Ducati Monster Forum

Hello all,

i was out on the freeway and the traffic was gridlocked as usual..maybe 5-10 + mph (405 freeway california, worst freeway on earth.. but thats another topic)

Here in california its legal to split lanes, so the cyclists here take full advantage.

For me at least splitting lanes going 20, 30 + miles an hour while cars are going under 15, changing lanes, stop n go etc. is an extremely harrowing experience..

My opinion of it is that, basically, you've gotta be on your game..

So i wonder what are some of your habits to be more cautious and safe??

i tend to revv a lot more, as well as use my high beams(is that a jerk move?)..even still i find i dont blink at all while doing this! :)

Also.. if i can find a giant harley with huge pipes or a bike cop to follow = win

In my 2 years living in Chile, this was almost a daily exercise of paranoia. I always tried to stay to the left of the fast lane to avoid someone from trying to switch lanes. I also limited my lane splitting to when there was real gridlock, i.e. cars going around 10 mph.

I usually go 40 mph when I split on the 405 between LAX and Brentwood every morning. Its always dead stop traffic there. When I split, I have the mentality that someone will ALWAYS cross the double yellow and I scan ahead and anticipate that happening. Hands resting on the clutch and brakes. I've always had luck following the CHP bike or following all the loud as hell Honda Yamaha and Suzuki bikes. Also don't speed up when another biker is behind you just let them pass. I always put my high beams on.

Don't do this:

It's not a crash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4A3OELX8JU&feature=youtu.be#)

^^ how do you even....... [shot]

If i can get to the double yellow to the right of the carpool lane i always feel a little better, but even then when it ends (to allow merging) i've had a couple close calls.

I always try and keep it no more than 15 miles above the current traffic flow, and if someones behind i gladly let them pass and follow!

Thankfully i havent taken off anyones sideview mirror yet  [beer] ..

Remember that when you change your clipons from below the triple to above you come back into contact with car mirrors and no longer fit into every small space you used to.  [bang]

15 years I rode full time in SoCal.  Had a car I rarely used, mostly due to traffic congestion.  I have always called lane splitting "Steel Pinball".

These are my simple rules for living through it.

1. No need to go too quickly as the math on speeding only works out on long trips.

2. If there is a spot half a car can fit into, assume they will try but only if it seems like the lane they want to move into is going faster.

3. Watch for the "attitude" of the drivers ahead of you. The lane constant changers are a threat so are the distracted drivers. 

4. Watch the heads and shoulders of the drivers you are approaching, helps you spot the idiots above.

5. Once a year you will run into someone that tries to scare you on purpose.  It's okay to kill them.

6. A lot of people that are stuck in their cars and commuting hate you.  Watch out for them intentionally shutting down the gap you are riding.  If they are staring in their rear view mirror while they do it please reference item number 5.

7. Last but not least ignore rule five because you will go to jail or be killed.  Don't kick mirrors or throw crap at people as it never changes their behavior and only makes them deadlier to the next guy/gal on a bike.

Good luck and be careful.   [thumbsup]
 

This ^^   [thumbsup]

Even when im in a car, there have been plenty of times i look right/left to merge, see an opening, turn signal, prepare to move, and all of the sudden... ZOOOOOM goes a motorcyclist!!

! think of this often while driving  :-\ especially because, on different day i'm that motorcyclist!!

and never having known, it could've gone "bad" in a blink of an eye.

.. and of course there are plenty of drivers who dont think to look when merging.. they just see an opening and go. I've been guilty of the same  [bang]

I recall splitting lanes down the 405 and a pick up truck in the carpool lane pulled out and stopped in the middle of the double yellow. To avoid a head on collision I quickly turned right and ended up splitting between an 18 wheeler and a uhaul truck. Both were bad situations.

Double yellows have no meaning.

I've personally only split lanes when the traffic is stopped/under 10mph and I would do 15/20 max (just to get air moving thru the engine and not burn my b****). It wasn't worth the risk.

Things to note:
The newer cars are pretty damn well insulated for noise, the person inside can't hear your bike. Even if you are on a harley (the primary sound waves are travelling in the wrong direction). And it is highly likely, there is music blasting off the persons 1000W audio system!

