Lane splitting legal in QLD

[The General]

Quote

"Motorcycle road rule changes filter through | Transport and motoring | Queensland Government

Fully licensed motorcycle riders will be able to legally lane filter, ride on road shoulders as well as having a greater choice of helmets, from 1 February 2015.

qld.gov.au"
   

I`ve seen this a lot lately, but the reality is you can`t ride on the shoulder, between Kerb & car unless the speed limit is above 90klm/hr. (So know city thoroughfares!) ....But okay if you are on a push bike which of course:-
1.   They`re not registered nor Insured.
2.   No 30klm/hr speed limit.
3.   No safety Inspection.
4.   No skills test
5.   No age limitations
6.   Have a demonstrable reputation for injuries esp pedestrians.
7.   No restrictions around schools.
8.   Have distracting Lycra.
9.   No brake lights or indicators
10.   Passenger numbers unlimited
11.   Speedometres not compulsory
12.   limited but fast electric powered allowed.
13.   Trailers with passengers allowed.
14    No restrictions in school zones

  ....and the penalty if ya do it on a Motorise bicycle of more than 50cc is a whopping 3 points and $341!!! (They`ll make a mint in the next couple of months due to confusion)
http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/news/features/motorcycle-changes/index.html

....but it`s now safe to jam between cars even at 29klms per hour! 

[ribbert]

Doug, you forgot the complete and utter disregard and contempt for other road users and while aggressively asserting their status as "vehicles," choose to ignore the road rules that apply to them.

Noel

[The General]

Doug, you forgot the complete and utter disregard and contempt for other road users and while aggressively asserting their status as "vehicles," choose to ignore the road rules that apply to them.

Noel

No mirrors...and, and And...we have to keep clear of them by a minimum 1 metre...that`s the law! 

Soon Budgie Smugglers will be compulsory!.....esp if ya want a knighthood! (Wasn`t that long ago it was illegal to marry a queen!) 

[Horse]

Hi Doug, What do ya reckon (allowed to enter a bicycle storage area) means can we now park our bikes for free with the pushies ?? Been off line for a while so here"s some pics of me big CHOOKIE

[The General]

Great ta hear from ya Mate!   Wishful thinkin re parking, but...ummmmm.....I can picture both a Chook and a Horse at Grafton?   
Hoping also for a frog, porpoise, Galah, pig, Cockroach, Eagle, Eel and a cross between a biscuit and a quick milkcart. 

[moparman70]

lane splitting is safe when done correctly ---- and good to see its legal in my book.  If I ever move from SoCal -- I will be in a heap of trouble because I will be getting extra tickets because I don't think I can give it up.

[Capn Ron]

lane splitting is safe when done correctly ---- and good to see its legal in my book.  If I ever move from SoCal -- I will be in a heap of trouble because I will be getting extra tickets because I don't think I can give it up.

Yeah, I'm right there with you Steve...  Here in SoCal, no one really pays much attention to the lane splitting...just part of motoring life down here for everyone involved.  Truth be told, in my 17,000+ mile trip around the states and Canada I really didn't *need* to lane split much.  The populations after I left LA were so sparse I forgot what a traffic jam looked like!

That being said, I felt compelled to lane split in North Carolina...The traffic was backed up at an intersection with a broken red light.  I filtered my way to the front and MY GOD...you'd think I was public enemy #1.  Horns blowing, shaking fists out of windows, cursing and swearing at me!  Sheesh!  There was also some construction in Montreal and in the rush hour backup, the FJ was heating up.  I attempted to lane split and nearly every car pinched me intentionally to not let me pass.  It was a battle and left a bad taste of what was otherwise a great city to visit.

I think...forget that...I KNOW lane splitting, when done prudently...is safer than being the filling in a car-bumper sandwich when traffic comes to a stop.  It gets even MORE safe when it becomes legal as the rest of society stops looking at you as a law breaker.   

[The General]

Interesting.....Do cyclist also get jammed in when it`s legal over there? Where it is legal can you ride the inside shoulder? Can Cyclists?
Do you also have a rule that you can`t overtake any closer than 1 metre from a cyclist?

I too see it as a step in the right direction in legalising splitting....just a long way till the law makes practical sense, particularly in comparison to cyclists priveleges. (Which can legally be electrically motorised though limited.)   

[Capn Ron]

Interesting.....Do cyclist also get jammed in when it`s legal over there? Where it is legal can you ride the inside shoulder? Can Cyclists?
Do you also have a rule that you can`t overtake any closer than 1 metre from a cyclist?

I too see it as a step in the right direction in legalising splitting....just a long way till the law makes practical sense, particularly in comparison to cyclists priveleges. (Which can legally be electrically motorised though limited.)   

There is an issue with cyclists here in Los Angeles...on occasion, but not ever where you'd want to lane split.  There are freeways everywhere and cyclists just aren't allowed on them.  So....not a problem in the least for most occasions calling for a lane-split.  Up in the mountains around here you will find some cyclists and groups of cyclists taking up a lot of a lane or riding two-three abreast.  That's a bit annoying if you're in a car, but we just buzz by them on the motorcycles with plenty of room to spare.

The California Highway Patrol used to have guidelines for lane splitting on their website, but they took them down.  Apparently someone sued them because there is no law allowing for lane splitting...but there is no law specifically prohibiting it either.  It's a fuzzy line, but I was sorry to see the guidelines go away.  There were a lot of good, common-sense things in there about differential speeds, maximum speeds, safest lanes to split and so on.  It's generally understood that you can literally split lanes...and not ride on the shoulders of the road. 

[The General]

Thanks Ron, I see your dilemma http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-dmv-lane-splitting-controversy-20140729-story.html

I guess our laws are great for Regional areas. But the research that won over the new laws in qld was city based. I guess what we ended up with is a positive compromise, but I`m keen to learn of city regulations where all two wheel travel has been proven a winner for congestion issues.

Bicycles have also become faster by design and you get ratbags from both transport means. I think the next step would be a trial where the present horsepower limitation of bicycles is increased to say 40hp for transport registered and insured bikes (or perhaps a maximum width) and off street parking, bus lanes, transit lanes allowed.... same as bicycles. (as in Melbourne re parking....at least that`s my understanding) 

I found this of interest in your bicycle rules:- Head Phones (CVC 27400) Bicyclists may not wear earplugs in both ears or a headset covering both ears, except hearing aids.
per:- http://www.bicyclela.org/Law.htm (We are allowed to in a car.)

Also interesting:- Ride Outside the Door Zone - It's the responsibility of motor vehicle drivers to make sure it's clear before opening a door. Despite this, a practical guide is to ride at least 3 feet from parked cars. CVC 22517 (from:- http://la-bike.org/resources/california-bicycle-laws )

Here`s ours:http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/nonpowered/bicycle/  and https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/demerit/cycling/#keepleft   

[Andells1200]

I have been doing it since I first started riding on the road many moons ago, Last week I seen Police at the lights up in front, so up the middle I go stopped looked over nodded and rode off no worries. I bet people watching in cars who don't know the laws have changed were ranting and raving to themselves lol. My mate who rides a Motoguzzi California rode up the outside and he was pinged for it, cop said they are coming down hard on anyone who does so be warned. I can't see why we can't ride up the outside, police said to him its to dangerous for pedestrians. That's bullshit they are more likely to see you there than in between lines of cars while they are j walking