Bikes in the emergency lane

Hi all,

When traffic gets heavy on the Monash freeway (Vic) motorbikes often go
into the emergency lane instead of lane splitting or simply going with
the flow. I don't have a problem with that so long as they don't go too
fast, other than the fact that they might get cleaned up when a car
decides to swerve into the emergency lane to avoid running up the back
of another car or to get out of the way of another car that is about to
run up the back of them.

Yesterday I saw a motorbike with sidecar go up the emergency lane. Size
wise he was not much narrower than a small car.

Not appropriate IMHO. At least a regular bike can sneak back into the
regular lanes if a car is broken down, but when you've got a sidecar
it's going to be more difficult/dangerous.

--
Ben Thomas - Melbourne - Australia
Current car: silver manual Holden Astra SRi
Dream car: black Lamborghini Diablo

Respect for the man in the ice-cream van.

 

<shrug> No argument. The third wheel means it's gotta behave like a car.

JL

 

It's just so they miss the fixed speed cameras.

 

John, that does not sound like you

Ron

 

Tho others may disagree I feel a lot safer if I sometimes drop into the
emergency lane and get ahead of 2-3 trucks taking up all of the lanes.
The main problem with the monash imho is that the truckies tend to use
the inside lane then tend to drive 3 abreast with trucks in the outer lanes.
It is far safer to keep moving rather than crawl at snails pace hoping
some idjut won't ram you up the khyber.
Whether it be splitting slowly along even slower traffic or riding at a
controlled pace along the emergency lane for very short bursts.
Another problem with the emergency lane is all the debris from the road
tends to end up there.
this is my own opinion and many others will disagree but they are well
within their rights to do so.

 

<grin> Yeah that's a point

JL

 

I will use the righthand lane when I have the panniers on (rarely),
the left is a no go zone,
without the panniers...I just lane spilt


--

MH

"the Kiwipete hall of fame"

lame duck who leeches on society
leeching on taxpayers and leeching on society
Maggot
you useless piece of shit
you lazy fucker
leech!
dull dumdrop
bludger
you dirty piece of scum
Moron

 

I would guess that it's illegal (it's certainly illegal for cars), but I see
your point about having people run up your arse on a bike. Cars give
protection against that sort of thing, but on a bike you're mince meat.

Obviously, it's your problem if someone swerves into the emergency lane
suddenly

Personally, I'd probably take to the emergency lane and just cruise along at
60k's. If a copper had a problem with it, I'd just take the penalty on the
chin.

 

Lane split is a lot safer than left side imho left side = suicide, I agree
definitely a no-no.

òlléy®

 

I absolutely hate riding down the Monash in rush hour. The traffic is
crawling at such a pace, it's just ridiculous.

I will never move down on the SE end if I'm not 100% guaranteed not to have
to come into the city to do work.

I think they should set up big artery roads with bike lanes for rush hour
usage. Wouldn't that be sweet? Split a normal lane in two and have all
bikers ride in staggered formation. How cool would that be.

Better for the environment too, getting more people to ride bikes.

Of course I'm just dreaming...

j

 

But just like with cars, everyone wants to pass everyone else... so how do
you get a staggered formation?

How about the hospital environment?

 

Maintain a sefety zone and scan the driver and the immediate traffic ahead.
I also make sure i leave a gap and actually travel @50 kmh or less in
really heavy traffic
I don't really care if it's illegal It's commomnsense to me and
shitloads safer if you ride to conditions.

My sentiments exactly.

 

Yoiu will find that when riders ride in groups they tend to form a
staggered formation so that everyone remains in vision.
It also aloows for any stuffups by the rider in front to be avoided.

 

blah wrote:

more car drivers in there than riders.

 

On a per capita basis?

 

DIE CROSS POSTER

 

As a proportion of licenses held.

Nev..

 

I think when your Bandit seat is here, you need to get fright.... go for a
ride in a sidecar John.

Al

--
Al

"Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. "

Remove *ME* before replying

 

You are cruel Alan.

Boxer

 

<grin> Ahh come on now Al, I didn't say it was a car, I just said it had to
behave like a car

JL
(yes I know you regularly lift the wheel on that thing, you're insane methinks