Lane Splitting Penalty?

[baxter]

split up to the lights on the way to work this arvo on the 250 making a racket as usuall and spotted an undercover cop car only as i got to him i got a smile and a wave

[filbert]

i prefer to split while performing a 12 o'clock wheelie that way i don't have to worry about my handlebars hitting mirrors when the cars are too close together, and if you're worried about them rubbing doors and squashing you then you perform aforementioned wheelie with your feet up over the handlebars so when they come together crushing your bike you are catapulted to safety

[CBT]

some tips...
Quiet pipes mean they can't hear you sometimes, so be extra careful on a stocker.
look for eye contact in wing mirrors
Beware of dicks / dickettes in cars closing in on the centre line when they see you coming
Cars often cut left (from the right lane) without looking due to the laziness of not checking left wing mirrors. This happens more often than cars cutting from the left lane across your path.
I often give a thumbs up on the way through if a driver shows consideration - a good way to spread a positive vibe
Try and be smooth, the cops will judge you on this if they feel like it.
Should you do it ?? - its one of the few urban joys of riding bikes I reckon.

[Nod]

some tips...
Quiet pipes mean they can't hear you sometimes, so be extra careful on a stocker.
look for eye contact in wing mirrors
Beware of dicks / dickettes in cars closing in on the centre line when they see you coming
Cars often cut left (from the right lane) without looking due to the laziness of not checking left wing mirrors. This happens more often than cars cutting from the left lane across your path.
I often give a thumbs up on the way through if a driver shows consideration - a good way to spread a positive vibe
Try and be smooth, the cops will judge you on this if they feel like it.
Should you do it ?? - its one of the few urban joys of riding bikes I reckon.

Great advice there and I totally agree with your last sentence. Only thing I have found is noisey pipes tend to attract the popo with the negative attitude and infringment notice more than the stock pipes do.

[BikeRider]

I was fined for splitting lanes at the Marmion Ave & Currambine Shops Traffic Lights, for failing to indicate. It was a Motorcycle Cop.
I always likened Lane splitting on the Freeway as Running the Death Star Trench, but your not Luke Skywalker and Darths out there somewhere. Now-a-days I prefer to enjoy the ride on the rare occassion I get caught in Peak Hour Traffic and extra half hour on a motorcycle isn't such a bad thing.

[shmoo]

I was fined for splitting lanes at the Marmion Ave & Currambine Shops Traffic Lights, for failing to indicate. It was a Motorcycle Cop.
I always likened Lane splitting on the Freeway as Running the Death Star Trench, but your not Luke Skywalker and Darths out there somewhere. Now-a-days I prefer to enjoy the ride on the rare occassion I get caught in Peak Hour Traffic and extra half hour on a motorcycle isn't such a bad thing.

you didnt get fined for splitting, because thats perfectly legal. You got fined for not indicating, presumably when overtaking or when crossing lanes.

[Sonik]

fuck that BikeRider, who wants to spend half an hour cooking on the top of a sports bike that is threatening to overheat from a lack of airflow?
Besides, thats half an hour of my life that could be spent relaxing instead of concentrating on who's going to try kill me next.

[BikeRider]

Not me Sonik, that's why I didn't buy a Sportbike opting for a GSX1400. Even though it's aircooled it wasn't bothered by the heat and was a still joyous ride everyday on the Freeway over Summer, perhaps it being a naked is what keeps it cooler.
My job does keep me out of Peak hour traffic though and only 2-3 times a fortnight do I hit the 4-5pm traffic.

[xanthian]

I always likened Lane splitting on the Freeway as Running the Death Star Trench, but your not Luke Skywalker and Darths out there somewhere. Now-a-days I prefer to enjoy the ride on the rare occassion I get caught in Peak Hour Traffic and extra half hour on a motorcycle isn't such a bad thing.

Damn straight. Han Solo here. Vader's my bitch.

[Desmo]

Hand Solo here.

I'm sure a few other people think the same of you mate.

[MRK]

Stationary traffic, straight down the middle.

Moving traffic, I split if I believe it's wide enough.

[smk]

My advice, beware the gaps! If its there, they'll fill it
I feel much safer in between cars with no where to go than coming up to a gap in one lane.

[JonSer]

perhaps it being a naked is what keeps it cooler.

+1 for nakeds keeping there cool. Also when filtering there's less you have to worry about sticking out out from your bike for the big nasty cages to scratch up, even though your mirrors are out furthest. But hey since we're not meant to use mirrors on the freeway in peak juist take them off

[delete_me_kthxbai]

I actually wonder how many car drivers recognise similar vehicles on the road, similar route, etc.
Same way to work/home from work, each day.
Quite often I'll flick the high beams on when splitting. I know its annoying, but if it's annoying, I've been seen.
More and more have traffic move aside and make room for me. I give a small wave of thanks, probably un-returned, possibly un-noticed.

Of course there is always the one or two every few days that push up to block me, but 20s/200m along and I can get past.

Not sure what you mean JonSer about less sticking out on a naked, same for both, except wider bars and mirrors on nakeds.

[Para045]

Peace in the Middle East.

Solved

[Tiger1]

This probably wont help the lane splitting debate but an interesting read regardless.

The Phoenix Dump Truck Motorcycle Deaths Were Preventable - Motorcycles - Jalopnik

[BlackWidow]

Are u sure lane splitting with cars stationary is legal? I didn't think that was the case?

[shmoo]

[thro]

Too be honest if you're doing 20+ km faster than the cars, you're going too quick to guarantee they'll spot you, even if they're OCD rear view mirror users!

In my experience, you're better off if they DON'T see you and try to move over.


If you get past in an expedient (though careful) manner (i.e., pick gap, turn wrist), then you'll be past by the time they start drifting over into your path.