Lane splitting

[cgl]

This morning, since I'm "bikeless" these few days, I got my wife to drive me to work. She just got her car and I'm sort of giving her some orientation.

 

We were turning out of a minor road to a major road and into a yellow box junction. I was telling her to be very careful of bikers that are splitting lanes and they will not stop before the yellow box junction. Just after I finished my sentence, a car on our right entering the yellow box collided with a bike. My wife was utterly shocked, but a real life lesson learnt for her.

 

I think as bikers, we have tendency to split lanes while riding. This is actually something to be avoided, especially near crowded junctions with yellow boxes. Some time back, I had almost collided with a bike that is splitting lanes while I'm entering exactly the same yellow box. There is no way a driver can see you coming with all the vehicles blocking the view. You would not be able to see clearly vehicles turning out too.

 

It's a good thing the car on the biker's right is stationary. The biker just fell and banged the right car. If it was moving, I cannot imagine the consequences.

 

I've attached an illustration.

 

Ride safe, treat all cagers as blind!

[DM]

nicely illustrated

all this could have been prevented if the lane splitter travelled at a slower speed..

[zhiyuan]

Or rather, not split at all.

[william_liu]

Same advise as usual, Slow Down when approaching junctions, always!!

[WildCard]

Actually, yes.

I believed bikers should slow down when lane-splitting into a yellow box.

I faced the same situation myself and almost got knocked down. So learnt that have to slow down at a yellow box and make sure drivers from the minor road or from opposite road turning into the minor road see me before proceeding.

[william_liu]

Junctions should be one of the most (if not the most) likely place for an accident to take place... so taking a couple more seconds to check and slowing down even if you have the right of way may save you and your pillion's lives!

[DeusExMachina]

360 deg Situational Awareness helps.

 

Glance at your mirrors every few secs, keep a mental picture of what's around you. It will help if you know roughly whether your left or right is clear if someone pulls out suddenly ahead of you. It may save you an "Oh Sh1t!!" moment.

 

Use your height advantage vs cars to see above jams and farther ahead. If a bunch of brake lights go off far ahead, it's a good bet that the cars immediately ahead of you will also brake soon. Better to brake before they do, and save yourself the pain of a "WTF?!" e-brake situation, if anything goes wrong in front.

 

If you can spare a few bucks off your $10 of attention, glance at the inside of nearby cars ahead and see what the driver is looking at. If he's always glancing in one direction, he may wanna pull off a turn or lane change... even without signalling. A car that's edging in one direction may make a similar move.

 

Gaps in some lanes in traffic jams are potential accidents for lane splitters. A constant row of gridlocked cars are safer. believe it or not. Cars will always wanna change lanes in traffic jams hoping to find some miracle lane that will take them ahead. So the moment a gap opens up, they will filter or change lane. So, watch out for these gaps. You may T-bone a lane changing car if you're not careful.

 

Also, watch out for jaywalkers in jams, especially in Orchard Rd, Serangoon, or Geylang. These guys will dash across the road in between cars without looking at all. One hit, and it's a triple pinball game between the cars for you, the pedestrian and your bike.

 

Approaching any junction with the lights in your favor, worry not only about the perpendicular lane traffic which may run the red lights... but worry also for the last minute lane changers who will cut across 3 lanes left or right to make a last minute dash for that right turn or left filter. Especially so for cabs and Tai-tais in luxury cars.

 

If you're in the middle lane, and slow moving cars suddenly filter into your lane en masse, don't be impatient and move into the newly vacated left lane and ram your throttle wide open in frustration. There may be a nasty surprise right ahead... like a cab stopped there, or a breakdown vehicle. Contrary to what you may think, ass sandwich does NOT taste nice at all.

 

Stay away, and I mean keep really clear, of gung-ho bikes with no mirrors... especially those 2B sportbikes who heroically fold in their mirrors to gain some kind of aerodynamic advantage over the competition. They're NOT meant for you to sideswipe. In fact, they exist to let cars whack them from behind as they change lanes or direction without a clue of what's coming up their asses.

[Shark]

Originally posted by DeusExMachina@Nov 23 2006, 01:03 PM

Also, watch out for jaywalkers in jams, especially in Orchard Rd, Serangoon, or Geylang. These guys will dash across the road in between cars without looking at all. One hit, and it's a triple pinball game between the cars for you, the pedestrian and your bike.

A close friend e-braked & skidded when an Ah-Pek appeared from behind a car & dashed across his path. Still dazed on the floor, my friend saw the Ah Pek turn back, then grabbed his slipper which was stuck near the tyres & cross the road again, this time almost causing an accident between 2 cars.

