The worst of motorcycling on Australian roads
The Australian motorcycle market has grown a whopping 70 per cent in the last five years. 129,966 bikes were sold in 2007 alone, and despite interest rate rises and decreased consumer spending, first quarter sales in 2008 are already up 4.9 per cent compared to last year.
Whether you’ve jumped on a bike for the love or as a money-saving transport alternative, motorcycles are becoming increasingly prevalent. However, with the good there’s always the bad. There’s no shortage of motorcycles on our roads, but are they being accommodated?
There’s a fair contingent of motorcycle riders in the NRMA offices. Asking around, they all spoke of the practicalities of owning a bike and the fun that comes with it. But they also had their criticisms:
- • Rough roads: Poor road surfaces make riding difficult and damage tyres. Having to be wary of potholes and debris is a distraction and compromises safety.
- • Lack of motorcycle friendly roads: Outside Sydney there are some good roads, but not in metropolitan Sydney.
- • Other motorists: Despite more bikes on the road, education about sharing the road with them has not increased.
- • Tolls: The current E-tag attachment is not appropriate for motorcycles.
Having started the ball rolling, we’d love to know what you find difficult about riding a motorcycle in Australia?
Check out our Two Wheels section for motorcycle and scooter reviews and news.
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May 21st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Difficulties? Bad roads? Potholes? This has given me a real inner chuckle!
I’m not going to suggest the folks in your offices are wimps … I would simply like to mention the golden era of motor-scooters in the 1960s, when adventurous souls from clubs such as The Metropolitan Scooter Club of Sydney took such things in their strides. And I mean strides – no leathers then. We used to seek out interesting “bad” roads, to get to places that were beyond the limits of car travel. It was enormous fun!
Then there was the great Round Australia Scooter Expedition of 1962, on German Heinkel four-strokes. But that’s another story …
Ken T
May 21st, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I ride about 12000km per year and i dont expect special or smooth roads, but i do get really annoyed when road maintenance doesnt consider bikes at all.
As an example our local council recently undertook a campaign of pothole repair which consisted of filling each imperfection with loose gravel and a token amount of tar, whilst failing to broom of the repairs.
I nearly came off the bike when i hit one of these repairs that was right on the apex. People just dont think of bikes when working on roads and clearly their proceedures dont consider us either.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Certainly there have been significant improvements in roads and services since your correspondent Ken was riding in the 1960s (as I was in the late ’60s and well into the ’70s, and now returning in the Naughties).
However, many other things have also changed, including traffic congestion, and a much less tolerant attitude on the road, particularly for 2-wheeled vehicles. Much of this intolerance comes from road traffic authorities.
The use of wire ropes on many roads, the proposal for front mudguard number plates (in Vic for now, but would certainly spread), and road design that does not take motorbikes into account are just a few examples.
Many motorcyclists are primarily motorists (just think of the army of Ulyssians around Australia). I’d like to see the NRMA making it much easier (and cheaper) for occasional riders to be able to combine our NRMA membership to cover both car and bike roadside assistance arrangements for those of us who tend to ride less frequently.
Chris S
May 21st, 2008 at 8:14 pm
In our area we have had one near fatal and two fatal motorbike accidents in the last four weeks.
The near fatal four weeks ago and one fatal accident last weekend were allegedly caused by car drivers pulling out of driveways with out enough caution.
The other fatal accident last week end was allegedly caused by a driver cutting a corner.
I believe car drivers need to be better educated to watch for motor cycles and bicycles as they are smaller and not easily seen and seem to appear very quickly. Also realise that a motor cycle once in a corner is pretty much committed and can’t alter course or stop easily.
To motor cyclists I say be proactive, ride defensively, stay out of the collision zone on corners and ride to the road conditions.
Steve G.
I implor mot
May 21st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Here’s my list:
1. Motorcycles and scooters are rarely included in parking facilities. There is never enough and it’s not acceptable to lump them in with cars.
2. Taxes, tolls and other charges on motorcycles and scooters are frequently the same as cars. Trucks are charged more than cars, so why aren’t bikes charged less?
3. Motorcycles and scooters can’t use public transport corridors such as bus lanes. They don’t hold up buses, so there’s no reason to exclude them.
4. Motorcycle and scooter safety is rarely given the same priority as car safety in road design and construction.
5. There is no Australian standard for safety clothing for motorcyclists. Manufacturers who adopt the European CE standards get no credit for it.
6. The availability of readily accessible rider training courses at moderate cost is discouraged by regulations and liability concerns.
