187 replies to this topic

[folsombound]

Here are some bottom lines:

1. It is legal
2. It is safe most of the time - rice burners sometimes are not.
3. Car drivers hate it because they are jealous they cant do it
4. Most motorcycle cops do it
5. MC riders are mostly responsible defensive drivers unlike many car drivers.
6. As others say it keeps the heat down by keeping the movement.
7. MC riders get there faster.
8. It beats sitting behind a diesel- ( referring to the poster that suggested it puts exhaust into their car)

9. For those that think they get Scared of the noise- get off your phone !

and number 10 - Jay Leno does it

Cheers
F500

quote]9. For those that think they get Scared of the noise- get off your phone !

[mylo]

It's legal to lane split. Anyone that tries to block it is being a reckless/hazardous driver and deserves immediate execution. Studded gloves suffice as a lesson.

[ducky]

I don't have a problem with lane splitting. I do worry about the motorcyclists I see doing it. I'd never be brave enough to try that because it looks so dangerous. As resumelady said, it's very hard to see them sometimes if they're running up the lanes too fast and you're on a curve. If I do see them I move over.

I don't understand the people that try and squeeze in so the motorcycle can't go by. It's just mean. It's not really hurting you if they're ahead a little bit.

[Nancy]

I think some people just don't realize it's legal. I remember overhearing a conversation at a party, and this friend of a friend (a grown man in his 30s by the way) honestly believed and argued that lane-splitting is illegal.

I don't mind it at all when it's done safely, but I do worry about them getting hurt by some jerk down the lane or inadvertantly by someone (or me) who just didn't see them.

Nancy

[Darth Lefty]

Wow, lots of mutual fear and loathing in this thread...

Lane splitting isn't legal hardly anywhere except CA. But as long as it is, I'll do it rather than sit in traffic. And isn't that the crux? You hear lots of rationalization on either side: It's dangerous! I need air cooling! But the most common complaint from drivers boils down to, "It's not fair."

Drive offensively, it's the AADA Way!

[Bill Z]

Wow, lots of mutual fear and loathing in this thread...

Lane splitting isn't legal hardly anywhere except CA. But as long as it is, I'll do it rather than sit in traffic. And isn't that the crux? You hear lots of rationalization on either side: It's dangerous! I need air cooling! But the most common complaint from drivers boils down to, "It's not fair."

Drive offensively, it's the AADA Way!

It's legal in Japan and South Korea. I haven't been to Europe other than Finland and I wasn't there long enough to learn the rules with regards to motorcycles.

[Revolutionist]

It's legal in Japan and South Korea. I haven't been to Europe other than Finland and I wasn't there long enough to learn the rules with regards to motorcycles.

lanes don't mean anything in mexico, therefore lane splitting is legal by default

[Darth Lefty]

A biker is riding by the zoo, when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly

A reporter has seen the whole scene, and addressing the biker, says "Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole life." "Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right." "Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist, you know, and tomorrow's papers will have this on the first page. What motorcycle do you ride?"

"A Harley Davidson."

The journalist leaves. The following morning the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on front page: BIKER GANG ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT, STEALS HIS LUNCH.

[Bill Z]

A biker is riding by the zoo, when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly

A reporter has seen the whole scene, and addressing the biker, says "Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole life." "Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right." "Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist, you know, and tomorrow's papers will have this on the first page. What motorcycle do you ride?"

"A Harley Davidson."

The journalist leaves. The following morning the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on front page: BIKER GANG ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT, STEALS HIS LUNCH.

Pretty Funny,




but doesn't this belong on the joke thread,






my bad, I meant the one about all newspapers having a liberal slant.

[Darth Lefty]

One more clarification if anyone wants it. Lane splitting is only implicitly legal. There's just no law against it. There are no rules on the books about it - nothing about what speed you can do it, or how much faster than traffic you can go, or how wide your bike can be. Nothing prevents two vehicles of any kind from sharing a lane, and that's what would be needed to specifically outlaw or allow it.

That said, the way you do it needs to not break any explicit laws. That means keeping on the white dashed lines, mostly. Passing on the outside of all lanes will get you written up for passing on the right or driving off the road. Going too fast gets you speeding or reckless driving. There are some odd cases that I've never seen a good explanation - like can you split between two left turn lanes? What happens at metered on ramps? If you ask a cop you'll only get his opinion, not a definitive answer.

Most of my splitting right now is on Folsom between Nimbus and Natoma Station. The light at Iron Point cycles fast enough that stopped traffic usually is moving again before I can get to the light. Merging back into traffic that's coming up to speed is way scarier than the splitting itself.

