A question about rider etiquette at the lights.

[MarkH]

The biggest problem with lane splitting over here, is jealous cagers, I have been spit on, had drinks thrown at me, broom sticks, glof clubs & other long items stuck out the window in attempt to block me.

Geez that would make me so mad - if a person in a car stuck a glof club out the window in attempt to block me then I would stop and punch his (or her, even easier if it is a female) stupid head in!

[The Stranger:Me]

Geez that would make me so mad - if a person in a car stuck a glof club out the window in attempt to block me then I would stop and punch his (or her, even easier if it is a female) stupid head in!

What a load of shit - you do realise there would be no keyboard there to hide behind don't you.

[Ixion]

Geez that would make me so mad - if a person in a car stuck a glof club out the window in attempt to block me then I would stop and punch his (or her, even easier if it is a female) stupid head in!

Just ride on through. Unless the club is bolted in place, you'll just knock it away, with luck break the plonkers arm, maybe even his neck. Know of at least one loser ended up with a broken arm sticking it out to impede a splitting biker.

[MarkH]

What a load of shit - you do realise there would be no keyboard there to hide behind don't you.

Yeah, you got me. It is unlikely that I would actually engage in a physical altercation with the dipshit in question.

It would still piss me off though - imagine if an inexperienced rider tried lane splitting for the first time and then panicked when they saw a broom/bat/club thrust out of a window ahead, that could cause them to crash into a car or something. I think some motorists have never even considered the concept of showing courtesy to others on the road.

[The Stranger:Me]

I think some motorists have never even considered the concept of showing courtesy to others on the road.

Got to agree with you 100% there.
As many know, we live on one of the busiest roads in the country and near to the motorway end to boot, so almost any time we want to exit our driveway we rely upon the courtesy of others.
This is actually not as bad as it sounds, it's quite effective really. But it is interesting to see what races and gender have a concept courtesy.

[bikemike]

Try this

1. If there's barely enough room, that's not enough, stay put.
2. If there's room and it looks friendly at the front, filter up - knowing where your bike will be placed.
3. If there's room but it's a little hostile; bogans, F150s, magwheels, beer drinking, loud music, fumes etc etc... stay put and watch for the amber light. Then, shoulder check, indicator, pootle on out and you are rolling at the front as the light goes green - if clear, go.

I have only once had a problem with anyone taking issue with my getting away at the lights, and that was a bike on Moorhouse Ave. First encounter, I was away first at the lights, adjacent lanes, and shot up to 50/60 and then cruised. Other guy roared past then slammed on brakes. Next lights same again, but he added in a wheelie as he passed me. At the third lights he gave me livid verbal grief for my piece of shit bike, I pulled away first and then he did another wheelie as he passed me. I just pulled into work, I wasn't in a hurry!

Today a femme on a ginny or somesuch wove about me as I was doing item two above. She shot off ahead of me and must have averaged over 75 all the way along Moorheouse and bugger me if she didn't make every green light. By the time I pulled in she was long gone. Good on her, but, at that speed surely a ticket will be inevitable!?

As for leaving room for another bike to filter behind me, I make no guarantee of that. I'll check if there's somewhere to put my bike, you do same for yours.

I like first come first served if appropriate too. It's more of an issue in cars though, especially if you pull up to a wide T and wish to turn (normally right) and the next rude sod pulls up to get a better view for himself so you can no longer see. I fail to see how that has become normal behaviour here.
If it is me rolling up second in the car I use the view through their window or past the back of theirs, not in front!

I've filtered the Police at lights at times with no problems ever, but must admit that even when I know it's safe, and legal, I sometimes think twice and decide against it. I always go with that instinct :-)

Also, I agree with Vifferman.

[hkyglie]

Try this

1. If there's barely enough room, that's not enough, stay put.
2. If there's room and it looks friendly at the front, filter up - knowing where your bike will be placed.
3. If there's room but it's a little hostile; bogans, F150s, magwheels, beer drinking, loud music, fumes etc etc... stay put and watch for the amber light. Then, shoulder check, indicator, pootle on out and you are rolling at the front as the light goes green - if clear, go.

I have only once had a problem with anyone taking issue with my getting away at the lights, and that was a bike on Moorhouse Ave. First encounter, I was away first at the lights, adjacent lanes, and shot up to 50/60 and then cruised. Other guy roared past then slammed on brakes. Next lights same again, but he added in a wheelie as he passed me. At the third lights he gave me livid verbal grief for my piece of shit bike, I pulled away first and then he did another wheelie as he passed me. I just pulled into work, I wasn't in a hurry!

Today a femme on a ginny or somesuch wove about me as I was doing item two above. She shot off ahead of me and must have averaged over 75 all the way along Moorheouse and bugger me if she didn't make every green light. By the time I pulled in she was long gone. Good on her, but, at that speed surely a ticket will be inevitable!?

As for leaving room for another bike to filter behind me, I make no guarantee of that. I'll check if there's somewhere to put my bike, you do same for yours.

I like first come first served if appropriate too. It's more of an issue in cars though, especially if you pull up to a wide T and wish to turn (normally right) and the next rude sod pulls up to get a better view for himself so you can no longer see. I fail to see how that has become normal behaviour here.
If it is me rolling up second in the car I use the view through their window or past the back of theirs, not in front!

I've filtered the Police at lights at times with no problems ever, but must admit that even when I know it's safe, and legal, I sometimes think twice and decide against it. I always go with that instinct :-)

Also, I agree with Vifferman.

Great advive....