7. The bureaucrats are proposing to reintroduce front number plates. That’s a costly and dangerous idea. It should be opposed.
There’s no justification for the bias against motorcycles. They are environmentally positive, low cost and less demanding on roads and other infrastructure. Also, motorcyclists don’t really care about the price of fuel as they use such small amounts. It’s time the government got off their back.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 am
* Legalise lane splitting in all states of Australia and not just in Victoria.
* Provide more funding to educate DRIVERS of what motorcycles do on the roads to stay safe (5 second gap, long stopping distances, slower cornering speeds, less grip comparable to cars etc.)
* lower toll rates for motorcycles, and a workable e-toll system
* More parking, or allow parking on footpaths (as in Victoria).
* Allow riders in Bus lanes.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
What a great blog! As a young motorist and motorcyclist, any changes to traffic/roads laws and policies are going to affect me more-so than those in power who make the decisions.
A few of the issues that concern me are road maintenance and repair, front numberplates, and attitudes of other road users towards motorcycles.
I agree with Mick L and his opinion on road-repairs. Filling potholes with gravel and a bit of tar is dangerous not just for motorcycles, but for cars and other vehicles as well. The amount of loose gravel that gets strewn over the road surface makes it quite slippery and unsafe for all vehicles. Taking the needs of motorcyclists into account when repairing roads makes the road safer for all users, however fixing a road to make it safe for cars does not always have the same effect for motorcyclists.
Also wire rope barriers, which work well when hit by cars, are deadly for riders. The design of the barriers traps a fallen rider and can sever limbs when an accident happens. In Sweden similar barriers are used, but with the addition of metal sheeting along the lower half of the fence so that a rider who collides with it will slide along the barrier rather than get tangled up in it.
The recent idea that front numberplates should be re-introduced for motorcycles, at a cost borne by motorcyclists is absolutely ludicrous. Front plates were not required decades ago for reasons of safety and these reasons have not been satisfactorily addressed in the Victorian Government’s proposal to bring them back. Firstly attaching a plate to the front of a motorcycle will affect its stability at road speeds which could increase the likelihood of a crash. Secondly having a sharp plate on the front of a motorcycle increases the risk of injury to the rider, or to pedestrians, in the event of an accident (and isn’t this the reason they were removed in the first place?).
There are a whole list of reasons why other motorists do not like motorcyclists, but the one issue that concerns me the most is the debate on lane splitting. According to rule 151.a of the Roads and Transport Rules (1988?) it is actually a legal maneuver to overtake another vehicle in the same lane, as long as you pass on the right hand side of the vehicle and remain within the lane. The benefits of lane splitting are mutual for motorcyclists and other road users as it helps to reduce traffic congestion, however the attitude of other motorists towards this practice is usually quite negative. If motorists were more aware of issues relating to motorcyclists and more tolerant towards sharing the roads with motorcyclists then there would be a decrease in instances of road rage. And happier drivers are safer drivers, which is better for everyone.
Thanks.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Firstly, can I take the opportunity to welcome the NRMA into my world. As a Car Owner and NRMA Member for over 24 years but bike rider for far longer, I have always wondered when the NRMA would realise that most motorcyclists are also motorists. So a big thank you for taking an interest. As the comments before me have shown there is one big perception problem that motorbike riders have… and that is where we “get what we deserve”! Filtering at Traffic Lights is a classic… it appears to annoy most drivers. Yet when I ask some friends why they get annoyed about it, the common response is usually along the lines of jealousy… “If I am in a queue, then those bikers should be made to wait as well.” Sadly, car drivers who get annoyed do not understand that the act of filtering is not illegal and in fact, by filtering through to the front, the bikers are reducing the congestion. There are 470,000 Motorcycle Licence holders in NSW, imagine if you added them to the Queue???? Also, it may be of interest for the NRMA to know, in the UK when you go for your Motorcycle Licence, if you do not filter, you fail the test. Bikes reduce congestion, parking problems, greenhouse emmisions and fuel usage.
Perhaps, if the NRMA is serious about Two Wheels, the NRMA should form an alliance with the Motorcycle Council of NSW. It would be a good exercise. But once again, thank you for taking an interest in my world.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
It IS legal for motorcycles/scooters to ride in bus lanes in NSW. But not in ‘Bus Only’ lanes.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
As a motorcyclist of more than 25 years, the growth of scooters and motorcycles per population figures does not surprise me at all. The fact that I now work for a major supplier of fuel in Australia enables me to see this in close proximity.
