A Friday night undermybed.dk

Here is a post for the summer holidays on motorcycle. When travelling on a motorbike you enjoy the advantages of easy/free parking and less vulnerability to traffic jams, but the rules differ within the Union.

Lanesplitting: To avoid traffic jams you can travel between the lanes e.g. on the motorway, this is called “lanesplitting.” This is not allowed in Denmark, but it is in Holland. Riding in the emergency lane is not allowed in DK and NL, but it is widely practiced in Germany, although I suspect it is illegal. Nomatter what, lanesplitting in probably very dangerous.

Parking: Parking on the sidewalks is not allowed in Denmark, but I’ve never been fined for doing it, when the bike is parked so that it does not occupy the “main part of the sidewalk.” (You’ll have to figure the exact meaning of this out for yourself.) Otherwise the rules below also apply to Denmark.

I’m also very interested in the rules in Norway, but have no information yet… (according to the Wikipedia entry on Lanesplitting it is allowed)

 (Danske tags: motorcykel, kø, trafikprop, kørsel mellem vognbaner, kørsel mellem biler,  kørsel i nødsporet, parkering, fortov, betaling)

From Timberwoof’s Motorcycle FAQ:

Lanesplitting

Most countries allow lanesplitting, as long as the speed difference does not exceed 20km/h (12MPH) and traffic in the lanes is not traveling faster than 40km/h (25MPH).

Germany is the only country (as far as I know) that has a ruling about it. It is recommended that when lanesplitting to do this between the leftmost lane and the lane beside it. In case of an accident the lanesplitting vehicle is seen as the offending party unless it can be proved (witness or police report) that the non-lanesplitting vehicle or person (in the case of someone opening their door as you come along) did not apply due caution.The Netherlands also have a ruling on lanesplitting, where, in case of collision, blame is divided 50/50 between both parties, unless reckless driving can be ascertained. Otherwise same rules as Germany.

Parking

Few places have dedicated motorcycle parking areas, and they are not all easy to find. According to one source, in general the following “rules” apply:

• No parking in a car parking spot unless you park two or more motorcycles in that spot.
• Parking your bike on the sidewalk or road side is allowed as long as the bike does not pose a hindrance to passing (pedestrian) traffic.

According to another source, bikes may occupy car spots, as long as they pay the parking meter. They may also share car spots with a car already there, for free, assuming car drived has fed the meter, but if the meter runs out then bike will get ticketed with car (this is certainly the case in London).