Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[Swoop]

What's your definition of slow though? I got beeped doing about 40 through stopped traffic, the guy who passed was doing around 60/70 :X

"Slow" is when you have another bike behind you wanting to pass (hence the comment about checking mirrors regularly).

I have had a scooter behind me and happily pulled in to let him/her pass and I don't normally hang about when filtering...

Attention should be 95/5 ahead/behind as that is where the danger is. You will learn to "read" traffic over time. Certain telltale signs are there, and other times the car drivers will do something entirely unexpected.

[Maha]

OK, so I read in the road code and got a question like this on my learners theory test. The Road code says that you must stay in the centre of your lane. . . . This seems like no fun and over the years have seen many motorbikes weave between the traffic when all the cars were dead still, I used to envy them so much hahaha. So back to my question, Is it Illegal to weave between cars or just frowned upon? If it is illegal is this rule often enforced, like if you do this past a police officer are you likely to be pulled over?

Thanks in advance for your responses

...when there is nothing to filter through/passed/around/under.

EDIT: Is this like a wave thread where merging is applied?

[f2dz]

I've had this too. you should be going pretty damn slow when splitting, to go faster than 40KPh is getting on the sketchy side, I don't care how long you've been riding, it's plain daft!

I reckon we riders need to be self policing to a minor extent, cops probably leave lane filtering riders alone because it's impossible to pull them over without endangering someone, so if riders insist on going like a bat outa' hell between slow traffic, we really need to let them know that it's not right. As I said before cagers hate us anyway, no need to make it worse by flying past them like a human cruise missile. The more riders that speed, the less often cagers will pull over and let us through.

Not a bad idea, but I don't think the guys splitting at excessive speeds give a stuff.

"Slow" is when you have another bike behind you wanting to pass (hence the comment about checking mirrors regularly).

I have had a scooter behind me and happily pulled in to let him/her pass and I don't normally hang about when filtering...

Attention should be 95/5 ahead/behind as that is where the danger is. You will learn to "read" traffic over time. Certain telltale signs are there, and other times the car drivers will do something entirely unexpected.

As long as the rider behind flashes or beeps I have no problem letting them pass. Just don't get bent outta shape when you sit there for 5-10 secs and I don't see you because I'm trying not to end up over someone's bonnet.

[Berries]

Just keep your speed low (20-40KPh max) and stay sharp, as mentioned cages will switch lanes without indicators almost every time when they're creeping along for some reason

As we know, bikes indicate every time they change lanes.

If you do notice a bike behind you trying to push you along and force you to go faster F**k em'... If they want to fly between stationary traffic at 60KPh then slowing them down will keep them alive longer,

If you are holding someone up move over, simple as that. It doesn't matter what vehicle or what speed, like a stationary car, you are an impediment. Shit or get off the toilet is the phrase I think.

[Phantom Limb]

If you are holding someone up move over, simple as that. It doesn't matter what vehicle or what speed, like a stationary car, you are an impediment. Shit or get off the toilet is the phrase I think.

So some twat comes up behind me doing mach 1 between stationary traffic. I let him past with a wave and he fucks off up the traffic que scaring the crap out of every cager from here all the way to my exit.

Then along I come, being the good boy and not going too fast....oh but whats this? Now every angry motherfucker stuck in traffic is looking in their wing mirror waiting for another one of those "bastard bikers" to come by. Oh and guess what? Suddenly the gaps between the cars close up and every second car is touching wing mirrors, my morning commute just went to hell!

This exact scenario happens every second friggin time I let some squid go by me!
So thanks for the input, I know what you mean, but fucked if I'm moving over any more

[oneofsix]

So some twat comes up behind me doing mach 1 between stationary traffic. I let him past with a wave and he fucks off up the traffic que scaring the crap out of every cager from here all the way to my exit.

Then along I come, being the good boy and not going too fast....oh but whats this? Now every angry motherfucker stuck in traffic is looking in their wing mirror waiting for another one of those "bastard bikers" to come by. Oh and guess what? Suddenly the gaps between the cars close up and every second car is touching wing mirrors, my morning commute just went to hell!

This exact scenario happens every second friggin time I let some squid go by me!
So thanks for the input, I know what you mean, but fucked if I'm moving over any more

Those cages were going to do that to you anyhow, they probably tried it with the squid. The only difference being you have now become one of them, part of the problem. You don't get to decide how someone else drives or rides, you only get to show them how it should be done or talk about it. is the enforcer.

[f2dz]

Was splitting through traffic this morning and I suddenly saw a cop on two wheels riding with the traffic. I slowly passed him and merged in a couple cars up. After 30 seconds or so I continued splitting cos stopping and starting with cars either side scares the crap outta me more than splitting does.

Anyone had a run in with a cop on a motorcycle following them and pulling them up while splitting?

[Phantom Limb]

Those cages were going to do that to you anyhow, they probably tried it with the squid. The only difference being you have now become one of them, part of the problem. You don't get to decide how someone else drives or rides, you only get to show them how it should be done or talk about it. is the enforcer.

