Right on- I hear ya!

I believe you can use the bus lanes here in Canberra, which is actually a 'motorcycle  friendly' city (at least compared to Adelaide where I moved from).

However, it's a bit ridiculus that we can potentially be booked when, as you point out, we pay rego, fuel tax (both state & federal 'taxes'), stamp duty on purchase, GST on parts etc with no added benefit that the push biker enjoys. 

I'm not having a go at cyclists, by the way, as I'm usually on 2 wheels one way or another (the size of my gut tells me I should be spending more time on the pedal variety but then I'd be on a different forum...)

 

I suppose my point is, considering the cost involved in motorcycling (compared to motoring) you would think we could see a little return in terms of road space. Considering I've had to take evasive action 3 times in 24 hours from cars entering onto main roads in broad daylight (we're talking blatant failure to give way here folks - but you've experienced that yourself anyway) I would certainly like to see my $$$ adding a motorcycle lane- or at least toward police who book careless drivers instead of lane splitters.

By the way, I'm sure we have all seen bike cops split lanes more than once but try telling them it's a case of "monkey see, monkey do"!

Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I know if I'd have hit one of the dear little old ladies who looked at me & them pulled right out in front of me- I'd be the bad guy in the eyes of the law.

G'day
I lane split or filter all the time, didn't know it was illegal. All you are really doing is overtaking the car on your left. Surely the police have seen me, never been a problem. And thats just not in Tassie.
Dave

Yes Mate Taxi - Motorcycles and Buses allowed in the Bus Lane in Canberra.
Also there is a lane Marked T2 from Parliment House to Woden - Taxis - Motorcycles - Buses and Cars with 2 or more people can use it also.

I think in NSW you can ride in the 'Bus' lane on a motorcycle but you can't ride in a 'Bus only' lane.

I do it in Sydney traffic every day other wise why the hell ride i might as well buy a car if I'm just gonna sit in traffic like everyone else. I have had the "you know you shouldn't be doing that nod" by a cop on a bike when i pulled to the front of cars at a light, funny thing is he had just do the same bloody thing. Same as usual "do as i say not as i do"  . Stuff them i will keep doing it even if i get the odd fine it's still better to be home in 30min on the bike than sitting in the car for an hr and a half. 

As far as I know (and I may be wrong) in NSW your allowed to move to the front of the line at traffic lights as long as the cages are not moving.

You can also use the Bus Lanes and the Transit Lanes.

I don't have suicidal tendencies so I won't do it. I mean, what's the rush. Better to get there alive. (Only takes someone to change their mind which lane they want to be in or open the door to empty the ash tray (do they still do that?)

I also lane split and always thought it was still legal to do so in Vic. I believe you can overtake a vehicle in an area with double white lines so long as you stay within your lane. If the cage moves over and starts throwin gravel and crap at me, (I know he/she thinks its the right thing to do) I get past him as quickly as possible.

Oh and by the way, whilst lane-splitting I have my spider senses tingling, In other words I am concentrating 1000% harder on who is moving, looking, not looking, mobile phoning, etc. 

Stay safe, Burnzi 

 

Hey Burnzi - When the driver moves onto the gravel on purpose there is an answer Marbles!

Shit Firey how am I spose to turn around, aim me slingshot armed with a marble at a car, while I am floggin along over the white lines at 120 kliks, with gravel and crap sandblastin me face from the prick who caused all this aggitation, without

A, runnin up the arse of a cop car (my luck)

B, Spearin off the road and smashin into a tree (definitley my luck)

or C, hmmm cant think of anything worse right now.

I might try chuckin a marble at em, oh shit is that what you meant?

Cheers Mate Burnzi

Oh and I thought of somthin worse

C, hittin shazza in the eyeball with me slingshot, ohhhh that would hurt, Me that is.

And she'd probably call me some very nasty names too.

And anyway I cant find the slingshot after the young bloke had a sickie from school, found the slingshot and shot a stone straight up in the air.

Right beside our glass top outdoor table.

Anyone want to buy an outdoor table? has a nice frame.

fuck..... its part of being on a bike isn't it?

I mean it can still be done safely. the law might not think so but they've been wrong before

Lane splitting is a hazardous practice, recently a guy on the Monash got caught between two trucks who had a coming together and he was crushed under the wheels. As we have all seen, cars tend to swap lanes with no notice or indication and if you happen to splitting the lane at that moment "Goodnight Irene"

Having said all that bullshit, the most common accident in traffic is the good old rear ender, which for a motorcycle can be equally fatal as a side swipe while splitting a lane. I never pull up in traffic in the middle of the lane nose to tail with the cars etc. I always pull in between two cars so as to cover my arse for the phone caller, make up artist, breakfast muncher and other sundry drivers who should be still at home at the breafast table or bathroom.

The art of splitting lanes is one learned over many hours and miles of riding among the eratic car driving population, during which time, many pupils fall by the wayside or onto the bitumin and I have found as I get older my reflexes have slowed and when I now split lanes I do it at a speed that my abilities allow me to take the necessary evasive action. Always have an eye looking for the escape route, always expect something is going to go wrong and always have a pocket full of misiles e.g. old spark plugs to chuck at the dozy car driver in order to wake him up and possibly save his life.

Often I will play a little sport on the way to work. I collect as many rear view mirrors as I can. Car drivers don't seem to mind or notice the mirror has gone missing as few use them and those that do. only do so rarely.

well i have only been told this , not witnessed it. but i do believe that wankers are over represented in the eastern suburbs

I'm not keen on lane splitting or going up the inside. I drive for a living and too many times I've seen people get out of cars, which are stopped in traffic, and you never know when a car driver might try to use the inside or simply decide to pull over.

There are, already, plenty of risks out there without me adding to my own.

Yes well....Firstly i believe bicycles should have their own lane in the inner city area's mainly because they are slow and are a hazard and it makes the option of cheap transport viable and safer.
As far as lane splitting goes....i have no argument with this practice IF it is done in stationary traffic when all care is taken and at very low speeds but guy's....apart from the obvious possibilitys does anyone realise how slippery white lines are?...especially when wet, they have no grip at all in the wet.
Here's a story an old work mate told me.....he was cruisin down the hiway in his ute when he looked in his side mirror and noticed a motorcyclist white lining ( the old term ) he realised the bike was very close to the side of his car so he moved over a foot or so but the bike was still very close to him, he kept edging over until his left side wheels where in the gravel and still this bike was right up against him, his next instinct was to put his foot down to get away from the bike which was successful, he pulled into the next servo and this bike turned up behind him, the rider took off his helmet and says to him " fuck that was scarey, i will never white line again, my foot peg was lodged under the sill of your car and couldnt do anything but go where you went ". Food for thought guy's.
And when stopping behind another vehicle always pull up to either side ensuring an escape route if needed, watch ya mirrors until it is safe to look elsewhere.