Scooter
Community

Scooter riders are appalled at how car drivers treat them, and often with very good reason. But since my accident I have been able to view things more perceptively from both "sides".

Scooter riders and motorcyclists need to be responsible and obey the law in the same way as car drivers must. Today from my car passenger seat I watched a guy (wearing thongs, but that's another matter) determined to do the filtering at traffic lights. In & out between the stopped or slowing cars he weaved. I thought, how insane, how risky, how irresponsible. So many scooter riders do this, but it is against the law and poses a serious danger to the scooter rider as well as to pedestrians and other vehicles. It can lead to serious injury or to death.

We can't have it both ways. If we want drivers to view scooters (& motorbikes) as legitimate vehicles with equal rights and responsibilities on the road, then we as riders need to abide by the law just as much as they should have to do.

While filtering (as opposed to splitting) is legal here in WA I do understand & agree with what you're saying. I haven't seen many scooter riders, other than those hiring scoots, doing anything particularly stupid or illegal but certainly plenty of motorbike riders.

People have become lazy in their understanding of consequences to their actions nor do they take responsibility for themselves. This all boils down to attitude. This is something that is heavily pushed in defensive driving courses - attitude is the major killer. It's the arrogance of the lane splitting rider or the hoon squealing his tyres around the corner or driving like they're on a racetrack & wrapping themselves & their car around a lightpole that is the reason for WA's revolting record for fatalities on the road. You look at the fatalities each year & you can pretty much guarantee that a very high percentage is due to a bad attitude & arrogance.

i am lead to believe that going to the front line while stationary traffic, and plenty of room is legal, but not in moving traffic. And yeah, ive seen some very stupid and dangerous motorbike riders out there.

ScootaNut:

While filtering (as opposed to splitting) is legal here in WA

No it is illegal in ALL states,  we have common Australian Road Laws,  filtering is technically the same in law as lane splitting.

The only difference is you are less likely to get booked for filtering through stationary traffic and it is somewhat safer.

http://www.scootercommunity.com.au/forums/p/4105/20444.aspx

Said and done already buddy.

but but! I was told by no less than a policeman that it was ok... although it was his partner who said that scooters weren't allowed on the freeways

There are a lot of police who dont know the road rules 100%, and as we have seen in the past there are interpretations, and confusion involved

Cold Cola - its a good point, and I think a very valid one.  But I'm fairly sure that lane filtering is legal here in WA.  

With any behaviour on the road, the key thing is safety.  Lane filtering can introduce some risk, but so can waiting in line if an idiot drives into the back of you - and I know from our customers that more of the latter accidents have happened that from lane filtering.  But I only lane filter if there it will save me some time.  If I'm going to get through when the lights change, I am happy to wait in the queue like everyone else.  However, skipping through a big queue of cages is half the point, and perhaps some of them might realise that they should get a scooter instead rather than simply getting angry about queue jumping.  No one is stopping them getting a scooter and doing the same themselves. 

kiwiscoota:

No it is illegal in ALL states,  we have common Australian Road Laws,

This is incorect.. lane splitting is legal in WA provided traffic is stationary, and traffic laws are State not Federal and do vary from state to state. There are moves afoot to nationalise road laws which will make splitting illegal but that hasn't happened yet

It's not black and white in my view. I pick my moments to filter at the lights - usually only when the lights have just turned red and there's plenty of time for me  to get front spot. I don't do it in the wet - white lines are too hazardous. I think I'm a responsible rider who recognises that there's a time and a place to take advantage of the fact that I'm on two wheels rather than four. I see plenty of riding that's risky like lane splitting in moving traffic on the freeway!!!!!!!!!!!! Crazy!!!!!

If I get booked at some point down the track for filtering I'll cop it on the chin but it wouldn't stop me doing it again.

I've yet to have any trouble with a car driver who feels aggrieved at me taking pole position. Having enough power to get away quickly is a big advantage - if I was on a smaller bike I wouldn't do it as often.

steve@ace:

Lane filtering can introduce some risk, but so can waiting in line if an idiot drives into the back of you - and I know from our customers that more of the latter accidents have happened that from lane filtering. 

I agree with ColdCola...filtering introduces an element of uncertainty in the minds of road users (note, I use the word to include everyone, not just drivers/cagers).  I also agree with you Steve....although do you think that people running into the back of a motorcyclist/scooter rider may have thought that that rider would filter and suddenly surprised when s/he doesn't?  I've had plenty of near-misses when I've been on my pushbike, stopped at lights like I'm supposed to....only to hear the squeal of brakes behind me.  Apologetic driver saying sorry out his/her window saying that s/he thought I'd go through the lights 'like all the other cyclists'.

That's not intended to be a general wide-sweeping statement.  I've had enough experience as a driver to know what stupid things drivers can do...and in these days of mobile phones, invincible P-platers and L-platers.  I saw a rear-ender last week on the approach to the Harbour Bridge....stupid driver thought that he could just jump into a gap in the traffic, the car in front (in the lane he changed into ) wasn't moving very fast and stopped suddenly...and bang, he hit the car.

I will probably succumb to filtering in extreme circumstances....but not right now.  Not when I'm still on my Ls....and getting used to motorcyclists/scooter riders almost wiping me out as they ride through my lane and buffer zone.  I can live with getting home 5 minutes later.

hmmmmmmmmmmmm.................. so this is what a dead horse looks like

Hopefully you'll never have to see what a dead scooter rider looks like

gibbo1969:

hmmmmmmmmmmmm.................. so this is what a dead horse looks like

Sorry but I agree.

We all are against splitting (moving traffic) and have our individual opinions on filtering (stationery traffic).

Illegal or not, it is a risk that most riders take, along with just getting on to 2 (or 3) wheels.

Anyone out there NEVER broken the law while on 2 , 3 or 4 wheels?  Not likely to find many.

I, personally do filter and it is the only road law I break, apart from the speed limit (within reason).  I make that choice, and accept the risks involved but feel that by doing both, I make it safer for me on the road.

Just my opinion.

Have a nice day

Everything looks different after you've crashed.