Bus lane transit NZ

[speedpro]

If I had been drifting even a little bit to the left, the consequences would've been very undesirable.........

If you'd been drifting to the left the bike wouldn't have been splitting lanes till after you'd got it back together - speaking as one who splits lanes on the NW.

[rodgerd]

Sound like a bunch of cage drivers thinking, "If I can't use them then no one can"

Would they be the people who throw their doors open to knock over cyclists and bikers who dare to pas them in heavy traffic?

(And ought to go to jail for assault with a deadly weapon...)

[FROSTY:Me]

darned hard one to call innit. Ive nevere seen it from a bus drivers point of view. I still think that bus lanes are under utilised pieces of highway.
I know its just a pipe dream but what if bus lanes had red/green lights above em so that when a bus is on that section of road its a no go zone

[phase]

Was stuck in a jam in North M'way yesterday in my cage. As I was concentrating on not hitting the bumper in front of me, a bike zipped by at around 40kph merely centimetres on my left.
.........
....


Now I understand why you are not supposed to lanesplit on the left hand side of the vehicle in your lane in the motorway at all! I can't spare enough time checking mirrors (especially left) when I am concentrating on stop-n-go-n-stop-n-go.

If I had been drifting even a little bit to the left, the consequences would've been very undesirable.........

Either take the jam off the m'way, or let the bikes use the bus lane and highway shoulders!!!!

Yep, most people don't see you and yes it is a huge risk splitting lanes or riding in motorway "gray" areas.

But who's reponsibility is it to remove these risks? The LTSA or local governments? The police? Other road users? God forbid, You?

When you bought your bike you weren't allowed to ride in the bus lane, why should you be allowed now? So you don't ride like a monkey in heavy traffic? Please. Take a step back. You don't _have_ to ride between lanes.

On the other hand, I ride like monkey on the Northern every day - that was probably me Marmoot. I just think there's another side to this debate that isn't being represented.

Why should there be allowances for you?

[Marmoot]

If you'd been drifting to the left the bike wouldn't have been splitting lanes till after you'd got it back together - speaking as one who splits lanes on the NW.

That'd be pretty naive assumption, speedpro. As we know, some auckland drivers posses a "lightning speed reaction" (or should I say "impulses) when it comes to changing lanes and turning, and often do without checking their mirror. That split second moment, if you happen to be in the wrong spot, can cost you dearly.

I'm just saying, also to Phase's point of view, allowances or not, regardless to whosever fault, when a car 'drifts' suddenly to the left without mirror checking it is the biker who'd end up kissing the road. And regardless of whose fault it is, the bike still loses.

And now we have that (that's right) 'underutilized' patch of road, why not use it in a regulated manner? Or, why not make policy that support higher road utilization (bike and bus) while removing some favour off the car section? The problem is that the government always favour cars cars cars, while not supporting the others ('criminalizing' bikes, not improving public transport to acceptable standard, etc). With this trend, how could we possibly expect the traffic jam to ease?

In the end, I feel bikers lanesplit only because there is no other viable option left. It would be good to create a new available option(s) to limit the risk exposed to them while lanesplitting, don't you agree Phase?
Or, if you have any option as you said maybe not being represented in here, that might just be the answer. So, please feel free to inform us.

[phase]

In the end, I feel bikers lanesplit only because there is no other viable option left.

You gotta be kidding me right? You have the same options as a cage. You either drive in your lane like everyone else or get off the road.

If I bought a hummer and drove down the grass bank of the motorway, because I could, does that mean I should expect some special allowance just for my vehicle type? Maybe I should get special use of the bus lane. Hell I should have my own lane!

What I'm getting at is - what makes a bike different from a car other than the fact it can lanesplit? Just because it's been happening for yonks and is pretty much expected for a bike on the motorway, doesn't mean it's be right.

You're breaking the law and you're putting yourself and others in danger - all because you wanna get to work faster than Joe Blow in his cage. Why should anyone make allowances for your impatient ass?

NOTE: Please note I am also the impatient ass who lane splits and puts himself and everyone in danger. I'm making this arguement because this entire thread seems hugely biased and I think a whole other side of this is being overlooked.

[Big Dog]

I stopped splitting after only a few goes.

To me it is not worth the agravation to get there 10 minutes quicker. Just plan your day better. You know when the traffic turns to custard.

Having said that there are times I will split.... they usually start with a whole line of traffic making room.

[jrandom]

I stopped splitting after only a few goes.

I have *fun* splitting.

But then I don't get out much.

[Big Dog]

Then you would probably enjoy my cooking

[speedpro]

That'd be pretty naive assumption, speedpro. As we know, some auckland drivers posses a "lightning speed reaction" (or should I say "impulses) when it comes to changing lanes and turning, and often do without checking their mirror. That split second moment, if you happen to be in the wrong spot, can cost you dearly.

Which is why I don't split lanes if there is a gap to the left. You never know when the cager will decide to jump over. Of course if there is a gap to the left there is no need to split the lanes. You have to make inteligent decisions based on the vehicle dispositions and the likelihood of any possible drivers actions.

[speedpro]

You gotta be kidding me right? You have the same options as a cage. You either drive in your lane like everyone else or get off the road.

If I bought a hummer and drove down the grass bank of the motorway, because I could, does that mean I should expect some special allowance just for my vehicle type? Maybe I should get special use of the bus lane. Hell I should have my own lane!

What I'm getting at is - what makes a bike different from a car other than the fact it can lanesplit? Just because it's been happening for yonks and is pretty much expected for a bike on the motorway, doesn't mean it's be right.

You're breaking the law and you're putting yourself and others in danger - all because you wanna get to work faster than Joe Blow in his cage. Why should anyone make allowances for your impatient ass?

NOTE: Please note I am also the impatient ass who lane splits and puts himself and everyone in danger. I'm making this arguement because this entire thread seems hugely biased and I think a whole other side of this is being overlooked.

I understand you are just putting forward the contrary view, but, it is this sort of petty minded antagonism towards events or actions by other people which disadvantage noone, which is so frustrating. As for the danger of splitting lanes, of all the people who contribute to this forum, who has actually had a collision while splitting lanes? I haven't.

Just refuting the argument not getting at you.

[speedpro]

I stopped splitting after only a few goes.

To me it is not worth the agravation to get there 10 minutes quicker. Just plan your day better. You know when the traffic turns to custard.

Having said that there are times I will split.... they usually start with a whole line of traffic making room.

Splitting lanes saves me between 30mins and an hour+ commuting every day. That is time I am able to spend with my boy doing Dad/Son stuff. I ride very conservatively and don't see an increased risk of injury causing me to spend "no" time with the boy.

[speedpro]

BIIIiiiigg breath, , , breath out . . .

[Lou Girardin]

How about, if there's 2 cages side by side either is unlikely to change lanes. But if there's a gap next to a cage he might do it. Be careful!
Just a little rule for safe M/Way living.

[speedpro]

How about, if there's 2 cages side by side either is unlikely to change lanes. But if there's a gap next to a cage he might do it. Be careful!
Just a little rule for safe M/Way living.

Exactly how I work it.