[Shark]

Originally posted by DeusExMachina@Nov 23 2006, 01:03 PM

Stay away, and I mean keep really clear, of gung-ho bikes with no mirrors... especially those 2B sportbikes who heroically fold in their mirrors to gain some kind of aerodynamic advantage over the competition. They're NOT meant for you to sideswipe. In fact, they exist to let cars whack them from behind as they change lanes or direction without a clue of what's coming up their asses.

The best statement I've heard in a long time. Cheers.

[SeribuCC]

Originally posted by DeusExMachina@Nov 23 2006, 01:03 PM

Also, watch out for jaywalkers in jams, especially in Orchard Rd, Serangoon, or Geylang. These guys will dash across the road in between cars without looking at all. One hit, and it's a triple pinball game between the cars for you, the pedestrian and your bike.

 

Agree on this ..

Happened many times at Serangoon Rd..

Suddenly appear from nowhere..

Wifey calls them "magicians" for being able to appear out of nowhere..

Horned, shout at them but they act as though I don't exist!!!

Now I avoid that road on any days at any time forcing me to make a detour but I don mind..

[DeusExMachina]

Originally posted by SeribuCC@Nov 23 2006, 01:57 PM

Agree on this ..

Happened many times at Serangoon Rd..

Suddenly appear from nowhere..

Wifey calls them "magicians" for being able to appear out of nowhere..

Horned, shout at them but they act as though I don't exist!!!

Now I avoid that road on any days at any time forcing me to make a detour but I don mind..

 

But still have to pass by that busy road at night some times. No choice. Going to Mustafa Center.... sian.

[Lass]

Originally posted by cgl@Nov 22 2006, 10:00 AM

This morning, since I'm "bikeless" these few days, I got my wife to drive me to work. She just got her car and I'm sort of giving her some orientation.

 

We were turning out of a minor road to a major road and into a yellow box junction. I was telling her to be very careful of bikers that are splitting lanes and they will not stop before the yellow box junction. Just after I finished my sentence, a car on our right entering the yellow box collided with a bike. My wife was utterly shocked, but a real life lesson learnt for her.

 

I think as bikers, we have tendency to split lanes while riding. This is actually something to be avoided, especially near crowded junctions with yellow boxes. Some time back, I had almost collided with a bike that is splitting lanes while I'm entering exactly the same yellow box. There is no way a driver can see you coming with all the vehicles blocking the view. You would not be able to see clearly vehicles turning out too.

 

It's a good thing the car on the biker's right is stationary. The biker just fell and banged the right car. If it was moving, I cannot imagine the consequences.

 

I've attached an illustration.

 

Ride safe, treat all cagers as blind!

i had been in that shoe b4 so lesson learnt - slowing down to ensure tat it's absolutely safe or stop. lucky not much damage to my bike but sure is quite a scare.

[cgl]

Originally posted by Hopelessly Stupid@Nov 22 2006, 05:03 PM

Or rather, not split at all.

Yep, not to lane split is probably the best option. It is illegal and in an accident, you'll always be in the wrong.

 

Of course for bikers, the temptation is always there.

 

Used to lane split on the expressway in a heavy jam. Once, a malaysian cub cut in between cars perpendicularly into my "lane". Almost collided into him. Face "green green" afterwards.

 

Nowadays, I rather take another route if there is a jam, or just treat it as I'm a cager and wait with patience, unless I'm quite sure there is little risk of doing it.

 

Be safe!!

[william_liu]

Originally posted by cgl@Nov 24 2006, 11:16 AM

Yep, not to lane split is probably the best option. It is illegal and in an accident, you'll always be in the wrong.

Just to highlight on this point, there is no specific legislation prohibiting lane splitting in S'pore.

This was confirmed during the recent Traffic Police Dialog session that some of us attended. It is not illegal.

 

HOWEVER, they did mention if you do it recklessly, you can still be charged for Reckless or Dangerous Driving/Riding.

[DeusExMachina]

Originally posted by cgl@Nov 24 2006, 11:16 AM

Yep, not to lane split is probably the best option. It is illegal and in an accident, you'll always be in the wrong.

 

Of course for bikers, the temptation is always there.

 

It is as u said.

 

But why ride a bike if you intend to stay in line with the other cars?

 

 

 

- You're exposed to the elements for a longer period of time.

 

- You suck in more of their exhaust fumes.

 

- You put yourself in the unenviable position of having an inattentive driver behind rear-end you, and possibly making a Yamahonkawazuki Sandwich medium-rare out of you and the car ahead.

 

- You end up spending more time on the road, and statisically increase your chances of getting into an accident.

 

There're other reasons of course, like having a****** drivers telling you that you're not entitled to a lane space because you pay less road tax... but that's irrelevant to safety.

