Minor Filtering Rant

[Wolf]

On a long ride from Palmy back to Hamilton once I encountered the stationary end of a loooooooong line o' cages so I pulled off onto the gravel alongside the road and quietly wrong-side filtered up past about a kilometre of vehicles until I got to the obstruction, then parked up, still on the side of the road, with half of my bike ahead of the first car in line. When whoever it was that was blocking the normal flow signalled we could all go, the guy in the lead car actually signalled to me to move out in front of him - so they're not all total arseholes out there.

Sorry, didn't note make, model and colour of his car for a comparison of the types of cars favoured by different personality types (like vans are favoured by timid people who don't like exceeding 70km/h and toy 4WDs are favoured by people who only have one speed (between 70 and 90km/h) and do that whether they're on the open road or in a suburban cul-de-sac)

[Dr Bob]

You do have to watch it if you move up the front at lights as it is illegal. I would imagine any impact you make, whether with your bike or body will be your cost.

The fine line between whether you are moving between the traffic approaching the lights or legally overtaking traffic within a lane is usually indicated by the lines on the road. Solid line means don't overtake.

[Dr Bob]

On a long ride from Palmy back to Hamilton once I encountered the stationary end of a loooooooong line o' cages so I pulled off onto the gravel alongside the road and quietly wrong-side filtered up past about a kilometre of vehicles until I got to the obstruction, ....

This is not illegal and would be the preffered side of the traffic to pass if it is stationary. You are allowed to pass stationary traffic on the left with due care and consideration so long as it isn't indicating to turn left. It's also safer than going against the oncoming traffic and being stuck out in the middle with nowhere to sneak back into.

Not so sure about the gravel bit though.

[jrandom]

This is not illegal and would be the preffered side of the traffic to pass if it is stationary. You are allowed to pass stationary traffic on the left with due care and consideration so long as it isn't indicating to turn left.

Unfortunately, in this case it WAS illegal, because you're NOT allowed to drive or ride outside of a marked lane, ie, offroad excursions to get around traffic are naughty. The road shoulder counts as 'outside of a marked lane'. That'll be $150, thank you very much, have a nice day, sir.

You can pass stopped traffic on the left SO LONG AS you stay within the lane.

Not that this stops me from hopping onto the road shoulder when passing blocked-up traffic, but I don't do it on motorways. Just open roads with holdups due to roadworks, etc. And I keep the Mk I eyeball in continuous cop-scan mode.

[Wolf]

This is not illegal and would be the preffered side of the traffic to pass if it is stationary. You are allowed to pass stationary traffic on the left with due care and consideration so long as it isn't indicating to turn left.

Didn't know that (and I've been riding since I was 18. Always assumed passing on left was illegal even if they were stationary.

It's also safer than going against the oncoming traffic and being stuck out in the middle with nowhere to sneak back into.

Which is why I was doing it. Likewise a few years back around "Field days" time when the traffic was quite literally backed up from Hamilton all the way out past Rotokauri to Airport Road, I filtered past on the left at a stately 20km/h all the way into Hamilton until I got to the lights and was able to merge.

Not so sure about the gravel bit though.

I wasn't so sure of it either, so I kept my speed right down.

[Jonty]

Something similar happened to me this morning! I was sitting at the lights on the Terrace at the entry of the motorway opposite the Grand Chancellor (facing down the Terrace). At this particular intersection the lanes merge into one, so being on a bike I assumed I would have no problem getting ahead of the Holden (SS car) on my right.

Unfortunatley not, as the Holden thought it would be a great joke to drag me off the line! If I hadn't braked hard I would have been like that sparrow of spankme's on the back of a parked Pajero!!

[Dr Bob]

Unfortunately, in this case it WAS illegal, because you're NOT allowed to drive or ride outside of a marked lane, ie, offroad excursions to get around traffic are naughty. The road shoulder counts as 'outside of a marked lane'.

That was the reference to the gravel bit.

[flyin]

Unfortunately, in this case it WAS illegal, because you're NOT allowed to drive or ride outside of a marked lane, ie, offroad excursions to get around traffic are naughty. The road shoulder counts as 'outside of a marked lane'. That'll be $150, thank you very much, have a nice day, sir.

.

ummm how does this law work? does it only apply to warranted registered vehicles??? doesnt that make all offroad riding illegal?

is one really breaking the "road rules" seeing as how one is not on the road?! :spudwhat: ?


Jonty - all holden drivers are especially out to get us ....... lets all throw stuff at them
( ps u know pajero translates to "wanker" hehe (oh and dont ask me the language... )

[jrandom]

ummm how does this law work? does it only apply to warranted registered vehicles??? doesnt that make all offroad riding illegal?

is one really breaking the "road rules" seeing as how one is not on the road?! :spudwhat: ?

Well, let's see. I'll try and work this one out.

You're not allowed to do ANYTHING offroad on someone else's property unless they permit you. Right?