I have a narrow bike. I have a loud pipe and like it that way. Even when not splitting I tend to hug the lines, because it's safer to be out of the direct path of the cars. I don't carry a length of pipe or ball bearings or 5/8 nuts and I've never knocked off a mirror. I have bumped a truck mirror once or twice but it was nothing deliberate and I signaled my shame and apology. I don't pass a big truck unless it is completely stopped. I don't think I've ever had anyone try to hurt me. I've had people try to squeeze me out at crawling speed but... like I said it's a narrow bike.

[FolsomFrogGuy]

Been there dude, when splitting lanes on the 405 fwy in L.A. they don't like that you're getting somewhere and they're not, so they try and do the squeeze, ...get close to the car next to them so that there's no gap
I only split lanes when its safe and traffic is at a crawl or stopped all together - usually when coming up to stop lights or when there is a traffic jam on the freeway. I don't do it here in town at all.
and I know there are fools who split lanes while traffic is ALREADY going fast enuf, and there are fools who split lanes at top speed while traffic is stopped or going slow - those are the guys who are going to get killed someday
but it IS possible to split lanes safely and its a nice benefit for us motorcyclists, the rider just has to have the brains to do it the right way and hope there aren't any ahole drivers who get bent when bikers do that around
to the folks who try and squeeze us out because they're pissed we're passing them - they just have to deal with it - its our right as bikers

I can't imagine being mad at you for it...I often wish I was on a bike at the time. Except, of course as MSgt suggested, those that rocket past me, especially when the window is down. I'll always move to the side to give them the space... Is it true that lane splitters ride at their own risk legally? Of course barring any maliciousness by drivers such as the one Chris described.

[Andrea V]

I always mover over for lane splitters!!

I like loud bikes because then I can HEAR them, even when I can't see them.

I lane split. Do you (well the some of you who want to open your door when I go by, or squeeze in while I am there) really think you should try to KILL me because I legally Lane Split?

[Bill Z]

One more clarification if anyone wants it. Lane splitting is only implicitly legal. There's just no law against it. There are no rules on the books about it - nothing about what speed you can do it, or how much faster than traffic you can go, or how wide your bike can be. Nothing prevents two vehicles of any kind from sharing a lane, and that's what would be needed to specifically outlaw or allow it.

That said, the way you do it needs to not break any explicit laws. That means keeping on the white dashed lines, mostly. Passing on the outside of all lanes will get you written up for passing on the right or driving off the road. Going too fast gets you speeding or reckless driving. There are some odd cases that I've never seen a good explanation - like can you split between two left turn lanes? What happens at metered on ramps? If you ask a cop you'll only get his opinion, not a definitive answer.

Most of my splitting right now is on Folsom between Nimbus and Natoma Station. The light at Iron Point cycles fast enough that stopped traffic usually is moving again before I can get to the light. Merging back into traffic that's coming up to speed is way scarier than the splitting itself.

I have a narrow bike. I have a loud pipe and like it that way. Even when not splitting I tend to hug the lines, because it's safer to be out of the direct path of the cars. I don't carry a length of pipe or ball bearings or 5/8 nuts and I've never knocked off a mirror. I have bumped a truck mirror once or twice but it was nothing deliberate and I signaled my shame and apology. I don't pass a big truck unless it is completely stopped. I don't think I've ever had anyone try to hurt me. I've had people try to squeeze me out at crawling speed but... like I said it's a narrow bike.

You are right, it's not in the CA Vehicle code.

But on the CHP website here http://www.chp.ca.go...ml/answers.html

It says:"Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner."

[Good2bme]

I've never really understood why people get so upset about lane splitting. It seems to me that it really boils down to car drivers just being mad that the rider is able to move while the driver is stuck sitting in traffic. It seems that drivers think, "Hey, no fair...he's cutting in line."

Regarding safety - when done cautiously, I believe lane splitting to be safer than sitting behind the line of cars in stop and go traffic. Ever notice how many rear-end accidents there are in stop/go traffic? I would MUCH rather take my chances riding between cars at a safe speed where I can see what's going on in front of me and judge whether it's safe to proceed than be a sitting duck in a line of cars waiting to get smashed into by the cell-phone yacker in the car behind me.

For those who are talking about bikes "whipping past", "roaring by", etc...well, those people are not lane splitting safely or legally. Since those people are already breaking the law, what good would making lane-splitting illegal really accomplish? I see lots of people speeding through residential areas and driving like jerks on the roads, so do you think reducing residential speed limits from 25 to 15 mph would stop them? Of course not. People who ride or drive without regard to the law are not going to suddenly decide to obey the law if a more constraining law is passed.

[Dave Burrell]

Lane Splitting 101

http://www.whybike.com/motorcycle5.htm
http://www.motorcycl...g-101-3338.html
http://www.ketchum.org/ls101.html
http://www.bike-law....e-Splitting.asp