Foot Down on the Freeway...

[T-Rex]

until you are confident; just ride along in the emergency or bus lanes



(don't actually do this)

[Nephilim]

until you are confident; just ride along in the emergency or bus lanes



(don't actually do this)

I can't do this! I've seen this other guy riding in them so they must belong to him... maybe I could ask him if I can borrow his lane occasionally...

Thanks for all the tips everyone, pretty much what I had planned on doing and common sense really.

[IvanM]

I think common sense alone is not enough. You might have it but other drivers don't.

I am also new to riding and started to split only at the traffic light when there's 2-4 cars and if there's a gap 1.5 times the width of my 250cc.
If I see more than 5 cars stuck in traffic I won't bother splitting, because:
1. I still lack the confidence on my slow speed riding skills;
2. Can't raise my awareness enough yet to see the car on my side, front and back;
3. Usually if there are a lot of cars, the gaps in between them are not consistent and you don't want to stop 1/2 lane splitting at the traffic light. You want to go in front to reduce the risks.

[Axial]

Some great tips in this thread. Thanks guys. Have had my licence for a week and didnt have the confidence to lane split till yesterday. I started at the traffic lights when there was a big gap and few cars (didnt have the confidence for every set of lights yet). On my way back from TAFE it was just past 5pm. I hate peak hour traffic and this was one of the reasons I wanted to get a bike.
Stopping behind cars whilst seeing other riders lane spliiting just felt weird. So I sucked it in on Graham Farmer fwy heading south onto Orrong road. Lane spliited from the bridge (over Gt eastern hwy near Burswood) all the way to the traffic lights. Felt quite proud saving myself a good 15mins if I was stuck behind there. It actually wasnt that hard once I tried it. But like a lot of people in here have said, be very aware of your surroundings and dont do it if you dont have the confidence. If I'm nearing the traffic lights and see some cars with whom I think the driver is gonna accelerate fast, then I want lane split to the front as I'm not experienced enough to take off fast yet. But if I think they're slow I go for it.
I also try to be a courteous rider somewhat. If the traffic is free flowing at the speed limit I havent been racing to the front. But if there is a big bulid up of congested traffic or if some idiot is driving 10km under the limit in the right hand lane, I think what the hell!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thunderstruck]

Hey mate.. i'm a rookie to lane splitting, pretty confident now though. One thing i can add and always do is make sure i'm in a gear usually third which gives me enough poke to accelerate through a dodgy looking gap. second is be confident and once committed go for it.

[Fab]

Ride the rear brake when you need to stabilise the bike. Gives you heaps of control.