I suggest you read the email in the attached link-
http://www.bmwmotorcycleclubcape.co.za/discussion-robin-carlisle-re-lane-splitting Below is an extract from Robin Carlisle's response to the BMW Club Chairman:
“What I said at a media conference on Monday was – in point form:-
- my first concern is for the safety of bikers, which I am sure you support.
-Secondly, that bike ownership is growing at 5% pa - bike fatalities at 10% pa.
-This problem of ever growing biker fatalities is universal. They form the highest cohort of fatalities in Australia, and in some of the far eastern countries, biker deaths per 100000 of population exceeds our total deaths on the road.
-We note that a number of countries have banned lane splitting - Germany; USA (not California) Canada.
-So lets have a look at it - not introduce it - not legislate for it - lets discuss.
-In the main the feedback from the biker community has been mature, responsible and helpful.
What is emerging is the following:-
-distracted drivers are a serious menace to bikers;
-there is an element of totally irresponsible riding within biking
-bikers need protection from rear-ending.
-bikers are very vulnerable to unlawful vehicle driving (ie jumping red robots; stop streets, etc)
-If we are to maintain lane splitting we should get the maximum biker buy in on a code of behaviour. (see the California suggestions below)
-more advanced biker training is essential and maybe we could get one of the big distributors to help.
-should we revert to a lights on policy?
-Biker lanes? Biker entry into the buslanes?"