What IS the rule?

**dpex** · 17th March 2009, 17:59

Does anyone know what the rule is regarding using the rubbish-surfaces to the left or right of the main motorway lanes?

I can't find any reference to them in the Road Rules.

It seems to me that when using these tiny lanes one is neither overtaking or undertaking, on account of there's a nice fat white line marking the edge of the inner or outer lanes.

Maybe we could build a case for allowing bikers to use these lanes (as well as the bus-lanes). Surely, they're a lot safer than lane-splitting?

Hell's teeth! In these days of 'supposed' recession, surely a big attraction to reducing costs is to get on two wheels! Way less motorway and inner-city congestion.

i went down the Southern Motorway at 8am last Friday. The cars and trucks were backed up to the Papakura on-ramp. Twenty K's of more-or-less stopped cars, all idling, all wasting gas. All adding to pollution. What cost on the drivers' productivity after waiting for an hour in more-or-less immobile trafic jams.

On the Eastern run (into the city) on the North Western Motorway, EVERY monrning, the traffic is banked up to the bloody Greenhithe bridge!

And I'll bet it's a similar scenario in every major city in NZ.

But bikes can transcend this. You can get four bikes into the space of one car! Surely, to not foster bikes as a future method of eco-transport, is madness?

I might write to the minister.

Meantime. Anyone who might know the rule about the edge-bits, feel free to exculpate.

**cheshirecat** · 17th March 2009, 18:12

Good call.
I put it to Wellington Council that motorcycles are part of the solution not the problem re parking for free. Got this from somewhere else but it's an easy mindset quote/slogan. NZ is meant to be green etc etc.
In London bikes are poised or can now use bus lanes - no mean feat considering the conjestion and anti bike mindset there.
Oh this would be especially useful in the wet.

**McJim** · 17th March 2009, 18:16

I don't think you are allowed to use them. I agree that there seems to be a lot of resistance to saving fuel and cutting congestion with motorcycles since I am from the UK where filtering (lane splitting) is legal precisely because it reduces congestion and emissions.

However we live in New Zealand which is a country for cars. Cars always come first, cars are best, cars have priority, even if you get a driving ban you can apply to drive to work. Back in the UK if you lose your licence and then lose your job because you liost your licence well tough titty. Which is the way it should be.

This is one of the few countries where car hits pedestrian and its the pedestrian's fault.

You will never change that culture it has become too embedded in the national psyche.

**tigertim20** · 17th March 2009, 19:11

while on the subject (sorto f) is lane splitting legal anyway?

**Ixion** · 17th March 2009, 19:24

A "standard" two lane causeway ("road") (the sort the laws are based around) has five components, from a legal point of view.

A left shoulder, a left lane, a centre line, a right lane, a right shoulder.

The left and right shoulders are the part from the left and right edge , respectively, of the lane. Usually marked by a white line though that is not necessary. There may be a grass verge, ditch , etc , but these are not parts of the legal causeway (which doesn't mean that you can ignore the road rules by riding on the verge!) .

Now, a motorway may introduce a complexity. On the "standard" road there is nothing between the left lane and right lane, except a white line to mark the delineation. But on a motorway (and some other roads), there may be a central median or barrier. This takes the place of the white line.

Because Mabel gets all scared if she has to drive next to a horrible concrete barrier, the nice roading people mark some lines a foot or so out from the barrier. They can then reassure Mabel "No dear, it's quite all right, the horrid barrier is not in you lane, it won't hurt you " (I am serious about this )

But the white lines on the central side of the lanes do not, unlike the white lines at the outer edges, mark the edge of the lane. That is in fact, the barrier. There is legally no such thing as a central shoulder. The central white lines are merely a psychological crutch to the timid. Riding on the bit between the white lines and the central barrier, you are actually riding to the right of the right hand lane. Quite legal.

Note however : IANAL. And this has not been ratified by a court. Feel free to be the test case. Bear in mind also, that if Mr Plod objects to your riding there , there are many other things he can ticket you for .

**Blackshear** · 17th March 2009, 20:01

Originally Posted by McJim

Back in the UK if you lose your licence and then lose your job because you liost your licence well tough titty. Which is the way it should be.

Every time I hear that bitch's voice on the radio, which is bascially as follows: "I can get you out of drink driving charges, blah blah blah, cause I love doing it and hearing all the crazy stories"

Just her. She really pisses me off. I'm sure a lost family member will change her jobs view.

**FJRider** · 17th March 2009, 20:11

Originally Posted by dpex

And I'll bet it's a similar scenario in every major city in NZ.

That is not the case... Alexandra has NO motorway issues of any kind.

And we like it that way...

**kiwi cowboy** · 17th March 2009, 20:18

Originally Posted by FJRider

That is not the case... Alexandra has NO motorway issues of any kind.

And we like it that way...

motorway in alexandra

**FJRider** · 17th March 2009, 20:29

Originally Posted by dpex

Does anyone know what the rule is regarding using the rubbish-surfaces to the left or right of the main motorway lanes?

They are for use in an emergency, and for the use of emergency vehicles...

The law enforcers take a dim view of those who use them for other than that .....

**FJRider** · 17th March 2009, 20:34

Originally Posted by kiwi cowboy

motorway in alexandra

But we dont have any issues... do we.

**FROSTY:Me** · 17th March 2009, 20:41

fuck the rule --Its just plumb really bad economics to use those Motorway edges.All the nails and busted glass and other debris ends up there. Believe me -many years of Motorway commuting. More holes in tyres from when the law allowing bikes in buslanes was still a bit vague.
than the whole time splitting lanes

**Nasty** · 17th March 2009, 20:45

Originally Posted by FJRider

They are for use in an emergency, and for the use of emergency vehicles...

The law enforcers take a dim view of those who use them for other than that .....

So dimmer view that they have little ticketing binges .... well at least they do here in Wellington.

**FJRider** · 17th March 2009, 20:54

Originally Posted by Nasty

So dimmer view that they have little ticketing binges .... well at least they do here in Wellington.

Ahhhh.... the joys of city life...

We had a ticketing binge down here a little while back. BOTH cops were on duty at the same time... The topic of the binge was baby seats...