Motorcycles in leftmost lane only! Are you joking?

[Lancelot]

The same for pickups and trucks, too. If the coppers see you out of the left lane in them, bingo, you're busted. It is actually in the Thai road rules, so no, it's not made up.

The road rules also state that if the left lane is blocked, you are allowed to pass

[VocalNeal]

People only walk because they can't afford a bicycle,

People only ride a bicycle because they can't afford a motorbike

People only ride a motorbike because they can afford a car.

It a kind of Sakdina for travelers.

This is Thailand get used to it, either comply ( when in Rome do what the Romans do ) or get fined. Same philosophy as anywhere.

Sometimes one has to ask why expats come to Thailand because there seem to be a lot of disgruntled complainers.

[somchaismith]

The road rules also state that if the left lane is blocked, you are allowed to pass

Where is this mysterious exception to the rule?

[dave_boo]

People only walk because they can't afford a bicycle,

People only ride a bicycle because they can't afford a motorbike

People only ride a motorbike because they can afford a car.

It a kind of Sakdina for travelers.

This is Thailand get used to it, either comply ( when in Rome do what the Romans do ) or get fined. Same philosophy as anywhere.

Sometimes one has to ask why expats come to Thailand because there seem to be a lot of disgruntled complainers.

And some people just hate riding in a cage.

I'll ride in the sun or the rain...makes no difference. Rest of the family can load up in the Ranger and go on and we'll meet up at the destination.

Also take exception at the "...( when in Rome do what the Romans do ) or get fined". Doing as the Romans (Thais) do results in fines. Even complying with the laws can result in a fine due to the local copper's interpretation of the law. Throw in the rampant abuse of authority and is it a wonder that there's some discussion of the facts on the ground?

Either it needs to be the Wild West or it needs to be civilised. Attempting to bring the system into the 21st century is well and good; but than it's necessary to get rid of those who still have the old system's pitfalls ingrained. Or leave it like it was and stop trying to modernise.

[recom273]

Just stay in the left lane and stop being selfish trying to come into the car lanes. You are not wanted in these lanes. Driving a car is fun but having motorcyclists around you is not.

Why do i continually overtake cars on the left on my 40km daily round commute ? these cars are usually doing around 100 km/h and everytime i pass i risk being side'd by some 4x4 who is also passing on the left at the same time .. yeah, bike riders = selfish.

[somchaismith]

For the naysayers,

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728142-motorcycle-middle-lane/

Edited June 1, 2014 by somchaismith

[H1w4yR1da]

Yes, agreed. But even big bikes don't seem to keep up with cars...or don't want to. Have to admit, going 130 on any bike is a little nuts out on those roads.

You're joking right?

I'm not sure what you ride or with whom but everyone I know who has a big bike (over 500cc) has no trouble leaving cars behind. Anyone who doesn't shouldn't be on a big bike!

Your last sentence leads me to think you've never ridden a big bike, especially in LOS. Admittedly Bangkok is a nightmare for big bikes what with the traffic and the uniformed mafia jumping out at you everywhere but there are countless high speed straights (Korat to Khon Kaen), fast curves (Nan to Chiang Rai, Krabi) and twisty (Loei, Kanchanaburi, North Thailand) routes in rural Thailand.

To be honest, I listen to the riders on this forum who get out and ride instead of those non-riders who just rag on those who do.

Back on thread. Staying left is just plain undoable. I'll ride in the safest lane I recognize at the time which mostly means the outside and middle lanes.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 L3 182 hp in-line 4 Superbike

Edited June 2, 2014 by H1w4yR1da

[NoshowJones]

Just stay in the left lane and stop being selfish trying to come into the car lanes. You are not wanted in these lanes. Driving a car is fun but having motorcyclists around you is not.

I refuse to ride in the left lane when the situation is as Robblok says, because motorcyclists have as much right to the road as anyone else, and also because people like you will not let us move out when other vehicles are parked, or when we are cut up by other vehicles who want to stop or turn left.

I know that the vast majority of Thai drivers and riders have little common sense, which is also a trait among non driving Thais mainly because of lack of education, and everyone is allowed to pass exams at school.

I am not a Thai basher as most posters know, and I love the Thai people and their non confrontational ways among lots of other things, but there are times when the truth has to be told.

[NoshowJones]

I was fined for being in the left lane in Bangkok- a red bus was stopped, blocking the left lane and I went around. Cop stopped me and I tried to explain but he just kept writing the ticket and escorted me across the street to pay 200 baht at a temporary cop shop.

Most road blocks are ticket factories, they are there to make money, not to make the streets safer

The rules are crazy especially for bigger bikes. They can out brake out accelerate most cars. But the rules are the rules, so I wont get angry when fined. I know perfectly well they can get me for this. I might not agree with the rules but I choose to break them.

That's true Robblok, just because something is the law, that does not automatically make it right.

[NoshowJones]

I was fined for being in the left lane in Bangkok- a red bus was stopped, blocking the left lane and I went around. Cop stopped me and I tried to explain but he just kept writing the ticket and escorted me across the street to pay 200 baht at a temporary cop shop.

