Should motorbikes be allowed ride through stationary traffic?

[aussie muscle]

source: http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motor...onary-traffic/

From 1 February until 1 May this year, it will be legal for motorcyclists to ride through stationary traffic at intersections in parts of the Sydney CBD.

This practice of moving between stationary vehicles is known as Lane Filtering.

“Lane filtering is currently against the law, however there will be an exemption for motorcyclists in part of the CBD, which will permit them to filter through traffic when vehicles are stopped at traffic lights,” said Roads Minister Mr Duncan Gay.

Mr Gay is using the three-month trial to test if motorbike lane filtering improves traffic flow. Lane Filtering will be confined to the areas bordered by Sussex and Market Streets, St James Road, Macquarie and Alfred Streets and Hickson Road.

Although the practice is legal in other countries such as the United Kingdom and much of mainland Europe, Mr Gay wants to find strong evidence it works here before make any changes to road rules.

“This trial is not about favouring one road user group over another, it is a system which could benefit all motorists in the CBD. It needs to be tested to ensure it improves traffic flow while not jeopardising road safety,” said Mr Gay.

Conditions for motorcyclists:

Specific conditions will include taking extra care when filtering near buses, no filtering on the left in the kerbside left lane or dedicated turning lanes, and riders must stop at the intersection stop-line.

Lane splitting will not be allowed – this involves motorcyclists weaving through moving traffic instead of stationary traffic.

-- my 1c: I don't see a problem with it so long as they do it safely. it might encourage more people to ride instead of drive.

[DBourne]

Yeah I'm all for it. To be honest they don't hold you up at all so they're gone as soon as the light is green, I think it is safer for them to be at the front rather than sandwiched between cars.

Especially since people love to creep forward whilst playing on their phone etc.

[mik]

not really a fan of this idea.

[Mr Hardware]

No, why should they be able to ignore lanes?

[Fev]

Most already do it anyway, I don't see why they shouldn't legalise it. Even though Mr Mid-life crisis on his big *** Harley with 4 ft wide handle bars makes me cringe each time they creep past, its never been an issue in the real world. I expect them to be careful just as I'd expect 'old mate' in his beat up jalopy on the other side to be careful too.

[Paull]

Yes.

It is legal in WA. You must not cross the white line though as this is undertaking as such and the vehicle/s you are overtaking must be stationary.

Why have a motorbike and be stuck with the rest of the tin top sardine cans?

[Kieron]

I don't have a problem with it and don't have a problem with lane splitting neither. I actually leave a little extra room for the motorbike if I notice them coming too.

FWIW, i've never had any interest in motorbikes neither.

[ryeman]

I never did it cos I always thought one day, a person getting a lift to the station/bus stop might make a snap decision to not wait, and fling the pax side door open.....too good an imagination I guess..

[LG17]

"riders must stop at the intersection stop-line."

Does that mean they can't line up behind each other i.e if a bike has already filtered then no-one else can follow behind?

[comagutsa]

some people who complain about it are all cage drivers because they they cant do it haha
i lane slip/filter all the time ..had to many close calls from cars just about running up my behind

[Franco Cozzo]

Stationary at an intersection, no worries.

On the freeway, at 100km/h, hell no.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

No, why should they be able to ignore lanes?

1) To enable more efficient traffic flow by allowing faster accelerating traffic to the front thereby shortening delays and lineups (shame thay can't do this with cars)

2) To make riding safer. "If you are not moving through the traffic it will move through you".

3) To encourage riding thereby reducing the number of cars on the road with only one occupant while taking the same space as 4 motorbikes or a car with 4 occupants.

4) To annoy YOU personally (and I cannot stress just how important this reason is)

[Steve FGXG6E]

Originally Posted by LG17

"riders must stop at the intersection stop-line."

Does that mean they can't line up behind each other i.e if a bike has already filtered then no-one else can follow behind?

No they can not.

[AcidTrip]

Hell yeah, I do it anyway in Melbourne. I'd rather be at the front and the first off the line instead of waiting at the back for Ms Chinatown in her SUV with bullbar that never sees a dirt road to run me up the *** again.

Edit; Yes, I do have prejudices. I've had three motorcycle accidents, twice rear-ended at a set of lights and once collected on the left in a roundabout by someone who "failed to see the stop sign". Good stuff.

[JC]

It should be legal already.......

