My submission to the National Transport Commission

I know it's not pretty and may even be factually wrong, but here is what
I submitted to the NTC regarding their proposed lane splitting rule
change. I figure it was no trouble to do and has to "weigh" more than
an online petition entry.

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Greg,
As a user of both motorcycles and bicycles on our roads I am writing to
express my concern about proposed change "4.34 Riding a motor bike
alongside a vehicle – New rule 151A.". I admit that I am not an expert
on every detail of the Australian Road Rules so I will keep my
"submission" brief so that I do not waste your time if I am missing the
point.

Amendment 4.34 proposes to make it clear that a motorcycle should not
overtake a car in the same lane. The intent being to reduce the risk to
the motorcyclist. My understanding of the other road rules is that it
is quite legal for a car to overtake a bicycle in the same lane.

My submission is that: changing one rule to make it more difficult for a
motorcyclist to harm themselves by overtaking a car in the same lane
seems out of place when there is no corresponding rule to prevent harm
being caused to a bicyclist by a car overtaking them in the same lane.

Please note that I am not asking for the introduction of a rule to
prevent overtaking bicycles in the same lane but rather that there is no
reasonable grounds for introducing a rule preventing motorcycles from
overtaking cars in the same lane.

Regards,
Brian Watson
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how many people are injured lanesplitting every year? is it an
empidemic? is our society on the brink of a crisis? is there a crisis
looming? are terrorists lane splitting? don't current road rules cover
"dangerous" lane splitting?