Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[warewolf]

how the heck do you ride in the cold AND wet when you wear glasses? Can't have the visor up cos of the rain, can't have it down cos of the fogging

With difficulty, even with contact lenses.

If I open my visor at all, rain dribbles/splashes down the inside, up high where you look through and can't reach with your fingers to wipe it clear.

Fog City and/or the Pin Lock anti-fog shields can help but have their own issues.

[judecatmad]

I was in the cage today (cos I burnt my arm at the weekend and can't ride at the mo...) and bugger me, if I wasn't changing lanes on SH1 just after the interchange just as a red bike came screaming up inbetween the lane I was moving from and the lane I was moving to. One minute he wasn't there, the next he was. I tell you, it scared holy hell out of me and I'm a driver who is well aware of the need to look out for bikes! I have no issues with bikes travelling inbetween cars, but for god's sake, do it safely and not at speed - especially around an area where you know traffic is merging and there's likely to be a fair bit of lane changing going on. The legality of lane splitting has nothing to do with my concern about this rider this morning. Once I'd changed lanes, he sped off again. Probably a whole heap of fun but...well, you know. I'm a total nanna on my bike in heavy traffic, but at least I'm not a squished bug on the rear bumper of someone's car.....That's my rant for the day! LOL (oh, as far as the fogging/misting visor in the cold and wet, I've figured that I must just breathe funny. My glasses fog up when it's cold, even when my visor is fully open! The rain thing is definitely an ongoing issue to work on - LASIK might end up being my solution!)

[Swoop]

Step 1: Throw glasses away.
Step 2: Get laser eye surgery.
Step 3: Have beer.

[moko]

So, can you give us some pointers from what your experiences in the UK?
I would be interested to know what caused most splitting accidents and the techniques used to stop them occuring.
Also more precicely how we are waiting for an accident?

I know what Dai`s saying as another old hand.If you`re indecisive then you`re un-sure,if you`re unsure then you`re not confident,if you`re not confident then you`re half-way to screwing up,here`s my contribution.
Think ahead,dont just look at the few metres in front of your wheel,watch the road ahead,your mirrors(for other bikes coming behind) and both lanes of cars,you might get a car letting the guy next to him into his lane so look out for indicators or wheels that aren`t pointing straight ahead.
Be decisive,if you`re not sure dont do it,if you are dont mess about,you`ll confuse other road users and possibly put yourself in danger as a result,make sure you indicate,using your hazard lights is great for encouraging people to move over or let them know you`re coming through as is having your lights on main beam,both can also piss people off but I`d rather do that than have someone pull out because they`ve not seen me.
Always acknowledge anyone who pulls over to let you through,if you dont there`s a good chance they wont bother again.
Stay alert at all times,there`s literally danger all around when you`re filtering and day-dreaming or being distracted is a seriously bad idea.
Watch out for other bikes,I`ve had 2 near misses recently where other bikes have pulled out from the traffic right in front of me without looking to filter themselves.Also keep an eye out for what`s at the front of the queue,I learned this the hard way when I came up behind a little twist n go scooter thing sitting between 2 lines of cars at some lights leading onto a roundabout.The lights changed and the prat couldn`t keep up with the cars let alone pull ahead.I ended up following him very slowly while cars streamed by on both sides,I couldn`t get back in,lad on the scooter was all over the place,not that he had anywhere to go either,and starting to very obviously panic,not nice at all.Now if I see my way blocked by something like that I`ll pull into the first gap,if your bike wont fit in neatly dont worry,just stick your bike in the way so they cant move before you do,they might get pissed off and give you grief but what the hell,just staring ahead and ignoring it is the best move...and give them a wave when you pull away as if they`ve graciously let you in,a lot wont bother anyway,not as if you`ve stopped them from going anywhere.
Filtering is an art form,to do it correctly and safely requires observation,quick reflexes,anticipation and good machine control,dont try it if you`re not totally confident in your own abilities and never,ever take chances.

[Matt]

Great advice in this thread - been lane-splitting for the first time this week whilst commuting, all going ok although it's pretty low-speed (<50kph) - this morning was awesome - great weather and a big tailbacks from Horokiwi, filtered for about 5k at 30-35kph - even had a cyclist overtake me, but who cares

Matt

[Fub@r]

Lane spliiting on the motorway for me is way easier than suburban streets although I seem to have discovered a mental limitation.

