| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
http://americanmotorcyclist.com/Home/News-Story/ca lifornia-becomes-first-state-to-legally-recognize- lane-splitting One down, 49 to go... | ||
| Darth_villar |
I would love to be able to do this in Arizona... but I still can't understand how two vehicles can legally occupy the same space. | ||
| Readyxb |
There's another benefit - for air-cooled engines. I was stuck in downtown Atlanta traffic... middle of summer... hardly moving 5 mph, for over 30 minutes. The check engine light starts rapidly flashing due to no air flow over the engine. At that point, there are only three options: cut the engine and push, speed up, or let the engine and oil cook. Yes, our v-twins are tough, but the light flashes for a reason. In that situation, lane splitting would have allowed me to outpace the crawl of traffic and keep the engine cooled. | ||
| Jaimec |
They don't. But on most roads, especially those with commercial traffic, there is enough room between the lanes for even a GoldWing to easily pass through. Not so much for our parkways here in the Northeast. They were never designed with tractor trailers in mind so the lanes are uncomfortably narrow for any but the smallest bikes (without saddlebags). | ||
| Midknyte |
There are advantages but I'm not a fan. I've had enough of cars cutting into my lane space, especially while passing or sneaking by on a turn. We are entitled to the same space as a car by law. I don't need or want a law that teaches them I need less space. | ||
| Griffmeister |
Too scary around here. When there's enough traffic to utilize lane splitting, all you see is cars changing lanes suddenly with no signal, riding the line or cutting into the slow vehicle lane or entrance ramps to jump ahead a few cars and cut in when they run out of room. Not to mention the propensity of blonds on the road. | ||
| H0gwash |
Traditionally, lane splitting in CA has been "permitted" if the bike does not exceed surrounding car traffic by more than 10 mph and the motorcycle's top speed doesn't exceed 40mph. This kind of lanesplitting is common all over CA, and I find it generally safe, even with my super huge saddlebags, and even though car drivers don't always signal sudden lane changes in suburban and rural areas. I don't always lanesplit but when I do it is slow and I watch the front wheels of cars about 1 car length in front of me when I do to see if they suddenly turn towards me. During rush hour in the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles traffic nightmares lanesplitting can be very aggressive and usually waaay exceeds the recommended speed limits. When I ride through heavy urban areas on the bike, I have to check my mirrors to be sure there aren't 3 sportbikes stuck behind me as I lanesplit slowly. That is a bit nervewracking, and accidents here are more common and when a bike goes down traffic does not improve if the biker can't immmediately get back up and ride away hiding his embarrassment in his helmet. | ||
| Ourdee |
Lived in England for 3+ years. You can get a ticket for not filtering there. I have been rear ended in Indiana while riding. Illegal lane splitting has saved me before and most likely will again. More states need to get on board, at least do the safety research. Illinois has specific laws and penalties for aggressive automobile on motorcycle road rage. Needs to allow for preemptive accident avoidance through lane splitting. For a state that gets so many things wrong, CA got this one right. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I can't imagine lane splitting here in the Baltimore/DC metro area. It's already dangerous enough on the roads without further confusing drivers. | ||
| Teeps |
Darth_villar Posted on Friday, August 19, 2016 but I still can't understand how two vehicles can legally occupy the same space. Lane sharing was a gray area of the vehicle code in CA. in that sharing a lane was never specified. I.E. two motorcycles could ride side by side and it was neither legal nor illegal, therefore a car and a moto occupying the same real estate was treated the same. I've filtered for over 40 years here in CA (yeah I know I'm nuts to have stayed here all my life, but that's a different story) and never even gotten so much as a second glance by the police. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Back in the 70s, I was stationed on Treasure Island, in the middle of the Oakland Bay bridge to SF. I shared a flat on Haight Street and my roomy and I would leave the base at the same time a lot. He had a truck, I had a 650 twin Yamaha. I would be just starting my 2nd beer when he got in. Love lane splitting. Z | ||
| Zane |
Lane splitting in Houston traffic? I don't flippin' think so. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I have always watched the drivers' faces in their left side mirrors. If I can't see their eyes, I'm not splitting next to them until I do. I wouldn't even try to split lanes in Georgia, the drivers here are WAY too retarded to comprehend the idea. | ||
| Mcgiver |
I do when I need to, but it is NOT fun! It wears you down being on constant threat alert. | ||
| Jaimec |
Here in New York it is not legal, but you see people doing it anyway. One year on my way to work I was stuck on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in a complete standstill. I was also right next to a NYC Police Car... so... I just sat. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the cop staring at me, so I ventured a glance in his direction. He waved his arm in an unmistakable gesture to go between the lanes. I didn't need any more encouragement than that. I was only puttering along around 15-20 mph, but that was 15-20 mph faster than anyone else was going that morning. Once I got past the toll booths for the tunnel traffic actually started to move again. And that's the thing: Lane splitting doesn't mean doing the speed limit between slowly moving cars... it means puttering along, keeping in motion but always realizing that something COULD get in your path and block your way. That's why you DON'T ride fast, but you do keep moving. Even the most fuel efficient vehicle is getting 0mpg when idling in traffic. | ||
