Who teaches....

[Fatjim]

Scooter riders to keep to the left hand side of the road like cyclists.

Driving around palmy I've seen many scooters riding to the left of the lane (where there is only one lane).

Now the leading cause of motorcycle (yes you are motorcycles) accidents is mum and the kids pulling out in front of you. If you ride to the left it's that much harder for them to see you in time. Cyclists travelling at 20kph are not in so much danger although it still happens to them, but you're riding at 50kph.

Do you self a favour. If you in a 50kph zone and you can get to 50kph, ride in the right hand of the lane. You'll see more and you'll be seen earlier.

[James Deuce]

The road code says that you have to ride/drive as far to the left as is practicable.

We're technically breaking the law riding in the right hand wheel track, and the (IMHO silly) scooter riders are correct. There was an effort to police the keep left rule and when challenged about the safety of riding in the left hand wheel track (reduced line of sight for people exiting side streets, debris from the gutter, other drivers overtaking inside the same lane), LTNZ effectively went , "buh, buh, buh, buh" and no more was said.

Still technically illegal to ride in the right hand wheel track.

[Wasp]

stuff riding on the left, specialy around corners.

If a car is passing you cos your on the left and going too slow uphill and a car coming the other way is over the centre line then the car next to you is going to swerve left out of the way of the on comming car and your gonna get knocked off your scooter and go over the fucking edge.

I tried to explain the above to a scooter rider after witnessing him being passed up hill on corners cos he was on the left, well he didnt listen and in short to me he was a better rider than I was and to fuck off - oh well mate it your life and your kids and wife that your going to leave behind.

[deathstar]

worst part is i have seen at least 3 auckland scooter riders filtering up the left hand side in the gutter when there is at least 3 feet on the right hand ... you have to shout just to get through to them they have done something both stupid and wrong

[Karma]

you have to shout just to get through to them they have done something both stupid and wrong

pot



kettle



black



but to be honest most of the scooter riders I've seen have been jap chicks wearing an open face helmet, skirt and flimsy jacket. You think these people really care which side of the road they ride on, whichever way they bin they're ending up with skin grafts.

[Fatjim]

I've never seen a copper keep left. Let alone the public. If they did then lane splitting would not be illegal.

[Squeak the Rat]

A lot of scooter riders don't do any training. You only need a car licence to get a fiddy cc scooter, so a lot of people simply apply the only two wheel skills they know ie. riding their pushbike up against the gutter because the car rules the road.

The sensible ones learn how to ride, either formally, or by talking to other riders, or logging on here.

Don't hug the curb guys. Cars can't see you. And it also encourages people to pass you in your lane which can be quite hairy. Having said that, go with the speed of the traffic. If you are too scared to do this then practice, practice, practice until you are confident (and get some good protective gear).

[mstriumph]

The road code says that you have to ride/drive as far to the left as is practicable.

We're technically breaking the law riding in the right hand wheel track, and the (IMHO silly) scooter riders are correct. There was an effort to police the keep left rule and when challenged about the safety of riding in the left hand wheel track (reduced line of sight for people exiting side streets, debris from the gutter, other drivers overtaking inside the same lane), LTNZ effectively went , "buh, buh, buh, buh" and no more was said.

Still technically illegal to ride in the right hand wheel track.

not illegal in Aus. - here motorcyles are exempt from that rule

[Squeak the Rat]

not illegal in Aus. - here motorcyles are exempt from that rule

We only copy the stupid aussie laws. Not the sensible ones.

[Filterer]

Yip as wasp said I wouldnt be seen dead riding on the left hand side of a lane if I was holding up traffic on a scooter/bike unless there was enough room for a car and motorbike in one lane

Overwise if a car goes to overtake you then realises there aint enough room left to complete the oass you can bet you bottom dollar that they would rather push you off the side of the road then have a head on and fair enough really.

So I always try to make sure that if anyone tries to apss me on the bike then they go right over into the other lane as if they were passing another car

[Jantar]

There is some very good advice, and some very bad advice in this thread. If travelling at the same speed as other traffic then definitely stay in the right hand wheel track, but if you are slower than the other traffic, then move left and let them pass. As soon as the faster vehicle has passed then check your six and move back to the right hand wheel track. Holding up traffic is not the way to earn the respect of other road users.

[Fatjim]

yep I agree.

But... you should be able to go 50 on the flat/downhill. Only uphill is there an excuss to have to pull over.

[Motu]

My brother and sister in law used to have a Honda C50 each,they called them gutter bikes because that's what they did....ride them in the gutter.I'm terribly sorry,but both are still alive and kicking.

[bell]

I believe "holding up the traffic" is what Mr Plod would make the effort to book you for doing if you were riding your scooter/motorcycle/slow vehicle in any position on the road that was preventing other road users from passing you. Sure, there's lots of variables in there but that's the only time I'd think a ticket was fair.

And if you're the parent of a young person who rides a scooter and you let them ride it without gloves and/or anything more than shorts/t-shirt/miniskirt/ school uniform on, then you need to slap yourself in the head quite hard until you wake up to the fact that they are vulnerable and deserve decent gear.

[James Deuce]

I've never seen a copper keep left. Let alone the public. If they did then lane splitting would not be illegal.

The way most people do lane splitting it isn't. If you pass a vehicle on the right in the same lane it is technically legal. If you pass on the left of a vehicle in the same lane you gets a pretty ticket to frame.