Bike Accident Auck Southern Motorway???

**Squeak the Rat** · 3rd April 2006, 09:50

Just had a call from some one at work to see if i was ok. She reckons she heard "something" on the radio about traffic jam, motorbike and median barrier around Greenlane. Any one know details? Hope everyone is ok......

**Dai** · 3rd April 2006, 10:10

Comming in this morning about 8pm there was a scooter pulled up on the far right lane. Jam jar had lights flashing and was talking to the woman by the meridian strip. Traffic was backed up from this as it always does when people see the flashing lights and rubber neck. Right hand lane was blocked at this point also so we all had to move to centre lane.

The scooter looked like a 50cc step thru version. Not sure of the laws here but in UK 125cc min to use the motorways.

Dai

**Squeak the Rat** · 3rd April 2006, 10:15

Sounds like it, thanks Dai. Good to see nothing major. Not sure about scooters on the motorway, but I've been told it's not illegal to ride on the mway on your learners as long as you don't impede the flow of traffic.....

**Patrick** · 3rd April 2006, 10:16

Originally Posted by Dai

The scooter looked like a 50cc step thru version. Not sure of the laws here but in UK 125cc min to use the motorways.Dai

They can use the MW here, but why would ya want to in Auckland? Death wish, perhaps? Did I hear you right? The 50cc was in the fast lane of the motorway?????????

**Dai** · 3rd April 2006, 10:21

Thats right the cop car had pulled her up by the meridian strip on the fast lane.

**Jantar** · 3rd April 2006, 10:33

Originally Posted by Dai

Thats right the cop car had pulled her up by the meridian strip on the fast lane.

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought ALL lanes on the Auckland motorway had the same speed limit. What speed are we allowed to do in the fast lane, and how is it sign posted?

**Squeak the Rat** · 3rd April 2006, 10:39

Originally Posted by Jantar

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought ALL lanes on the Auckland motorway had the same speed limit. What speed are we allowed to do in the fast lane, and how is it sign posted?

Supposedly they do, but one is supposed to keep left as practical. In a feeble attempt to mimic other countries the right hand lane is often thought of as the "fast" lane. How any lane on the Auck motorway could be fast I don't know.

What really happens (when traffic is actually moving) is that everyone moves to the middle lane, except the people who go 60kph, effectively making it a 2 lane motorway. All the people in the middle lane then look annoyed when you pass on the left (the slow lane).

All moot really, because at 8am this morning I'm sure the 50cc scooter would have been able to keep up with traffic whatever lane.....

**Two Smoker** · 3rd April 2006, 11:01

Originally Posted by Jantar

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought ALL lanes on the Auckland motorway had the same speed limit. What speed are we allowed to do in the fast lane, and how is it sign posted?

In theroy they do.... but what about trucks with a speed limit of 90kmh, and trailers with a speed limit of 80kmh... Stay in the left lane unless passing, ie im doing 110kmh passing a trailer doing 90kmh... Hence why people call it the fast lane, i tend to think of it being more a passing lane...

**Dai** · 3rd April 2006, 11:43

Motorways

Never really noticed the difference over here. Thanks for pointing it out. Only been home 3 years after 25 year OE. Only back on a bike since November. Longest layoff from riding ever.

Dai

**Swoop** · 3rd April 2006, 12:34

Originally Posted by Jantar

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought ALL lanes on the Auckland motorway had the same speed limit. What speed are we allowed to do in the fast lane, and how is it sign posted?

Some of us remember the old "keep left at all times unless overtaking" rule, which would make the cars in the right hand lane appear to be going faster when they were overtaking.
Nowadays it seems to be "get into the middle lane and cruise" or "gotta get straight into the right hand lane".
Either of the above contribute to traffic congestion.

After all that, there is also the "I'm turning left off the motorway - from the RIGHT hand lane"!!!

**Squeak the Rat** · 3rd April 2006, 12:57

This is the city that until very recently had a right hand off-ramp. All the miss-daisies had to cross traffic to get into the right hand lane - most chaotic.

I usually travel in the left hand lane on the Auckland motorway. Clearer space and can usually overtake heaps more cars.... It shouldn't be like this, the law should be keep left (and be enforced), but if I get a lane to myself apart from the odd-nana then I'll take it....

**Ixion** · 3rd April 2006, 13:00

Mopeds may not use motorway (not pushbikes, neither). But 50cc bikes (ie registered as motorcycle, over 2HP) is OK. Some 50cc's could keep up OK.

**Lou Girardin** · 3rd April 2006, 14:42

Fast lane?

A cyclist could keep up in there.

**WRT** · 3rd April 2006, 14:44

Originally Posted by Two Smoker

In theroy they do.... but what about trucks with a speed limit of 90kmh, and trailers with a speed limit of 80kmh...

The speed limit for trailers is currently 90kph on the motorways, however note that you only have a 5kph "tolerance" from the police, as opposed to the usual 10kph. Ie: you will be pinged if doing over 95kph.