Normally I rarely have an issue with traffic closing me out. However after I've let squiddy fly by, it's close down city!

[GrayWolf]

As we know, bikes indicate every time they change lanes.


If you are holding someone up move over, simple as that. It doesn't matter what vehicle or what speed, like a stationary car, you are an impediment. Shit or get off the toilet is the phrase I think.

No, the 'impediment' is riding the bike trying to force its way past you.,,, I'd also point out that any manouver (changing lanes, entering a gap, etc) requires the process to be done in a safe and courteous manner. Riding up behind me will receive the same 'treatment' that PL has, I'll move over WHEN its safe for ME to do so, and honking, revving, hooting verbal 'encouragements', will have the reverse psychology effect on this rider.

[oneofsix]

No, the 'impediment' is riding the bike trying to force its way past you.,,, I'd also point out that any manouver (changing lanes, entering a gap, etc) requires the process to be done in a safe and courteous manner. Riding up behind me will receive the same 'treatment' that PL has, I'll move over WHEN its safe for ME to do so, and honking, revving, hooting verbal 'encouragements', will have the reverse psychology effect on this rider.

No problem with you moving over when it is safe for you to do so. Agreed rudeness for the rear has the reverse affect, it does what it is designed to do, it breaks your concentration making it harder to spot the gap, not what they intend it to do. A light tap on the horn to make you aware of their presence is survivable.
I thought PL was talking about not moving over even when safe just because he see the squid as causing the cages to react badly.

[Swoop]

Anyone had a run in with a cop on a motorcycle following them and pulling them up while splitting?

Nope. Have, however, been part of a "train" of about six bikes all splitting along behind the leader... who was riding a police bike!
We were happily travelling along in 2a and making good time, as well.

[caseye]

Drivers do react badly when they have the crap scarred outa them by fuckwits on motorbikes that "DO" do 100Kph between them when they're moving at a snails pace.
Who can blame them, these idiots could split/filter quietly and calmly but Oh No they are in a hurry and to hell with anyone else, that includes those of the riding fraternity who do have to follow through lines of cars with drivers put on edge by arseholes who simply can't keep their throttles under control and split courteously without scarring the shit outa people in cars.
This is more and more noticeable of recent times, worse I'm seeing jerk offs with P plates doing it too and thinking it's cool. I wish I could find the prick who told them to do it like this.
Once again, our behaviour on two wheels dictates how we are treated by other motorists, some amongst us are simply too arrogant and blind to see that and worse could not give a flying fuck about anyone else but themselves.
The Law is going to put a stop to filtering/splitting soon if we continue to condone these F.Wits making us all look like horned demon riders from hell.

[oneofsix]

Drivers do react badly when they have the crap scarred outa them by fuckwits on motorbikes that "DO" do 100Kph between them when they're moving at a snails pace.
Who can blame them, these idiots could split/filter quietly and calmly but Oh No they are in a hurry and to hell with anyone else, that includes those of the riding fraternity who do have to follow through lines of cars with drivers put on edge by arseholes who simply can't keep their throttles under control and split courteously without scarring the shit outa people in cars.
This is more and more noticeable of recent times, worse I'm seeing jerk offs with P plates doing it too and thinking it's cool. I wish I could find the prick who told them to do it like this.
Once again, our behaviour on two wheels dictates how we are treated by other motorists, some amongst us are simply too arrogant and blind to see that and worse could not give a flying fuck about anyone else but themselves.
The Law is going to put a stop to filtering/splitting soon if we continue to condone these F.Wits making us all look like horned demon riders from hell.

P plates? wtf is a P plate?
It was probably some cager what told them it was cool to do. Wished I had a $ for every cager that has said something along the lines of bikes don't get held up in traffic as they can just split. Gives an expectation that splitting at full speed is the way to ride.

[caseye]

Op's showing me age there, I meant an L plate.
You are right most car drivers have an expectation that people on bikes are going to split/filter because they can.
They just don't expect huge carbon Fibre cans and warp nine speeds when they're sitting still or nearly stopped and those horned devils scream past them at over 70 K's or more.
Nor do they appreciate it and this is what turns them into bike hating maniacs that do , close the gaps when they see any! bike coming.
LOL yes that $1.00 for everytime would mean we could ride anything aye.

[oneofsix]

Op's showing me age there, I meant an L plate.
You are right most car drivers have an expectation that people on bikes are going to split/filter because they can.
They just don't expect huge carbon Fibre cans and warp nine speeds when they're sitting still or nearly stopped and those horned devils scream past them at over 70 K's or more.
Nor do they appreciate it and this is what turns them into bike hating maniacs that do , close the gaps when they see any! bike coming.
LOL yes that $1.00 for everytime would mean we could ride anything aye.

yes anything, anytime
10 - 15 k above the speed of the queue is fast enough to get through the blind spots but slow enough to react should a cage change lanes unexpectedly. I also split with the view that the cage changing lanes has right of way, not me because I am doing the unusual or unexpected.