The complaints are universal, and they mostly concern of a lack of recognition and / or attitude towards them as legitimate road users. Second class citizens of the road to speak. This includes bicyclists and pedestrians.
This plainly is not acceptable.
Education of the average road user to known hazards via the media seems to be the main course of action and many road user groups rely on this to get messages across on the benefits of rest breaks, or the affects of alcohol or fatigue, and for the motorcylcing community the need for protective clothing and awareness of the surrounds.
At this juncture, I believe it is in the benfit of state and federal organisations to educate all road users on the risks of the use of the road. This has to start at the base level for permission to use the road, and subsequent follow ups by the relevent bodies to protect the road user by intelligent use of road furniture and signage.
Only by a concerted effort to reduce inbuilt deficiencies currently at hand can the issue be truly adressed.
Regards, Peter McGee
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
David L (above) wrote many points of concern that I agree with.
One of them (i.e; point 3) is in error. I’ll quote the error here: …”3. Motorcycles and scooters can’t use public transport corridors such as bus lanes. They don’t hold up buses, so there’s no reason to exclude them.”
Partly wrong, David! Motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, taxis and hire cars (limosines, not rental cars!) can all use ‘Bus Lanes’. Then there are ‘Bus Only’ lanes – these are exclusively for buses.
I just do not want our two wheeled readers to get the wrong idea about Bus Lanes. Also, far and away most cyclists avoid main roads with their bus lanes, for their own safety, and choose not to slow up buses in bus lanes.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
If find it difficult simply finding enough time to ride.
And I’ll add my support for all the other stuff too.
Except for tough-as-old-boots Ken who really has been lucky to have been riding in Sydney for 40 years, and has plenty of “back in my day” stories. I hope he’s still throwing a leg over.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:50 am
There is no problem with e tag, as long as it’s on an e tag account. As long as you pre-advise the motorcycle rego number with the e tag people, then you need not present your e teg at the toll point; the camera takes a picture of you rego number and just adds the toll to your account.
May 27th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
To Ken Travers (first post on this page)- do keep in mind that both your son and your almost-daughter-in-law some years before both had painful accidents that caused $14000 damage between them to our respective motorcycles and bodies (paid out very quick smart by the rta) in seperate incidents purely because of poor roads/mind-bendingly bad roadworks that did not consider motorcyclists.
This is where the problem starts. Bring back the golden era of scooters – why is it that they are all so soft now?
May 27th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
i say bring out the dirt bikes they seem to be the only way to ride some of sydneys streets my bike costs my insurer $5000 after a little off last year at 30k/p/h gravel on the road at the bottom of beacon hill rd brookvale i was ok but it was a year before my bike was fixed up right, and as for driver education i often wonder why its left up to me to let drivers know im there at the last moment it’s a test of skills to ride in Sydney every time.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
NSW roads are the worst in the country. They don’t need a “Welcome To Victoria” sign, you know you’re in VIC as soon as the road surface improves dramatically.
Too much attention is given to non-representative rent-a-quote people such as Harold Scruby, for whom I would bet my house has never ridden a bike to be able to appreciate the additional hazards bike riders face.
In this global-warming aware society it is unfathomable why bike riders are not positively welcomed, let alone actively persecuted (TAC tax in VIC, Wire rope barriers, poor road planning, over expensive CTP etc).
May 27th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Well done NRMA. This is long overdue (petrol prices are never going to go down so we should get off that bandwagon and look at ways of reducing our fuel usage – motorcycles and scooters is a good place to start!
“The worst of motorcycling on Australian roads” – Some of the key things have been mentioned, but here’s my spin:
Low-level items:
1) Parking/lack of parking for motorcycles
2) Little provision for allowing motorcycles to use their small size to reduce traffic footprint (through lane-splitting/lane-filtering)
3) Tolls for motorcycles are unfair
Strategic items:
1) Motorcyclists are ‘conveniently’ forgotten in future transport planning. Bicycles are included and have many bicycle tracks/initiatives, but not for motorcycles
2) Motorcyclists are often lumped with cars (tolls, registration fees, CTP insurance, etc.)
3) The lack of visibility or care shown to motorcyclists by other road users.
4) The state of the roads will always be a cause for concern
There are 2 more items (perhaps controversial) I’d like to bring up:
1) As a motorcycling community, we need to better look after the younger riders as well as clamp down on the ‘hoon’ element. We need more venues/locations where we can safely improve our skills without resorting to the public roads.
