Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[swbarnett]

Completely different.

The increased risk for each is only that percieved in the eyes of those that are compelled to try and control the uncontrollable.

I'm no Lawyer but after having spent many a day sitting in traffic Courts in a previous life I believe I have a good understanding of the nature of the charge.

While you may be technically correct, to charge someone with careless for a low speed tap would just illustrate what I'm referrng to when I talk about safety zealots.

To clip the wing mirror of another vehicle is quite obviously operating a vehicle in a manner below that of a prudent driver.

A prudent "driver" would not lanesplit simply because of the girth that comes with four wheels. However, a prudent rider will ride between traffic when it is appropriate. By its very nature lane-splitting puts the rider within range of a car's wing mirror. The rider is not even necessarily at fault. If the car moved towards the bike they may be at fault for moving into another vehicle that was legally sharing the lane.

I should add that Mr Branetts reaction is hardly surprising

Due to the ever increasing number of people in this world that think it's not OK to be human. People cock up. They always have and always will. Nothing you or anyone else can do is going to change that. The only reasonable option is to get used to it.

[Katman]

Due to the ever increasing number of people in this world that think it's not OK to be human. People cock up. They always have and always will. Nothing you or anyone else can do is going to change that. The only reasonable option is to get used to it.

Spoken like a true celebration of mediocrity.

[BoristheBiter]

Due to the ever increasing number of people in this world that think it's not OK to be human. People cock up. They always have and always will. Nothing you or anyone else can do is going to change that. The only reasonable option is to get used to it.

What a crap defeatist attitude to have.
Next you will be saying we should get used to crime, or never strive to be better as we are going to fuck up so no point wasting time in training.

Why do you think our roads are like they are?

[bluninja]

We are human, we make mistakes, accept it and move on people.

That does not mean people do not strive to improve, to reduce the number or severity of those mistakes, to excel at certain tasks and to approach perfection for as long as they can.

The suggestion that accepting that humans making mistakes is analogous to accepting crime is well wide of the mark. "Sorry officer I accidentally fell through the window and this big screen TV stuck to my fingers so I took it home so I coudl unstick it"

Accepting mediocrity would be setting speed limits lower and lower and engineering cars so dumb arses survive when they lack the skills and expertise to drive without hitting something.

[Katman]

....when they lack the skills and expertise to drive without hitting something.

Somehow I think that's what this whole thread's been about.

[bluninja]

Somehow I think that's what this whole thread's been about.

I thought some of it seemed to be that:-

You must gain real world experience without ever being in the real world. OR
Lane sharing should be banned. OR
People are too materialistic and should accept taps to their wing mirrors as part of motoring in congested cities. OR
Lets see how long we can keep a simple thread going without getting it kicked into pointless drivel

[swbarnett]

Spoken like a true celebration of mediocrity.

Actually, spoken like a true celebration of what it is to be human. We cock up because we are willing to push ourselves to improve.

What a crap defeatist attitude to have.

Reallist, not defeatist.

Next you will be saying we should get used to crime, or never strive to be better as we are going to fuck up so no point wasting time in training.

I have struggled with this my whole life. I never allowed myself to cock up; the only way to guarentee not cocking up was not to try. It was only when I learnt that cocking up was part of what it means to be human that I could allow myslef to try new things.

[Madness]

Cock up as much as you like but be it not at the expense or inconvenience of others. I believe that not only am I technically correct but also morally correct. This is not so much about safety as much as respect, plain simple respect. Mr Branett is so far up his own arse with regard to his own freedom he's forgotten about the freedom of others to go about their business without selfish wankers colliding with their vehicle and for what? Selfish, selfish man.

[Madness]

I thought some of it seemed to be that:-

You must gain real world experience without ever being in the real world. OR
Lane sharing should be banned. OR
People are too materialistic and should accept taps to their wing mirrors as part of motoring in congested cities. OR
Lets see how long we can keep a simple thread going without getting it kicked into pointless drivel

Whilst I can't speak for others I can say that for me this thread is and has been all about post #23. It's so fucking simple it's ridiculous.

[DMNTD:Me]

If you can't split without hitting the wing mirrors of cars you shouldn't be splitting in the first place. How would you like it if another splitting biker clipped your bike?

The offending post....way too true for KB though mister.

[Phantom Limb]

I want to cap off with something positive. Had two cop cars pull over to give me more room when lane splitting down the NW motorway to work today. Good bastards, gave them the thumbs up.

[Tigadee]

Had two cop cars pull over to give me more room when lane splitting down the NW motorway to work today. Good bastards, gave them the thumbs up.

Hope the other cars saw it and learned from it.

I was filtering through near dead stop traffic yesterday morning when a white pick-up truck with "Downer" on the side started squeezing the space in-between cars. So I slowed down as it wasn't safe, but then he suddenly opened up the space again and I went through.

As I passed, I heard him cussing and figured either he was mad at me for not passing him fast enough (not likely), or at the unusual jam or the next driver for not letting him into the next lane.

Whatever it was, I chose not to be affected by him, with the thought that "I may be responsible for [not damaging] your property and safety, but I am not responsible for your state of mind/happiness, although I understand your frustrations with the traffic conditions which is why I am on a motorcycle."

Keeping a sharp eye and a calm state of mind when filtering is the best way to do it...

[TheTengTheory]

So all this spliting has been mentioned on a multi-lane situation. What about single lane scenarios?

I was riding down exmouth rd in north cote yesterday and it was quite a rather long line of cars waiting. I had two options. Crossed the yellow lines and onto incoming traffic over a high crest or undertake (large enough for a car to comfortably drive through in most places). I chose to undertake and pootled along at 20kph.

Yay or nay?

also last night there was a muppet in a yellow Hyobag screaming down queen st going in and out of moving traffic....not impressed. especially since he pissed off the drivers I was riding pass as well.

[bluninja]

So all this spliting has been mentioned on a multi-lane situation. What about single lane scenarios?

I was riding down exmouth rd in north cote yesterday and it was quite a rather long line of cars waiting. I had two options. Crossed the yellow lines and onto incoming traffic over a high crest or undertake (large enough for a car to comfortably drive through in most places). I chose to undertake and pootled along at 20kph.

Yay or nay?

Nay, unless you are a spotty scooter rider in school uniform, helmet undone, no gloves, and school sandals. Hopefully none of New Plymouth Boys High come on here

[Cam_NZ]

My take is that its a pain in the ass to get anything replaced on a car... Crack a side mirror or even dent it.. that shit can take someone days to repair. The hassle of having no car for atleast a day, having to sort biker to pay for it, dropping it off at a panel beater(or whoever fixes them) all such a pain... All because some biker went overboard.

You want cars to shift over when you come past? not to cut you ? Keep incidents to a minimum, ride slower, dont go in with the attitude "algud if i hit a mirror ill just apologise and pay/ ride off" because of above reasons.

I've been riding to the northshore from howick two days a week, and without lanesplitting it would take me 1hr20mins+ instead of 30-40. Cops will be more inclined to pull bikers over if mirrors are being hit...

Didnt really read half the posts so if its been said then good on ya!