Motorcyclists and cyclists - splitting lanes and switching teams!

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Originally Posted by chazza

It is legal in WA for cyclists and motor-cyclists to ride two-abreast in a single lane. Check the road laws in your State,

Cheers Charlie

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Yup Same in the UK. They only way to cycle safe is to cycle aggressive, 10 + plus years of cycling in the UK in Edinburgh, Manchester and London and now Perth has taught me that, oh and a few stints as a bike courier. I've had a few incidents, mostly revolve around people not actually looking before they pull out or there inability to judge the speed you are travelling at. Now Now I'm no saint on my bike, but then when your out on your bike everyday you see some car/4x4 drivers do some pretty crazy things too. So much of a muchness really.

Most of the time I am respectful to other road users. Dont forget when in a car, you are surrounded by metal, I am surrounded by a 1mm thick piece of Lycra. It is not illegal to go to the front of the que at lights, sometimes there are even have spaces reserved for bikes. The roads are plenty wide in this country to allow safe overtaking. That really gets me when I get to the front and then as I pull over/head for side as the lights go green I get beeped out the way. The road is at least 4m wide. Now that is plan rude in my books, and almost guaranteed to get some verbal abuse at the next set of lights.

Plus I quite like the buzz of splitting lanes - much the same as you get from riding down at the track with 40 other riders hurtling around at 40 - 50kph :)

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Originally Posted by Ivan

I have to put up with the local Cycle club on it's morning run most days. It really annoys me that they ride 2,3 or even 4 abreast in a single carriageway. Whilst they are enjoying their morning cycle I am trying to get to the station to catch the train for work!!!
Now, when I approach them, I just sound my horn and pass leaving enough room for 2 cyclists. If they are riding in more room than that well it's just tough luck if I knock them off their bike.
I also get annoyed around Brisbane by the cyclists who insist on riding on the pavement even though it's crowded with people.
Even though I cycle myself I really hate the Lycra Louts.

Ivan

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Ivan,

I do seriously hope that was a troll because if not your post is close to the stupidest post I have ever read on this site.

You are effectively saying you think you are well within your rights to try and kill someone when they might make you late and annoy you getting to work simply because they are riding more than 2 abreast ?

I could murder and rape and steal and yet will get better treatment than being a cyclist on the roads of Sydney and by the sounds of it Brisbane where it appear in some fools minds I am able to be run down like a dog simply because you think I am holding you up for a minute of two.

Wake up to your self !

Having ridden in packs, any self respecting cycling pack will never or very rarely ride more than 2 abreast as it make it too difficult to cycle the front riders. Christ even in the major bike races, where they have the whole road generally end up in pairs unless they are bunching for a sprint.

George

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Originally Posted by Ivan

If they are riding in more room than that well it's just tough luck if I knock them off their bike.

Even though I cycle myself I really hate the Lycra Louts.

Ivan

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Do you reverse back over the ones you've knocked off to make sure you have taught them a lesson properly? ...:eek:

Its really scary what some people will admit to on a public form.

cheers,
Terry

Being a truck driver im on the road early every morning I have to deal with cyclists all the time. Unfortunately it's a majority that seem to do the wrong thing! Riding down threw the middle of traffic, running red lights, no signalling, the list goes on.
I don't see how it's fair that motorists have to deal with people on bikes that don't pay to use the road! No insurance, no rego, no licence! And 99% of the time to driver of the vehicle gets the blame.

Road/race bikes shouldn't be allowed on the road, tire size is just ridiculous, feet are trapped in the pedals and most don't use lights when riding in poor lighting!
Cars aren't aloud to drive with racing slick tires on, so why should a unregistered, unlicensed race bike be aloud to use the road?

Ohh and another thing, how the hell is it healthy sucking in carbon-monoxide from the hundreds of cars, buses and trucks that go past? Go to a cycling ring and stay off the road!

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Originally Posted by TerryO

... I personally have never ridden down emergency stopping lanes of freeways as I reckon that is extremely dangerous. ...

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I thought that the emergency breakdown lanes of (most) Sydney motorways ARE CYCLEWAYS? At least on the M5, M6 and M7 the emergency breakdown lanes (where they actually exist) are marked as cycleways.

What I can't understand is why they seem to have spent a significant portion of the M7 building costs to install cycleways and yet they still have cycleway marked emergency breakdown lanes. In fact in some places there are 4 cycle ways/lanes, the same number as there are for the cars and trucks.

Yep, splitting lanes is the only way to go on a motorbike. And it's legal in Qld if you obey the other traffic laws. Ie. traffic must be stationary, pick a lane at the stop line and stay in it when moving off, don't cross the stop line.

