Lane-splitting on the Southern Motorway - Auckland

[Fub@r]

Today I had the luxury to lane split all 3 motorways this afternoon getting around Auckland to various meetings.

For me even though its my home turf the NW motorway is by far the easiest to lanesplit on, nice big gap to slide through, although a guy up ahead of me did punch a wingmirror (didnt break) for an intentional block. I have only clipped a cages wingmirror once and I didn't slow etc as the guy saw me coming and moved across intentionally.

I would say the next easiest was the northern including splitting south to the city. Was a bit cramped compared to the NW but the roadworks don't help. Even did some splitting over the bridge (don't know if the plod frown on that)

Worst would be the southern and in particular spaghetti junction, almost get claustrophobic and I find the cagers way more aggressive

[Chisanga]

I did my first ever lane split today Not on the motorway though but up Great South Road from Penrose to Newmarket, was quite nervous at first but as long as you keep your eyes peeled and your brakes covered and don't go too fast the nerves disappear as rapidly as the lines of stuck cars

[Ixion]

Spaghetti Junction is tricky cos of the bends , the cages get all bolloxed up when the road isnt straight.

[Gremlin]

I have no idea how you guys see what people are doing in their little boxes, time to punch shit, etc. I'm busy focusing on the road ahead, and any threats.

Haven't split on the northern much, NW seems very well behaved, and considerate towards bikers, and lanes are really wide. Too many bikes use it tho, on the southern, I'm normally alone, or find the odd bike. Being in a stack of 3 or more was really weird... and slow

Southern seems to have quite a few plonkers, is prone to stopping quite quickly, and lanes are narrow at points. Some cars move, which is nice, some cars move as you pass by, which is kinda useless. Some cars block, which is funniest of all, as usually their efforts are in complete vain

cb900 is a bit more tricky through traffic, being wide bars... but you just have to learn if its the height of a mirror or not, so you can go over the top of the mirrors

I do miss being able to blast the blockers with my muzzy pipe tho

[Lou Girardin]

It's always been like this. For every blocker, there's 6 mover overs.

[BigB]

I lane split every day though Spaghetti Junction and you just get used to it, most people when they see you get out of the way.

The only comment I have is from my partner who uses the cage ever day. She was in the middle lane and had bikes split on either side of her, she will always move to give room a bike but when you have one either side it's asking for trouble.

cheers

B

[Dai]

Picked up a bad habit from my courier days in London and the UK.

When I get cut up too badly by a cage and I see it is a deliberate act, I dont punch mirrors. My delicate little hands may get hurt.

What I learnt from the other couriers in "the smoke" was to gently get to the side of the car and then ever so gently

kick the door panel.

Has a few results

The cage driver shits themselves as they think they have hit you.

Generally they stare straight ahead, hoping that by ignoring the act that it didnt happen.

Leaves them with a hefty great bill. Unlike the old days, car bodies are quite flimsy things and a good boot will usually right off a door panel.

Done it a few times over here and get the same result. Driver hears the big bang and thinks they have hit you. They try hard to pretend it hasnt happened.

[90s]

I did my first ever lane split today Not on the motorway though but up Great South Road from Penrose to Newmarket, was quite nervous at first but as long as you keep your eyes peeled and your brakes covered and don't go too fast the nerves disappear as rapidly as the lines of stuck cars

I reckon the secret to lanesplitting (long-term) is to keep those nerves ...

[90s]

Picked up a bad habit from my courier days in London and the UK.

Dude, as also an ex-london rider years of lanesplitting both on motorbikes and cycles convinced me that for every biker that 'retaliates' to cages lowers the overall consideration / raises hostility to us.

I knew a lot of couriers that used to do crazy stuff, inc. one who keep a fish in his bag to throw into any open back car windows he saw. Another with a long screwdriver for more obvious purposes. Pretty sure they did no actual good for us.

When you here people talking about driving at a barbie (which is always) eventually it turns into a slagging off of crazy things motorbikes have done, esp. hitting mirrors etc. Agression rises and next time they see someone splitting up behind them ...

Let's take their ammo away ...

[davereid]

I think its carrot and stick time.

If a motorist pulls left to help you past, a cheery wave by way of thank you is a great idea.

Most simply dont see you until you are past, so they dont help or hinder.

The odd tosser who blocks you deliberately deserves a bit of stick. For lane splitting my HD was great - it had big wide HD saddle bags, with ornate buckles on. They stuck out even wider than the handle bars and were great paint scratchers. I would just squeeze through, and clean the paint of the affected buckle when I got home.

Mirror punching - kicking ? Have done it in anger to cars that have stopped, but never done it mobile. I'd probably bloody crash !

I know its a dumb idea, but in that few seconds of rage after you have been deliberately cut off or whatever its hard not too.

I don't suffer road rage in my car, but on the bike I'm a shocker. I guess its because the other person is risking my life, just for their pride or arrogance, and that winds me up big time.

Overall, I think its actually quite good if a healthy percentage of motorists think "give way to the biker, it'll hurt me as well if I don't"

[jrandom]

My personal favourite is the driver who sees you coming in lane 2A just before you arrive alongside them, and wildly swerves into the central barrier area in an attempt to get out of the way.

Most commonly encountered with DWAs.

Can't say I've ever encountered any real aggression or obstruction while filtering.

Dark visors and black gear help. Make you look like a well 'ard not-to-be-fucked-with rufty tufty biker type.

[Ixion]

White helmet and yellow fluoro vest help more. Especially on a white bike.

[90s]

White helmet and yellow fluoro vest help more. Especially on a white bike.

My mate has got a fluoro vest with inbuilt lights that goes like a Christmas tree .

I can see it actually provoking a bit of raod rage ...

[SPman]

The last 9 years - I've never had any trouble on Aucklands motorways - and that included 2 yrs, Nth Shore to Takanini. You get the usual mix of fuckwits and dead heads, but, so what!
I found it helps if you ride assertively - and lane split at speed - thats good for getting the adrenaline going!.

Now - Perth motorways, however.........!!!!

[McJim]

Now - Perth motorways, however.........!!!!

From memory Perth isn't big enough to have a motorway - there's only the A9 Inverness to Stirling road that goes through there. And that's never busy enough for lane splitting!