Auckland's southern motorway: lanesplitter's paradise

[Grasshopperus]

Anyone noticed how traffic on SH1 south of Auckland is even worse this year?

At 8am this morning traffic was backed up from the Papakura on-ramp until the Newmarket off-ramp. Yesterday wasn't much better too. It makes for some really satisfying lanesplitting, seems that almost everyone who drives in the overtaking lane stays quite far over to the right leaving quite a lot of room for bikers.

I wonder how many people become bikers because they're fed up being passed by bikers while they're stuck in gridlock, driving a car to work.

I've found that driving to and from work in heavy traffic is almost as fun as riding scenic roads in the weekend. You're really focused while splitting, nothing else is of concern and passing obvious knobs (boy racers) and feeling their jealousy makes you stronger (with the dark side).

Oh well, can't wait until the ride home commute.

[Swoop]

Of interest, I have noted that there has been quite a lot of tinkering with traffic light phasing. Intersections just off of the motorway on/off ramps appear to have been altered to cause a LOT more delay.
Things like:
a: Side streets being given a massive amount of extra time to "flow" which simply clogs up the main arterial route.
b: Green arrows being shut down to prevent right turns, even when the oncoming traffic is non-existant.


What qualifications does one require to become a "traffic light technician"?

[smoky]

I do Hamilton to Manukau for work in my ute. Often when in slow traffic on the motorway I wish I taken the bike, but my Bandit 1200 uses more fuel, cost more to run, and when I see bikers absolutely soaked on a bad day, and thinking about the time it takes to get my riding gear on and off, and where do you put that 'pay an display' ticket on your bike - it kind of balances itself out
I think I'll just ride the bike for recreational pleasure, I don't find lane-splitting that much fun?

[CookMySock]

I don't find lane-splitting that much fun?

LOL whut?

There's some single-lane roadworks near here, complete with traffic lights and the whole bizo. Sometimes cars are trapped in the queue for two cycles of the lights, and communters around here are just not used to such infuriating things. Imagine the anger when bikers split almost a kilometer to the front past a line of stopped traffic.. It's almost worth going and doing it just for fun.

It does make me wonder though, if people get really pissed off about it, how long before it forced the govt to "have a meeting about lane-splitting." If that meeting ever occurred, what fallout might eventuate.

Steve

[smoky]

Tirua while doing the Coro loop over long weekends - it's great to be able to split past the masses of traffic waiting at the one lane bridge

[Big Dave]

Nice work on the positive affirmation, but I'd say lane splitting or riding a heavy bike in loose sand would tie for first place as the most miserable things to do on a motorcycle.

[Bounce001]

Tirua while doing the Coro loop over long weekends - it's great to be able to split past the masses of traffic waiting at the one lane bridge

It was even better on New Years eve

[vifferman]

Nice work on the positive affirmation, but I'd say lane splitting or riding a heavy bike in loose sand would tie for first place as the most miserable things to do on a motorcycle.

After riding in stop-start traffic on the VFR yesterday, with the coolant temperature hovering around or above 100, and waves of heat coming off the radiators and rear headers, I'd have to say your two choices are definitely not the most miserable.

[Big Dave]

Southern is an all-stop construction zone flow disaster at the moment.
I find it's best avoided unless between 10 and 2. I go around to the front of the city and exit via the Port.

[Thani-B]

I go through a bit earlier and usually get slowed down around Manukau, after that it clears a bit, and then begins again around Princes St. It is quite satisfying though, and most of the drivers do keep over to give you more space, must be getting used to having bikes go past them frequently. You do get the odd one who moves over to block you, like the bitch I got fri arvo heading home. She saw me coming, jerked the car over to about 20cm away from the white line, the car beside her reacted and moved over, so I still had enough space. Her passengers were all but hanging out the windows watching me as I went past.

[Jonno.]

Lane splitting is awesome: wind, rain or shine.
I love getting home after work and knowing that a person who left at the same time from the same place is an hour behind me.

Also sailing past 600's and Harleys is awesome.

[SPman]

I really enjoyed lane splitting to Southern motorway. Even had races with other bikes through the cars to keep myself focussed........Spank is quick through the cars though....

[Swoop]

You do get the odd one who moves over to block you, like the bitch I got fri arvo heading home. She saw me coming, jerked the car over...

A deserving recipient of a mirrorectomy.

[Thani-B]

A deserving recipient of a mirrorectomy.

I was considering it, but was more worried that the passengers might do something stupid like sticking a limb out the window just as I was going past.

[The Everlasting]

Lane splitting is awesome: wind, rain or shine.
I love getting home after work and knowing that a person who left at the same time from the same place is an hour behind me.

Also sailing past 600's and Harleys is awesome.

Hehe yeah,with your fxr being really small and nimble,it must be the perfect lane splitting bike!

I don't really enjoy lane splitting,but it's better than being stuck in traffic,getting too hot!!