In the case of State Highways, Transit owns, or at least is responsible for, the highways and surrounding land. And they say that outside of emergencies, you're not allowed to operate a motor vehicle on that surrounding land. Including the road shoulder.

But once you're off the road shoulder and attached land, sure. You can forget about traffic regulations and start worrying about trespass laws...

[pyrocam]

I do this. and every biker Ive seen around the Mt Albert road commute does this too. especially in between cars. never seen anyone stopped.

on the Mt Albert road and Sandringham road I did it on the left hand side and on my right side (to my right not next to me) waiting to go was a coppa. I shat my pants. but he just drove on. (I like my tinted visor so I can look at them without acting suspect)

on another note. serveral times now ive been in a que of cagers cos I reckon I cant get through, and a lime green bike will race past me inbetween lanes up to the front. are you here limey? this is around the Mt Albert / Royal Oak area's when Ive seen you.

[Biff]

Several morning a week while travelling to work I often overtake a guy riding a BMW 600FS. As soon as we hit traffic he's off-road (grass) alongdside the highway while I split through the middle. I think he gets a pervy kick out of beating me to the front of the traffic?!

[outlawtorn]

Had a mint ride out to Oxford(130km round trip from home) with the wife yesterday, was fantastic aside from a girl in a white honda civic dead set on squashing us.

We were filtering up to a set of red lights, and were behind said civic for a minute, everytime we went to move past her, she'd pull right over onto the centerline of the left lane, after this happened about 5 times I figured it wasn't a co-incidence, since she was staring into her wing mirror the whole time! When we got closer to the redlight and traffic slowed down from the hair-raising 25kph that it was, we got past her since the truck in front of her had to slow down sooner than the cars in the right lane, as we go past the civic, she veers hard across the line to try and hit us! thankfully we were past her promptly.

In conclusion - what the hell are people thinking when they do this? With us at the front of the traffic, we take off quicker, and leave the cars to do as they please without having to worry about having us in their blindspots, and the reward for this is some Girl who's willing to get done for GBH or worse, for reasons of what, Self-Importance?

Aside from that, it was a amazing ride :-)

It's defintely Civic riders, I've had nothing but shit with Civics my whole life, and a couple of weeks ago a red one simply pulled out in front of me and caused my bike to slide and me to do a tumble weed impersonation in the right hand lane.

I reckon when people do this to us we should have a can of spray paint ready and as we pass just spray along the side of their car.

[pyrocam]

Several morning a week while travelling to work I often overtake a guy riding a BMW 600FS. As soon as we hit traffic he's off-road (grass) alongdside the highway while I split through the middle. I think he gets a pervy kick out of beating me to the front of the traffic?!

I know I would. I love having little bits of fun like that on a commute. I came across an older driver (Maybe mid 40's) the other day on the same route as above. he was driving a faded green bike from the 70's or something. but it was certainly fast. we would both pick a side of the traffic and try and beat each other to the next lights. great fun.in retrospect. stupid. but fun none-the-less

[TonyB]

Slight thread hijack, but this has been bugging me and it proves that we bikers are not all saints when it comes to moving in traffic.
Scenario is: Driving from Murchison to Christchurch in family wagon, fully loaded up with bags etc stacked behind cargo barrier so veiw thru internal rear vision mirror is completely blocked. Still have side mirrors so can still see behind me. Just after the turnoff to the Buller Gorge I'm stuck behind a Pajero. There's a long sweeping slight left hander coming up, with a clear view to pass, so the plan is to pass there. A BMW bike (boxer twin of some description I think- rider is wearing all BMW gear) comes up behind me and I see it in the mirrors. No worries, I know it's there. Get to the point where I can see the road is clear, check mirror to make sure the BMW is not already trying to pass, flick on indicator, let it blink about three times while dropping down to 4th gear and starting to wind up, check mirror for bike again- it's following me but not yet passing, so I start to move out and have another look. Bugger me, there's the bloody BMW trying to get past first! It's not yet along side me, so I push the point a bit and try to move right out and it just keeps coming. So I give up and move back in, my oppertunity to pass lost for a few K's (partly due to me ranting about how close this person came to getting themselves knocked off). If I hadn't been aware that the bike was there, he/she would have been knocked off, and as I OBVIOUSLY couldn't see out of my inside rear view mirror the rider was taking one hell of a risk.

Am I unreasonable in being pissed off by this? I indicated, made it obvious I was going to pass and they just forced their way past. It's not like I was going to hold them up too badly- the car is a Legacy GT and by the time I had to chuck it in it was accelerating hard (heavy braking was then required to avoid hitting the Pajero). They could have gotten past me easily enough after I'd passed the Pajero. I always give the car in front an oppertunity to pass first, especially on a winding road where the chances for a car are much rarer than those for a bike.
Rant over. I feel sooo much better now, time for a beer

[Waylander]

A BMW bike (boxer twin of some description I think- rider is wearing all BMW gear)

Obviously someone who only bought the bike as a status symbol and not cause they enjoy the ride. Like the HD riders that buy only HD gear becouse of its status.