Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

[Dave-]

real men filter/split with their hands on their hips steering the bike with their hips at +50kph cause it looks badass.

[cowpatz]

However, if, at the time of impact, there was no vehicle in the lane to the rider's right could it not be said that the rider was wholly within their own lane and not to the left of anybody?

I believe that this point has not been made clear.
YES you could.

[CookMySock]

real men filter/split with their hands on their hips steering the bike with their hips at +50kph cause it looks badass.

16 y/o daughter rolls eyes and admonishes that this is emphatically not a "badass" look whatsoever! Cue roller blades? Hotpants?

[Seroom]

There would be a lot more motorcyclists commuting if the shoulders were dedicated to them at certain speed limits etc.

Perhaps this is where MAGNZ and BRONZ should come in and lobby for the right shoulder on the motorway when the traffic is doing less than 25kph. OR make it illegal not to pull over to the left of the lane and allow space for motorcyles to pass safely during peak traffic.

There are plenty of reasons why motorcycles should be encouraged. All to do with congestion, parking, pollution, fuel conservation, where and tear on the road surfaces, timekeeping at work, mental health (you never see a motorcyle outside a psychiatrist office). But you will never get any common sense out of lawmakers especialy where M'cycles are concerened.

[Toaster]

Perhaps this is where MAGNZ and BRONZ should come in and lobby for the right shoulder on the motorway when the traffic is doing less than 25kph.

Only if the council sweep it occasionally... its a puncture repairman's heaven.

The glass and metal fragments would destroy bike tyres.

[CookMySock]

[....] congestion, parking, pollution, fuel conservation, where and tear on the road surfaces, timekeeping at work, mental health (you never see a motorcyle outside a psychiatrist office). But you will never get any common sense out of lawmakers especialy where M'cycles are concerened.

Of course not. What you will get is a knee-jerk reaction where they outlaw it completely. Then what?

Perhaps this is where MAGNZ and BRONZ should come in and lobby [....]

No they should not. They should keep their beak out of it or else they will cause more harm than good.

There is only ONE REASON to fully legalise*(sic) filtering, and that is so motorcyclists will stop worrying about it. But you KNOW its not going to happen. What is more likely if we press the point, is the OPPOSITE will happen and we loose more than we gain.

Strongly suggest we DONT make any approaches to any organisation on it, and keep our nose clean and go do it and stop worrying.

*already legal

[hardy-DAYTONA]

Thanks for this! I've been looking for confirmation as to whether or not this is in fact legal.

Cheers!

[KiwiJohn]

But here's the thing I want to know (novice alert....sorry for the dumb question and the fact that it's kinda off the thread.....), how the heck do you ride in the cold AND wet when you wear glasses? Can't have the visor up cos of the rain, can't have it down cos of the fogging Have tried cat cr@p and either I'm not using it right, or it really is as good as its name! LOL

Had to stay in the traffic today cos of the rain - really couldn't see where I was going too well so I didn't dare scoot along inbetween the lanes. Really frustrating!!

You learn to see past the four layers of fog and road filth. Juggling the visor up and down depending on how bad things are getting, and keep your gloves clean of oil and grease so you can wipe your glasses - never wipe your visor with a glove unless desparate -you'l scratch it. soften your focus helps you ignore all the crap on all those surfaces. At times going faster helps - I find 120 km in pissing down weather often gives me absolutely clear vision when 100Km, or less leaves me blind as a bat. The extra breeze blows the visor clear of water. With clear vision I can cope with aqua-plaining with ease, but when I can't see too well I struggle to cope with even minor puddles. Iin urban areas though do the opposite and go slower cause car drivers cope badly with we weather - I thinkwindscreen wipers hypnotise them or something.
Remember a wet visor and glasses during a pissing down day usually provides more vision than a slightly damp night under city street lights, with on-comming headlights.
If in doubt, find a place to pull over way out of traffic. The worst riding day of my life was the day I got stuck between two trucks on the open road at 90km when a unexpected torrential squall hit us in the middle of the Hauraki plains. The day was bright and sunny previously.
In under 5 seconds visibility was down to the instrument cluster, and I couldn't pull over, or slow down cause I knew I had a truck up the proverbial, who probably couldn't see me, so I "relaxed" focused on feeling the balance (and road camber) and followed the most dense part of the wall of water in front of me - reasoning that going in the direction of least visibility that meant I was following the spray from the truck ahead, rather than unwittingly heading off-road. Praying of course the truck ahead would not stop.
Eventually the squall passed on. At the first opportunity I pulled over and used the paper towels I was carrying in a ziplock to dry my face, glasses and visor, and cleaned my head and tail lights.

