Motorcycle laws in New Zealand?

[swbarnett]

Haha - good call. But it is like shagging without protection - eventually you'll either get a dose of something itchy or get someone pregnant.

But unlike unprotected shagging, whether or not you come to grief is not a lottery.

[BMWST?]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if there was a solid source to find what the do's and don'ts are with a motorcycle in NZ.

in regards to clothing (over here for instance, we have some strict laws about that), riding (lanesplitting/overtaking/...), parking, etc. etc.

would be great to get some insight.

Jelmen

dont park on foot path.
Lane splitting isnt actually illegal here but its not expressly allowed either.Its considered overtaking so you must overtake on the right edge of the lane you are occupying.If you use the left edge of the lane you are occupying you are overtaking on the left which is illegal unless the traffic is stopped ,or you are using a different lane.MOST bus lanes are allowed to be used by motorcycles but some arent,they should be signposted as such.We have some "transit lanes" as well which are allowed to be used by motorcycles ,buses,or cars with more than 2 occupants,again their is a sign(graphic actually)

[swbarnett]

MOST bus lanes are allowed to be used by motorcycles but some arent,they should be signposted as such.

In Auckland that's all bus lanes except those on the Motorways. And they're not signposted as prohibiting motorcycles.

[haydes55]

Fixed that for ya.

A rider with no gear but a good head is safer than a reckless cotton-wooled rider.

Have you ever heard about riders with a good head who wear the gear as well?

Still don't understand your view point. Why can there only be riders who fall over in gear and riders who never crash and don't wear gear?

When I drive a car or van I still wear a seatbelt. I know I'll never cause a car crash nor will I likely be involved in a crash that I can't avoid. Doesn't mean I'm impervious to everything... like a cow jumping out of a tree onto the road in front of me. Or any other number of possible crash scenarios.

[swbarnett]

Have you ever heard about riders with a good head who wear the gear as well?

Yes, me.

Still don't understand your view point. Why can there only be riders who fall over in gear and riders who never crash and don't wear gear?

I never said that. I only omitted to mention this third group.

When I drive a car or van I still wear a seatbelt. I know I'll never cause a car crash nor will I likely be involved in a crash that I can't avoid. Doesn't mean I'm impervious to everything... like a cow jumping out of a tree onto the road in front of me. Or any other number of possible crash scenarios.

As do I. Do you protect yourself against meteor strike while doing so?



I'm not knocking gear. Just the ascertion that not wearing gear by definition makes a rider more likely to suffer an injury.

[haydes55]

Yes, me.


I never said that. I only omitted to mention this third group.


As do I. Do you protect yourself against meteor strike while doing so?



I'm not knocking gear. Just the ascertion that not wearing gear by definition makes a rider more likely to suffer an injury.

Yes my meteor repellent spray has worked well so far.

I think not wearing gear is not so much a death wish, more of an ignorance of risk. In an unlikely (but still possible) situation, it could be the difference between road rash and a graze. Or something more serious.

[rastuscat]

Not many motorcycle specific laws.

Don't ride in cycle lanes, it's not legal throughout NZ. It's not a good idea either, but that's another debate.

Don't ride in bus lanes, unless you know the city council that installed them says you can. Some councils are okay with it, some aren't. Ones on motorways definitely not.

Don't ride like a wanker. It's Section 17 of the Land Transport (Dickhead) Act 1998. Just quoted for effect.

[swbarnett]

Yes my meteor repellent spray has worked well so far.

And there are no elephants in my fridge either so my elephant repellant is obviously working.

I think not wearing gear is not so much a death wish, more of an ignorance of risk.

In a lot of cases, yes, I agree with you. In others it's a careful management of risk by means other than those that are now considered by the majority (or at least the vocal minority) to be acceptable.

In an unlikely (but still possible) situation, it could be the difference between road rash and a graze. Or something more serious.

Agreed. But who is to say how unlikely that event is and whether that risk is acceptable. Surely the only person that has this right (assuming the person is informed of the risks) is the rider themselves?

[Kornholio]

Wheelies are neither big nor clever, but they look fucken cool and are legal unless you get caught :/

[Tagger]

well, no point in having too much gear/no gear arguments because, as you can see... people on both sides can get headstrong and the arguments lead to nothing. For me, i was in an accent once and when i saw what it did to my gear and "not" to my skin, i tend to always wear gear when going long distances. If you don't ... then that's up to you.

Thank you so much for the replies in here. Comming from a small (mainland european) country i do cross border a lot and i notice the small differences in laws and attitudes (it's funny in a way what drawing a border can do to a culture) ... so i always find it better to inform myself.

[Jantar]

I went for 3 km pootle on the DR yesterday without any helmet, gloves, jacket or boots. However I was checking the water race, and only idling in 2nd gear, so not on the road except for the distance to cross it.

[unstuck]

I was checking the water race,

Who won?

[rastuscat]

Wheelies are neither big nor clever, but they look fucken cool and are legal unless you get caught :/

Bro, anything is legal unless you get caught.

[swbarnett]

well, no point in having too much gear/no gear arguments because, as you can see... people on both sides can get headstrong and the arguments lead to nothing. For me, i was in an accent once and when i saw what it did to my gear and "not" to my skin, i tend to always wear gear when going long distances. If you don't ... then that's up to you.

Best summation of the argument I've seen yet.

[bogan]

Splitting and parking are kind of grey areas. Splitting is fine if the traffic is stopped, or if you are in the same lane and on the right of a car, but if you go into the right side lane you are then on the left of a car and undertaking which is not legal. I think most people just do it safely and the law is not concerned. Parking has a lot to do with local council bylaws. I think in palmy parking in public areas there has to be a no parking sign or you have to have been warned before getting a ticked or something.