2) Personal safety gear needs to be improved and it’s use become more widespread across the community, specifically across the scooter community in the inner city (e.g. a business suit + high heels will not protect you much of you come off, even at 10km/h)
Lastly, I think all road users should start on a motorcycle before stepping up to driving a vehicle. The personal awareness you learn by being out there, exposed’ is something we all need to experience to become a better road user. I believe I am a better car driver for being a motorcycle rider – I am more aware of my surroundings, road condition and road users.
Thanks for the opportunity to speak up, please let me know if you want further information or whether there is a future opportunity to submit to any initiative to make the roads better/safer for all users.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I have one simple solution that I believe would relieve the problem at least a little:
All the people who make the above mentioned decisons about where, when and how repairs are made to roads, what products are used to mark/divide our roads and the level of driver training that takes place, need to have their cars taken away from them for one month and replaced with bikes. I think that we will find that the result will be much more understanding from a motorcyclists point of view when it comes to ALL road issues.
Hell, I’ll even lend one of them my bike if they’ll take up the offer!
May 28th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Where do you start?
The roads are generally in a poor condition and that impacts everyone, drivers and motorcyclists (even bicycles). The difference is that it can kill you on a bike, not just destroy your mode of transport eventually.
Of course Motorcyclists are faced with poorly educated drivers. In NSW you need to undertake a two day training exercise and a computer test to get your L’s to demonstrate you won’t kill yourself (or anyone else).
You then need to do an 8 hour full day assessment and test to get your P-Plate.
For a car you simply do a computer test and whammo you can control 1 ton of death – yes I know you must have a passenger who is licensed, but how many cars have dual controls. That’ said I would prefer to be around an L-Plater in a car than a P-Plater in a car.
To get your P’s you sit for 10 minutes with a highly disinterested RTA officer, go round the block and reverse. Of course after your mandatory 100 hours of faked logged book driving time. Then it is mandate to act like a moron on the road.
So why not educate everyone in a similar fashion – oh you’ll cry “but the numbers of riders are far lower and it is more dangerous to ride a bike”.
Yes but those drivers certainly need the education and getting a license shouldn’t be an easy task. If there is a waiting list so be it.
And finally there must be some mandate around safety gear.. actually no, screw it, let those moron’s ride their over powered bikes with shorts and a t-shirt…
June 1st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Lets not play nice:
With 30 years of riding experience here are a few truths.
1) There are two types of drivers who will be responsible for injuring or killing a motorbike rider, the driver who does not care for other road users and the driver that does not care about their own (lack of) abilities on the road….in all cases its lack of caring.
2) Many motorists use their eyes as their only decision maker and leave their minds engaged with matters only they know of.
Safety on the road requires constant mental processing of the moment…motorbike riders learn this to stay alive….car drivers ???
In essence the riders who have a few years experience behind them are much safer on the road than the average car user.
Where are the benefits for these people?
Many motorcycles are more expensive to maintain, repair and own than a small car, insurance is more expensive, personal riding gear is more expensive….
Motorcycles are significantly less damaging to the environment than the smallest car!
Financial carrots for experienced motorcyclists are critical to getting more people aware of the benefits, the more people aware will make for more acceptance on the roads, will make for more tolerance etc. etc.
There is power in numbers.
Bad roads? Hey …as bad as they are bad drivers are far more commonplace and dangerous.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I think the worst roads are the ones being repaired like leaving smooth metal plating to cover holes wich is dangerous in the wet for motorcyclist and to top it off sometimes its in a turning lane which makes going around a cornor tricky due to oil leaks from vehicles on the plating.
