Why lane split?

[Dents]

I've been apart of the last board since the 2000 but just not too active on this one and have heard many references to the safetieness of lane splitting.  I know its only legal in California but I don't understand its rational.  It seems like with the rapid lane changes people do in their cars it seems more dangerous.  Can someone explain this style of riding?

[derby]

simple: cars don't rapidly change lanes in damn-near-stopped, bumper-to-bumper traffic.

[EvilSteve]

The potential of being rear-ended in traffic is much lower if you're not the last person in line.

[Xiphias]

The potential of being rear-ended in traffic is much lower if you're not the last person in line.

+1 and most drivers are dicks

[Dents]

I thought it had something to do with protecting yourself from being rear ended but I feel like cars are always trying to switch lanes in stop and go traffic.  I guess that's why you'd have to go slow and keep the idle high.

[venomousr1993]

I learned to ride in So Cal and after moving here to Atlanta, the traffic is just as bad.....even though not legal, I still lane split.  Not as much in my Monster, but when on my 600RR most of the time.  In the summer it gets hot, especially in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic ( 45 min to 1 hr to go 18 miles is ridiculous).  I am very cautious and even though the Police has seen me, they have yet to bother me.  I get the squeeze or the infamous one finger salute from several drivers who are jealous or pissed off.  Biggest reason though is that in the summer heat it is just too damn hot to sit idle in traffic. 

[derby]

I thought it had something to do with protecting yourself from being rear ended but I feel like cars are always trying to switch lanes in stop and go traffic.  I guess that's why you'd have to go slow and keep the idle high.

i'm sure your alabama traffic is nothing compared to our california traffic.

[Major Slow]

In Europe lane splitting is very common and considered a perk to motorcycle riding. Some stop lights take 2 or 3 changes to get through, if you are riding a motorcycle you get to travel to the front and you get through the light on the first change. Several people I worked with there rode and said the only reason they rode motorcycles was lane splitting cut their commute time in half. They did not consider better gas mileage that much of a perk because  everyone car pooled. I never saw lane splitting there other than at stop lights. Although in some downtown areas there were no lines and lanes seem to be kind of where ever you happen to be so it was hard to tell.

[ducpenguin]

Is it legal in CA to split the outside of a lane...i.e. the shoulders?  This seems like it would be safer; minimizing the lane changeing risk.

[pwndrew]

I live in Atlanta as well and lane split when I have to. You have to watch out for the crazies though. I had a guy bump me when I got in front of him at a traffic light, like a little tap while I was sitting there waiting for the light to change. When I turned to look at him he gave me a big shit eating grin. I followed him to B&H camera and when he got out of his car I punched him square in his teeth. I nearly got arrested but the guy did not press charges.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Is it legal in CA to split the outside of a lane...i.e. the shoulders?  This seems like it would be safer; minimizing the lane changeing risk.

Think of the debris on the sides of the roads-it's safer in between the cars.



Also, lane splitting keeps your air cooled bike from getting too hot from sitting in traffic.

[arai_speed]

I live in Atlanta as well and lane split when I have to. You have to watch out for the crazies though. I had a guy bump me when I got in front of him at a traffic light, like a little tap while I was sitting there waiting for the light to change. When I turned to look at him he gave me a big shit eating grin. I followed him to B&H camera and when he got out of his car I punched him square in his teeth. I nearly got arrested but the guy did not press charges.

LOL - good ol ATL!

My companies HQ's are there so I travel there often...most bikers I have seen split lanes.

[erkishhorde]

Is it legal in CA to split the outside of a lane...i.e. the shoulders?  This seems like it would be safer; minimizing the lane changeing risk.

Technically it's called "lane sharing" in the books so you're supposed to be in the same lane as the cars. Riding on the shoulder will get you a ticket if there's a cop around. Also, you can't ride between 2 double yellow lanes (between carpool and fast lane) legally even though that is one of the safer and most common places to split. There are a lot of little rules that you should follow to split "legally" but they make it a bit more difficult and sometimes dangerous.

The main reason most people do it is to save time. I had a 55 mile commute over one summer and splitting cut my time from 2.5-4 hours down to about 1.5 hours. You definitely have to be on your game and very aware of your surroundings. After you do it for a while you get used to spotting the people that are going to try and pin you or jump the double yellow.

[sbrguy]

I live in Atlanta as well and lane split when I have to. You have to watch out for the crazies though. I had a guy bump me when I got in front of him at a traffic light, like a little tap while I was sitting there waiting for the light to change. When I turned to look at him he gave me a big shit eating grin. I followed him to B&H camera and when he got out of his car I punched him square in his teeth. I nearly got arrested but the guy did not press charges.

that is awesome, the guy deserved and he knew it that is why he didn't press charges... should have beat teh crap out of him in front of his kids and broken his car key in the door and took his license and said "don't do that again, i know you you don't know me."

[mossimo]

What are the regs on lane splitting in CA?  I have heard traffic can only be going a certain speed and you can only go a certain speed faster...  Just a random thought I was having...