Bike Cop must have been low on quota

**rainman** · 15th February 2008, 21:56

Originally Posted by WarlockNZ

And this is completely Legal, dangerous as hell!!, but legal ...

So the Burgman (?) that sometimes runs down the right hand side of the northern (right next to the cheesecutter) and lurches along unsteadily causing the cars in the right lane to jump sharply in front of me while I'm cautiously splitting to their left (phew, bit of a mouthful) is actually not breaking the law, but I am?

What makes riding to the right of the rh lane legal? Isn't it an emergency stopping zone or somesuch?

**Gremlin** · 16th February 2008, 01:16

Originally Posted by rainman

What makes riding to the right of the rh lane legal? Isn't it an emergency stopping zone or somesuch?

not sure about the shoulder in the middle, but as Warlock has said, its legal to overtake on the rhs of a vehicle within the same lane... it is not legal to overtake on the lhs of a vehicle.

Stupid law, I'll be fucked if I'm going to put myself in more danger... Make it safer by making drivers aware they are supposed to stay left in the lane (that is a law that carries demerits).

What other option do I have eh? Sit in traffic? Yeh... you'd be scraping me off the road in short order you moron. I have had so many cars almost take me out because they didn't brake in time and I have swerved onto lane markers to give them space.

I feel for ya Warlock.

**Ixion** · 16th February 2008, 11:18

Originally Posted by rainman

..
What makes riding to the right of the rh lane legal? Isn't it an emergency stopping zone or somesuch?

There was much discussion about this, here , in the past. I am obliged to Mr Drum for his professional input.

It appears that , legally, there is no "to the right of the right lane". The right hand lane actually continues to the centre of the road (if there is no painted median, that's a special case). What happens is , that where there is a central divider or planted median, Transit paint a white line some centimetres into the right lane. The reason for this is that apparently cagers have strange psychological hangups (well, we all knew *that*), and if they have a solid barrier defining their right hand margin , they get all antsy and panicy, and imagine the lane is far narrower than it is. So the white line is to make them think that the barrier isn't there. Sounds weird, but that's what the trick cyclists say, and cagers *are* weird, after all.

So, legally , a road consists of a shoulder, one or more lanes, an optional central median or barrier, one or more lanes in the other direction, and another shoulder.There is no central shoulder (contradiction in terms, anyway) . Nor is there any central skinny "special lane". Nor is that bit an "emergency " zone - it's too narrow anyway.

So if you ride on that bit, you are either riding in the right hand part of the right most lane in your direction, or on the far side of the lane in the opposing direection. Both legal. The law makers just ignored bikes , again. Too narrow for cars to drive on, therefore no-one will.

But I don't want to be the one to argue this with Mr Plod.

**rainman** · 16th February 2008, 13:48

Originally Posted by Ixion

There was much discussion about this, here , in the past. I am obliged to Mr Drum for his professional input.

Thanks, Ixion (and Mr Drum, by proxy) for your clear explanation. Although I am occasionally inclined to head down the non-existent rhs margin on the Northern (for example when it's pissing down and the cagers are worse than usual), the one time I did so it was so lumpy and full of crap that I have not returned.

Of course, I frequently ride along the painted white "island" thingy on the side of my on-ramp of choice (the newish one coming back from Grafton Rd - is this CMJ?) in order to get to the ramp signals, which is generally flat and crap free. As it's to the right of the lane I assume it also does not exist!

**Ixion** · 16th February 2008, 14:15

If the 'island' thingy is a painted median barrier, then yes, it does exist, and riding on it is technically illegal.

**WarlockNZ** · 16th February 2008, 21:37

I would just like to know how any of us avoid getting a ticket while swing the leg over the bike and starting it up... LOL

This is just mental, I am actually writing a letter to the police at the moment, although the first draft is a bit too sarcastic ..

.. if any one asks i'll post it here. LOL

My issue is that i have been told by police officers in uniform, that if i wanted to "go up the middle and lane split" i was ok, as long as I was slow and safe, my point is that I feel that the law, in this instance, has been over zealously enforced as i was slow (15km/h) and safe.

**Sanx** · 19th February 2008, 21:59

Originally Posted by Waxxa

If you didnt know before you'll know now...lane-splitting is illegal and carries a $150 fine, I believe. WarlockNZ can confirm the fine price.

Please don't take offence at this, but that's absolute shite. There is no offence called 'lane-splitting'. What's illegal - as has been mentioned just once or twice here before - is overtaking on the left, failing to indicate whilst overtaking, and about 8 other different offences a particularly over-zealous cop could ping you for should he so wish.

Originally Posted by Waxxa

I was pulled over on the motorway a while back by a bike-cop and he gave me a warning that time, but you can only go down lines of traffic if that traffic has "stopped or stalled". If the traffic is moving, its a no-no!

Also complete crap.

**Waxxa** · 20th February 2008, 10:21

This is 'no crap' Sanx.

The 'stopped or stalled' remark came from the cop, not from me! And the $150 fine is also not 'shite'. It's reality!