Or being pelted with loose road gravel which has not been cleaned up it just lucky i had my sunnies on which saved my eyes at the time.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Thanks for the post Ken Travers (who knows well the problems of parking). Here in Coffs Harbour, as in most towns and cities in Australia, motorcycle/scooter parking facilities are abysmal. In the city centre, only a token five spots are provided, and motorists still get annoyed when a single two-wheeler takes up a whole ‘car’ place in normal parking. I have seen almost physical altercations in the city when a motorist – alone in a car – has become annoyed at a motorcyclist – even with a pillion – for taking a whole space. Makes me remember the great Metro Parking Demonstration in the City of Sydney one Saturday before Christmas back in the ’60s when Metro started the campaign for Sydney to provide more parking spaces.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Thankyou Ken. Best times of my life, well almost, was with the Metropolitan Scooter Club. As a newcomer to Australia then (now an Aussie for 50 years) my brother David and I could not have seen Australia, if it were not for scooters. I also consider my driving now, is based upon my experiences as a scooter rider – as a vertically challenged rider on a grey Vespa GS – I would have been hard to see. In short, I defensive drive. Not ten years ago, one of my daughter’s boyfriends arrived on a Vespa. I could not resist asking for a ride, and although it had been almost 40 years since I had last been on two wheels, off round the block I went, successfully. Now as a pensioner, (yes!) and with petrol the price it is, I would love to get back to the economy and yes, the thrill of riding, but the girls would put their respective feet down, and my mum at nearly 95 I don’t think would be a perfect pillion passenger.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Down here in malfunction junction i.e. Canberra, our roads were great but then we got self buggerment and it all went down hill from there. What we need is for all governments to adopt part 15 of the road Engineering Guidelines as a standard, that way repairs and maintenance of roads would cater for Powered Two wheeled vehicles (PTWs). We need all barrier standards to be tested with regards to PTW and modified to suit. We need a set of non-madatory standards for protective clothing so we know what we are buying. we also need bloody councils and local governments no to bastardise roads for the cycle lobby making them unsafe for PTW riders. As for fellow road users don’t be a member of the IN crowd, INcompetent, INconsiderate, and INattentive. There still are some good and courteous drivers in Sydney. A whole line of traffic parted the ways so I could lane filter. Back to the early 60s when I started riding.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
For the RTA/NTC
ETAGS
Wired road barriers
metal plated road hole covers (unmarked with smooth finish)
Poor state of Sydney metro roads (particularly major roads e.g. Victoria and Parramatta rd’s)
For us riders
Wear protective gear people – or learn the hard way
Mono’s are great on a race track folks okay
For 4 wheel motorists
Enough with the drag racing attempts – I’m clearly not interested
Maintain your cars (indicators exhaust smoke for example)
Set your internal/external mirrors correctly and no I don;t appreciated being told I came out of nowhere and you didn’t see me – you didn’t look (or bother to look) is the correct answer
Unless you’re in control of your vehicle, mobile use, eating your breakfast (with a bowl in one case), changing clothes while in motion, flicking cigs/food out the window will lead you have an accident sooner or later and is NOT appreciated
NSW Police enforce your speed zones are enforcable comments in the Calga F3 80k zone thanks or should we wait for another truck to smack the rock wall to close it again??
November 11th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Dear Ken,
my name is Gary Schuster and I’m writing this from Berlin Germany.
By accident I found this blog with you writing about your trip around Australia on your scooter.
I started with you, but had to leave you around Mackay as I had to start working on a sheep station in Queensland.
I remember that we had lots of rain up there at the time.
It is all so long ago, but my memories are still very often in Australia. One of my brothers is now for about 55 years living in Australia in Umina near Gosford. We are each week in contact by E-Mail and phone.
I still remember us meeting on Sunday morning at Martin Place to go on tour. I had a Heinkel, colour black and white.
But if you like to talk a bit about old times send me please your phone number on an E-Mail.
I’m now 73 but still in good condition, as we have seen last I was 32. I still got a few Photos from this time.
My E-Mail is: eschu14057@gmx.de
November 16th, 2008 at 2:11 am
To Ken Travers,
I have had a marvellous time being a Member of the Metropolitan Scooter Club Sydney in the Years from 1959 – 1963.
I do remember us meeting each Sunday morning 9:00am on Martin Place, to go to many nice places. We did have lots of fun at this time. I was riding a Heinkel Tourist. Still have Photos from this time.
I’m writing this from Berlin Germany and I’m full of memories.
By accident I did read all the blogs from the NRMA. I would like to get in contact of some of the former Members of the Club if possible!
Gary Schuster
June 20th, 2009 at 11:42 am
HI FOLKS – AM IN PMEA CLUB – 250 ODD MEMBERS – WE HAVE AN UNUSUAL CLUB IN THAT WE HAVE CLASSIC CARS + BIKES ETC .
WE SEE + HEAR THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CAR DRIVERS AND BIKE RIDERS EVEN WITHIN OUR CLUB – ALTHO FORTUNATELY WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO DRIVE + RIDE ALSO.
WE HAVE HAD SOME RIDERS KNOCKED OFF BY CAR DRIVERS – EVEN WHEN THEY WERE STOPPED AT RED TRAFFIC SIGNALS – THEY GET HIT FROM BEHIND . I WOULD GUESS THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR DRIVER IS YAKKING ON THE MOBILE PH.
