bikers keep left?

[bugjuice]

Have I misinterpreted this, or is this blown a bit out of proportion?
Going on from the 'new changes' recently made, there's this in the NZ Herald.
It goes on to say how bikes always need to keep left, but somehow I don't think it's as bad as the journo is making out. For some reason, it reads like we have to stay left of the lane, as apposed to left of the road (multi-lane roads). I agree that we have to make a presence, or face being squished, but everyone, regardless of vehicle, should be using the left lane unless overtaking (finally, demerits given if you hog the outside lane! ), but to me, it reads like we have to stay left of the lane.

He's just being a silly dick, isn't he..?? No one can force you to the left of the lane you're in, can they..?
I'm not fearing anything there.. He didn't ask me if I did


Also found this:

Helmets

People in motorcycle sidecars or in trailers towed by bicycles will have to wear helmets. The view is that they are as likely to sustain head injuries in an accident as the rider.

All motorcycle riders not wearing helmets will now need to apply to the director of road safety at Land Transport NZ for an exemption if they cannot find an approved helmet that fits

since when were riders and passengers allow not to wear a helmet?!?!!? So if I went to my good buddy, who's my GP, and he wrote to the LTNZ and said my affro would be disturbed by my helmet, and there isn't an alternative, I don't have to wear one? It's all a bit to me..

[Skunk]

Superintendent John Kelly, national road policing operations manager, said the introduction of demerit points for what had always been an offence was aimed at motorists who held up traffic unreasonably or took dangerous shortcuts by crossing centrelines on winding roads.

"It is not aimed at people driving in a reasonable position to keep themselves safe."

Mr Kelly said he believed very few motorists would fall foul of changes to the Road Code. Police would concentrate in early weeks on education rather than handing out penalties.

I'd say some people are misreading it so they can complain or to get a ruling/clarification.

[MSTRS:Me]

It's all about making the roads safers (just not for bikes). Watch the attitude change re lane position when the revenue possibilities are realised (oops)

[Marmoot]

I think it is blown out of proportion.
For all these years I always believe enforcement of keep-left rule will help us cyclists (yeah....we're somewhat cyclists) overtake cars if they stay to the left.

Who is this Megarider people, actually?

P.S.
How about if we suggest us be enforced to keep left in the motorway? Like.....left as in the bus lane?

[bugjuice]

It's all about making the roads safers (just not for bikes). Watch the attitude change re lane position when the revenue possibilities are realised (oops)

I agree on making it safer, and better flowing, but this isn't what the journo is making out, to me. He's making it seem like we're in the left of the lane..?? In the UK, you get a good bollockin for not staying left, where I learnt to drive. It's stupid that this hasn't been done before, well, not enforced better. The amount of times I've seen cars come onto the freeway, then move straight to the right hand lane - when there's no other cars on the road?!?! And/or they slow down to join the slower moving right hand lane, for no reason?!?!!? Almost like they're guilty to go faster or something.. Pisses me off big time

[Wolf]

Surely there's something wrong. Was always taught, and had explained to me by cops, that we are to stick to the right-hand part of the lane we are in as it is the safest place to be. We are entitled - as duly licenced and paid-up riders - to occupy the same amount of space on the road as any cage - it ppl want to pass they must do so by crossing the centre line when it is safe to do so, etc etc.

Forcing bikes to ride to the left of the lane is just plain dangerous - for a start, you'd get idiots trying to pass when it is not safe to do so - "oncoming traffic, so I'll just squeeze past in the same lane..."

Hope it is a misunderstanding.

[Gen]

I think that is what they are trying to say, keep to the left of the road while in your lane.Which keep each side of traffic well away from crossing the centre line....(at least for cars...)
By the looks of the other drivers I have seen, no one has:
read these new rules
or knows about them
or cares.

It will be interesting to see how things go, whether the police will crack down hard or not. :spudguita

[bugjuice]

Surely there's something wrong. Was always taught, and had explained to me by cops, that we are to stick to the right-hand part of the lane we are in as it is the safest place to be. We are entitled - as duly licenced and paid-up riders - to occupy the same amount of space on the road as any cage - it ppl want to pass they must do so by crossing the centre line when it is safe to do so, etc etc.

Forcing bikes to ride to the left of the lane is just plain dangerous - for a start, you'd get idiots trying to pass when it is not safe to do so - "oncoming traffic, so I'll just squeeze past in the same lane..."

Hope it is a misunderstanding.

exactly. just sooooooooo can't be right. just soopid.

[vifferman]

Who is this Megarider people, actually?

Yeah, I wondered that, and thought, "What's wrong with BRONZ? Do we need another organisation?"

BTW - I noticed that the signs on the bus lanes on the motorway say "BUSES ONLY", so I guess that means we're specifically excluded, not that I'd want to ride in the slippery substances the buses pee all over the road, nor have some 20m long behemoth breathing down my neck. I'm not that desparate to get to work...

[bugjuice]

Who is this Megarider people, actually?

http://www.megarider.com/
I thought it was a bit of a one-man-band thing actually. The dude is a nice bloke n all, but I didn't think he was accredited with anything..

[MSTRS:Me]

I read it to mean that we are supposed to ride between the left wheel track (of cages) and the solid white line demarking the edge of the road. Fucked if I will ride there. I will ride in the right wheel track of whatever lane I am in. What I am saying is that if this attracts a fine & demerits I will take it to court & so should every other biker. I will not be put at risk by a law that 'makes our roads safer'

[vifferman]

http://www.megarider.com/

Ooooh!

Aaahhhhh!!

[Marmoot]

http://www.megarider.com/
I thought it was a bit of a one-man-band thing actually. The dude is a nice bloke n all, but I didn't think he was accredited with anything..

I am aware of the website, thank ou
But I would be grateful if anybody can give me an insight on who the person is actually, or why he is revered by the media as having better insight than normal rider (not that it is bad....anything that gives additional attention to bikes is good....unless the person is holding a gravely erroneous view).
I always thought that anything official has to be from BRONZ. Since when do we have 2 separate organization to voice our concerns? Why not just put it into one big pot instead of two pots?
Now, talking about pots......my mum has always told me to stop smoking my pot...but alas that is a whole different thread....I'd better stop before someone accuse me of hijacking this thr.....

[vifferman]

I read it to mean that we are supposed to ride between the left wheel track (of cages) and the solid white line demarking the edge of the road. Fucked if I will ride there. I will ride in the right wheel track of whatever lane I am in. What I am saying is that if this attracts a fine & demerits I will take it to court & so should every other biker. I will not be put at risk by a law that 'makes our roads safer'

Same here.
Don't give a rat's arse about this 'issue'. I'll ride however is most safe, and like MSTRS, I'll defend my right to do so, regardless of what the law, Mr Plod, or anyone else has to say about it.

But I would be grateful if anybody can give me an insight on who the person is actually, or why he is revered by the media as having better insight than normal rider (not that it is bad....anything that gives additional attention to bikes is good....unless the person is holding a gravely erroneous view).

Indeed.
Prolly find that he/she/it saw it as an opportunity for commercial furtherance.

[ManDownUnder]

I was always taught (on defensive riding courses etc) to stay in the lane of least risk - which means
1) on the open road, right hand wheeltrack - avoids anyone/anything pulling out from the side roads and driveways and increases your visbility
2) in the fast lane of the MW stay in the left wheeltrack - gives you room to move to the right is someone pulls over toward you
3) in the opposite wheeltrack to the bike in front of you if you are riding in a group - more braking distance and a better view of whats ahead.

God forbid we should have common sense legislated...

rant over for now (I think)
MDU