Lane-Splitting 1.01

[Thani-B]

I'd guess most Aucklanders are used to having bikes go past them by now. Will see if my new bright and shiny makes a difference to how they act towards me compared to when Im on my GN tomorrow. And try Friday arvo, thats real fun.

[vtec]

Over the last few years, we've been busy training them. I did my fair share morning and night at pace. We have now just blended into their subconscious like the rest of things they encounter on their crawl to and from their cubicle prisons.

[PrincessBandit]

...We all know it was a lady you went to see Slofox. lol. She does a good job. Which reminds me I need to zip in and see her. You know you can park out the back instead of on K'Road? It's more discreet. And easier to get a park.

Cheers.

I always park in the Mercury Lane carpark when i require to go and see "the lady" in K Road....

She does a blimmin' fantastic job, and i've been back more than once!!

[jeffs]

I commute every single day up Aucklands motorways in rush hour , sun, rain, fog no difference to me, I ride.
Nearly all my riding is commuting 10,000k a year +.
I did my first year on a 150cc scooter on the motorways.

In 3 years I have NOT ONCE had a car cut me off, or try to be an ass. I pull to the front of every queue and have never, ever been drag raced. I find if a car sees me, it always opens the gap, never closes it.

The only thing that slows me down are sports bikes who can not see over cars ( don't rise to that one ).

Why do I do it.

1. It takes be 1/2 hour less that a car each way. So an hour of my life back each day.
2. If it rains the traffic is slower so easy to ride through.
3. If its sunny, the traffic flows freely so easy to ride with.
4. When I leave work, I concentrate on my riding so switch off to my job. When I get home I am work detoxed.
5. I never have a problem parking.
6. And I love riding my bike.

.
.
.

Biking is not just about open roads, and my list goes on and on...

[MarkH]

Why do I do it.

Good list of reasons. For me there is also the fact that I used my car so little after getting the scooter that I sold it and now don't have a car at all. Driving a car in Auckland traffic is not an experience that I will miss!

[wysper]

I've certainly found it 'interesting' to have commute 74kms in that shit everyday. Have done it on many different bikes now and in general if the car drivers know you're coming they move over slightly.
Interestingly enough the ZX14 has been the best to lane split on due to its noise and a wall of headlights

Interesting aye. Part of me likes the idea of a quiet bike, gone by the time they even know I was there.
I know there is the 'loud pipes save lives' brigade, and there is a certain amount of truth to that. But there is also the "loud pipes scare the shit out of the driver and they do something erratic" effect. Which can be disconcerting.

I even get that on the bike occasionally when a loud pipe bike passes me that I haven't seen coming, you don't even hear them until they are practically passed you anyway, and then it is shit loads of noise and a streak all of a sudden. Hopefully not a streak in your leathers. Can really make you jump.

[GOONR]

I commute every single day up Aucklands motorways in rush hour , sun, rain, fog no difference to me, I ride.
Nearly all my riding is commuting 10,000k a year +.
I did my first year on a 150cc scooter on the motorways.

In 3 years I have NOT ONCE had a car cut me off, or try to be an ass. I pull to the front of every queue and have never, ever been drag raced. I find if a car sees me, it always opens the gap, never closes it.

The only thing that slows me down are sports bikes who can not see over cars ( don't rise to that one ).

Why do I do it.

1. It takes be 1/2 hour less that a car each way. So an hour of my life back each day.
2. If it rains the traffic is slower so easy to ride through.
3. If its sunny, the traffic flows freely so easy to ride with.
4. When I leave work, I concentrate on my riding so switch off to my job. When I get home I am work detoxed.
5. I never have a problem parking.
6. And I love riding my bike.

.
.
.

Biking is not just about open roads, and my list goes on and on...

Good list, #4 I hadn't even thought about but you are so right. before I got the bike I would spend my journey home thinking about work, what I need to get done the following day etc. Now as soon as the lid goes on and the start button is pressed work is a distant memory.

I ride over the harbour bridge heading in to town for my commute, most people on there are really good at giving bikes that bit more room, some will move over a little more if they see ya coming up but generally they leave a good gap anyway.

