Lane splitting - following distance

[jeffs]

split down a different lane?

.

Good comment Katman, I do

Riders should assess the "slower rider" in front and if it is obvious they are not looking behind, ie you can not see them looking in their mirrors, don't get pissed off.
In a three lane motorway go around. But I would advise against this on a 2 lane motorway as there is no way around without putting every one else at risk.

Don't fixate on the bike ahead, or you will miss the other dangers around you, then you become the problem. " I crashed because there was a slow bike in front on me" does not hold much water.

[Jonno.]

What about when there's only two lanes?
I often go around slower splitters but when you've got 8 people following you and you get the polite beep, it's time to merge and let others through because blocking an overtake is very annoying and also illegal (especially at 30km). I have no problem with people who can't split fast but don't force me to go 30km because you think that's fast enough.

[PrincessBandit]

What about when there's only two lanes?
I often go around slower splitters but when you've got 8 people following you and you get the polite beep, it's time to merge and let others through because blocking an overtake is very annoying and also illegal (especially at 30km). I have no problem with people who can't split fast but don't force me to go 30km because you think that's fast enough.

And that's exactly the opinion which I'm talking about. You obviously DO have a problem with people who can't "split fast" (even if it is only when they're holding you up).
When you think about it, splitting means you're already travelling faster than the traffic in the lanes (read cars, trucks etc.) and splitting is quite a gray area when cock ups occur. Why is it so crucial to barge past another rider simply because one of the pair of you happens to not meet your requirements of speed? Are you really saying you have NO patience whatsoever on the road?

p.s. are you saying you actually have had the experience of seeing 8 other bikes being held up mid-split?
p.p.s. can you also point out legally where it says "blocking an overtake is very annoying and also illegal (especially at 30km) please. I'd have thought that blocking a lane split isn't probably mentioned anywhere in the road code, but do show me if it is written somewhere (genuine request, not p/t).

[Jonno.]

And that's exactly the opinion which I'm talking about. You obviously DO have a problem with people who can't "split fast" (even if it is only when they're holding you up).
When you think about it, splitting means you're already travelling faster than the traffic in the lanes (read cars, trucks etc.) and splitting is quite a gray area when cock ups occur. Why is it so crucial to barge past another rider simply because one of the pair of you happens to not meet your requirements of speed? Are you really saying you have NO patience whatsoever on the road?

p.s. are you saying you actually have had the experience of seeing 8 other bikes being held up mid-split?
p.p.s. can you also point out legally where it says "blocking an overtake is very annoying and also illegal (especially at 30km) please. I'd have thought that blocking a lane split isn't probably mentioned anywhere in the road code, but do show me if it is written somewhere (genuine request, not p/t).

I have no issue when you can't go fast as long as you pull in. I don't expect it right that second but at the next avalible opportunity please?

And yes I followed one idiot on a blue BMW who had 8 splitters behind him. He was going very slow and he was barely overtaking traffic. This is down the northern motorway. At one point he even stopped next to a police car because he couldn't fit infront of 8 others who could.

PS. Lane splitting is defined as overtaking. You can get fined $150 for blocking an overtake.

[PrincessBandit]

I have no issue when you can't go fast as long as you pull in. I don't expect it right that second but at the next avalible opportunity please?

And yes I followed one idiot on a blue BMW who had 8 splitters behind him. He was going very slow and he was barely overtaking traffic. This is down the northern motorway. At one point he even stopped next to a police car because he couldn't fit infront of 8 others who could.

PS. Lane splitting is defined as overtaking. You can get fined $150 for blocking an overtake.

Fair enough regarding the 8 lane splitters held up by the blue BMW; but just for clarity's sake could you please find and post the "official" e.g. road code/LTSA definition of lane splitting being classed as overtake, and post it for me. I guess I'd just like to know it's not just someone's opinion on the matter....(I've asked you nicely if you can do it since you are the one who mentioned it).

[Katman]

They don't because their mission is far too important to spend time trying to find an alternative route around another rider. When it comes to filtering i really can't see how people can complain about slower splitters; I mean it's not as if they're hogging a whole available lane. Expert lane splitters sometimes come across as if they think everyone should be doing as fast as they are. I rarely split much above 40kph simply because of safety and having to judge so many more parameters more finely; I've never really understood those who do it at speeds exceeding 50 or 60 (I guess they do it simply because they can).

Unfortunately, (even though they'll never admit it) one of the things foremost in the mind of the faster lane splitters is imagining, as they go past, that the slower rider is sitting there thinking "Wow, look at them go. They must be a far better rider than me".

It's all about giving the learn and ego stroking.