| K12pilot |
I am with Jamie, I commuted from Long Island City for a year from Staten Island 22.7 miles from my house. 1 Hr there & 2Hrs home in my truck. When I take the bike I AM NOT sitting in that SHIT!!!! Still 45min in 1hr home!! I mostly commute on my dual sport urban assault BMW. Medians, barriers, curbs nothing sops her!!! I have a stretch of service/access road near me about 4 miles long & can be bumper to bumper dead 20 min to sit in that. I have been on the sidewalk several times there.  On my other bikes NON commuting, moving traffic I filter myself safely through And that's the thing: Lane splitting doesn't mean doing the speed limit between slowly moving cars... it means puttering along, keeping in motion but always realizing that something COULD get in your path and block your way. That's why you DON'T ride fast, but you do keep moving. ^^ True Dat^^ (Message edited by k12pilot on August 20, 2016) | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
I was enroute to Barber when I hit dead traffic as far as the eye could see. I sat there in 98* heat watching my temp gauge rise then I thought wtf am I doing? I'm on a motorcycle and an adventure bike no less. I wondered why the people in the cars next to me were giving me the " what a tucking idiot" look. I eased over to the side of the road and hit it. Five minutes later I'm the leader if the pack. Some car had caught in fire and shut both lanes down. I just rode around everything and continued my journey. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
You should see Paris for lane splitting. | ||
| Ducley |
Ok. Correct me if I am wrong. When the CHP and DMV decided a few years ago to acquiesce to what was already going on they specced a few "rules". This was in the DMV manual not in the vehicle code. Never pass at over 10mph greater than the next adjoining lane. Weaving back and forth across the stripe is not acceptable. Sharing the same lane is what is "acceptable." 35mph is the maximum acceptable speed for lane splitting. Once greater than this speed a rider shall get back in line. There may be one or two others. Getting busted for not following these rules is a "reckless driving" judgement call by the LEO. When I read the rules I realized that's how I was already doing it. Not sure if it was/is a rule but I would always lane split in the right side of the far left lane(the #1). Standard lane width in CA is 12 feet on State Routes, US Routes and Interstates. (Message edited by Ducley on August 21, 2016) (Message edited by Ducley on August 21, 2016) | ||
| Teeps |
The CHP can always pull out the "Unsafe Card" and apply it to any otherwise legal motoring activity. So, just because lane splitting has been blessed, it can still be made illegal at the whim of the officer... | ||
| Tootal |
When riding in LA I loved the ability to lane split. You just have to concentrate on everybody's front wheel. I even rode behind a CHP officer who was lane splitting, great way to get around! I really like pulling up to red lights and going to the front of the line between cars. You can take off when the light changes instead of waiting till somebody finishes posting on Facebook! | ||
| Mcgiver |
When on Ca. freeways, just jump in behind Highway patrol motorcops and let them lead the way. You would be amased at how much room you get!  | ||
| 86129squids |
"When riding in LA I loved the ability to lane split. You just have to concentrate on everybody's front wheel. I even rode behind a CHP officer who was lane splitting, great way to get around! I really like pulling up to red lights and going to the front of the line between cars. You can take off when the light changes instead of waiting till somebody finishes posting on Facebook!" Brilliant observations. (a) On a motorcycle you have a great ability to jump ahead, what was once called "jackrabbitting" I'd say it's a useful tool to us surviving MC'ists. (b) ALWAYS watch the front wheels of vehicles ahead. Watch their lines of travel with the painted freeway lines too. Matthew also said to look for their mirrors, to see if they're looking... (c) Watch how the LEO's, truckers, and professional drivers do it. People generally put down truck drivers- not me, I know that most are the best drivers out there. (d) Keep your eyes moving, head on a swivel. I'd LOVE to be able to filter/lane split, as long as the cagers knew how to play along and be nice. I'm in TN. I know the odds of that.  (Message edited by 86129squids on August 22, 2016) | ||
| Pwnzor |
Mcgiver! Haven't seen you around in a hot minute... I'm in Georgia now, are you still there in Mission Viejo? Tell Judy and Mike I said "hey!" | ||
| Teeps |
Mcgiver Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2016 - When on Ca. freeways, just jump in behind Highway patrol motorcops and let them lead the way. You would be amased at how much room you get Never followed the CHP motor splitting lanes; they go much faster than I'm comfortable. Plus, cops I know say they don't like to be tailed... | ||
| Sparky |
I always lane split with the high beam on to raise my conspicuity up a level. On the stalled freeways that seems to work like magic with motorists moving out of the way even slightly. Also when I'm in the car in the stalled or slow moving carpool lane and I catch a cyclist in the mirror coming up, I move the car over and invariably will get a thumbs up or wave from him. Just paying forward a little courtesy promoting some goodwill to our kind. | ||
| Airbozo |
