Lane-splitting at 90kph!

[90s]

Well let's deconstruct that. If I'm doing 80kph, and the cars around me are doing 60kph, what's the difference between when I'm doing 60kph and the cars are doing 40kph? The only difference, really, is that the ground is travelling underneath us a bit quicker

Braking distances, intertia (mental and physical) etc etc
There's a lot of difference - and most of it comes down to risk tolerance. I split usually up to about 60kph on the NW. At certain points (like the GN Rd turn off) traffic starts to do erratic things - sudden lane changes etc etc - and I play it cautiously. I know that my own splitting tolerance, but I also know at higher speeds it is harder should the unexpected happen.

[xwhatsit]

Braking distances, intertia (mental and physical) etc etc

Which is all shared by the cars next to us. It's all in our minds.

It all made a lot more sense to me after I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey again. Watching the spaceships dock, how they enter the rotation where they're spinning but it seems to be dead still because the station they're docking with is moving at the same speed.

The ground beneath us is all that has changed -- and hopefully we never need to worry about the ground.

[skidMark]

Oi! im one of the cnuts who canes it down the NW (sometimes)

I give myself just 25 minutes to get from west harbour to onehunga every morning...

I did my old house In panmure to westage in 20 mins flat at rush hour a few times.

Till i stacked into a van doing 20kph at 80kph.

That hurt...

Alot.

It does depend on the situation though on straight bits of motorway at calmer times traffic doing 110 ish nicely spread out ive comfortably sat on 170-185. Back in the day.

[Morcs]

I did my old house In panmure to westage in 20 mins flat at rush hour a few times.

Till i stacked into a van doing 20kph at 80kph.

That hurt...

Alot.

It does depend on the situation though on straight bits of motorway at calmer times traffic doing 110 ish nicely spread out ive comfortably sat on 170-185. Back in the day.

Key word: Once

I have to do it twice. Every day.

And to do it the next day, I have to stay alive.

[The Stranger:Me]

PS : Maybe you should be the one trying to read the original post?

Maybe you should get a NZ driver license.
You could start studying here.

Still, doesn't matter if you are right or wrong, just as long as you are arguing is the important thing.

[Ragingrob]

Maybe you should get a NZ driver license.
You could start studying here.

Still, doesn't matter if you are right or wrong, just as long as you are arguing is the important thing.

Um I don't quite understand why you're saying this? I'm saying that there are no signs on the motorway saying keep left unless passing... What's this got to do with the road code? I have a full car and restricted motorbike licence... sooo... pardon?

If I don't keep left on the motorway I will cause a head on crash? Hmmm... moron...

[Usarka]

Um I don't quite understand why you're saying this? I'm saying that there are no signs on the motorway saying keep left unless passing... What's this got to do with the road code? I have a full car and restricted motorbike licence... sooo... pardon?

Do all road rules need to be signposted on the motorway?


piss off officer, there were no signs saying i had to indicate!

[Ragingrob]

Do all road rules need to be signposted on the motorway?


piss off officer, there were no signs saying i had to indicate!

Ok, so this thread is about a motorcyclist lane splitting in traffic at 90kph... On a busy motorway do you expect people to keep left unless "passing"?? Haha. I don't quite think that's a road rule... It's not actually a road rule anyway to keep left unless passing on the motorway.

[Ragingrob]

Anyway I've gotta head into town now, hope I don't get pulled over for riding in the right lane on the motorway when I'm not passing!

[The Stranger:Me]

Ok, so this thread is about a motorcyclist lane splitting in traffic at 90kph... On a busy motorway do you expect people to keep left unless "passing"?? Haha. I don't quite think that's a road rule... It's not actually a road rule anyway to keep left unless passing on the motorway.

Hanlon was very sharp.

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

So what is it ragingknob, malice or stupidity?
Please say you are just winding us up.

[Tank]

Regardless of what 'we' think of lane splitting at 90kms.

The vast majority of cage drivers will think you are a wanker for doing it.

Then once enough people start thinking that then it becomes 'common knowledge' that all bikers ride like wankers.

When it becomes 'common knowledge' our friendly g'ment steps in and legislates against bikers to help save 'all' of us from ourselves.

Then it becomes illegal to do any lane splitting.

Sometimes to does pay to think about how others view our actions.

[90s]

Which is all shared by the cars next to us. It's all in our minds.

Not really relevant.
A car can suddenly flick from one lane to another at 60k and 80k without much difference. The difference is braking distance to you and the thinking time needed to you is appreciable.

The fast cars go the harder it is for them to lane flick. But it is quite easy for them in the typical "splitters window" of 60-90kph. At the start of the window it is much easier for us to anticipate and avoid problems than at the top end. Some of this is a function of relative speed - cars standing still and you splitting at 90kph there is simply to much information you miss to ride within reasonable control of the situation. Split at 80 when the cars are at 60 its easier.
Further to this, split at 100 when the cars are at 80 is not the same.

[Weaver]

I'm saying that there are no signs on the motorway saying keep left unless passing... What's this got to do with the road code?

This tells me that you have NEVER been on a state highway in the lower North Island. Can't remember if there are any of the keep left signs further up north. I'm so used to seeing them every day I tend not say to myself "Wow, yet another keep left sign"

Heres a picture of one of these signs. I took it especially for you

[Ixion]

Not really relevant.
A car can suddenly flick from one lane to another at 60k and 80k without much difference. The difference is braking distance to you and the thinking time needed to you is appreciable.

The fast cars go the harder it is for them to lane flick. But it is quite easy for them in the typical "splitters window" of 60-90kph. At the start of the window it is much easier for us to anticipate and avoid problems than at the top end. Some of this is a function of relative speed - cars standing still and you splitting at 90kph there is simply to much information you miss to ride within reasonable control of the situation. Split at 80 when the cars are at 60 its easier.
Further to this, split at 100 when the cars are at 80 is not the same.

Well, not even a cage is going to 'flick' from one lane to another at 60kph , if doing so will take him into the side of another cage.

By definition, lane splitting is when the traffic is so heavy that there are few or any gaps. No gaps, cages won't lane change.

When gaps start top open up a wise biker assumes the cages will always lane change into them. No point splitting the lanes when there's free olane space.

And if there's enough gaps for the cages to be lane changing, and one changes in front of you, don't brake. Braking is not a preferred motorcycle mechanism. If there's gaps enough for the cage to lane change there's gaps enough for you to dodge. Just go round him.

[90s]

Well, not even a cage is going to 'flick' from one lane to another at 60kph , if doing so will take him into the side of another cage.

By definition, lane splitting is when the traffic is so heavy that there are few or any gaps. No gaps, cages won't lane change.

When gaps start top open up a wise biker assumes the cages will always lane change into them. No point splitting the lanes when there's free olane space.

Well, in 20 yrs of splitting I have not always found this to be the case. And there are places such as the GT North Rd exit & the Lincoln Rd exits from SH16 I travel most days where cages will flick onto lanes without there nesc. being a space for them. Large vehicles & 4x4 often think they can create their own gap - without checking behind - as anything in the way would be forced to slam on their brakes rather than be crushed by them.
Another reason for swerving cages in traffic is the above - heck that 4x4 is simply moving into my lane AGHH - must swerve. You get a 'wave' effect accross the traffic.
I see the above example again and again and also on arterial dual lane rds such as the Gt North & Rata st.
And guess what - plenty of accidents are caused in these situations. In the easter break I saw 3 accidents of these types within an hour on SH1 out of Auckland. It took me 1 3/4 hours to get out of the city that day.

You attribute rationality where empirically I have found little. And I ride with that knowledge in mind.