Lane splitting - how to do it safely.

Weaving through traffic is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. All important is bike control at low speeds, being alert, being pro-active and the more experience the better. So practice, practice practice.

Beating traffic jams are also the reason a lot of us ride bikes- and the scenario most likely to have us experience the joys of ambulance rides and hospital food.

Lane splitting (riding the line) or riding in between stationary traffic is legal in this country (RSA). I believe crossing unbroken white lines, yellow lines, zig-zag lines (what the hell are they for?), inappropriate speeds, going the wrong side of vehicles or generally behaving like a lunatic can land you in trouble on a reckless driving charge. It could also draw attention to matters that would otherwise have gone unnoticed like illegal number plates, worn tyres, expired license disks and loud pipes. When these are totaled up you could end up with a stiff fine when all you wanted to do was get home early.

Most of the time you want to go slightly faster than everyone else. It gives you the upper hand in deciding when and where to attack any gaps that might open up. Be careful though. Knocking down a pedestrian is frowned upon, and if you end up on your arse people will be annoyed because it’ll cause a traffic jam.

Position yourself carefully. You need to be where harm can’t get to you. So you need to know what harm looks like. It helps if you’ve been riding in traffic for years and years because you would have first hand knowledge of all the bad things that could happen. You would have seen a million urban scenarios unfold and have a proper sized database of things to watch out for.

Here’s some tips from my database:

• Exit/junction/turn-off up ahead - people might change lanes. The closer the exit, the more sudden the lane change will be
• Overtaking a line of static traffic. Your lane is open so off-course people would want to get into that lane. Move as far to the right as possible or move into the next lane if there is one.
• Constantly adjust your speed and position to according to changing surroundings.
• Constantly look around you.
• Get the full picture of whats going on.
• Keep checking your mirrors - as weird as it sounds people might try to overtake you.
• Watch drivers through their windows - if they’re busy with the radio they might get a fright when the car in front of them brakes, over react and suddenly apply hard brakes when seeing brake lights.
• Look 2, 3 4 or five cars ahead. Hell look as far ahead as you can. You’re getting good at this when you identify problems well ahead and wait for drivers to react - often chuckling at the frights they get!
• Watch drivers in their rear mirrors - do they see you - they’ll make eye contact?
• Are drivers looking over their shoulder which might indicate a lane change?
• Be ready to stop in a nanosecond - keep two fingers on the front brake - keep your foot on the rear brake.
• Don’t apply front brake if you’re moving very slowly - you’ll lock it and topple over or use feet paddling to stay upright.
• Applying hard front brakes makes it difficult to swerve - rather learn to use your rear brake to tighten turns, it’s a nifty trick and will come in handy when you overcook a corner next weekend
• At red lights, try to get to the front while the light is still red. If the light changes before you get there the people in front of you will not be aware of you
• Make certain your bike will fit through a gap before you go.
• If the light changes before you’re at the front, adjust your speed to match the vehicles next to you.
• Never squeeze in front of the first car - if your bike stalls or you’re slow you can get run over from behind and thats best avoided - stay between vehicles but in front of the driver seat so you can be certain they noticed you.
• Never ever rev your bike next to a car with tinted windows, excessive exhaust smoke or stickers in front of the drivers door. Never rev your bike next to any car in Parow or Elsies
• If you have loud pipes - don’t rev the bike next to someones open window (rude).

Tags: Lane Splitting, The Blog