"Ok. Correct me if I am wrong. When the CHP and DMV decided a few years ago to acquiesce to what was already going on they specced a few "rules". This was in the DMV manual not in the vehicle code." There have never been any sort of published guidelines by the DMV. However, several years ago the CHP published their own guidelines on the CHP website which were taken down after several people threatened a lawsuit. After that, a southern California Senator, introduced a bill that would have made lane splitting illegal and the CHP immediately came out against it and it died before going for a vote. Then a few years later, several universities initiated safety studies and found that lane splitting is safer than not due mainly to rear end collisions (you have a better chance of being killed by getting rear ended and crushed between two cars). The bill that recently passed was modified to remove any restrictions originally found in the bill, instead leaving the regulations up to the CHP. Who know more about it than some politician. I was being followed by a CHP motorcycle cop while lane splitting during my commute home on HWY 17 one day. I pulled aver as soon as possible to let him pass and instead he pulled in next to me and asked me to jump in front of him again. He was using me as a shield to bust folks on their phones and others not using seat belts. He would radio ahead and there were 2 other CHP officers, picking the offenders out of traffic and giving them tickets. I have been lane splitting for many many years and at times it can be dangerous. Yes you have to pay attention, but after many years I pretty much know when someone is going to change lanes, before they do. You can always see it in their eyes. Only twice have I ever had anyone purposely cut me off or try to prevent me from passing (which is specifically illegal and has been for some time). One lady opened her door on me during a morning commute. Too bad she didn't notice the CHP 2 cars behind her. Watched her get pulled over and given a ticket. The second time was a guy that tried to throw coffee on me and instead soaked the guy in the car next to me (again, I was watching his mirror and saw him raise the cup to the ready, which allowed me to brake at the last moment). It was funny to watch the guy that got soaked, run the other driver off the road and as I passed he was getting out of his vehicle to have a chat with him. I waved to show my support... OH, and it kind of bugs me when people say it was technically not illegal. It has always been legal, they just confirmed it to cease the questions and complaints by those who wanted it stopped and to "legally" write the rules around it. | ||
| Teeps |
Sparky Posted on Monday, August 22, 2016 - I always lane split with the high beam on to raise my conspicuity up a level. On the stalled freeways that seems to work like magic with motorists moving out of the way even slightly. I've never tried the high beam tactic. But, next time I'm out I'm going to give it a try. | ||
| Airbozo |
BTW: One thing that has helped all motorcyclists here in California is the "Look Twice for Motorcycles" messages on the freeway signs and PSA's by the CHP on television reminding everyone to look for motorcycles. That has been a huge help to get others thinking about those of us on 2 wheels... | ||
| Ducley |
I stand corrected. Looks like they are frowning on it now. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/af13374c -aa57-4f2b-9ac9-aa3fdc419cc9/dl665.pdf?MOD=AJPERES | ||
| Robertl |
Even if legal in all states, not sure I could do it given the increase in road rage incidents here. A friend posted the article on Facebook and someone immediately commented "you are cutting in line". That's exactly the kind of person I worry about running me off the road or shooting me. When I lived in Dallas, I saw people do it at red lights and it made sense as does it when traffic is completely stopped. See a rider do it every once in a while here in FL but usually at interstate speeds and going in excess of 80 mph. Driving on the Interstate scares me in a SUV and I am usually terrified on my bike with people passing me on both sides, cutting across 3 or 4 lanes at a time, using the exit/entrance ramps for passing lanes, etc. Way too many nuts jobs out there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHbh2l9eoHE http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/car-runs-over- couple-s-motorcycle-shocking-road-rage-caught-n583 386 http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/04/13/woman-pulls- out-gun-during-road-rage-fight-tampa-florida-viral -video I remember as a kid when we traveled from La to east Tx, people there would move over on the shoulder to let you pass them. Just don't see that kindness these days. | ||
| Airbozo |
"Even if legal in all states, not sure I could do it given the increase in road rage incidents here." There used to be a similar attitude here until the CHP ran some ad's reminding people it was legal and helped reduce traffic. Some people still have issues with it, but they are few and far between. I've been in a cage all but a few times this year and I have seen a couple folks refuse to move over to let motorcycles pass. a couple of those folks now have to replace broken mirrors. I even saw a guy in a truck chew some lady out for not allowing a motorcycle to pass. This was during a stop and go traffic mess a couple of weeks ago. She moved over for the next bike. Where I live (a windy mountain road), the locals know to use turn outs to allow faster traffic to pass. All the new people up there are still learning that unspoken rule. Funny that it is the big work trucks pushing the newbies off the road and not the high performance cars (who tend not to be douches). In 15 years I have had to flash my lights barely a dozen times to "remind" folks to use a turnout if they cannot keep up. Lately it seems like I have to do it several times each day. Seriously, if you are afraid of curvy roads, why the hell would you move up into the mountains? |