Now I'm not taking offence at your comments Sanx, the information I provided is my first hand experience and I dont put any comments or offer any advise etc on this site if it's 'shite' or I know it is blatant bullshit!

In both of your quotes and replies, you have got it wrong! As confirmed by other posts to this thread regarding the law and the fines. And as WarlockNZs' fine would indicate.

**pzkpfw** · 20th February 2008, 15:49

Originally Posted by Waxxa

The 'stopped or stalled' remark came from the cop, not from me! And the $150 fine is also not 'shite'. It's reality!

Now I'm not taking offence at your comments Sanx, the information I provided is my first hand experience and I dont put any comments or offer any advise etc on this site if it's 'shite' or I know it is blatant bullshit!

In both of your quotes and replies, you have got it wrong! As confirmed by other posts to this thread regarding the law and the fines. And as WarlockNZs' fine would indicate.

The cops don't make the laws, and they don't always enforce them right either. (Only human...)

Lane splitting is legal, on the technicality of passing on the right (a vehicle on your left) in the same lane.

As Sanx says, you have to get specifics correct.

**Waxxa** · 20th February 2008, 17:35

I was passing the vehicle on the right (in the same lane) and cop pulls me over and says I cant do that.

So now its up to the interpretation of the individual cop(s) who see the law as THEY see it and enforce the laws as THEY see it. And who are we 'pleeps' to argue road-side. Bikers are being pulled over for this action and being fined for it!

Going by the posts, the road-code is either out of date or is wrong, the cops themselves have different interpretations about lane-splitting and us bikers who as Finn says "its proposterous" that we have to sit in traffic get caught out if spotted by a zealous cop while we merrily cruise down the lane(s).

**sosman** · 20th February 2008, 17:51

ive heard you can lanesplit only if you pass the car on from the righthand side within the lane
but if you go over the centre line into the next lane then yr under taking that vehicle which is the no no
sorry dont if thats true or not

**discotex** · 20th February 2008, 18:20

Originally Posted by Waxxa

I was passing the vehicle on the right (in the same lane) and cop pulls me over and says I cant do that.

Just out of interest what does it say the offence is on the ticket?

If you were passing on the right within the same lane and that's what the ticket says you should challenge the ticket as you will likely win.

**BiK3RChiK** · 20th February 2008, 21:00

Originally Posted by Waxxa

I was passing the vehicle on the right (in the same lane) and cop pulls me over and says I cant do that.

So now its up to the interpretation of the individual cop(s) who see the law as THEY see it and enforce the laws as THEY see it. And who are we 'pleeps' to argue road-side. Bikers are being pulled over for this action and being fined for it!

Going by the posts, the road-code is either out of date or is wrong, the cops themselves have different interpretations about lane-splitting and us bikers who as Finn says "its proposterous" that we have to sit in traffic get caught out if spotted by a zealous cop while we merrily cruise down the lane(s).

Challenge that ticket, man! The road code reads that this is a LEGAL passing manoeuvre - The Official New Zealand Road Code for Motorcyclists 2007 Pages 44 & 45 quote "You can pass at a No Passing Line if: 1. You stay on your side of the solid yellow line, and 2. You can see 100 metres of clear road in front of you for the whole time while you are passing, and 3. The lane is wide enough for two vehicles.

Passing on a three-laned road - If there is no solid yellow line on your side of the centre line, you may use the centre lane to pass as long as: 1. there are no vehicles in that lane, and 2. you can see 100 metres of clear road in front of you for the whole time while you are passing. Don't use the centre lane to pass if there is an oncoming vehicle in the centre lane."

The last one is for passing lanes going in the opposite direction, but I thought I'd insert that one too... I'm sure I've read something specifically about lane-splitting more specific than the first one though so I'll go have another look....

HTH,
M

**Mort** · 20th February 2008, 22:45

This has been on another post recently.... it seems the cops have different interpretations of the law.... I was stopped and advised that lanesplitting was OK.... I have also passed cop cars whilst lanesplitting - no problem.

Specific advice given to me was as follows :

Drive between Lane 2 and 3 where possible (counting from the left for the hard of thinking)
Full beam on
Right hand indicator on
Watch your speed - if the cops think you are driving with excess speed you will be ticketed even if you are within the speed limit.
If the traffic is moving at speed (say over 60kph) - don't lanesplit.
Right hand shoulder riding is illegal.
Left hand shoulder is Legal (But to be honest I doubt that and wouldnt do it anyway)

The main thing is to take it steady... watch for gaps left or right which cars can move in to (often without indicating). Also , watch out for trucks - you can get an angle on a car to get out of the way but trucks need a full lane and it halves you options for manouvre.If you ride to the conditions you have time to react to cars changing lanes etc....

Its a contentious issue - if the cop got out of bed the wrong side he could hand out tickets all day for this... I say... take it easy and if you are stopped make like a respectable chap, give the advice from a cop story.... save your derision for the "ticket robot" until he hands you the ticket...

Ride safe ...