else have something similar.

If you were on the right hand side of the white line as you were splitting you are technically passing on the left, which is a no no in the road code. That could be why he said pass on the right.

Also I notice a few riders who ride up the left of the onramp at tristram in the morning (myself included occasionally) - he could have been giving you an earful for that.

[stifmyster1]

he was already on the motorway when i got on. he was about 500 metres past tristram ave. Riding up the left. Wow. never seen that. i ride up the centre of tristram then get as far right as possible.

Oh and if he was complaining about that it isnt very fair. Ive noticed people seem to stick closer to the right line cause the can see exactly where there tires are. which means 90% of the time there is no space to the right and have no choice but to ride up the left of the next lane.

they need to make bus lanes fine. i mean there a whole seperate motorway up here in certain parts of aucks.

[DrunkenMistake]

that only works once usually ad only if ya get i nice cop.

So long is your attitude is in check you wont have a problem, plus if you dont do anything retarded you wont get pulled over

[Latte]

he was already on the motorway when i got on. he was about 500 metres past tristram ave. Riding up the left. Wow. never seen that. i ride up the centre of tristram then get as far right as possible.

Oh and if he was complaining about that it isnt very fair. Ive noticed people seem to stick closer to the right line cause the can see exactly where there tires are. which means 90% of the time there is no space to the right and have no choice but to ride up the left of the next lane.

they need to make bus lanes fine. i mean there a whole seperate motorway up here in certain parts of aucks.

Yep I couldn't split in the mornings without crossing the white line. But thems the rules.

Anyway, be thankful you didn't get a ticket, and next time squeeze in the middle of the queue (just not in front of me haha). Joking of course.

[stifmyster1]

yea. normally try and ride with a group or just near another biker. followed i really nice sounding GSX-r today. attempted to keep up on the streets but not a chance. especially when the lights change on ya

[R-Soul]

Can someone please explain what happened to me and why.

I had just gotten on at tristram ave heading for aucks. as i crossed lanes i noticed several bikers (about 5) lane splitting. i let them pas before clipping on to the back. We went for about 500m before we past a motocop. 10seconds later i hear a siren and light flick behind me so i pull into the right hand lane (the fast lane) safely. He then yells at me to pass on the right hand side which is the fricken barrier. I just nodded. he then proceeds to pull into the middle lane 2 cars ahead of me and i can see him watching me in his mirrors. over the next 5 minutes 4 bikes go past him lane splitting and he doesnt do anything. All i can think of is he targeted me because I had a L plate and because i was indicating right when everyone else and hazards on (my bike dont got hazards).

Anyone else have something similar.

I think you might have missed the point completely. He may have been telling you to pass on teh right hand side of teh lane - which is legal. Passing a car to the left of it in the same lane is illgeal - unless those cars are stopped. Practically speaking though, its almost impossible to do this, as cars ride to the right of their lanes to see the traffic ahead. He might have been riding in front of you to demonstrate how - but I dont think you were paying attention to what he was doing....

[Ender EnZed]

Can someone please explain what happened to me and why.

Either he was picking on you because he personally dislikes you OR you were identifiably different from all the other motorcyclists he didn't yell at. It could be purely becasue of your L plate but there's a good chance it was due to your riding.

in all my time lane splitting i have had one close call.

All 2 months? Hitting a mirror with your bar is very close to hitting it with your front brake.

[DrunkenMistake]

All 2 months? Hitting a mirror with your bar is very close to hitting it with your front brake.

I have never seen it, but my boss was telling me when he was a fella my age in South Africa he had a scrambler and he managed to catch his front brake on a car at about 130km + I cant remember for sure, it was possibly more I think their speed limit is 120, but he told me it sent him through the air and down the road a fair distance after a few flips in the air.

All I gotta say, is FUCK THAT. I dont filter unless im certain there is ALOT of room, mind you Dunedin isnt to bad for traffic.

[stifmyster1]

ok. the cop was not demonstrating anything. he was riding in the centre of the lane afterwards.

Agree with you rsoul about the very hard to pass on the right especially when i was in the fast lane at the time.

I am 100% certain that my riding wasnt any different to the others. Im sure it was cause I had an L plate and he was just making sure i was aware.

Oh. and about the mirror thing. there was plenty of room when i started that lane split. as i got about half way and almost parralel with the vans mirror he started moving left towards me (it was my clutch side that took out the cars mirror)

Ive got what i wanted out of this thread. im sure the cop was just looking out for me because of the L plate and i mis-understood his message.

[Rocket]

Everyone including the cops needs to take a trip to bangkok, watch and learn. Then calm the fuck down. Too many god dam rules. riding bikes in bangkok the only law is, if it's bigger than you, give way, or die. Simple really. Weeds out the retards really fast.

[bingslayer]

hey guys I started filtering for the first time yesterday on my daily commute since i got my Loser plate. Have been putting it off for a few weeks but finally thought stuff it and went for it. I now only filter at the lights and when I know I will get to the front before the light turns green, which means I actually lose out on a lot of opportunities.

So my question is what do I do if im mid way through the que and the lights turn green?I have been trying to watch what other bikers do but I havnt seen the situation occur yet.

[stifmyster1]

Im not sure if there is a proper way. But I personally sit in the lane indicate in which ever lane has the most space and slowly peel in. Usually the car behind lets you in.

The way I think of it is your jumping from gap to gap so at any point you could rejoin the lane. Instead of your own little lane in the centre.

[mossy1200]

hey guys I started filtering for the first time yesterday on my daily commute since i got my Loser plate. Have been putting it off for a few weeks but finally thought stuff it and went for it. I now only filter at the lights and when I know I will get to the front before the light turns green, which means I actually lose out on a lot of opportunities.

So my question is what do I do if im mid way through the que and the lights turn green?I have been trying to watch what other bikers do but I havnt seen the situation occur yet.

merge in softly apply lube.

or follow road code diagram

[Alexofbbulgaria]

OK, so I read in the road code and got a question like this on my learners theory test. The Road code says that you must stay in the centre of your lane. . . . This seems like no fun and over the years have seen many motorbikes weave between the traffic when all the cars were dead still, I used to envy them so much hahaha. So back to my question, Is it Illegal to weave between cars or just frowned upon? If it is illegal is this rule often enforced, like if you do this past a police officer are you likely to be pulled over?

Thanks in advance for your responses

[mikemike104]

I think what you are thinking of is referred to as filtering, I do it often.. slowly.

I believe this is legal as long as you can stay to the right of the vehicle you are passing and remain in the same lane.

Get spotted by police for excessive speed, or have an accident and you’re screwed because it’ll turn into a shit fight.