| Author | Message | ||
     Bhillberg |
Ok, so the other night on my way home from work at around 1130pm I ran into a traffic jam on I-75 on my X1. It was pretty warm out. It was stop and go for about 8 miles taking me around 40 minutes to get through it. The crappy thing is that there were NO places to get off the interstate and go the back way. My bike was getting pretty hot. My question is, is it "wrong" to use the shoulder if you are on your bike? I know that in some states it is allowed, not in Ohio though. I just wonder what all of you would have done in the same situation. I sat there and kept contemplating it but just rode it out | ||
| Socalbueller |
I'd lane spl... I mean share. I think it is safer than going down the shoulder and not as much crap in between the lanes as on the shoulder. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
lane split | ||
| Bhillberg |
yeah, the lanes were already pretty narrow due to construction. I did think about all the debris on the shoulder though. Either way, I mean I am not doing it to be "better" than everybody else and not sit in the jam, just if I sit forever in there I could actually overheat. I am wondering the view on this among fellow buellers | ||
| Froggy |
Either lane split or turn it off and push. Lately I have been doing the latter because lane splitting uses too much gas. | ||
| Bhillberg |
So you all find it completely acceptable to go ahead and find your way through it? Anybody had any problems with the police doing this? I mean usually at the end of any traffic jam there is going to be some type of LEO. | ||
| Froggy |
Yep I have been busted for it before, but the only time I was caught the officer just gave me a driving over white line, and it was next to nothing with no points. It is legal in California, and thats about it. | ||
| Redefine420 |
Definitely lane split, I see it as a major benefit to taking my bike to work. I came across a squad car twice and luckily I spotted him before he saw me. I still squeaked my way through the section of traffic he was in, just a little less aggressively. After I was out of his sight I continued along my way. I pass 2-3 cars at at time then sneak into a lane, its more of an aggressive weave through traffic. I'm sure I'll get caught one day, but the time and frustration I save is well worth it. | ||
| Chippy |
I usually putt along the breakdown in such situations. I try not to be too annoying and try to keep some air moving over my motor. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Cost worthy rather than wrong. I did that ONCE and never will again. I picked up a nail. Too much garbage on the shoulder. | ||
| Redefine420 |
I never considered riding the shoulder, it's not worth the risk of picking up a nail. | ||
| Jimduncan69 |
Bryan, i live in Piqua we should get together and ride sometime. | ||
| Bhillberg |
sure thing, I am staying in Centerville right now but still have some friends up in that area (Pleasant Hill). I make my way up there pretty regularly. I have found some pretty nice roads down my way now though in the Ceasar's Creek area. We ought to set up a ride sometime with some guys from the Cin-Day corridor. | ||
| Hexangler |
I split lanes/share lanes, but it's legal here in Cali if you use caution. Sometimes I throw caution to the wind... My sister just got the news that her long time friend was killed on his motorcycle last night in San Francisco. Sounded like a hit and run through an intersection. I've had too many bros die from our shared passion. Be Careful Out There. | ||
| Bhillberg |
my big worry about splitting is that some jerk would open his door! | ||
| Hexangler |
Happens, gotta watch for it. Worst are the pickup drivers chewing tobacco, open door to spit. I've avoided this one more than I'd like to remember. | ||
| Bhillberg |
Well I too am an avid chewer, so they could get that in return! | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
my big worry about splitting is that some jerk would open his door! I would worry more about sitting in the traffic and getting rear ended. I have a bright red truck (ram) and it's been rear ended twice sitting in traffic. At least splitting lanes I can avoid most problems. | ||
| Jimduncan69 |
bryan i am riding over to columbus on sunday. going to meet up with wolfridgerider and mikef5000 going to change our oil and head to some event going on in columbus. if you want to ride along let me know. as far as traffic go's i look at it like a game of real life pole position...lol i will either split the lanes or hit the berm. if i hit the berm i keep it pretty slow. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I know to many guys who have ridden on th shoulder and had gotten tickets, everything from driving in the breakdown lane to to illegal passing in the breakdown lane. | ||
| Bhillberg |
