Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[swbarnett]

Hi, I understand the bus lane and the transit lanes, but does anyone know the ruling on truck lanes? for example theres one that comes out of auckland city, close to where the museum is located

Legally trucks only.

[Hoon]

I've just got back into riding after taking a 8 year break from the road (track only!). Attitudes have really changed a lot in that time. Other than nobody ever nodding anymore (no complaints here) I've also noticed that the tolerance of lane splitting motorcycles is far more accepting now.

Back in the day (when Frosty first started this thread) you'd only lane split if motorway traffic was stationary or going no more than 10-20kph and at a speed no more than 20kph faster than that traffic. Nowadays I see riders splitting through 60kph traffic at 90kph and whats even more surprising is that the general public is far more accommodating of this behaviour. I got a shock my first day back on the motorway seeing all these bikes go screaming past me. If you tried that a few years back you'd get every second car on their horn or trying to take you out in self-righteous anger. Anyway, it wasn't long before I joined them (a matter of seconds I must admit).

So yes this thread could do with updating (or at least a cleanup) as I couldn't be bothered reading through 400+ posts. The laws might not have changed but the tolerance certainly has.

[Marmoot]

Hi, I understand the bus lane and the transit lanes, but does anyone know the ruling on truck lanes? for example theres one that comes out of auckland city, close to where the museum is located

Don't go into the truck lane.
T2 you can use, truck lane you cannot.

11. What is an HOV lane and who can use them?
The ‘High Occupancy Vehicle’ lane is a priority lane to give high occupancy vehicles (HOVs – two or more people per car), trucks and buses faster access to the motorway.

Car-pool vehicles (two or more people per car) can use this lane to bypass the signals. The benefit of the lane is to move more people rather than more cars.

The priority lane for trucks, buses and car-pool vehicles will be operating soon at the Mt Wellington and South Eastern Highway northbound on-ramps. Motorcycles can also use the priority lanes, except at Grafton Road southbound on-ramp which is a trucks only priority lane.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/rampsignalling/faqs/

[SNF]

Has anyone else noticed that in heavy traffic, stationary cages are pretty much parked over the center line? How are you meant to go past them on the right, all legal without going on the wrong side of the road?

[Ocean1]

Has anyone else noticed that in heavy traffic, stationary cages are pretty much parked over the center line? How are you meant to go past them on the right, all legal without going on the wrong side of the road?

Yeah, they're all trying to see past the car in front to where the godamn holdup is.

[RUSS]

http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/lanesplitguide.html

Just an interesting thing I saw today.

[bosslady]

Do you? lane split? if so, have you ever clipped a car? and what did you do about it, nothing I guess? what can you really do if it's almost bumper to bumper on all lanes for quite a few ks? just asking...

[skippa1]

yeah..........my bars are wide as and I have clipped a couple of wing mirrors.......had my mirrors clipped in my wagon too.

[ducatilover]

I do sometimes, but it's not really needed in Palmy unless you're going to the front of the lights
I've never clipped a car, but had a fella try run me down, which I avoided

[bosslady]

yeah..........my bars are wide as and I have clipped a couple of wing mirrors.......had my mirrors clipped in my wagon too.

were you angry when YOU were clipped? any damage?

[Subike]

I only filter, lane split, on multi lane roads. not something you want to start doing Boss lady until you are really really conversant with situational awareness, know instinctive braking, and are able to read cars at a glance.
Single lane roads? sit in the Que. So many many dangers passing vehicles on single lane city road, it would take a book to list them all.
Is a thing you need a heap of self confidence to do, but always know it can go horridly wrong, in the blink of an eye.
Risk evaluation.......do you risk an incident for the sake of 5 seconds quicker down the road.

[bosslady]

I only filter, lane split, on multi lane roads. not something you want to start doing Boss lady until you are really really conversant with situational awareness, know instinctive braking, and are able to read cars at a glance.
Single lane roads? sit in the Que. So many many dangers passing vehicles on single lane city road, it would take a book to list them all.
Is a thing you need a heap of self confidence to do, but always know it can go horridly wrong, in the blink of an eye.
Risk evaluation.......do you risk an incident for the sake of 5 seconds quicker down the road.

I literally always wait in queue. In this instance it was grid lock, morning traffic. Either stationary or slower than I can go, and I can now go slower than first gear, it was that bad. I would have been late for work 2 hours, easy. Ended up getting off because all the stopping and starting was so bloody stressful, couldn't do it for 1-2 hours

[mrchips]

I filter most days & only lane split on occasion when traffic is creeping less than 50km/h, i'm very cautious tho. Lots of stressed out angry commuters out there so be careful & courteous & most of all SAFE. Pays not to shit in your own backyard if you know what i mean.

Otherwise, i'm quite happy staying on my bike as long as possible before i reach my destination so no need to rush it.

I stalled at the lights once after filtering to the front... really pissed off 'white van man' & he let me know exactly how he felt about it.... God knows what would've happened if i clipped his wing mirror ~

[Subike]

I literally always wait in queue. In this instance it was grid lock, morning traffic. Either stationary or slower than I can go, and I can now go slower than first gear, it was that bad. I would have been late for work 2 hours, easy. Ended up getting off because all the stopping and starting was so bloody stressful, couldn't do it for 1-2 hours

If there are bike lanes at intersection, and if the traffic is stationary, cautiously go up the bike lane to the front. but watch for pedestrians, car breaking Que across your path, oh gosh. You really need to sit down with a person and discuss it. then go with someone who is a safe gridlock rider. walking the footpath with your Ginny would be an option i guess. but not really what you want to do.

[bosslady]

If there are bike lanes at intersection, and if the traffic is stationary, cautiously go up the bike lane to the front. but watch for pedestrians, car breaking Que across your path, oh gosh. You really need to sit down with a person and discuss it. then go with someone who is a safe gridlock rider. walking the footpath with your Ginny would be an option i guess. but not really what you want to do.

no footpaths on the mway... I need to find someone more experienced to help me with this because although I do try and avoid peak hour traffic when on my bike I'm inevitably going to have this happen again and if I'm unlucky it might be when the Sun is at full blast!