[KiwiJohn]

+1

I wish all cars would indicate for at least 3 seconds before changing lanes, it would be nice to know what they intend to do so I can avoid being in an accident. They should make a law . . .

Well they don't you just need to learn to read their body language, eg. when turning or moving right driver seem to have a pressing need to look left, and vis versa - go figure!

Re splitting
I was got let of with a "warning" back as a learner in the early 80's having had the experience of lane "spliting" with two cars trying simultaneously occupy the space I was in. I was riding in the centre or the middle lane of three when the cars either side of me (and slightly ahead) both decided to enter my lane at the same time. Neither indicated. In any case I was traveling slightly faster than both and was ahead of thier rear axels when the began their entrapment procedure. Riding a donkey of a 250cc four stroke with a funky powerband that was more like that of a two stroke and not great brakes I chose to drop a couple of gears and go for the closing gap.
Some time later having avoiding being the jam in the sandwich I pulled up to a compulsary stop at a T-intersection and stood there shaking.
The bike cop who had been immediately behind me the whole time, did his thing, and proceeded to give me some sage words of advice once he realised that I was very much a novice: "don't forget to slow down after you've avoided the tin tops or I'll be obliged to give you a ticket next time". "you did good, I was expecting to need a spatula and a bucket." Those were indeed the old days when cops sometimes had sympathy for riders. apparently I had ended up doing 85 Km in a 50 km zone from a 40 km start. Pity he didn't ticket the two car drivers though for failing to indicate or look.

[mrchips]

At the first opportunity I pulled over and used the paper towels I was carrying in a ziplock to dry my face, glasses and visor, and cleaned my head and tail lights.

I would've used the paper towels for something else + change of underwear !

[stifmyster1]

Can someone please explain what happened to me and why.

I had just gotten on at tristram ave heading for aucks. as i crossed lanes i noticed several bikers (about 5) lane splitting. i let them pas before clipping on to the back. We went for about 500m before we past a motocop. 10seconds later i hear a siren and light flick behind me so i pull into the right hand lane (the fast lane) safely. He then yells at me to pass on the right hand side which is the fricken barrier. I just nodded. he then proceeds to pull into the middle lane 2 cars ahead of me and i can see him watching me in his mirrors. over the next 5 minutes 4 bikes go past him lane splitting and he doesnt do anything. All i can think of is he targeted me because I had a L plate and because i was indicating right when everyone else and hazards on (my bike dont got hazards).

Anyone else have something similar.

[DrunkenMistake]

All i can think of is he targeted me because I had a L plate and because i was indicating right when everyone else and hazards on (my bike dont got hazards).

Anyone else have something similar.

BOOM there is your answer. I wouldnt say he targeted you, more like made sure you didnt get yourself into a sticky situation as a learner, he was by the sounds of it more looking out for your best interests rather than targeting you.

IMO

[stifmyster1]

thats the weird thing. I was with a group. and travelling quite safely. If i was riding nervously then yea he should have stopped me but i wasnt. and he tells my to pass cars right up against the barrier. THe thing that sucks is i have to lane split. otherwise it would take me an hour possible more to get to my course instead of half an hour.

in all my time lane splitting i have had one close call. and that was when i took out someone mirror because the guy in the other lane decided that his massive van mirror should occupy the same space as my head. so i accelerated to get past and my handle bar just clipped the guys mirror. and the guy had no problem once i explained what happened. that was my second week of riding. and i learnt not to go in the middle lane of the harbour bridge. never had any problems since. not even from people changing lanes.

the event had me wanting to take off the L plate but not to keen on the fine and demerit points.

[DrunkenMistake]

thats the weird thing. I was with a group. and travelling quite safely. If i was riding nervously then yea he should have stopped me but i wasnt. and he tells my to pass cars right up against the barrier. THe thing that sucks is i have to lane split. otherwise it would take me an hour possible more to get to my course instead of half an hour.

in all my time lane splitting i have had one close call. and that was when i took out someone mirror because the guy in the other lane decided that his massive van mirror should occupy the same space as my head. so i accelerated to get past and my handle bar just clipped the guys mirror. and the guy had no problem once i explained what happened. that was my second week of riding. and i learnt not to go in the middle lane of the harbour bridge. never had any problems since. not even from people changing lanes.

the event had me wanting to take off the L plate but not to keen on the fine and demerit points.

Rip it off and put it under the seat, if you get pulled up say you were parked outside the mall and some toss pot had ripped it off and thrown it on the gorund, then show the plate, and show where it was ripped.

[stifmyster1]

that only works once usually ad only if ya get i nice cop.