The people stuck in traffic generally are not expecting someone to be passing them at 2 or 3 times their speed when they are barely moving. (It might be a different situation in CA where it is an everyday thing)

Not everyone driving on 405 is from there. They might have never seen stopped traffic on the interstate!
I've swerved all over the place wondering why cars are moving at 2 mph on a highway with a 75 mph speed limit  [bang]

WTF did I just see? :o

totally agree with all the points. definitely watch out for the rule number 2. seems to be happening all the time in my experience. especially if you have van or truck in front, they seem to keep gap before them that you might not see, but the driver on the different lane will and will try to move into. They usually so happy to find the gap they forget to look at the mirror :-) Also don't forget blind spot, despite that you next to the car, some people fail to see you. if you have to slow down as the gap in front too narrow , try to stay in the "mirror"

I've found if I give people time to see me, they give me room.  usually.  at least in OC.  I can't speak for the rest of the state.  LA County not so much.  wearing a hi viz vest has seemed to help people see me sooner.

Don't be in a rush.  if you're rushing AND splitting?  recipe for disaster.

Watch for people's heads and front tires.  Those will usually turn before they initiate their lane change.

Ditto what was said above about a gap in traffic.  Don't assume someone wont cross the DY.

This is a great thread!

I agree with most of what people have said, but want to add extra caution when you're on the double yellow.. in my experience, when people change in and out of the carpool lane crossing the double yellow they tend to do so a little more aggressively than usual.

I always try to be caution when splitting, but even more so on the double yellow just for that reason.

I probably don't need to mention this, but that "no zone" that they talk about in motorcycle safety classes, which is basically all 360 degrees around big semi-trucks - I always stay away from those guys when splitting.

As a good gesture too, I try to create some good will between bikes and cagers by making sure to say thanks whenever someone goes out of their way to give me room. They need to share the road, but we need to realize that the road doesn't belong to us, as much as we'd like to think so!

Ride safe everyone!

PS drivers in LA county (10/405/101) seem to be less friendly than other places

I had a Sh!t my pants moment today this morning. A truck on the N 405 wanted to make it into the carpool before the double yellow started again so he thought it was smart to cut me off. It was such a sudden merge with no warning. 

yea, I think moves like that on or right before the double yellows are more likely than in other places.

I agree.. although unfortunately sometimes the opposite is true: cars going out of there way to close the gap. Maybe they want us to be stuck in gridlock like the rest of them .. [bang]

Also, might be good to point out to keep in mind when merging onto the white/yellow from behind a car. Once i had a close call with another rider zooming through , so i look twice before jumping in between cars. :)

CRG Lane Split mirrors - tucked in, of course.

No worries if traffic is bumper to bumper, but WATCH OUT ! for gaps between cars. That's the only time they can cut you off- unless, of course, somebody throws the door open before you pass by...... [Dolph]

People in the OC are much better about moving for lane splitting. People in LA not so much, and in fact, I've had people actually turn their car into the open space. Not often, and there some people who move if there's not enough room, but the stupid stuff I've encountered in LA I haven't in the OC.

I always gesture to people who move out of the way as well.

There are a lot of HOV lanes on the 405 freeway so I would take advantage of them whenever possible.  I would also advise keeping your speed within 10-15mph of the speed traffic is moving and scan mirrors and front wheels along with turn signals.  If there is a big gap, use it until you come up on more slow traffic, this gives you more time to react if a car decides to come over into that gap.

You definitely have to be alert when splitting but I feel that if it is done safely that you are actually better off than if you were just another vehicle in stop and go traffic.

Pick Up truck almost took me out when I was splitting lanes on the 405 couple of days ago. How close you ask? Well he hit my bar end mirror ! He didn't notice that I was coming down the middle nor did he notice that he was crossing the double yellow. My friend was following me on his bike and all I heard on the Blutooth was "Holy Sh!t" multiple times. Be careful out there !

I had a car clip me while lane splitting a few months ago.  I was riding along slightly faster than the flow of traffic which was moving along at a very slow 10-15mph.  I was passing a car that was in the left lane and had a gap to my right that I didn't move into when I see this black sedan just start coming over into the side of me.  His passenger door mirror caught my handlebar and since I was going faster than he was it jerked the bar to the left which cause the bike to go right and away from him.  I didn't go down luckily.  Bent my bar end mirror and my shoulder was a little sore from the bar being jerked away from my right hand.

I don't "lane share" until traffic drops below 40 mph, and I don't go above 10 mph faster than the traffic.   If it's dead stopped, I go 10 mph.  At least I'm still moving. I also go to the front of the queue on any red light (when there are 2 or more lanes), better than being ass packed by some inattentive dolt. If there's only 1 lane I watch my 6 until the car behind me is completely stopped.  Lane sharing should be allowed everywhere. It's ridiculous that it isn't.

Good plan, fixed the weak spot for ya  ;D