bourbon-biscuit

My husband is planning on getting a motorbike for his commute in Australia because it'll (presumably) be cheaper and because he has wanted one since he was 15

We're coming on UK licences so I think we don't need to do a test for a car licence (pls correct me if I'm worng) but what does he need to do to get on the road on a motorbike?

TIA


14 sleeps!

spottydog

If you already have a UK motorbike licence that can be converted in the same way as a car licence (the OH's was).

Here in Sydney I wouldn't recommend biking for the commute, wearing all the proper protective gear will mean you are very hot and the narrowness of the lanes (plus regulations I've been advised ) means you are stuck in the same traffic and everyone else but without the air con. On the plus side in Sydney they are trialling free bike parking

bourbon-biscuit

No, he doesn't have a UK licence- so what's the procedure?

asher

for riding a motorcycle here in Oz see this http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/...ce.html?llid=7

bourbon-biscuit

Thanks- off to explore link!

graniteman

The regulations are the same here as in the UK with regard to filtering or lane splitting as its called here, its illegal. In the UK almost all bikers do it but here it is very rare. Its one of those weird driving things in OZ, like sitting at bang on the speed limit, speeding seems to be real taboo but a realy relaxed attitude to drink driving, go figure

Earlier this year i had to help out at one of my companies branches in Lane Cove and i live in Wollongong. I was commuting on a bike and riding like i do in the UK, ie lane splitting at every oportunity it only took about 70 minutes in peak rush our, in a car it would of been closer to 120 minutes. No brainer if you ask me.

I certainly wouldnt reccomend in to a newbie, ive been on a bike for over 10 years and have commuted in in all of Scotlands major cities and they are definately alot more dangerous for a biker than in Sydney.

cheers
Andy

asher

sorry I disagree with you there filtering in the UK is NOT illegal it's a grey area you may have problems with your insurance if you have an accident whilst filtering but it is not actually illegal ask the police and the IAM.

It is illegal in Oz but you wouldn't want to filter anyway especially here in Sydney where the lanes are narrow and the roads are awful mostly lots of overbanding and potholes it took as long on a bike to commute to the CBD as it did on the train!

furkew

Here in Vic lane splitting is more common, and quite a few cars see you coming and move across to let you through. (some move across to block as well)

Have to admit, the roads are in general wide enough to lane split comfortably.

A lot of people have said that motorbiking in Oz is more dangerous than Europe, but having ridden in quite a few countries, I dont rate it any worse in the cities, but definitely better once you get out of the cities due to the lack of traffic on roads.

The worst problem here is gravel/dirt and other general crap on roads.