Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[Moi]

...For the same reason it's possible to play table tennis in a moving train².

²As long as the train is moving smoothly at a constant speed.

Must try that next time I'm travelling on a Frecciarossa...

[pzkpfw]

I disagree with that, and know tim {UK Popo instructor} did as well..... rule of 'thumb' we were given, agreed 10-15mph [ 20km] speed differential, but oncetraffic reached 30mph/50km, dont lane split.
Rational?? Once traffic is 'moving' at a reasonablespeed, motorists are likely'to be 'less observant'?? in side mirrors, and more importantly, if they decide to lane dive, the car reacts to steering input so much faster it is unlikely YOU will have time to react. So No, I'd never advocate lane splitting above what I was told by a man I'd consider 'expert'.

That's why I always feel safer when the traffic is busier. No gaps means no lane diving.


I'll admit to using lane splitting (in the past) to "do the speed limit"; rationalising to myself that as long as I'm "just" going up to the speed limit, it's all OK. I've been in traffic doing 80 and split past doing 100. Nowadays I've calmed that down a bit. If the traffic is 60-70 or faster, I normally get in line and don't split.

Does lead to interesting situations. I've split down the gorge, and had bikes in front of me pop between cars to let me past - then been passed by those same bikes when we get down to the flat-straight parts of the motorway when the traffic is faster and I've gotten in line (and this has happened a few times now, with the temporary 70 km/h limit).

[swbarnett]

Once traffic is 'moving' at a reasonablespeed, motorists are likely'to be 'less observant'?? in side mirrors,

If I'm lane splitting I look out for myself and don't expect anyone else to (as is always the case when I'm on the road) so this doesn't really factor in.

if they decide to lane dive, the car reacts to steering input so much faster

I worked out the geometry on this. You are right. For a given angle of travel relative to the lane direction (when a vehicle changes lanes) the sideways speed is directly proportional to the car's forward speed i.e. double the car's forward speed and the lane change will happen twice as fast. Of course it also follows on from this that the greater the angle the faster the sideways speed.

It does seem that things are not quite as relative as I'd first thought.

it is unlikely YOU will have time to react.

For a lane splitter that is blithely barreling along with little or no situational awareness I would agree. However, like all things (including riding in the first place) a rider needs to know what's going on around them in order to stay alive. A vehicle is extremely unlikely to lane dive if there is no gap to dive into. This means that going between two vehicles is relatively safe as long as the rider is aware of the "attitude" of both vehicles. What you describe becomes a problem where there is a gap to dive into. This is one of the core principles of safe lane-splitting - "Mind the gap". When splitting I will move into the gap rather than continue on a straight line and put myself right next to the vehicle that is the main threat in this circumstance.

The above I can attest from personal experience. I have come VERY close to being taken out by a lane diver. This taught me to respect the gap in no uncertain terms. Since then I've not had one near miss.

[Big Dog]

That said I have seen a number of lane changes where the driver is so focused on getting past the car in front the didn't see the b train beside them.

A couple of times I have had to occupy the space between two trailers and get on the horn because the tin top in a hurry either didn't look at all or assumed there was only one trailer.

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[swbarnett]

That said I have seen a number of lane changes where the driver is so focused on getting past the car in front the didn't see the b train beside them.

While I've not had this sort of thing I have made the deliberate decision to not split past a particular pair of vehicles because I could not tell what they were about to do.

My father drummed into me the first principle of driving (any vehicle) - "If in doubt, DON'T"

[Big Dog]

Amen to that

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[Swoop]

Once traffic is 'moving' at a reasonablespeed, motorists are likely'to be 'less observant'?

As opposed to the regular case of blindness at any speed (this includes 0kmh, too)?

Is the stupid/blind factor increasing as we gat closer to x-mas? I'm using the airhorns much more these days.

[Topes]

Goodmorning All

I read in a couple of comments around people being told that you should only be doing XX kph (talking about in NZ here), but reading the lecture and extracts from the act, it says say within the speed limit for the area aka posted speed limit (100k's on a motorway).

