why lane splitting is good for everyone

[KnightofNi]

i know not everyone agrees with the safety aspect, but I actually do.

and yes, it's by bikers so it's going to be biased.

How and Why Motorcycle Lane Splitting is Safe and Good - RideApart

[roggie]

good find!

i just read a similar article in MCN news the other day. too bad it will be ages before michigan (or most states) would adopt this practice...

[d3vi@nt]

Interesting.  Those guys put a lot more faith in American drivers than I do.

Am I alone in thinking that drawing conclusions from a 30+ year old survey might be a little misguided?

[JohnEE]

Am I alone in thinking that drawing conclusions from a 30+ year old survey might be a little misguided?

If anything the percentages would go up for bikes that are rear ended by distracted drivers. It's never going to happen as drivers still wouldn't get the fact that lane splitting saves THEM time also. And states don't have changing a major transportation law on their agenda. //end minor dumb cager rant//

[kopfjäger]

Lane splitting Los Angeles

[OT]

At first I was thinking about the SOBs who would see bikes coming in their mirrors and wait to pop them as they passed; and then I realized the error in my reasoning.....no one ever looks in their mirrors.  

[hbliam]

Splitting LA: A good amount of people move over for you. Except Prius drivers. No idea why they are all so dense. And you rarely see splitting like that guy was doing in the #3, #4 lanes. Other then to get to the #1 lane, 99% of splitting is done between the #1 and #2 or Carpool and #1 lanes.

[SDRider]

Big fan of lane sharing and I have been doing it for years.  Most people will actually move over to give you room.  Rarely do I encounter someone who is just a dick and gets pissed off at you for lane sharing.  It is a fairly safe bet that someone isn't going to move over into you when you are between cars, it's the open spaces I worry most about so I tend to move over into those lanes when passing cars with nothing on either side of them.  Scan the front wheels of cars to see what they plan to do next.  If the wheel starts turning, you can bet the car is going to be moving that direction next and it gives you a little extra time to react.

Don't ride more than 10-15mph faster than traffic is moving and don't lane split at freeway speeds.  That is just asking for a ticket.  I've never been ticketed for lane sharing/splitting and I've split past CHP cruisers many times.

[BastrdHK]

 I have never split lanes b/c its illegal in my state, and it was unnerving in a car the first few times bikes went by when visiting LA.  Its like being buzzed by a faster rider, you concentrating forward and then the simultaneous appearance and exhaust note from the side is startling.  Once it happened I began to watch for and give room to those lane splitters. 

A good friend allowed me to borrow his motorcycle while in San Francisco for a week.  On the bike, I was very nervous about it at first (not wanting to tarnish my friends generosity by damaging the bike he loaned me), even though I count myself as an accomplished rider.  After a few motorcyclists went by in stopped traffic, I decided to fall in behind one of them and let him lead me through as I got accustomed to the sensation.  It worked perfectly, and I quickly fell into the natural rythum of traffic.  Once you tame the alarm bells that you have taught your brain to signal if you ride in a non-splitting state, it really does seem normal and even enjoyable.  The amount of time saved is significant.

I asked about the law, and the same friend told me it was implemented in the '70s in Cali because most motos were air cooled, and if they stopped with traffic they would overheat.  Have to give a big  to Cali for that foresight.

I would certainly support a gradual implementation, such as opening lane splitting in major congestion areas/highways first splitting between HOV and the #1 lane first as a test, then states could proceed or take it away based on their own benefit analysis.

[hbliam]

I asked about the law, and the same friend told me it was implemented in the '70s in Cali because most motos were air cooled, and if they stopped with traffic they would overheat.  Have to give a big  to Cali for that foresight.

Your friend told you a popular myth. There is no codified law regarding lanesplitting in CA. It's legal simply because its not illegal.

[BastrdHK]

Interesting

[Dirty Duc]

just spent time in CA... lane sharing is good for you, and I found anyone who was paying attention would make room.

[sgollapalle]

I've only lane split when the traffic is moving under 15 mph.. Don't want to sit there breathing exhaust fumes while getting my balls fried by the hot motor 
Don't trust drivers these days to do it at any higher speed

[freeclimbmtb]

Spent a year in San Diego for work, difference in commute when I was in the rental car to when I took my bike in was 55 minutes vs 20 minutes.  And if anyone remembers the blackout that went through the southwest last fall, I was home in under a half hour, all the other guys I work with were stuck in traffic for more than 3 hours.  

Come to NH...where you don't need a helmet, but your libel to be cuffed and stuffed for lane splitting.    Ignorance is bliss I guess.

Your friend told you a popular myth. There is no codified law regarding lanesplitting in CA. It's legal simply because its not illegal.

When I first started doing it I found the same thing.  It in fact WAS implimented to keep bikes from overheating (actually...mostly CHP)  But they just never criminalized it, so it actually isnt legal, its just not ILLEGAL.  (or so the story goes from all the guys in bike clubs and shops that I asked when I was introduced to the idea.)

The very first time I "lane split", I was riding in the fast lane on the 5, a girl in a mercedes pulled up next to me...I just about sh*t my pants...never expected the cars to share lanes...

[Slide Panda]

There is no codified law regarding lanesplitting in CA. It's legal simply because its not illegal.

No? I thought there was. Isn't there something on the books regarding differences in speed, regarding splitting?

It's been interesting looking over some of the comments in places like Jalopnik where this video has been posted. The vitriol and statements of violent intent against riders who might dare to split or filter was shocking. People saying they would door or even strike bikers with their cars. Wow

I get that folks have dealt with ass hats on bikes zipping in and out of traffic or illegally and dangerously splitting lanes. But hitting a guy filtering though gridlock at 10 mph faster than you... wow.