Morning rush hour I can happily lane split from Te Atatu to the City. In the evenings I can't bring myself to lane split. Can't for the life of me think why. Only thing I can think of is that in the mornings people don't really rush to work whereas in the evenings eveyone is rushing to get home and take more risks. I see so many more risky lane changes in the evening than I do in the mornings. Anyone else have this issue or is it just me being unique?

[judecatmad]

Lane spliiting on the motorway for me is way easier than suburban streets although I seem to have discovered a mental limitation.

Morning rush hour I can happily lane split from Te Atatu to the City. In the evenings I can't bring myself to lane split. Can't for the life of me think why. Only thing I can think of is that in the mornings people don't really rush to work whereas in the evenings eveyone is rushing to get home and take more risks. I see so many more risky lane changes in the evening than I do in the mornings. Anyone else have this issue or is it just me being unique?

Nope, you're not the only one - happens to me too...although I'm not overly experienced so I'm not sure if maybe I'm too tired by the evening to concentrate well enough to lane split.

I'm also a lot more relaxed by the evening and not so bothered about going overly fast (LOL, not that the ginny goes 'fast' anyway...but you know what I mean!).

There always seems to be more accidents in the evenings tho so you might be on to something with regard to the 'taking more risks while rushing to get home' thing......

[FROSTY:Me]

I filter a lot definitely the one big rule for me is --if I aint comfortable I wont do it---what ever "it" happens to be

[Toaster]

The issue of filtering has been raised so many times I've set this up as a sticky. SO PLEASE COULD THE ACTUAL POLICE KBERS RESPOND TO THIS THREAD.
pm me if ya aint happy being quoted

I remember reading an extract from the Herald reporter who does a blurb on what you can and can't do on roads etc. She said lane splitting was legal as long as it is done safely. Many cops don't actually know that, so may pull people over in error - if they can be bothered. She also confirmed that the motorway bus lanes where out of bounds, but the city bus lanes are okay for bikers to play on the lovely green paint (I wonder how much fun that stuff would be in the wet...). The post regarding passing within the same lane etc was also correct.

[NUTBAR]

But here's the thing I want to know (novice
Had to stay in the traffic today cos of the rain - really couldn't see where I was going too well so I didn't dare scoot along inbetween the lanes. Really frustrating!!

go to your local bike shop and ask for a antifog sheild for your helmit. iv got one in both of my helmits and they work well.
iv had no problem with fog since. $27 - $50.

[Fub@r]

go to your local bike shop and ask for a antifog sheild for your helmit. iv got one in both of my helmits and they work well.
iv had no problem with fog since. $27 - $50.

Or you can have your visor just up a notch to let the air in. Both work just as well

[Transalper]

i found one notch up still fogs when sitting stationery at the lights etc but the fog sheilds are generally good for 4 or 5 minutes stopped with visor down, unless your wearing glasses.

[Fub@r]

i found one notch up still fogs when sitting stationery at the lights etc but the fog sheilds are generally good for 4 or 5 minutes stopped with visor down, unless your wearing glasses.

Heavy breather eh

[judecatmad]

Heavy breather eh

Must be - I can't even sit at lights on a warm, dry day without the visor fogging up!

Maybe I have an odd shaped head that doesn't fit my helmet quite right?!

And having the visor open even a notch doesn't work in the pissing down rain (and spray from other vehicles) cos the glasses end up wet. Made the Desert Road VERY scary over labour weekend - fogged up visor which I couldn't open to clear cos if I opened it and my glasses got wet, there was nowhere dry to stop and wipe them. In any case, I had no dry gear with which to wipe them even if I could find a dry place to stop!!

I still reckon LASIK is the way to go - but then a new bike will have to wait.....damn! I hate being poor and having to make choices! LOL

[stunz]

Split to the right of the car in the same lane at a reasonable speed and it should all be good. If you swap lanes, try to indicate at least.
Someone I don't know did a vid yesterday on the way to te job and the problem is you can clearly see traffic in the right hand lane moving over to make room, whereas left laners move to the right (center). Cagers drive on the right hand side they are more comfortable moving over to the right. Spatial perception or some such naff.
Puts us in a bit of a quandary eh?
Its "illegal" to filter past moving traffic on the left, but the only room available is in that lane on the left. We know it, most cagers know it, but the law doesn't.

go to your local bike shop and ask for a antifog sheild for your helmit. iv got one in both of my helmits and they work well.
iv had no problem with fog since. $27 - $50.

Dishwash liquid. Wipe visor inside and out once a week with a napkin or hanky, no foggy, rain or cold.