lane splitting/sharing/filtering.

[Jett]

CA doesn't have a set speed, but stipulates, "a safe operating speed", so if something happens they can say you weren't traveling at a safe speed.

If they are like the cops here in Oregon they will say you were traveling at an "unsafe" speed no matter what your speed is. Doesn't seem fair but that is just one of the prices we "two wheelers" have to pay.

[Scotzman]

Most the cops in Riverside County (where I see most motorcycle cops), are pretty good with other riders. They'll even wave from time to time and if they do stop you, they love to talk about bikes.

[Jett]

LUCKY!!! The cops here are all douches. Looking for every reason to pull us over. Hopefully if this goes through they will lighten up a bit. I have waved to numerous police and they alway just give me a smug look.

[strat10]

I think I would rather be side swiped than rear ended. Lane splitting FTW! Allthough I'm sure the cagers hate my Terms.

[Jett]

Here in Oregon they have been working on a survey and just recently Oregon decided not to fund the survey. however i have the email address of the Motorcycle Safety Program Manager of Oregon who put together the meeting trying to pass the survey. If you can support the cause will you please email her? You don't have to be from Oregon to support this or email her. We need all the help we can get for this. This could potentially benefit any state. It's Oregon now but it could be you next. The sooner this happens for us the sooner it happens for another state and then another and so on. Please give your support for this, it would be greatly appreciated by ALOT of people.

Her name is Michele O'Leary and her emaill is: Michele.a.Oleary@odot.state.or.us

Thanks and good luck.

[Scotzman]

Orrrrrr, everyone can move to California. 

[ducatiz]

Orrrrrr, everyone can move to California. 

Seems a lot of people are busy moving out...

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/censusstatistic/a/aagoingeast.htm

Meanwhile, my wife is agitating me to move to LA... 

[Grendel]

This isn't a question about legalities or people's attitudes but about the traffic junction/situation.  I filter at the lights when I can see a distinct advantage in doing so and if there is enough space to get up to speed quickly. If I think the lights are going to change to green really soon, or the traffic is flowing well anyway, I don't bother.

But are there junctions and intersections where filtering isn't recommended?

e.g. if I have to turn across an intersection (example, 5 lanes, 2 to turn), because it's not a straight ahead, I don't filter, just in case a cager decides to gun it from the lights going around the corner.

am I a chicken?

what about multi-lane traffic circles (round abouts)? I don't do it there either, because you never know if someone is going to try for a small gap that I wouldn't try for. or which exit they'll leave on. any advice?  do people have an exit strategy when they filter?

[Spidey]

Something that doesn't get talked about a lot with filtering is at a stop.  I HATE being between cars at a stop.  There's no way to deal with a potential rear-endeder.  Lane sharing allows you to be between cars in case someone decides to ran the line-up from behind (which is really common).  The downside is that when the light turns green, you often have to jump into the intersection ahead of the cars that are next to you.  That exposes to you potential red light runners (eek!).  Nonetheless, I can't see what's the downside to allowing sharing--at a minimum--when cars are stopped.

As for people's concerns about lane sharing at higher speeds, I've never understood the concern.  Many people say that they won't lane share over 45 mph.  I don't get that.  I'm much more concerned about lane sharing at 20 mph when people will dart from lane to lane faster than I can react.  That doesn't happen much at higher speeds. 

am I a chicken?

Don't lane share in any situation where you are not comfortable doing it.  Lane sharing is risky, and you have to make your own personal choice about when you want to do it.  There are plenty of situations where I won't lane share where my friends will just zip right through.  As a general rule, you're right to note that sharing is not ideal in situations where there is a lot of cross-traffic or where cars have lots of options as to which direction they're going to go.  It dramatically increases the chance of someone making an error and taking you out.  I doubt I'd share in a traffic circle, for example.  But I'd probably share to the front of the queue in the 5/2 lane situation you described unless there was something about the intersection that riggered my spidey sense.   

[BuBBleman21@!]

i lane split like there is no tomorrow.  when i do it, i glance into each cars rear view mirror to see if the driver is looking. in my experience, the drivers who are staring at me will try to cut me off some how. so far, their reflexes are pretty slow & that is a good thing. speaking of good thing, i love the sound of my exhaust as it echoes off the cars i pass. 

[duc996]

Lane splitting in Manila is legal ,but i don't go crazy doing it coz there's so many idiot cagers out here that scares the shit out of me.Anyway,i go pretty slow splitting lanes here.

[Grendel]

It's not technically legal here (in Canberra, Australia).  But I couldn't be farked sitting at the back of a line of cars like a gimp.

I'm getting better at it, but my route to/from work is good anyway, and there aren't many chances to practice.

[MonsterInDark]

I live in So-Cal in the greater LA area and ive found lane splitting to be my new morning comute hobby.....its the one advantage that we have over the 4 wheelers...not to mention its fun...i just make sure to watch the drivers heads as i approach and if they are talking on phones or rocking out to music i am a little more careful....and my monster has Full remus race exhaust so needless to say its loud as $hit which plays to my advantage because at lower speeds the cars hear me coming and most move over to allow me even MORE space which is un-needed but much appreciated....I would say monsters are the perfect bikes to lane split because of thier seating position and bike width....i can cruise right through traffic with ease...but i cant imagine trying to do it with a big cruiser like a harley electra glide...there would be no space at all....i say legalize it in oregon...it increases incentive to ride a bike...the more people on bikes....the less oil dependency...equals lower gas prices...equals more riding...equals happier world!!! O...and less pollution!

[venomousr1993]

I had a supermoto in Japan (Okinawa) and I would do it everywhere I went.  Filter to the front at lights and ride the breakdown from Nago to Chatan.  The local drivers were very couteous (except SOFA "Y" platers) to motorcycles.  I have done it a few time here in the DC area with the Aprilia Dorsoduro since it is very narrow and zips through traffic well.  The Monster is harder with the Rizoma mirrors flared out.

[uglyducky]

lane splitting is most definitely a god send here in CA however i agree with most of the posts here that, at speed, it can be very dangerous.  i think it puts the rider on the offensive which is good.