Lane splitting (part 327)

I was worded by a copper in the traffic yesterday.
I'd come up the outside, turn-right-only lane, and then tried to find a
gap to move into in the stopped left lanes.
There was no gap and there were two Coppers on ST1100s so I very
carefully indicated and then turned in-between the cars and into the
gap between the lanes and then I proceeded up to the stop-line.

Before I even reached the stop-line one cop had charged up between the
lanes and tapped me on the shoulder.

"You can't come up between the cars" he yelled. "We have to wait our
turn and so do you".
The light then changed as I started to speak so the rest of the
conversation was through flipped-up-helmets while riding side-by-side.
"I understand that it's legal provided all the cars are stopped" I said
back; waving expansively to indicate all of the until-recently stopped
traffic.
"Yeah but you came up the right-turn-only lane" he countered.
"But I changed lanes before the first right-turn-only sign" (I'd been
very careful as I'd been caught before for that.)

"Well you can't come up between the cars, you have to wait your turn."
[no response]
"It annoys car drivers so JUST DON'T DO IT; RIGHT!?!!"
....and with that he vroomed off.

So I'm left feeling pretty sure that it's legal (the way I did it) but
if he sees me doing it again he's gonna' book me!
Just so long as I know where I stand.......
--
Clem
(And why should car-drivers get annoyed anyway?
I'd take up around 10 metres if I sat in a lane, so with me not taking
up that space they can all move forward.
For every 100 bikes that DON'T "wait their turn" the rest of the
traffic gets 1km closer to their destination!!!
If they had any brains they'd be waving us on through!!)

 

Ah just ignore him.
I got the lecture about it the other week and even got told the ticket is in
the mail. It's been a few weeks and still no ticket.
I'm sure Cops* in their power hungry little immature way would love to be
able to dish out a ticket but realise they can't.
Next time just keep your helmet closed and ignore him.



* HWP, not regular ones

Exactly. Lane Splitting actually improves traffic flow by condensing the
amount of vehicles that can get through a green light cycle.

 

QLD is thinking of making lane slitting illegal I think if they do. A week
of group go slow in peak hour using as much road as possible may???????????
make them think twice

 

Hah ha; I was actually sort-of pleased that he spoke to me and, had the
circumstances been more conducive, I would've loved to debate/discuss the
matter in more detail with him as I'm sure I could've gotten him on-side!
There's one stretch down Countess St in Brisbane where I pass heaps of
coppers on my morning commute (it's near their headquarters) and I've been
purposely and blatantly lanesplitting there for a year just to test the
waters! (But making sure that I was never splitting moving cars when
coppers were nearby)

I'm not prepared to be a matyr and take a ticket just to make a stand in
court but I'm happy to discuss it with a copper one-on-one.

 

Good idea but sadly motorcyclists have absolutely zero track record of
sticking together to make a public statement!

 

No I think it's a really good idea! You are being very cynical.
I'll be busy that day, tell me how it went.


Brett R80

 

I've been done for it once in Bris about 6 years ago but I was passing a
copper in a cop-car who was stuck in the traffic at the time. So I can see
why he was pissed off. He did me for 'failing to pass a moving vehicle on
the right' (the traffic was stationary).

I have lanesplit every day to and from work every day since then - I just
don't do it past cop-cars. So I think the odds of getting done are
insignificant compared with the joy and feeling of power it gives

Brett R80

 

Why just preach to the converted?
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/bargearse/letter.jpg

 

This lot Cynical ????

 

Corks,
Would you translate the above into corks speak, so some of our
finest in blue can read it please? The way Clemo has penned it only us
on the n/g can read it


Johno


Beer mate?

 

NO WAY; Cork's translation would be "my name is clem doherty and you should
beat me with truncheons"

 

As I understand it (explained to me years ago by the VicPol chief motorcycle
instructor, it doesn't even matter where the sign is. The "right
turn only" rule only applies when you cross the white line at the
intersection. At any point up to that line you can change in or our of that
lane, just as you could any other lane (note that crossing the single white
line approaching an intersection is not an offence in Victoria however YMMV).


Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

Bunch of hypocritical bacon, Clem. I see them lanesplit all the time, ride
alongside each other in the same lane, even talk while they're doing so. A
bad case of "Do as I say, not as I do".

JnD

 

I didn't know that.
Thanks for the ammo Nev!

 

Heh heh; Spooky will explain that's because they need more leeway than
normal people..

 

X-No-archive: yes
Julie and Deb wrote in message

Heh heh; most of our conversation was while we were riding side-by-side!
(Just don't mention the illegality of riding with the flip-face up!)

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 8 Aug 2005 11:48:10 +1000

Why would it be illegal? The AS isn't based on whether its full, open,
or flip. It just tests the crown.

Zebee

 

X-No-archive: yes
Zebee Johnstone wrote in message ...

It isn't?
Woohoo; another long-believed myth put to rest!

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 8 Aug 2005 13:51:47 +1000

The flip isn't a chinbar, it's a fancy visor. As long as you have eye
protection, I think they'd have a hard time doing you for anything if
you wear it up.

As far as I know, if it is AS1698 and strapped to your head, that's it.
They might try "not properly worn" but they'd be reaching.

Zebee

 

Err, is there an AS that says you must have eye protection? Sure it makes
sense because of the big green bugs, but is it mandatory?

Theo