Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[5150]

Lane splitting? No worries mate

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IMEs1ApdG...0/IMG_1020.JPG

[f2dz]

I have stopped traffic for a car before. He was trying to change lanes and the guy in the lane next to him wasent letting him through so I pulled infront and slowed down to let the car move in. Then continued on my way.

I used to do the same but only when people were trying to get out of side streets. That was until almost being rear ended 3 times due to people not seeing my brake lights or an arm up. Now I never consider it, no matter how heavy traffic is.

Pulling into lanes on the motorway to slow down traffic for some random car seems a little dangerous to me, especially if it's in slow moving rush hour traffic

[swbarnett]

I used to do the same but only when people were trying to get out of side streets. That was until almost being rear ended 3 times due to people not seeing my brake lights or an arm up.

Just keep one eye on your mirror. I've had this happen and just gave it up until next time. No big deal.

[biketimus_prime]

Tui ad right here?

Not a Tui ad, I seriously make an effort to wave in the hopes it'll spread good behaviour amongst drivers

[yevjenko]

Not a Tui ad, I seriously make an effort to wave in the hopes it'll spread good behaviour amongst drivers

Same, but I also wave when I make a mistake too

sent from my phone (so scuze auto correct typos)

[MrKiwi]

This sounds like a sensible approach, what are your views, should we do something similar in NZ?

www.roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/motorcyclists/lanefiltering/index.html

[BigAl]

Sounds far too sensible to be used in NZ.

[willytheekid]

...most of us already DO this in New Zealand

[Ribit]

Sensible.
Is there a problem here with current laws or practices that justify a change?

(Cyclists get the shitty end of the stick on roads. they have to ride next to parked cars and the kerb where the movie says its dangerous...)

[caspernz]

...most of us already DO this in New Zealand

Yeah of course.

But doing it according to the letter of the law in NZ is quite a challenge, and thus open to enforcement.

Be nice to see the rules simplified/relaxed in NZ. I like the idea shown in the vid.

[pzkpfw]

...
Motorcyclists must only lane filter when travelling less than 30 km/h
...
Motorcyclists caught moving between traffic at over 30km/h face heavy fines and three demerit points under a new offence called ‘lane splitting.
...

They are allowing filtering, not splitting.

So - stuff that!

This new law gives from one hand but takes away with the other. If implemented here, it would prevent what we call splitting, except for the situations where the traffic is very slow. Takes away half the advantage of commuting on a bike.

[Erelyes]

I think a point was made in the 'other' thread is that drawing attention to the practice is probably not worthwhile, since the practice is currently a grey area here in NZ. If the authorities were to do anything they would more likely than not just ban it outright, flow of traffic or alleviation of rear-end risk be damned.

[awayatc]

When was the last time , or the first time for that matter legislation ever changed in our favour?

All you could possibly receive is a price tag for our "infringement notice" automatons

[caseye]

I'd be happy with this as a law!
Long as the components were enforced evenly, ie: No car driver to deliberately close a gap.
Riders don't do stupid speeds when filtering.
Splitting traffic at speed is one of the things that gives us all a bad name with joe bloggs car drivers, scares them silly and creates unnecessary angst.

[gjm]

Looks a bit too sensible to be implemented by any governing body. It'd need to be picked up, promoted and widely publicised by a significant body representing motorcyclists interests...

Now, where can we find one of those?