Most road blocks are ticket factories, they are there to make money, not to make the streets safer

Police checkpoints were banned in BKK about 2 years ago by the head cop. Citing that they were too dangerous and there were too many accidents happening around them.

The ban lasted about 7-8 months.

In the case of Lancelot, why not just dismount from your bike, turn off the engine. and push your bike past the broken down bus on the sidewalk? No big deal as it's not often you come up against such an obstruction.

[NoshowJones]

It is actually in the Thai road rules, so no, it's not made up.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the rules state that you are to stay in the most left hand lane except when overtaking. So moving into an outer lane to overtake is perfectly legal.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong.

It does not seem to be for a motorbike.

[nikster]

I was fined for being in the left lane in Bangkok- a red bus was stopped, blocking the left lane and I went around. Cop stopped me and I tried to explain but he just kept writing the ticket and escorted me across the street to pay 200 baht at a temporary cop shop.

Most road blocks are ticket factories, they are there to make money, not to make the streets safer

You're not paying a ticket, you're paying tax.

How else are the cops going to get paid? They make no salary to speak of; also most people in this country don't pay tax (both Thai and foreigners).

So you pay the tax on the street, 200 baht on the odd occasion to that traffic cop.

BTW never heard of that left lane rule. Going to ignore it from hereon out as well.

[In Search of Space]

I suppose as tax is low, or may paid, it may be viewed as "tax at the point of service delivery", that applies to many govt departments.

Still cheaper than a uk fine with all the hassle that goes with it. Some of us would consider the location & planning of uk speed cameras as criminal

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[ATF]

The cops are just a part of Thailand as the Temples and the bars and the beaches. Just get used to it. Either don't stop or pay the man your choice. Forget quoting the law, they aren't interested. You're just wasting your time and their time. Paying an on the spot fine here and there is a small inconvenience for all the other things you get away with and screw the left lane! By the time the cops have heard me I've gone.

Get with the program!

[Gsxrnz]

Funny, just a few days ago I've been fined because of exactly this law. I was driving on a four lane road on the 4th lane, because traffic there was faster and the other lanes were full of cars and busses stopping and turning left or coming out of a soi.

The police checkpoint seemed to be specifically build to catch exactly these people. They waved me out and took my license which I could pick up the following day for 300 Baht at their police station. First the guy asked for 400 Baht, but when I just gave him 300, he just accepted that.

A week earlier, I was stopped on a three lane road. Traffic was busy, I was driving in the second lane because I saw the police checkpoint in the first lane, blocking like 90% of it. A police man stopped me and told me I was not allowed to drive in that lane. As he couldn't speak any English, I pretended I couldn't speak Thai and after a few minutes he just let me go without any fine (after first asking for 400, then for 100 Baht).

From what I've learned (before that, I didn't know this law existed), on four or more lanes, I'm (as a motorbike driver) am allowed to only drive in the first or the second lane as the police man had told me. But I'm still not sure what about the other lanes. When I tried to ask the police guy (in Thai), he just walked away.

One lane is clear. Two lanes: Left only, except for overtaking. Three lanes? Lane one AND two and #3 for overtaking or do I still have only one lane on a three lane road? Four lanes and bigger I know I have two lanes and one for overtaking.

You're only doing one thing wrong - you're STOPPING.

Just beep the horn and twist your right wrist. Avoid eye contact (sunglasses help), and DON'T slow down or stop.

Even the BIB are smart enough not to risk life and limb for three or four hundred baht, and the chance of being chased are as likely as hell freezing over.

Oh - if you're in the car, don't beep, just flash your lights - much more politically correct.

[Beardog]

What gets me are the BKK Hi-So's riding always in the right lane doing 60-70 KPH when everyone else is doing 120KPH+ or the 70 year old Thai fart in a beat up 1980 pickup driving 60-70 in the right lane while buses cars & bikes have to get around them & they are very adamant about having the right to be in the wrong lane.

And the kicker are the Cars or trucks capable of doing 140KPH+ & they are insistent on chasing the bikes riding in the shoulder when they sure don't need to be in the dead lane.

As for the heat I agree sunglasses & I wave to them when they wave me over & twist the throttle & say See Ya. If it is an official yellow & brown Highway patrol unit & they are pinching me over for an inspection. That most of the time I will stop for. Acting aloof & just cruising right through seems to work pretty good.

And Berkshire not a chance in hell your car can keep up with my 650 Kawi . Sorry better have a Lambo Porsche Bmw, Ferrari , American 600 hp. Muscle car or an F1 to be as fast off the line as my medium range bike. Regular Cars just don't have the off the line speed to keep up . Sorry!

[CBR250]

People only walk because they can't afford a bicycle,

People only ride a bicycle because they can't afford a motorbike

People only ride a motorbike because they can afford a car.

It a kind of Sakdina for travelers.

This is Thailand get used to it, either comply ( when in Rome do what the Romans do ) or get fined. Same philosophy as anywhere.

Sometimes one has to ask why expats come to Thailand because there seem to be a lot of disgruntled complainers.

