Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[Madness]

Hi, riding for 30+ years clipped a mirror the other day, hand up in apology, checked video later to find car moving over in bumper to bumper trafic at 10 - 20 kph, no indicator no chance of changing lane, my fault or there's ?. ( i know the answer )

Perhaps if you were paying more attention at the time you wouldn't have to have relied on video footage to see what was happening? Just saying.

[Ocean1]

Anywhere else that takes your fancy. The way I see it the skills required involve accurate bike control at low speeds and good spatial judgement. You don't need 5:30 North-Western conditions to create an environment to learn such skills IMO, what's wrong with using trolleys in a supermarket carpark after-hours or do what I and many others did by riding off road amongst trees, etc.

If a bike fails to clear a pair of cars while splitting there's several likely reasons. The gap was never large enough, car a closed the gap, car b closed the gap, both cars closed the gap, the rider tagged a or b even though the gap was large enough. I'd say the first is tolerably rare, even novices tend to be pretty conservitive in judging where their bikes will fit. Reckon the last isn't too likely, either, for the same reason.

I've not spent too much time riding around shopping trolleys, but I suspect they probably don't move around as you ride past, eh? Although I'm not so sure about trees, I've been mugged by a few of the more mobile sort. So while I think your practice routine is a good one, I don't think it helps much with the splitting thing. The winning strategy there looks to be wait for a gap well wider than you actually need and then get gone before the bastards drift off line, eh? And if you think that still leaves your arse too exposed to people who's driving and observation skills you know nothing about then I can only suggest that sitting in line in traffic probably isn't much safer.

[Madness]

If a bike fails to clear a pair of cars while splitting there's several likely reasons. The gap was never large enough, car a closed the gap, car b closed the gap, both cars closed the gap, the rider tagged a or b even though the gap was large enough. I'd say the first is tolerably rare, even novices tend to be pretty conservitive in judging where their bikes will fit. Reckon the last isn't too likely, either, for the same reason.

I've not spent too much time riding around shopping trolleys, but I suspect they probably don't move around as you ride past, eh? Although I'm not so sure about trees, I've been mugged by a few of the more mobile sort. So while I think your practice routine is a good one, I don't think it helps much with the splitting thing. The winning strategy there looks to be wait for a gap well wider than you actually need and then get gone before the bastards drift off line, eh? And if you think that still leaves your arse too exposed to people who's driving and observation skills you know nothing about then I can only suggest that sitting in line in traffic probably isn't much safer.

Whatever floats yer boat. Point is that using the motor vehicles of others as a training tool to get the basic skills required just doesn't stack up, just as the defence of "accidents happen" doesn't wash with many. After 25-odd pages I still stand by post #23, it's that simple.

To suggest that sitting in the queue is no safer than splitting is just plain stupid IMO.

[Mooch]

How long is it going to take some of you to undersand that we are NOT talking about taking out a mirror. We're talking about CLIPPING a mirror i.e. touching mirror to mirror with no damage resulting.

If you clipping mirrors then there isn't enough room to pass .... simple.

what about someone keying the paint on the side of your bike ? ..... No damage eh.

All your doing is pissing off car drivers who are more than likely going to give the next lane splitting bike even less room.

[Ocean1]

Whatever floats yer boat. Point is that using the motor vehicles of others as a training tool to get the basic skills required just doesn't stack up, just as the defence of "accidents happen" doesn't wash with many.

No arguement here. Haven't noticed anyone else disagreeing much either.

After 25-odd pages I still stand by post #23, it's that simple.

Guess I just don't agree that it's that simple. You can be perfection personified but no amount of practice will keep the other fucker from smearing you all over the side of a bus.

To suggest that sitting in the queue is no safer than splitting is just plain stupid IMO.

My opinion comes from having been tagged from behind twice in traffic and having been reversed into at lights, I've never touched a thing splitting. So I tend to be a bit proactive about keeping my space clear, but, y'know, whatever floats your boat.

[Madness]

Guess I just don't agree that it's that simple. You can be perfection personified but no amount of practice will keep the other fucker from smearing you all over the side of a bus.

Oh, but it is that simple. Any simpler and it would be from Upper Hutt.

I've never touched a thing splitting.

You must be perfection personified then, surely. Keep it up but I still don't agree on your stance that riding between two occupied lanes is safer than sitting in a lane proper. To suggest so to noobs is rather irresponsible IMO. Would I rather get a (rather unlikely) tap from the vehicle behind me or get (highly likely) smeared all over the side of a bus? Hmmmmm, it aint rocket science is it?


I've had vehicles roll back towards me at traffic lights too whilst I've been in all manner of vehicles, it happens. Are you suggesting that I should run up on a road island beside a queue of traffic in my ute to avoid this happening in future?

[sugilite:Me]

.......or backing a trailor..

I went to back my trailer today, but then found some inconsiderate prick on a motorcycle had wiped my mirrors off as I changed lanes into him.

With all the needlework Madness does on KB, his house must look awesome with the crochet carpet, 100% embroidery covered walls, complimented with the braided & tasseled garage. I'm sure ALL the African children really appreciated the knitted cardies they received too!

[Madness]

With all the needlework Madness does on KB, his house must look awesome with the crochet carpet, 100% embroidery covered walls, complimented with the braided & tasseled garage. I'm sure ALL the African children really appreciated the knitted cardies they received too!

That kind of kitsch decor might be fashionable in the Tararua District but you'll find none of that shit here. As for the Africans, fuck 'em.

Did you have a point?

[sugilite:Me]

Did you have a point?

Shit no, you have the mortgage on those!

[Madness]

Shit no, you have the mortgage on those!

Thanks for posting then, despite the feeble attempt to take the thread off topic.

[sugilite:Me]

Thanks for posting then, despite the feeble attempt to take the thread off topic.

You got the mortgage on thread too?

[Madness]

You got the mortgage on thread too?

Actually I'm mortgage-free. Back to the topic at hand though, please.

[sugilite:Me]

Actually I'm mortgage-free. Back to the topic at hand though, please.

Yes, good point, we need more repetitions

[Madness]

Yes, good point, we need more repetitions

Apparently. Seems we're getting there slowly though, just some are a little more retarded than others. How's the shiny rock collection going?

[sugilite:Me]

Apparently. Seems we're getting there slowly though, just some are a little more retarded than others. How's the shiny rock collection going?

I'm sure your needlework will convert them all eventually.
The shiny rock collection is going great thanks, I even pay attention to the odd dull rock. I'd talk bout that more, but it's off topic. Now back to lane splitting, since we all just cannot get enough!
I do it when I feel it's safe, but my idea of safe might be different from other peoples, who would of thought!