Lane splitting

**aff-man** · 24th March 2003, 22:09

hmmmmm well i don't like to lane split because of the whole poor student fine thing but the other day was just waiting in line by the lights and a guy in a minivan told me i should go down the middle to the front??? Something to think about most of the public don't mind at all. But if you see a black familia with a yellow strip watch out it's one of my mates who goes out of his way to get in the way of bikes going down the middle even when the traffic is stopped!!!! He is a bit of a you know what

hmmmm the legal definitions would be interesting though.

**Kwaka-Kid** · 24th March 2003, 22:18

nah mate thats all legal, when traffic is STATIONARY you may pass on left, which means u got both sides of cars, so yeah i always do it then. Coming home from work thru avondale, @ every red light, if im 5 cars back, or 50cars back, illget to front down middle. however if the traffic starts moving ahead, just grab urself a spot in line, because then its illegal.

Yes the other day i had some wanker in a f***ed out old van, purposely looking in his mirrors edge into the way, luckily i was a wee bit away, and i actually did just get thru the gap, and he laughed as i slowly went passed. made me so mad to think such wankers existed. dumbest thing was he left his drivers window fully down, if the window wasnt so high im sure it would have been a good enuf excuse to throw the left fist in there whilst going passed. stoopid wanker.

so tell ya mate in the familiar with the yellow strip. if he trys doing that im gunna go right thru, and put a nice big 2nd yellow strip+scratch down the side of his car with my yellow rubber things poking out of fairing.

**Coldkiwi** · 25th March 2003, 12:52

it's all about observation guys.

if the car in front is in your way in the lane, go round the other way.

if you think that will get you a fine, look for the cops first. my sanity in the mornings depends on permament lane splitting on the motorway (with indicator and headlight on full) so just do it in a safe manner and sit it out if you see piggy.

BTW... one of the things that should be mentioned is the value in being courteous to drivers you pass. WHY? Because if they have had a bad morning and then you tear arse past in an arrogant moode, they WILL dial *555 and complain about you weaving through the traffic and get the cops on the lookout for you. Drivers like to see the indicators at least, even if it may be on the wrong side!

**BigB** · 25th March 2003, 13:27

I normally don't bother lane splitting as the times I'm on the motorway (6.45am & 4.00pm) I don't have to, unless there's a problem.

But I have been pulled up for passing down the right side of traffic on the ellerslie on ramp. The traffic was stopped so I just went down the side and it wasn't till I was almost at the bottom I saw the cop sitting on the side of the motorway.

He pulled me over and asked what my excuse was?? said I didn't have one, was just doing it because I could. This seemed to suprise him, he then did the usual checks WOT/Reg and licence found nothing wrong and said he could fine me $80, but not to do it again as it pissed car drivers off and let me go.

So not all cops are bad

**MikeL** · 25th March 2003, 13:52

I've had a look through the Road Code and to my surprise found that pissing off car drivers is not a ticketable offence. At least not in my edition (last year). Perhaps things have changed since then.

**Coldkiwi** · 25th March 2003, 17:33

no it's not, that's right... but doing what I do (driving between cars making the most of any gap that presents itself) is!! I just don't want any disgruntled drivers passing their bad vibes on to a grumpy cop down the road and making my life difficult!

**aff-man** · 25th March 2003, 22:02

sometimes I don't get it why does it piss off car drivers so much. I mean sure to see someone shooting off to work or whatever while you are sitting still is frustrating, but come on bikes like cars have advantages and disadvantages. On bikes wet weather is not really all that nice and in cars traffic is the pits. So why is it that some car drivers can accept that and some can't????????

**big_bry** · 25th March 2003, 23:55

I seem to remember some red baron radio adverts talking about "now you can ride in bus lanes" ?!?!

Which lanes do they mean ? Is it just the inner city ones e.g. Franshaw st ?

b.

**Kwaka-Kid** · 26th March 2003, 05:15

we already discussed this

it was a by-law made by auckland city council, so i take it its all ACC's bus lanes.

**Coldkiwi** · 26th March 2003, 17:48

yup, all council lanes but no motorways.

You want to know why it pisses motorists off? Try commuting in a car into the city and home again 5 days a week at 8am! They also don't like 'dangerous' motorcyclists who can stop and turn between cars safely a hell of a lot faster than they can .. "because it's quicker than me , it must be dangerous".

We have freedom they don't. Everything other reason is secondary.

**Kwaka-Kid** · 26th March 2003, 22:47

Originally posted by Coldkiwi
They also don't like 'dangerous' motorcyclists who can stop and turn between cars safely a hell of a lot faster than they can .. "because it's quicker than me , it must be dangerous".

EXACTLY! yet tailgating that Toyota Starlet in their big 4x4 UAV -Urban Assault Vechile, is not dangerous, oh no, because its so big and strong, it must brake well and handle well too, and they dont get hurt in accidents.

pfft :/

**wkid_one** · 27th March 2003, 20:29

No response yet!!! funny that...

My advice is just to ride safe. A cop will have a hard job proving dangerous driving due to lane splitting or cutting lanes (plus he has to catch up with you - HANG ON I'M OFF!)

Remember you can accelarate shit loads quicker than a car - unless a policeman is driving a MacLaren - twist the grip!!! (250 riders - drop about 9 gears first and make sure you changed the rubber band!!!)

Right, enuf social irresponsibility

Seriously.....there is no statistic information at ACC that supports lane splitting as a dangerous offence - I know I called there Actuary on Tuesday, and once I convinced the person I worked for ACC they told me everything! But as they pointed out, there may very well be accidents from lane splitting - but just not recorded as it.

There is NO law against lane splitting in NZ - most cops are only able to ticket you for unsafe or illegal lane changes. Passing on the left in NZ is a myth - you are able to to my knowledge on the motorway provided there is 'sufficient room'. This is pertinant as the slow lane is commonly the middle lane on a 3 lane system, and the far left left is the merging traffic and departing traffic lane.

Most Policemen in NZ will turn a blind eye to it provided you are not being an idiot - the accepted norm overseas (and in NZ) is to travel no more than 20kph faster than the traffic and not to lane split if the traffic is travelling faster than 40kph - then you should be in your own lane space.

I am still waiting on our Constabulary to return my email/fax and letter!

**Hoon** · 28th March 2003, 15:05

I've asked a cop mate of mine many questions regarding motorbikes - Hes a Sergeant and responsible for 12 cops under him.

He told me the following about lane splitting or "Separating traffic" as they call it.

- Motorcyclists are allowed to split lanes if the traffic on both sides is stationary.

- You can use all bus lanes except those on Motorways.

- Other than that, only Emergency Services are allowed to seperate traffic.

He didn't believe there was another speed limit when splitting traffic but suggested I "don't go too fast"

I ride to from Avondale to AKL CBD everyday and back during peak traffic and I split lanes all the time. I must admit that I don't always wait for traffic to stop before weaving up the middle, nor do I always pull back in once the traffic starts moving again.

Also at every set of lights I will (space permitting) slip between the lanes up to the front of the queue and pull in front of the lead car. As compensation I'll usually reward the driver with a nice wheelie for his co-operation

From experience I've found that drivers are more "accepting" if you have a nice big mean looking bike!