Lane splitting difficulties in sydney

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:39 pm

While in Sydney on the scooter last week, i was refreshed as to why I often see bikes sitting in traffic. The lanes are feckin narrow compared to Vic, by a big margin. Often there is just not enough room. I also noticed, that there are a lot more aggressive tin toppers, who really get quite pissy at bikes lane splitting. I had one guy literally spot me coming up the line of stationary traffic, and full lock turn his nose to stop me.

He may regret doing it now!

But in general it is a much more difficult proposition to scoot about in Sydney on a bike than it is in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth or Hobart. Still, it's miles quicker than a tin top in traffic still.

on the way out of Sydney, I was forced a couple of times into the bicycle lane along general holmes Drive. With a couple of tin toppers pushing me into it. (at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it-Oh, and I made sure there were no optical recording devices within sight before I took the said evasive action

)

I found that aggressive was definately a more trouble free option than defensive or passive. I would make like a bat outta hell and clear the tin tops then cruise.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:48 pm

Mate, the only way to survive in Sydney traffic is to be as aggresive as all the cage drivers.....and you are right about the skinny lanes, it gets worse the closer to town you are...

Some parts of Sydney are good to ride in ( Nasho, Bells, Putty etc

), but city traffic ???

Did you rearrange the idiots mirror who closed you in ?? Or perhaps remove it altogether ???

".....Ain't usin' it ..........Won't be Needin' It !!"

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:52 pm

Gosling1 wrote:Mate, the only way to survive in Sydney traffic is to be as aggresive as all the cage drivers.....and you are right about the skinny lanes, it gets worse the closer to town you are...

Some parts of Sydney are good to ride in ( Nasho, Bells, Putty etc ), but city traffic ???

Did you rearrange the idiots mirror who closed you in ?? Or perhaps remove it altogether ???

".....Ain't usin' it ..........Won't be Needin' It !!"

I was kind enough to leave his panel beater some financial rewards, in addition to the spare parts department!!

Dickhead he was

Naturally I didn't do it there and then, I waited for a non number plate readable opportunity!

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:53 pm

Dog eat dog on these roads for sure...

Nothing like Brisbane either.

Burky · Post by **Burky** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:54 pm

Well done Strika glad to here you arrived home. As for the Syd traffic

welcome to our world

you are right the lanes here are narrow and the tin tops do seem to get pissed when you lane split, you just need to watch where you do it. I often drive to work ect and if a bike wants to lane split hey i will give them a bit more room. Then again i ride also so i understand it a bit more than these other assholes. The guy that put his nose out to block you is not normal (i haven't had that happen) they do seem to jump the lights early though, even when you are between the lanes (picks)

.

I must say Melbourne roads/freeways are much wider, just this turn left from the right is a umm strange

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:58 pm

burkys_ninja wrote: I must say Melbourne roads/freeways are much wider, just this turn left from the right is a umm strange

Drugs cure that feeling!!!!!

mike-s · Post by **mike-s** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:37 pm

uhm i think you meant right from the left.

hook turns KINDA make sense.......

but uhm yeah, welcome to sydney, the land of the fuckwit licensed loons

Colette · Post by **Colette** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:22 pm

You learn to be more agressive - and creative - when you ride and lane split in Sydney

You can get some nice drivers who do move to let you through, but as for those odd few who try and block you, they tend to forget that you can just scoot around to the side they have left empty for you

balanse · Post by **balanse** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:03 pm

they tend to forget that you can just scoot around to the side they have left empty for you

I LOVE doing that to the pr1ks. You always see the "doh" expression dawn followed by RAGE ... makes my day.

Sydney sucks re transport generally ...

ZXR750 · Post by **ZXR750** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 3:27 pm

Waite until you have some dick head open a car door on you thats always fun.

Saki · Post by **Saki** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:13 pm

Hobart must be so passive, all the drives down here just fear u if u r on a bike! i feel like i am king of the road cause all the cars move out of my way when i come thru

photomike666 · Post by **photomike666** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:54 pm

If you think Sydney is bad, try London

Spent a few years commuting to and through it, aside from tailgaters, it makes Melbourne look very sedate. I had three main rules

1) Always keep and eye open for an escape route, just in case some dumb wit closes the gap

2) If the gap isn't big enough, there will be room the other side.

3) If you are keeping up with the couriors, it's time to slow down.

Also
traffic islands can be taken on either side
pedestrians give way to a loud exhaust (in Uk peds do not get to cross if any cars have a green light)
An emergency vehicle making ground through traffic is good to follow.

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:45 pm

Strika, you need to learn how to kick mirrors off cars, its Fun

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:55 pm

hoffy wrote:Strika, you need to learn how to kick mirrors off cars, its Fun

I second that !!!!

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:01 pm

Gosling1 wrote:
hoffy wrote:Strika, you need to learn how to kick mirrors off cars, its Fun
I second that !!!!

They are expensive little buggers too I hear !!