Yes, Yes, common sense prevails and you ride to the conditions, but if I read some of the comments correctly are we being told by the Police (in some cases) that you can only do a certain speed?

The reason I raise this is because I wonder how many new / returning riders like myself who are learning this skill at an uncomfortable slower speeds impact on confidence when riding because they feel they have to stick to a certain speed, or I'm talking completely out of my arse.

I've been through the Rider Forever courses which provided a great base for riding again on courses with new and experienced riders checking their skills and complimented that with a Hampton Down's track day to work on my counter steering and understand myself and my bike.

I've attached the Ride Forever information sheet on splitting filtering below for your perusal.

http://www.rideforever.co.nz/assets/...fosheet-FA.pdf

Cheers
Topes

[yevjenko]

Goodmorning All

I read in a couple of comments around people being told that you should only be doing XX kph (talking about in NZ here), but reading the lecture and extracts from the act, it says say within the speed limit for the area aka posted speed limit (100k's on a motorway).

Yes, Yes, common sense prevails and you ride to the conditions, but if I read some of the comments correctly are we being told by the Police (in some cases) that you can only do a certain speed?

The reason I raise this is because I wonder how many new / returning riders like myself who are learning this skill at an uncomfortable slower speeds impact on confidence when riding because they feel they have to stick to a certain speed, or I'm talking completely out of my arse.

I've been through the Rider Forever courses which provided a great base for riding again on courses with new and experienced riders checking their skills and complimented that with a Hampton Down's track day to work on my counter steering and understand myself and my bike.

I've attached the Ride Forever information sheet on splitting filtering below for your perusal.

http://www.rideforever.co.nz/assets/...fosheet-FA.pdf

Cheers
Topes

Just because it's under the speed limit doesn't mean you can't get pinged with dangerous driving

[Topes]

Yeah I get that really questioning around the actual speed limit vs what people are being told.


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[Ender EnZed]

Yeah I get that really questioning around the actual speed limit vs what people are being told.


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There is no official speed limit for lane splitting as distinct from the regular speed limit on any given bit of road. But you're many times more likely to get pulled over for a telling off and/or ticket for dangerous overtaking or similar if you're splitting at 100km/h than if you're splitting at 50km/h.

[Puffin' Billy]

I'm coming across a lot of cagers who ,while in the "fast lane" and in traffic, hug the left hand side of the lane making splitting impossible. This is specifically Aucklands southern motorway but i assume it happens everywhere else.
What are they doing? Are they just sub par drivers or are they purposely trying to make my life difficult?

I'm curious to know how you guys deal with this. Do you honk or give em some redline angst? Maybe you just say "fuck wits be fuck wits" and pass when the opportunity arises?

Would I be a fuckwit if i let them no i was less than impressed with their caging skills?

[Lelitu]

Would I be a fuckwit if i let them no i was less than impressed with their caging skills?

yes, yes you would. It's completely pointless, and does nothing but piss them off.
That never helps any.

Might make you feel better, certainly won't make them more helpful next time.

[Puffin' Billy]

I'm not dis-agreeing but i figure these people know what they're doing so it's unlikely to ever win them over.
Perhaps letting them know it's a fuckwit move by putting some heat on them MIGHT get a change in attitude.

The stupid thing is despite their efforts I still am long gone by the time they've travelled 100m, which is why i currently let sleeping dogs lie.

It does irk me that they no-doubt feel smug and righteous while doing it though.

[Lelitu]

I'm not dis-agreeing but i figure these people know what they're doing so it's unlikely to ever win them over.
Perhaps letting them know it's a fuckwit move by putting some heat on them MIGHT get a change in attitude.

The stupid thing is despite their efforts I still am long gone by the time they've travelled 100m, which is why i currently let sleeping dogs lie.

It does irk me that they no-doubt feel smug and righteous while doing it though.

they already know it's a fuckwit move, or are "trying to save you from your own stupidity"
Not worth stressing out about, just pass and move on.

In welly, the lanes are wide enough that there's usually still loads of room even when someone does pull hard left/right in their lane.