I don't go that fast when I'm splitting (because I'm fairly new to it) so keep an eye out for the faster bikes coming up behind me then pick a gap to move into before they arrive. Some of the quicker bikes fly between the smallest gaps , I'm not the brave. I won't split the final third of the bridge in the morning either, too many cars changing lanes and jostling for position by then.

I do get the traffic light drag artist's having a go though, Normally on the North Shore for some reason. I don't know if it's because I have the "L" on the back of the bike or what. I just shrug it off, even my little 250 is quicker off the mark than most cars without even trying. If they get in front I'm not bothered, if they end up tailgating I'll pull up and let them head towards their own accident.

But yeah, I have seen some fast precise splitting on my commutes in Auckland.

[firefighter]

The only thing that slows me down are sports bikes who can not see over cars

Weird.......dunno what kinda sportsbikes you've seen or ridden? All the ones iv'e seen and ridden seem to have the highest viewpoint.

[PrincessBandit]

The thought of commuting into the city every day does not appeal to me, but I still agree the bike is the way to do it. I'm not a seasoned lane splitter and generally if in doubt I avoid doing it - much to the scorn of some riders who split past my patient crawl in the queue.
I'm such a goody two shoes that I'd hate to cause damage to anyones car in the process so only do it when I can 99.9% guarantee to myself that I won't end up in trouble. My bike is such a heavy beast for me that I don't push my luck trying to "do the biker thing" and ending up making a fool of myself.
I do admire those who appear to split so effortlessly, and know that practice improves the skill, but I'll stick with being a slow learner in that respect.

[Supermac Jr]

Good list, #4 .....Now as soon as the lid goes on and the start button is pressed work is a distant memory.

True! try to get in the right frame of mind while putting my gear on after work and try to get work out of my head before heading off.
Sometimes I'll stand and just look at my bike (oh I love her...) to relax

[DMNTD:Me]

I even get that on the bike occasionally when a loud pipe bike passes me that I haven't seen coming, you don't even hear them until they are practically passed you anyway, and then it is shit loads of noise and a streak all of a sudden...

That certainly would be the way if someone is splitting quickly.
TBH I don't split very quick at all...I mean I'm only going to work so why hurry eh?

[wysper]

That certainly would be the way if someone is splitting quickly.
TBH I don't split very quick at all...I mean I'm only going to work so why hurry eh?

I even get it occasionally on the open road. But I am with you, I don't rush to work LOL.

I find most drivers to be pretty good when I am splitting though.

[PuppetMaster]

This morning I had an appointment in d'Auckland at 9.00am. In K Road. (with a hooker....)..

Welcome to "the SUCK".

[jeffs]

There are many things to remember to have a safe easy ride in commuter traffic.

But the number one rule while lane splitting is " Ride to you abilities".

If you see a bike catching you, pull over and let them past. If you do not, they are likely to put themselves at risk to get around you.

Once they have gone past, don't follow at their speed. You were not riding like them before they caught you, so don't ride like them after they pass you.

Don't keep switching lanes, you will stick out like a sore thumb to the police.

Don't keep switching lanes, because cars using their mirrors before a lane change ( and some do ) will loose sight of you and its not their fault.

Don't just look for police cars, keep you eyes out for cars with extra lights in the rear windows ( un-marked cars ).

If the traffic starts to flow freely, don't just lane split quicker, feed in and flow with the traffic.

Don't cry if you get pulled over, but if you are doing less that 20kph faster than the traffic around you ( and it is not stopped ), and you are not ducking and weaving between the cars, you probably wont be ( unless its a bike cop, then there is not doubt, you will be stopped ).

Remember 20kph fasted that a queue of cars doing 60. Is 80k between a line on cars 1.5 meters apart.

50kph faster than a queue of cars doing 10, with drivers half asleep all trying to work out how they can go faster, is psychotic.

[Mystic13]

I always park in the Mercury Lane carpark when i require to go and see "the lady" in K Road....

She does a blimmin' fantastic job, and i've been back more than once!!

PB, You really need to try the back door. It's a walk of around 3 metres to her door. You can also sit on the bike while she checks the fit. Poynton Terrace.