[Katman]

What about when there's only two lanes?

What's wrong with the outside of the right lane?

[jeffs]

Katman I commute. I do no go on the road thinking, god I look cool riding. As a matter of fact I wear a orange hi-vis vest on dry days, and if its pissing down a wear a REALLY BRIGHT Orange Hi-vis Rain jacket. So I for one can never be accused of trying to look bike cool.

I make the " I commute " statement, because that is what I do, I go from my home to my work, or from my work to customers. I travel day, night, rain, sun.. Mostly on motorways. All I want to do is get from A to B. I choose a bike because I can get through Auckland traffic jams, as opposed to adding to the traffic jams.

I get stuck behind slower riders all the time. I do not say slow, I say slower. I don't care if they ride faster or slower, What bothers me is riders who do not look behind .. EVER.

Ones that look behind, if caught generally move over ( including me ). It's the one that have no awareness that there is a behind them that rial me.

And this thread show that some people don't look back.

Going around a car that is traveling in the RH lane on the outside works on open road, but not on a motorway. So it is very important to be aware of what is around you because no one else can pass if you are blocking.

All I ask is people ride to their skills and if overtaken don't speed up and ride to the overtakers skills or lack of, or you put more than yourselves at risk.

[p.dath]

I have no problem with people who can't split fast but don't force me to go 30km because you think that's fast enough.

Touche. I have no problem with people who want to split faster, but don't force me to go faster because you think it is too slow.

[Swoop]

p.s. are you saying you actually have had the experience of seeing 8 other bikes being held up mid-split?

Likewise. I have seen it several times. 5-7 bikes being held up normally happens in summertime when the fair-weather riders come out.

This is quite similar to the right hand lane and 4-wheel vehicles who "have" to drive in that lane. Others approach from behind and are effectively blocked. "Mabel" doing 85 in the fast lane does not attract the attention of the plod for "failure to keep left" though.



The fun time was in a filtering procession of 6 bikes, with a bikie cop at the front! He wasn't nana-ing along either!

[madbikeboy]

I'm not the danger, I simply find another safer route than being boxed in or filter past the slow coach.

Danger comes from behind is the reference to dumb assed cagers sitting in cars behind not paying attention...

[madbikeboy]

Unfortunately, (even though they'll never admit it) one of the things foremost in the mind of the faster lane splitters is imagining, as they go past, that the slower rider is sitting there thinking "Wow, look at them go. They must be a far better rider than me".

It's all about giving the learn and ego stroking.

Acutally, it's about not being boxed in with dopey car drivers not paying attention to me and scoot. Get rear ended a couple of times and then talk to me about it.

[Katman]

Get rear ended a couple of times and then talk to me about it.

Need I remind you Mike? There's not much you can teach me about lane splitting.

[Katman]

Acutally, it's about not being boxed in with dopey car drivers not paying attention to me and scoot. Get rear ended a couple of times and then talk to me about it.

Methinks you doth protest too much Mike.

If you're behind a slower lane splitter then you're still in that channel between the lines of cars and still travelling at a faster speed than those cars. Not a lot of chance of being hit from behind by a car given those circumstances.

[Hawkeye]

Good comment Katman, I do

Riders should assess the "slower rider" in front and if it is obvious they are not looking behind, ie you can not see them looking in their mirrors, don't get pissed off.
In a three lane motorway go around. But I would advise against this on a 2 lane motorway as there is no way around without putting every one else at risk.


Don't fixate on the bike ahead, or you will miss the other dangers around you, then you become the problem. " I crashed because there was a slow bike in front on me" does not hold much water.

However, in a 3 lane, what invariably happens is that someone splitting on the left 'splitting' lane causes the cages in the middle lane to move right as they see a bike coming up in their left mirror (if they are awake) causing the right splitting lane to close.
This regularly happend on the Gorge in Welly. Bikes splitting in convoy down the right lane suddenly find the squeeze because someone has shot across to the left to get passed.

What annoys me more than anything is the splitters that don't check their mirrors. I split at what I consider to be a safe pace. I am constantly scanning ahead for the squeeze and pay special attention when approaching gaps. When I come up behind a slower rider, I will sit a couple of lengths back until the bike in front has reached a gap that they could quite easily drop into to let me passed.
If however they don't move into the gap that highlights to me that they are so hell bent on watching forward, they have no idea of what is happening behind them. At that point I will move in closer, drop the clutch and give them a wake up call. Then I drop back slightly and repeat the exercise of waiting until the next gap.
It's more about letting them know that there is a faster rider behind and giving them time to move over.
And I always give them the thumbs up after they move over to let me passed.