This shows a noteworthy level of ignorance of what motorbikes are for. I own a car, but ride my motorbike whenever I can rather than drive. Sure, I get there faster, but mostly I do it for the same reasons dogs stick their heads out of car windows.

And believe me, many of us expats with bikes do not complain. Re-read the thread above. Lots of bike riders accept the fines as a part of the joy of being able to ride motorbikes in a country that still only has about 10 speed cameras, and where police even have a healthy disregard for laws (other than as a source of income).

[H1w4yR1da]

You're not paying a ticket, you're paying tax.

How else are the cops going to get paid? They make no salary to speak of; also most people in this country don't pay tax (both Thai and foreigners).

So you pay the tax on the street, 200 baht on the odd occasion to that traffic cop.

Absolute rubbish argument!

I'm not here to subsidize the uniformed mafia as I pay income tax on my salary. If they're good enough to be able it stop me, I'll pay but it hasn't happened yet.

If the police 'make no salary to speak of' then no one would want to do the job. They're just parasites who desert their posts at the first sign of serious trouble- floods, red shirts, yellow shirts etc.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 L3 182 hp in-line 4 Superbike

[VocalNeal]

People only walk because they can't afford a bicycle,

People only ride a bicycle because they can't afford a motorbike

People only ride a motorbike because they can afford a car.

It a kind of Sakdina for travelers.

This is Thailand get used to it, either comply ( when in Rome do what the Romans do ) or get fined. Same philosophy as anywhere.

Sometimes one has to ask why expats come to Thailand because there seem to be a lot of disgruntled complainers.

This shows a noteworthy level of ignorance of what motorbikes are for. I own a car, but ride my motorbike whenever I can rather than drive. Sure, I get there faster, but mostly I do it for the same reasons dogs stick their heads out of car windows.

And believe me, many of us expats with bikes do not complain. Re-read the thread above. Lots of bike riders accept the fines as a part of the joy of being able to ride motorbikes in a country that still only has about 10 speed cameras, and where police even have a healthy disregard for laws (other than as a source of income).

Ignorance on whose part. I explained how it works here and the basis for how it works. Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with concept of Sakdina and how it equates to Thai society.

The fact you own a car has nothing to do with how you are viewed by the masses when you ride. It has bugger all to do with expats, What they think or what they want.

I also enjoying being in a country where the police do not rigorously enforce traffic laws.

Edited June 8, 2014 by VocalNeal

[wilsonf]

I was driving through Bangkok on my Honda Silverwing when I came across a police check, for their safety they had closed off the inside two lanes of a four lane road. I was in the left hand lane when approaching this barrier, but had to move out to the third lane to pass it. Whereupon I was pulled over for not driving in the left lane!!. When I pointed out that I was only negotiating the obstruction that they had put in place, I was just met with a smile. I handed over 200Bt without getting a ticket and was on my way.

When out on the 'open road' I either use the narrow 'Motorcycle lane' or on a dual carriageway the outer right hand lane. I do so because usually these have a better surface, less potholes etc. and as the left hand lane carries the bulk of the truck traffic and so it suffers the most damage. Touring on a big bike can be a nightmare given the road surfaces in Thailand. One of the worst I've encountered recently was the last 80 Kilometres of the road to the Burmese Border at the Three Pagoda's Pass

[H1w4yR1da]

I was driving through Bangkok on my Honda Silverwing when I came across a police check, for their safety they had closed off the inside two lanes of a four lane road. I was in the left hand lane when approaching this barrier, but had to move out to the third lane to pass it. Whereupon I was pulled over for not driving in the left lane!!. When I pointed out that I was only negotiating the obstruction that they had put in place, I was just met with a smile. I handed over 200Bt without getting a ticket and was on my way.

Thats absolutely outrageous! When I encounter one of these roadblocks, I just ride through the coned-off area and sayonara.

IOne of the worst I've encountered recently was the last 80 Kilometres of the road to the Burmese Border at the Three Pagoda's Pass

Which road? The 323 from Sangkhlaburi?

Suzuki GSX-R1000 L3 182 hp in-line 4 Superbike

[wilsonf]

I was driving through Bangkok on my Honda Silverwing when I came across a police check, for their safety they had closed off the inside two lanes of a four lane road. I was in the left hand lane when approaching this barrier, but had to move out to the third lane to pass it. Whereupon I was pulled over for not driving in the left lane!!. When I pointed out that I was only negotiating the obstruction that they had put in place, I was just met with a smile. I handed over 200Bt without getting a ticket and was on my way.

Thats absolutely outrageous! When I encounter one of these roadblocks, I just ride through the coned-off area and sayonara.

IOne of the worst I've encountered recently was the last 80 Kilometres of the road to the Burmese Border at the Three Pagoda's Pass

Which road? The 323 from Sangkhlaburi?

Suzuki GSX-R1000 L3 182 hp in-line 4 Superbike

Yes thats the one went up there in mid May this year (2014)

Some of the surfaces I was below 20KPH it was that bad, and some of the hairpin bends - not so bad going up - but coming down!.

Been riding bikes fifty years (was founder member of the 59 Club so that should give you some idea !!)and still a bit quick !! Have ZZR1100 in UK