Lane splitting - following distance

[madbikeboy]

I was lane splitting along the motorway on the North Shore this morning. I try to do it along the guide lines I had from the Police (stay in same lane, left of centre line, no more than 40km/h, etc).
You might have a different idea on what is safe for you, that's fine.

What I don't like is another rider following me so closely that I am left in the position where I can not brake to avoid something, such as a car suddenly changing lane.
And that is the situation I found myself in this morning. Another rider following me so closely that I new they would hit me if I braked. In fact I was not even confident I could even slow down they were so close.

I new you wanted to ride faster. It was obvious. I eventually found a gap between cars that I could pull into without slowing down (so I could be confident I would not be tailed ended by the other rider) to let the other rider past.

So please, I ask only one thing, when behind another rider please don't follow so closely that you could not possibly stop in the distance in front of you without hitting them. You can choose to ride faster than me lane splitting - that's ok - but putting other riders at risk is not.

The simple answer is get the fuck out of my way.

There is nothing more irritating than some plonker sitting blocking the way; everyone has a closure speed that works for them, if you're wearing panty liners and someone is sitting behind you, simply wave them through - problem solved.

Here's a thought for you - are you in more danger by moving quicker or slower when filtering? If you answered that you're in more danger doing it faster, think in terms of closure speed and time exposed to danger (aka being alongside a cage). etc etc.

Peace, love, and happy lane splitting.

MBB

[CookMySock]

The simple answer is get the fuck out of my way. There is nothing more irritating than some plonker sitting blocking the way

Sorry mate, but there's no one more dangerous than people who act like this on the open road. What if a truckie got this angry with you and took the law into his own hands? You better make sure you have clean undies that day... either that or a clean casket.

Keep your head in check at all times, and if you can't then at least do it while you're on the road.

Steve

[chasio]

I do not exaggerate but that is 1,000,000% correct. On a bike more so. So listen and take note of DB's comments ( in this case ) if you want to survive as a commuter.

I'm with you and DB on this one.

The trick of course is in having the self awareness to realise that the person with an 'out of order' emotional state is you, or is about to be you. I cannot do anything about another rider/driver's emotional state but I can certainly monitor my own and try not to get into a competition, or otherwise fool myself into riding in an ill-judged way because my head state has gone irrational.

I'd love to be able to say I always manage it but I am human and I don't. But it's something I can aim for.

[p.dath]

Here's a thought for you - are you in more danger by moving quicker or slower when filtering? If you answered that you're in more danger doing it faster, think in terms of closure speed and time exposed to danger (aka being alongside a cage). etc etc.

If I increase my speed to 50km/s, and I have a two second reaction time, I need 27m for my reflexes to do something. When lane splitting I have two vehicles within 2m of myself, and probably 10 vehicles within 20m of me. And of these vehicles could attempt to change lane in front of me, and place me in significant danger. The slower I am travelling the less distance I will travel before I can respond to the danger.

My impression is I have more dangers in front of me than behind me when lane splitting.

I think the risk starts increasing rapidly going faster. There just isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. But that's my point of view.

[p.dath]

Here's a thought for you - are you in more danger by moving quicker or slower when filtering? If you answered that you're in more danger doing it faster, think in terms of closure speed and time exposed to danger (aka being alongside a cage). etc etc.

If I increase my speed to 50km/s, and I have a two second reaction time, I need 27m for my reflexes to do something. When lane splitting I have two vehicles within 2m of myself, and probably 10 vehicles within 20m of me. And of these vehicles could attempt to change lane in front of me, and place me in significant danger. The slower I am travelling the less distance I will travel before I can respond to the danger.

My impression is I have more dangers in front of me than behind me when lane splitting.

I think the risk starts increasing rapidly going faster. There just isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. But that's my point of view.

[bogan]

If I increase my speed to 50km/s, and I have a two second reaction time, I need 27m for my reflexes to do something. When lane splitting I have two vehicles within 2m of myself, and probably 10 vehicles within 20m of me. And of these vehicles could attempt to change lane in front of me, and place me in significant danger. The slower I am travelling the less distance I will travel before I can respond to the danger.

My impression is I have more dangers in front of me than behind me when lane splitting.

I think the risk starts increasing rapidly going faster. There just isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. But that's my point of view.

If you have a two second reaction time, I suggest you take the bus

[Spearfish]

If I increase my speed to 50km/s, and I have a two second reaction time, I need 27m for my reflexes to do something. When lane splitting I have two vehicles within 2m of myself, and probably 10 vehicles within 20m of me. And of these vehicles could attempt to change lane in front of me, and place me in significant danger. The slower I am travelling the less distance I will travel before I can respond to the danger.

My impression is I have more dangers in front of me than behind me when lane splitting.

I think the risk starts increasing rapidly going faster. There just isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. But that's my point of view.

If your happy at the speed your doing then stay at it and move if and when you can.
If bike wants to go faster than a bike going faster than a cage, then its the other bikes problem but it needs tact on both sides.
I remember when a quick flash of the headlight said you wanted to go past rather than an insult needing retaliation and people would indicate when it was ok to pass them. Long time go...

