Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

**lb99** · 7th December 2006, 13:08

to drag off the first cage in line when the lights change?

I don't, it feels a bit bad mannered like pushing in to the line at the bank, I will sit in their mirror and merge behind them as they move off.

I saw someone do the ol' racing start at a roundabout the other day, only to get trapped beside a cage that took exception cause he was in the front of the line and wanting to turn right (single lane roundabout) coulda been very messy

**vifferman** · 7th December 2006, 13:14

Originally Posted by lb99

Who splits right to the front to drag off the first cage in line when the lights change?

I do.
I don't give a damn if you think it's bad-mannered. It sure beats sitting in the other traffic's wake as the cars/trucks spew out carcinogens, while waiting for them to crawl up to speed. I'd also rather be riding in a clear space of my own, where I can.

Mind you, having said that, I've several times caught myself thinking after passing some badly-driving fwit, "Am I really better off in front of them?" :spudwhat:

**vifferman** · 7th December 2006, 13:19

Originally Posted by stunz

We know it, most cagers know it, but the law doesn't.

The law is an ass, y'know. Quite possibly an arse as well.

The trouble is, most of the namby-pamby laws (and enforcement thereof) have little to do with commonsense, the laws of physics, or any other sensible rationale, and everything to do with the creeping onslaught of SafetyNazism and bureaucracy.

**Indiana_Jones** · 7th December 2006, 22:02

Originally Posted by lb99

to drag off the first cage in line when the lights change?

I don't, it feels a bit bad mannered like pushing in to the line at the bank, I will sit in their mirror and merge behind them as they move off.

Bad mannered perhaps, but screw 'em lol

Well I don't really see a prob, cause' you're gonna go faster then them off the mark and you won't slow their trip down at all really.

-Indy

**vamr** · 7th December 2006, 22:16

Haven't had the destinct pleasure of getting abuse from lane splitting *knock on wood*

I do feel bad sitting right next to an open window sharing the wonderful aroma of burning 2t oil.

**Disco Dan** · 7th December 2006, 22:24

my experience is they only get ratty when you clip their mirrors when you split!

**Ixion** · 7th December 2006, 22:26

I prefer to get to the front and get clear smartish when the lights change. I like some space between me and the idiots. But, yes, be careful on roundabouts, they're tricky cos of having to take off on the curve.

**lb99** · 8th December 2006, 07:47

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

Bad mannered perhaps, but screw 'em lol

Well I don't really see a prob, cause' you're gonna go faster then them off the mark and you won't slow their trip down at all really.

-Indy

My point was that by pulling up beside the first car in line, you are pretty much challenging them to a drag, which could be courting disaster.

In saying that I used to do it all the time on my NSR when I was a teenager and used to ride like a twat (I used to think nothing of lanesplitting at 70k+ in the rain, spinning the wheel on the white line, lucky I'm still here now)

Anyway, nowdays I commute on a Z200, which is well and truly outclassed by anything with an eager driver, so I find it better and safer to go second.

Oh, by the way, the other day I made the 11km commute in 9min ?sec, can you guys up north do that?

**Gremlin** · 9th December 2006, 00:14

Originally Posted by lb99

My point was that by pulling up beside the first car in line, you are pretty much challenging them to a drag, which could be courting disaster.

mmm depends, sometimes I find the car takes off really slowly, wondering what you are doing. I prefer tootling off the line before them, so as not to hold anyone up etc. The only issue there is that you have to be really careful about the twits running reds from other angles.

I have had some really blatant ones (green for me, and 3-4 cars come through). I find launching off the line real fast and noisy tends to make them panic, as you come towards them

Hopefully it teaches them a lesson.

Originally Posted by lb99

Oh, by the way, the other day I made the 11km commute in 9min ?sec, can you guys up north do that?

Yes, in middle of rush hour. I mean no, never got close to that.

**Karma** · 9th December 2006, 00:27

I'll get to the front of the queue and then pull in front of whatever cars are there, that way it's not a drag race because you're already in front of them.

**lb99** · 9th December 2006, 07:03

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Yes, in middle of rush hour. I mean no, never got close to that.

this was "rush hour" too I left home at 749 going "mutter mutter farkin wimmin grumble grumble" opened up the taps and I hit the kill switch at work at 758

**lb99** · 9th December 2006, 07:04

Originally Posted by Weasel

I'll get to the front of the queue and then pull in front of whatever cars are there, that way it's not a drag race because you're already in front of them.

I guess I will have to get a faster bike then, oh, and a town with traffic lights to try it out on

**samwp** · 9th December 2006, 18:20

Originally Posted by craigs288

A lot of factors, but the two main ones are financially driven.

Obviously any police(wo)man wanting to keep their quota up will take the easy option of ticketing the motorbike for anything they feel like.

But can you imagine if half the cagers in auckland decided to come to work on a 250 for a week. All the petrol stations would make about 25% of the income they normally make. They would have to rape our wallets even harder to make some money.

And when you consider the government is making about 70cents for every litre of petrol sold, how would they make up the shortfall in their income.
They will have to rape our wallets even harder through taxation of income to make up for the lack of gas guzzling cages on the road.

No government department will ever introduce any legislation to make it cheaper or safer to travel, whether by rail, bus, car or bike. Because all they will ever do is lose money. Your money. All they will do is introduce more laws to ticket you with, claiming it is in the interest of motoring safety and/or reducing congestion.

hell yea! heard the same about ciggy tax. . .

**hamie1** · 24th January 2007, 21:49

Originally Posted by lb99

I guess I will have to get a faster bike then, oh, and a town with traffic lights to try it out on

Mate I ride a GT250R and have no trouble pulling any car at the lights... but... it is more fun thrashing them as they get to the traffic and can't pass! Tonight there was a Turbo ford that was left dead on the spot then caught up to me (shit yaah I lewt it... read on to find out why) as we passed through the speed camera zone (love no front plate idea) it was hard on the pedal but 130ish is no defense for a great photo in an 80km/h zome and I was gone!
But I must say that it is just as much fun pulling up beside a car, making sure they know you are there (look at them, pull the visor up and down, rev and...) watch them make a dick of themselves as they F off by themselves as you sit at the lights and point! Dick!