Having been rear-ended when stopped in traffic, and the same done to a friend, I will split lanes at even opportunity.

Waz

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Originally Posted by Disco99

Being a truck driver im on the road early every morning I have to deal with cyclists all the time. Unfortunately it's a majority that seem to do the wrong thing! Riding down threw the middle of traffic, running red lights, no signalling, the list goes on.
I don't see how it's fair that motorists have to deal with people on bikes that don't pay to use the road! No insurance, no rego, no licence! And 99% of the time to driver of the vehicle gets the blame.

Road/race bikes shouldn't be allowed on the road, tire size is just ridiculous, feet are trapped in the pedals and most don't use lights when riding in poor lighting!
Cars aren't aloud to drive with racing slick tires on, so why should a unregistered, unlicensed race bike be aloud to use the road?

Ohh and another thing, how the hell is it healthy sucking in carbon-monoxide from the hundreds of cars, buses and trucks that go past? Go to a cycling ring and stay off the road!

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And how many motorists are killed by cyclists every year?

How would rego help? This issue has been done to death, cyclists DO pay tax indirectly for roads, rego doesn't cover road costs. How does a rego plate help? Could you see one past 10 metres? Would you report every cyclist out of spite? How can you tell who isn't insured?

Bike tyres are designed to keep the rim off the road. They are narrower than a single tread bar on most trucks. Grip isn't the issue.

Cyclists suck no more CO than you do, in fact being at the side of the road they get more fresh air. Except for the occasional low life, cyclists are generally fitter than motorists.

Lots of generalisations not supported by facts. Take life a bit easier, you'll enjoy it more. Ohg, and get on a bike sometime, it is addictive.:)

G'day!

I'll be one of the ones you see lane-splitting extensively doing the Brisbane commute.

It's not legal in Queensland, and I'm aware of it. If and when I come unstuck, it will be my fault. I'm sure I'm going to be the only one injured, and my vehicle will most likely be damaged too much to ride home, while the car/truck/bus I hit will most likely have a dented panel, which my insurance (or my self) will pay to get repaired.

If you want to discuss road users showing respect, I could go on at length. Car users not bothering to check that the lanes they're changing into don't have a motorcycle in them? Cars pulling out in front of motorcycles, because they know that the motorcycles have to stop, to avoid an accident that will hurt them much more than the car driver? Car drivers distracted by talking or texting on mobile phones? Car drivers that fail to indicate correctly (or at all) or for the correct distance/time, at intersections and roundabouts? Car drivers with stereos so loud that there's no way they can hear any traffic around them, including emergency vehicles? There's really no end to examples of a lack of respect on the road these days.

My lane splitting endangers other road users no more than if I wasn't lane splitting. My lane splitting slows down and inconveniences no other road users. I always get away from the lights before any car - nobody has to wait for me to get out of their way.

Melbourne or Sydney had an event a while ago, where every motorcyclist that commuted, and generally lane split to some degree, rode to work one day without any lane splitting. The result was more traffic congestion, as the bikes that were not taking up any space in the queues while splitting, took up nearly a car space, causing longer lines, and slower start/stop times in the lines.

In my daily commute, I regularly see car drivers move aside for me to allow me to pass, and I always give a thank-you wave and/or nod - and sometimes travelling slowly enough to say thank you through the driver's window. Perhaps these car drivers are or were bike riders, and see the benefits that lane splitting provides?

I've been lane splitting into Brisbane for 20 years now, and never had an accident. That's not to say that I'm not going to - but I've saved an enormous amount of time (which equates to me spending more time with my family), a great deal of environmental pollution, and an amount of traffic congestion. I'm willing to take the downside of it annoying you and other road users who don't see it this way, as long as I'm not actually endangering or inconveniencing you.

If you see me on a black and orange Buell, throw me a wave or beep the horn!

Cheers!

I lane split and I find a lot of drivers make room for me to do so. However, there a number who will deliberately close the gap - sometimes when one is right beside them.

Generally I only lane split stationary (or traffic about to stop). Occasionally I will split between two cars who are travelling almost side by side and well below the speed limit - you know the ones - those that have to deliberately slow everyone behind them down.

My (albeit limited ) experience of traffic in the major cities of our near Asian neighbours never ceases to cause me to smile when the motor scooters all crowd at the front like a "Le Mans " start at controlled:eek: intersections...

I'm past getting annoyed at local (bi)cyclists around Brisbane mixing it with peak traffic on major arterials. I simply view them now as "richard cranium " exhibitionists with scant regard to the laws of physics and the possibility of "rare events" occuring...

By their very presence in weekday peak traffic on major arterials, they are putting themselves and others at risk.. I don't care who you are ...you're a bleedin' menace. Go ride early Sat/Sunday morning by all means...