[Latte]

Ok fair comment not every case is Testosterone driven, but one flaw on the police idea. You are trying to apply your logic, not a policeman's.

The tailing cop to take either bike, its about ticket numbers. If you are not riding like a prat ( and of course we don't ) , they will take the easiest catch regardless if you are the first or second bike.

And unfortunately " But I was following another bike" is not a defense in law

He'll catch the person he sees committing the offense, which will be the guy in front, ask the VFR400 that got pinged a couple weeks back Typically splitting riders catch up and pass the cop stuck in traffic, not the other way round. It would be kind of stupid not to see what the cops reaction is to the 1st splitter is, before following suit.

[jeffs]

He'll catch the person he sees committing the offense, which will be the guy in front, ask the VFR400 that got pinged a couple weeks back Typically splitting riders catch up and pass the cop stuck in traffic, not the other way round. It would be kind of stupid not to see what the cops reaction is to the 1st splitter is, before following suit.

Every one has a different story.

I asked a cop friend the same question. He said " We usually never stop them, but when we do, we stop the one that we spot riding dangerously, and can react too with out putting other drivers at risk. This may not be the lead rider, as they have already gone passed and it could be the second rider that is riding stupidly or too close"

So if I were you, I would look at how you are riding instead of where in a procession you are. And remember The first rider may have just woken up the cop

[jeffs]

I think the risk starts increasing rapidly going faster. There just isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. But that's my point of view.

p.dath you ride at what ever speed you feel safe at. Being safe is all that matters. Don't worry about faster riders using smaller gaps, ride to your and only your skills.
Just move out of the way well in advance if you see one coming, and you will live to tell funny stories about how bad other riders are

My impression is I have more dangers in front of me than behind me when lane splitting.

What we are trying to say is others will ride faster and you must watch what is happening behind you, and there is danger there or you would not have started this thread.

I for one am trialing a rear view camera because mirrors suck while commuting and it works for me.

[jeffs]

I think the risk starts increasing rapidly going faster. There just isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. But that's my point of view.

p.dath you ride at what ever speed you feel safe at. Being safe is all that matters. Don't worry about faster riders using smaller gaps, ride to your and only your skills.
Just move out of the way well in advance if you see one coming, and you will live to tell funny stories about how bad other riders are

My impression is I have more dangers in front of me than behind me when lane splitting.

What we are trying to say is others will ride faster and you must watch what is happening behind you, and there is danger there or you would not have started this thread.

I for one am trialing a rear view camera because mirrors suck while commuting and it works for me.

[jeffs]

Why does KB send 2 posts when you use the p.dath name. Has he really reached god like status ?

[Jonno.]

If I increase my speed to 50km/s, and I have a two second reaction time, I need 27m for my reflexes to do something. When lane splitting I have two vehicles within 2m of myself, and probably 10 vehicles within 20m of me. And of these vehicles could attempt to change lane in front of me, and place me in significant danger. The slower I am travelling the less distance I will travel before I can respond to the danger.

My impression is I have more dangers in front of me than behind me when lane splitting.

I think the risk starts increasing rapidly going faster. There just isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. But that's my point of view.

What about cars changing beside you? 40km is very slow and if I went 40km max I'd get overtaken by cars half the time. At that speed you're waiting for stuff to happen while at slightly faster I find I get past stuff before it happens. I split quite quickly (being on a bike pretty much made for splitting) and while I get people pulling out in front of me, I've never been so close that I couldn't slow down in time with a good 15m spare and also I find you can go into their lane anyway (ie they move to their right you go around the left).

[Little Miss Trouble]

I was lane splitting along the motorway on the North Shore this morning. I try to do it along the guide lines I had from the Police (stay in same lane, left of centre line, no more than 40km/h, etc).
You might have a different idea on what is safe for you, that's fine.

What I don't like is another rider following me so closely that I am left in the position where I can not brake to avoid something, such as a car suddenly changing lane.
And that is the situation I found myself in this morning. Another rider following me so closely that I new they would hit me if I braked. In fact I was not even confident I could even slow down they were so close.

I new you wanted to ride faster. It was obvious. I eventually found a gap between cars that I could pull into without slowing down (so I could be confident I would not be tailed ended by the other rider) to let the other rider past.

So please, I ask only one thing, when behind another rider please don't follow so closely that you could not possibly stop in the distance in front of you without hitting them. You can choose to ride faster than me lane splitting - that's ok - but putting other riders at risk is not.

Sounds to me like you have your panties in a knot because someone dared ride faster than your comfort zone.

Heres a little tip: Let other people worry about their own shit, you can't control them so just get out of their way and then continue to tootle along at your own nana speed

[Gwinch]

If I increase my speed to 50km/s, and I have a two second reaction time, I need 27m for my reflexes to do something.

I'd like to see the trail of wreckage that would ensue after you collided with another solid object whilst travelling at 50 kilometres per second. Damn, that's escape velocity if you construct a long enough ramp!

p.s assuming that's your velocity then I suspect that you revise your basic math. By my reckoning hitting the picks after 27m of wanting to do so at 50km/s requires a reaction time equal to 1/1851th of a second (as a fraction).