Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Andy, I must say with great frustration that I have I encountered this rider more than once on the R300 and he is always going down the right in the emergency lane. On one occasion he can by and gave the drivers in the right lane such a fright that they almost crashed into me lane splitting in the middle lane. 

there is no words for this type of rider, I am not sure if he is aware of the impact his riding style has on the rest of us. Its enough that the taxi's do it on a regular basis, however they have the decency to go past on the left and in groups of 4/5.

The other thing that gives me the pip is when bikes lane split with their hazards on.  It is illegal to drive with your  hazards on (they are for stopping and emergency action that does not involve turning/swerving: if you are going to swerve, rather use your indicator to show which direction).

To me it's as if they are saying "Careful everybody, I'm going to do something tricky by lane-splitting, so watch out for me!". 

Agree 100% on the hazards - what is it with that - and often see a guy(s) riding up the LHS outside the yellow line especially coming up onto the freeway off the N1 into town ... so dangerous! 

Thanks for the clarification on the hazards. Here I thought I'd rather have my bike lit up like a Christmas tree than end up under a car. I'd rather pay a fine than hospital bills and yes - for me it is tricky getting a nearly 300kg bike fitting inbetween two rows of cars and I don't particularly see it as driving with my hazards on, it's more like a continous thank you to the cars on either side behind me for not hitting into me 

On a serious note though, once I feel more comfortable in both my ability and situational awareness I will switch off my hazards. 

If you are not comfortable handling your bike between cars you should not be lane splitting.  Hazards won't keep you from being hit, hurt or killed.

Also, they might fool you into thinking cars can see you.  You are better off assuming nobody can see you, so that your lane-splitting decisions are safer.

And if your hazards are annoying other bikers, you can be sure they are annoying motorists also.  And annoyed motorists do illegal, aggressive moves to block bikes they think are pushing in.

What I do for increased visibility is use my indicator often.  Say, for every lane change while splitting.  Thank-yous are by hand for cars that move over a bit - but I don't want to encourage the exaggerated driving onto the kerb crap that some cars do.

The thing with lane-splitting is that you are not asking or thanking cars for moving out of your way.  You are riding in the natural gaps between lanes.  If you create a culture of cars thinking they are doing us a favour you are putting bikes on the back foot.  We have every right to be on the road, and to lane split.

That said, it is an unavoidable fact that cars look for cars and "no cars".  So bikes are invisible to a motorist looking for a gap to turn into (a bike is a "no car" after all).  So look out for yourself because you are invisible.

Hi Charles,

Thanks for the different perspective into the matter.

As with everything in life, learning makes master. That being said, what I learn on here is of immense value on the road. I am taking your advice to heart and will rather indicate more in lane changes than just hazard my way through.

Thanks for the wiseness!

Anyone can lay an official criminal charge with the SAPS against this rider under the Road Traffic Act by submitting an affidavit and requesting a criminal case be investigated against such rider. If you have video or other footage available it might even proof your case better. Time, date and place is essential to prove that it was on a public road and you will have to testify in court. Eye witnesses to the offence will be even better like two people observing his behavior on different occasions. ( 2 charges ).

I ride the R300 often, on the bike or in the car, and with the amount of road debris you see in the emergency lane, I can't imagine riding in there! Its a puncture waiting to happen.