[ratter]

Originally Posted by flappist

1) To enable more efficient traffic flow by allowing faster accelerating traffic to the front thereby shortening delays and lineups (shame thay can't do this with cars)

2) To make riding safer. "If you are not moving through the traffic it will move through you".

3) To encourage riding thereby reducing the number of cars on the road with only one occupant while taking the same space as 4 motorbikes or a car with 4 occupants.

4) To annoy YOU personally (and I cannot stress just how important this reason is)

I love some of your posts

No 4 is probably the real reason most people would be against it, they get annoyed because somebody has made more progress than them in traffic

[Auslandau]

Just added a poll to make it more interesting .......

[71cop]

Yes..

[MR.BA.GT.332]

personally i dont have an issue with it and IMO it should be legal anyway. If anyone has been to Europe where there seems to be more motorcyclists in the cities, it does work well there and it will work here.... my only "concern" i guess i have are the bigger bikes like harleys and goldwings etc maybe best they zip up the inside in the breakdown lane (if there is one), gets them guys out of the way and is prob safer for the rider also... Were plenty of times after a long days work i would be stuck in 4 lane traffic on the brisbane/gold coast motorway watching the bike guys lane split or duck up the inside & wishing i could do the same and get home....... just my 2c

[66GT]

Having a long time daily rider mate currently in hospital after losing his lower right leg due to being taken out by someone in a car failing to give way & turning into him at an intersection. Watching him accept that his riding days are most likely over & that his beloved Harley is no more reasures the reality that many car drivers aren't aware, & don't care what other motorists are doing. So who legally has to give way when old mate on his bike is half way along the 100m of stopped traffic when the light goes green at the front of the line? & which lane is the bike to enter into if on a multi lane road?

[05_ENFORCER]

It should be permitted BUT there needs to be some driver education so that the majority knows it IS legal.

I see it most of the time here in W.A, motorists seem to want to own the road and not let anyone merge/overtake

Education is the key here


.

[2011G6E]

Of course!

There are car drivers who get very frustrated that bikes can efficiently and quickly move through areas while they have to sit stuck in a line of traffic...but that's the whole point of a bike in heavy traffic, something which most other places around the world realise.

For too long councils and governments here have turned their back on encouraging motorcycle and scooter use as a way to avoid heavy gridlock in cities and larger towns, as well as being an extremely efficient way to move people around instead of having one person sitting in each car in a big tailback on a road.

Most of the critisism sometimes, sadly, just comes down to jealousy.

[Dave R]

They already do it, I see the occasional moron trying to block them off but I give them plenty of space, the less vehicles stuck in traffic the better.

[casabonka]

Im all for it (biased, i know) , I just hope there aren't too many riders out there who ruin it for us and the trial is ended and never thought of again!

[BF-2K7]

I'm am advocate for this practise and agree it should be made legal.A motorbike (or scooter) leaves a less physical footprint on the road and gets it's rider to their destination quickly and efficiently.My bugbear regarding motorbikes is the registration costs/greenslips & tolls, we are charged the same, if not more, as cars (for a 500cc and up motorcycle) cannot for the life of me understand why a motorcycle should be classed as a car for a tollway! (well in NSW - [the Nazi State] at least)soz I'll sit back down now ..........

[Peuty]

Of course. It makes sense.

Good trade off for getting wet when it rains.

[NX74205]

Motorbikes? Sure, no problem. Scooters? No, stay in the queue like everybody else. This is because motorbikes are more likely than not to get off the mark quicker than I can, while scooters will just hold up traffic.

Incidentally, where there is no designated bicycle lane, bikes should stay in the queue too.

[superpursuit83]

I think there is discussions in WA at the moment about letting motorbikes use the freeway breakdown lane.
WA drivers are really bad for merging and letting you in front of them. Often see cars close the gap next to them to stop a bike getting through.
My only gripe is when they don't take off quick enough.. Kenne gets a bit agitated

[BF-2K7]

Originally Posted by NX74205

Incidentally, where there is no designated bicycle lane, bikes should stay in the queue too.

..... they should also stop at red lights, dismount and walk across pedestrian crossings, signal when turning, wear helmets, not ride on the footpaths, and pay some sort of registration as they are bound by the road rules too!Imagine how much easier it would be to 'report' a wayward cyclist if they had rego plates!!

[Ben73]

If they take off from the lights fast. Can't stand it when they ride through to the front then take off like a grandma.