Gary, Sure thing, I don't really know what is going on this Sunday but it sounds like that could be it. I will PM you now so that you have my email address and I will check in with you on Saturday at the latest to let you know if I am game. What event are you guys going to? | ||
| Jimduncan69 |
bryan i sent you the particulars. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Here in France the cars & trucks would ease to one side or the other to let you slip through. You wave a hand or foot to say thanks. It's very civilized. | ||
| Doerman |
When I lived in OH I once did some lane splitting in stopped traffic on 275. I had to. I was sick to the stomach and had to get to the next exit. Nope.. that was no excuse for Buford T. Justice who waved me over and proceeded to write me up for a $123 ticket while i was puking in the median. Bastard! | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>Here in France the cars & trucks would ease to one side or the other to let you slip through. << They move over to let motorcycles past on the open road here too. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
"Here in France the cars & trucks would ease to one side or the other to let you slip through. " In Brisbane if I lane split I sometimes get cages closing up the gap so I can't get through. Occasionally someone will give me more space. If I'm in the car I try to keep an eye out for bikes and give them room in heavy traffic. Many car drivers here seem to resent a bikes freedom... until it rains. In a situation like Bhillberg's, I'd go for the shoulder/breakdown lane if the road was in good condition and shoulders reasonably clean. In some really bad traffic jams caused by accidents I have been directed by police to use the breakdown lane (but to take it easy). Lane splitting isn't legal here, but I still do it when traffic is really heavy and/or I'm in a hurry. My general rule is only to do it when traffic is stationary, or maybe walking pace. If traffic starts moving and I hit 40km/h (25mph) I stop splitting. I hate seeing people lane split at speed. That's what I call a Squid  . | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
It's very civilized. In most of the US it is not... There is an unneeded aggressive element to a good portion of our drivers. California is the exception, as long as you do not hold anyone up. It is not uncommon to see people close up a gap spitefully just to prevent another driver/rider from possibly getting ahead. | ||
| Mtch |
i lane split (we call it filtering) in the uk. i only do it if the traffic is stationary, or slow moving (max 10 mph). a lot of drivers will give a gap if they can. i dont filter at high speed, 5 mph is enough. some cities allow bikes and cyclists to use bus lanes as well. on motorways the hard shoulder (breakdown lane) is only used in an emergency. if im at the tail end of traffic i always make sure there is a gap in front of me or i will go over toward the hard shoulder and use it as an escape route if some idiot behind doesn't stop quickly enough | ||
| Vampress |
I would agree with Lemonchili on all points, except I don't split at all. I would use a shoulder if it's clear or our rather ample bicycle lanes. There are plenty of rude jealous drivers here who are only too happy to pull in front to close a gap when they see you coming. Same applies to merging unfortunately. I don't trust drivers. They don't all do it intentionally either, some are just inattentive knobs! | ||
| Ducbsa |
some are just inattentive knobs! Some? In the US, it seems like a requirement. | ||
| Ratbuell |
You couldn't pay me to split lanes, but maybe that's just because most of my road exposure has been DC and it's suburbs (and the sometimes-ugly "me first" attitudes). I'll key-off and sit before splitting. Shoulder? Depends on the situation and location. AFAIK, in some states, you can make a legit case for having an air cooled motor and needing to keep moving in order to keep the vehicle in operating condition. | ||
| Ulynut |
Lane split. The only "trouble" I've had was when some guy in a new style Beetle opened his door in front of me. This guy would make Richard Simmons look macho. He got out, put his hands on his hips and started telling me off, waving his finger around every once in a while for effect. Flower print pants and all. I would have been pretty pissed if it wasn't so funny, and I wasn't the only one laughing, everyone who saw it was hysterical. When the "guy" noticed, he just got back in his car and pouted. I literally could not ride my bike I was laughing so hard. I laugh every time I think of it. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Don't lane split in Florida...the guys in the Smokey the Bear hats get all wonky over stuff like that.... Or wheelies...thats another story...(hint) if you like your bike...keep the front wheel on the ground around officers of the law in Florida. | ||
| Ted |
sooner or later a biker will go by either on the shoulder or lane splitting. i wait & give him a 1/4mile, then do the same. |