BUT ALSO WE MOTORCYCLISTS NEED TO DUMP THIS CRAPPY IDEA OF ALL BLACK BIKES + RIDING SUITS – WE NEED TO WEAR DAYGLO COLORS -AND RIDE COLORED OR BLACK BIKES WITH HEAPS OF CHROME .
ALSO ON OLDER BIKES WE NEED TO RETROFIT BRIGHT L.E.D. ETC TURN SIGNALS + STOP LIGHTS . NO WELDING OR DRILLING PLS. ! THE PRESENT DAY RIDING SCHOOLS ARE VERY GOOD AND MAYBE US OLD FARTS NEED TO GO DO A REFRESHER TRAINING COURSE !
WE DON’T SEE ANY H.D. RIDERS GETTING KNOCKED OFF – THINK WHY THAT MIGHT BE ? – THANX J.C.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:46 am
HI SCOOTER MEN – I JUST NOTICED THE COMMENTS ON RIDING THE HEINKELS AROUND AUSTRALIA – WE HAVE A MEMBER – GRAHAM DAWSON – WHO DID THAT – MAYBE HE IS KNOWN TO YOU FOLKS – HE IS OUR PMEA CLUB TREASURER – HE SUBMITTED A GREAT REPORT ON THAT TRIP TO OUR CLUB MAGAZINE – HAVE COPIED HIM ON THIS WEBSITE -J.C.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Bike riders, of whom I am married to one, all drive at least 20K over the speed limit. They habitually squeeze themselves through the rows of cars at lights. And before they complain about motorists they should look inwardly and take a note of what they do as well… but at least they pay to be on the road.
Its the cyclists that really get my goat and on my nerves. We really need to revise cyclist. Their bikes should be registered and labeled and be readily identified for dangerous and threatening behavior.
I was spat at by one of them. The couriers are the most annoying who really hate to put their feet on the ground so juggle themselves IF – emphasis on IF – they have even stopped at a red light.
August 15th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Regarding Filtering or lane-splitting in stopped or walking-pace traffic queues:
Morally and ethically, in a regularly congested driving environment, the car driver usually has a choice: share their car’s seats with friends, family and colleagues, take public transport or choose a more humanely (and environmentally) responsible transport mode such as walking, cycling or motorcycling/motorscootering. So, when a two-wheeler passes between cars in a queue, one is not queue jumping, one is passing obstacles to one’s progress. Traffic is about moving people after all, with vehicle or not.
The NSW law, in practice, is enforced by the NSW Police. In this state, it is illegal to pass another vehicle on the left. So, usually, the NSW Police person, according to their own discression, may book the offender. Usually, the law-breaker does so in a careful manner in stopped traffic and is aware of the dangers of pedestrians and opening doors. When they don’t, you can count on the Police acting appropriately.
I filtered all day, every day for two years in inner Sydney, as a motorcycle courier. When possible, I would pass on the right side. Often the centre line or island hampered that, and gaps were often wider and safer on the left. I often filtered past Police as well. Only once did a Policeman pull me up. (Peak Hour, on South Dowling Street, Moore Park, heading north, amongst a 150m long three lane queue.) He called out: “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” I stopped and answered: “I’m trying to get to the front of this dozey wave of drivers, as it’s far safer”. He replied: “Oh, okay then, just be careful.”
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Good to see this thread is still going after such a long time. It is indeed very nostalgic! ‘Twould be great to hear from any of my old colleauges who happen to have discovered this medium. As for the Round Australia Heinkel Scooter Expedition of 1962, I had no idea there were so many of us!!!
Good luck and Good Health to you all …
Ken T.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Hello KEN, how right you are, all these years later, I still look for the most intrestimg way to my destination, except now I ride bmw gsa, I notice roger hallet has a say as well. wayne
December 20th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
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July 31st, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Interesting to note that since this blog has been running, the City of Sydney Council has introduced free bike parking. One small step in the right direction. If only all councils adopted the same.
I bought a bike late in life, and as a motorist always tried to make space for a rider filtering. I can not understand why a motorist wants to impede a rider as it gives them no gain.
I agree with the ealrier suggestion to educate drivers as to why riders have to take more care when taking corners, the kind of stuff you learn when doing the Pre-Rider training.
If there is also a site where riders can post driver cautions, i.e. stay clear of the black Range Rover etc, please post a reply on the blog.