Cage queue passing - Experiences & protocols?

[paulj]

I have only felt envious of bikers slipping past me on their way to the front, while I'm stuck in the cage queue, but I guess this is not necessarily the sentiments of 'other' drivers.

What's the protocol - yes I know, queue up behind the last cage - or experiences of some of you more experienced riders? Is it OK to trundle past to the front? have you had any bad experiences? ...

[Kflasher]

Hey dude, yes you would be jealous watching us all go by…
But anyways, I tend to sit in between the outer two lanes, right indicator on and sitting around 40-45kph. Once traffic gets to that speed I slip back into the flow.
Now this was explained to me by a fellow biker (cop) and I follow it I have had no issues in passing patrol cars and the like.
Only issues I have had was spitting and the occasional closing in, but I can put that down to frustrated cagers that have not seen the light yet, watch for cagers changing lanes with no indication (you can pick up head movements juat before they swerve).
If you don't do anything stupid you will be left alone...my 2 cents

[Grub]

Ahhh, now I get it. i thought you were talking about the open road, but now I figure you're asking about what is known as "lane splitting"?

There's a lot of accidents on KB as a result of lane splitting. Just as kflasher saiys, there's heaps of drivers simply don't look or see you because you're not where they expect a vehicle to be. And they are right - that's not where you're supposed to be ..... BUT.

Everyone, including the cops, are tolerant of lane splitters if it is done carefully and considerately. Personally if the traffic is getting up to 35kmh then I merge back into the lane because at those speeds drivers start ducking and diving between lanes. They're all hyped up and desperate to get into the "fastest" lane.

I also only lane split at about 40kmh max, usually about 30kmh only. It's just that I have an aversion to pain and suffering ... and I like my bike and don't want to have to fix it.

Going into Wellington I have seen crazy bastards split lanes at 70kmh between stationary queues down the motorway, that's just bloody stupid and what really pisses me off is that they make drivers angry at motorbikes. That means one day, when I am pootling betweeen lanes one of them might just think f*ck it and pull into my path "just to teach the bastards a lesson"

[/rant]

[DougieNZ]

Yes agreed. heard the other day from a guy who collided with a car while lane splitting. The car changed lanes in front of him. he seemed to think that he had a good case. I think less so. I wouyld say thast in such circumstances you would have little chance of not being found at fault insurance wise... Would be interested to hear opinions on this though.

[Romeo]

I've almost hit a lanesplitter with my cage before, and I don't think it was my fault at all. I was going along a stretch of 2 lane highway around a relitively tight corner side by side with another car doing about 65kph, and this idiot on a white cruiser shoots between us - no lights, no gear and no brains. If you're going to split make sure you do your best to let people in front know about it and don't do it on an overtly retarded place like that.

[Delphinus]

Are we talking about lane splitting or hitting a queue of cars 20 vehicles long behind a stock truck/campervan?

As the few km's of "motorway" Otago has never gets slow enough to have to split... but there are often large queues out on the open road...

[Freebird]

Only one tip when things get backed up headlight on full

Make sure your seen or at least give yourself as much chance as possible

[ruphus]

My sister in law got hit but a lane splitter a few years back. I do remember that she was heading to the doctors as my nephew wasn't feeling that well.

Anyway, she was in the left hand lane of a double lane heading towards a set of lights and the traffic was backed up a bit, the enterence to the doctors car park was just before the lights, as she turned into the driveway, a motorcylist hit her just by the lefthand front wheel and went up and over the bonnet. Everyone was alright but both vehicles were written off. I remember the police charging the motorcylist for dangerous driving as he "created his own lane" when he wasn't suposed to.

[Griff]

I lane-split at approximately 30kph in 2nd gear. Two fingers over the clutch & two fingers over the front brake (different hands though, obviously). I make it a point to thank the cars that get out of the way. I try not to dispense the "Finger" more than is absolutely required. I now take perverse joy in letting the nobbers overtake me doing 120kph+, then gently saunter pass them when they get snarled up in traffic.

I have also noticed that when the road gets clearer, some turds scoot by at 120+ only to turn off at the slip road 50 metres in front of you. That used to piss me off greatly, but now I understand that these "Boy-Racer-Egos" must feel awfully frustrated sitting in a queue for over 1 hour, so I let it pass.

[bobsmith]

Exploit every advantage you have over cars. Then just maybe, maybe some of them will see the way and get bikes and the traffic problem won't be so bad.

[Drum]

.........Is it OK to trundle past to the front?.... ...

OK? It's our god given right.

If I'm going to sit in the queue with the cagers then I may as well take my cage.

As always, you pays your money - you takes your chances.

[Deviant Esq]

Personally if the traffic is getting up to 35kmh then I merge back into the lane because at those speeds drivers start ducking and diving between lanes. They're all hyped up and desperate to get into the "fastest" lane.

I also only lane split at about 40kmh max, usually about 30kmh only. It's just that I have an aversion to pain and suffering ... and I like my bike and don't want to have to fix it.

Pretty much exactly how you should lanesplit, IMO. Generally Christchurch traffic isn't too bad anyway, so I tend to only lanesplit when the traffic drops under 30km/h or when it's stopped in a queue. Best way in my opinion is to never be going any more than about 20km/h faster than the traffic, unless it's stopped, and don't rev your bike stupidly. Loud noises surprise cagers, they get all cranky and don't know how to deal with it, so I try to keep the bike quiet by splitting smoothly in a gear... the bike is loud enough anyway.

Only one tip when things get backed up headlight on full

Not such a good idea. Headlight on high beam might let you be seen a teensy bit earlier or easier, but it really pisses cagers off too because they get blinded. Hell, it annoys me when I'm on the bike and a biker goes past the other way with his light on high beam. I figure if it blinds me on the bike, it's definitely going to blind people in a car, I'm sitting higher than them.

[Reckless]

Jeepers I see only some of you live in Auckland (me only 10 years rest in good ol Wgtn).
But back to the point:
Reason 1: You ride a bike here so you can lane split! Go to the front of the queue! Get through the traffic when its jambed up! Its a way of life here!

Reason 2: So you can get the Ferk outa the traffic in the weekend and away on a good ride.

You guys outa this town have no idea how we live around the constant traffic woes! This would be the most fucked up city where traffic is concerned. 40 years of procrastination by the beaurocrats means Auckland has no public transport infrastructure and the motorway system will never ever catch up. And to top it all off they wanna tax us extra, when our taxs over the last 40 years have gone into the general coffers for eveyone else.

I know! I know! move out if ya don't like it! ye would love to, back to wgtn or even down south. But you know kids at school, lotsa friends etc etc.
And I agree with all your points on speed etc during lane splitting. Its just a shit when you get 2 4wd's too close together to get through
Sorry to rant! but lane splitting is a must!

[paulj]

Are we talking about lane splitting or hitting a queue of cars 20 vehicles long behind a stock truck/campervan?

This is all great stuff guys n gals ... thanks - I was thinking of queues at traffic lights, road works ... we have 'suffered' the Nevis Bluff closure here in Otago for several years - open for 10 minutes or so on the hour - 3>4 kM queues building up in the height of the tourist season. Most bikers work their way to pole position.

[KoroJ]

I'll never sit in traffic if I don't have to so I get as close to the front of any queue as I can although I'll normally stop behind the 1st cars at lights. That way I don't encourage them to a drag.

I pass when and where I can on motorways and hiways but I endeavour to read the 'body language' of the other drivers/riders. ie you can spot an erratic or impatient driver and have to make allowances. Also if you see gaps you need to assess whether or not the cage in the other lane is going to go for it.

Intuition and alertness count for everything when you put your life at risk!