 

 

I'd prefer to lane split, but will practice 360SA when doing it.

[MC28]

Same situation happen to me when i was on my pgm...Luckily i spotted a headlight coming out and thus manage to brake just before hitting the car..Did a small stoppie though...The driver was shock...

[cgl]

Originally posted by william_liu@Nov 24 2006, 12:11 PM

Just to highlight on this point, there is no specific legislation prohibiting lane splitting in S'pore.

This was confirmed during the recent Traffic Police Dialog session that some of us attended. It is not illegal.

 

HOWEVER, they did mention if you do it recklessly, you can still be charged for Reckless or Dangerous Driving/Riding.

Sorry for the misinformation. I had clarified it with TP just now, and yes, there is no regulation regarding lane splitting.

 

I was recalling what my riding theory instructor said in SSDC 14 years back. He said that lane splitting is illegal if the vehicles are moving. Guess that is wrong.

[cgl]

Originally posted by DeusExMachina@Nov 24 2006, 12:14 PM

It is as u said.

 

But why ride a bike if you intend to stay in line with the other cars?

 

 

 

- You're exposed to the elements for a longer period of time.

 

- You suck in more of their exhaust fumes.

 

- You put yourself in the unenviable position of having an inattentive driver behind rear-end you, and possibly making a Yamahonkawazuki Sandwich medium-rare out of you and the car ahead.

 

- You end up spending more time on the road, and statisically increase your chances of getting into an accident.

 

There're other reasons of course, like having a****** drivers telling you that you're not entitled to a lane space because you pay less road tax... but that's irrelevant to safety.

 

 

I'd prefer to lane split, but will practice 360SA when doing it.

Because a bike, even top end marques, are still cheaper than a car, consume half or less of petrol, and I can park it easily with low charges.

 

I don't know about you, but personally, I am not capable of 360SA all the time. I am probably a lousy rider that survive by taking precautions.

[william_liu]

No need for apologises, we're all here to share knowledge and learn from each others!

 

Anyway I do not believe there is a 'best-fit' approach to suit EVERY rider on the roads... at the end of the day, each rider has to ride in the way he or she feels most comfortable and safest with.

 

[DeusExMachina]

Originally posted by cgl@Nov 24 2006, 03:38 PM

Because a bike, even top end marques, are still cheaper than a car, consume half or less of petrol, and I can park it easily with low charges.

 

I don't know about you, but personally, I am not capable of 360SA all the time. I am probably a lousy rider that survive by taking precautions.

 

Well, I suppose, to each his own, including perceptions and riding styles.

[merlino]

lucky you - have a wife who owns a car and drives.

[endlessloop]

What you can't see, can hurt you.

 

The Hazard-Oriented-Vision that I preached under Street Smart is like a radar for a plane (u the rider).

If your radar is suddenly blocked by a blind spot, the radar stops showing danger signs on your screen. But it doesn't mean that there are no approaching hazards/dangers. It is just that you are blinded and you can't see them.

 

So remember, when your sight is blocked, it doesn't mean there is no danger.

 

Then do what then?

 

Slow down and assumed that possible hazards/dangers may lurk in the hidden view and be prepared to take counter action.

 

This applies to the yellow junction box situation illustrated above. It also applies to descreasing radius bends and bends with hidden exit. It also applies to riding behind "opaque walls vehiches" like buses, big lorries. And many many more.

[DeusExMachina]

Agree with EndlessLoop.

 

For those huge trailers and high lorries, you can also try to look UNDER them and see what's on the other side of the road. Most of the time, you can see the shadow or wheels of another vehicle on the hidden side under the heavy vehicle.

 

If you see a motorcycle there, you might want to be careful when passing the heavy vehicle. Motorcyclists often swap lanes in front of heavy vehicles because they're slow and often leave a nice gap between them and the car ahead. So if you're not prepared, you may find yourself smacking into a lane changing bike as you pass the heavy vehicle.

[Marvelkid]

Lane splitting definitely not illegal.....earlier in the year i got in the same situation .....

Traffic jam on main road......the driver on main road give way to let the car from side road come out....the car came out so suddenly from the side road and i bang directly into the car as i was lane splitting on the main road...didn't see the car coming out from side road......Got into court case with the driver....won the case and i received compensation.

[Marvelkid]

Lane splitting definitely not illegal.....earlier in the year i got in the same situation .....

Traffic jam on main road......the driver on main road give way to let the car from side road come out....the car came out so suddenly from the side road and i bang directly into the car as i was lane splitting on the main road...didn't see the car coming out from side road......Got into court case with the driver....won the case and i received compensation.