Ducati Monster Forum

Oh Yay, were going to copy the Mexicans sorta  ;D

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/motorbikes-ok-to-weave-in-sydney-trial/story-fn3dxiwe-1226565187965 (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/motorbikes-ok-to-weave-in-sydney-trial/story-fn3dxiwe-1226565187965)

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/australian-first-lane-filtering-trial-motorcyclists-sydney-cbd (http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/australian-first-lane-filtering-trial-motorcyclists-sydney-cbd)

SYDNEY'S motorbike riders will be able to "lane filter" with impunity under a road safety trial.

It is illegal in NSW for motorbikes to overtake slow or stopped cars by weaving between lanes, but the practice will be permitted in some inner Sydney streets during a two-month trial to see whether it can safely help ease congestion.

The trial in March-April will be monitored by the CBD Motorcycle Response Team.


The Centre for Road Safety's General Manager, Marg Prendergast, said the trial will test the benefits to Sydney's traffic flow.

"This trial needs to take place to ensure it improves traffic flow while not jeopardising road safety for all road users," Ms Prendergast said in a statement on Wednesday.

The exemption means motorcyclists will be able to ride past stopped vehicles at specifically chosen intersections, travelling within the lane, on the lane line and/or into the next lane.
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They won't be able to filter when there is moving traffic, bus lines or intersection queues.

The practice will be allowed on Sydney roads including George Street, Hickson Road, Sussex Street, Market Street, St James Road and Macquarie Street.

Lane filtering will remain banned on the Cahill Expressway, Western Distributor and Harbour Bridge.

The findings of the trial will be released later in the year.

Should be called LAME splitting
that's pathetic (no reflection on you Rob) selected streets  [thumbsdown]
So the cops will be paying more attention on us now splitting any where other than the designated area =$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yeah, you'd hope the trial leads to opening this up at more intersections and areas outside of the CBD.

Ha! Good luck with that.

The trial will show no material impact ... because it is so limited and in all likelihood people are filtering at those intersections anyway.

Lane filtering/splitting coming to an intersection near you in 201..........

Yep all I can see is what you've all said, $$$$ from motorcyclist who are splitting outside of the area permitted.
Who'd ever think we could catch up with the Mexicans, who lane split and can safely park their bikes on the foot path in a sensible manner.

Haha Dez you got that right [roll]

Wells'y we can always live in hope :(

10 points for Betty,  nailed it again,as per usual,sad but true  :'( ( not you that is, Betty ).  [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

There's a good message in there, but it's not one which needs to be heard by this demographic. I've lived in each eastern seaboard capital, and the single most valid reason for not having lane filtering in Sydney (just sydney, and not the rest of nsw mind you) is because the drivers of cars do not have: a) any road manners whatsoever, b) nothing resembling 'driving' skills, c) an aggressive attitude towards ANYTHING that can move faster than their gridlocked 4 wheeled house.

Now, before the flames come, just think about it. The mexicans and canadians can do this without issue. mexicans even have the added benefit of footpath parking.

The one factor that is different in all of this is a third mode of transport, which literally forces mexican drivers to PAY ATTENTION in the cbd.  Theyre called TRAMS. and they give way to noone. As a result mexican drivers have learned patience, and instead of driving to the city, use this miracle of transportation to get themselves throughout the whole of the city effortlessly.

Yes, too many 'other' factors involved. As a sydney rider, I do not value lane filtering, as the gaps left by the ignorant motorist as 9 times out of 10 insufficient to allow a motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian to get past.

What I am in favour of, is a motorcycle lane, along the distributor, the cahill, the m2, m4, m5 and pac highway in nth sydney. the CBD is a difficult argument. Yes, the bus lanes, on the streets that have them, but allowing filtering on all the cross-streets too.

But the problem will (and always will) be the ignorant motorists, the politicians and those who enforce the laws put in place to raise revenue.

Of course we should have it.  I do not agree that it can ever be made 'safe' however.  There is inherent risk which is higher than average, by simply choosing to ride a motorcycle in the sydney CBD, let alone lane split.  No matter how cautious a rider or how skilled, those f**ktards in cages will always ruin your day - and sometimes your life.

Acknowledging the risk is based on 4+ wheeled vehicles not obeying simple laws (like staying in your make the beast with two backsing lane, and using indicators!) and reducing issues of congestion (like using trams in the CBD) would alleviate some risk, and strengthening laws for motorcyclists (and actually giving a shit about riders welfare rather than those super-important cage drivers) to favour them in 'right of way' situations would go a lot further to motorists 'learning' to behave in a cooperative manner on our roads.