Lane splitting, well almost

[Sparky]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d0e_1405211304

[Jess from VA]

There was probably room to get thru there.... if he understood speed control.

[..]

Helps if you look further ahead than yer front wheel. Plonker.

[old2soon]

I crap screws up 10000 attaboys!!  And i'll bet dat ain't all he said!!  RIDE SAFE.

[Patrick]

I'm wondering if he learned anything.

[MacDragon]

Not lane splitting ... more like head splitting...   It was a stupid move and cost him.  Still... glad he seems alright.

[Hooter]

Just me, I never understood why someone would lane split to begin with? In that big a hurry shoulda left sooner. Can't trust anyone to begin with why invite a problem? If someone can logically explain this manuver to me I will gladly listen.

[Jess from VA]

May or may not be logical, but the maneuver seems motivated by excitement.

He got more than he bargained for, which any rider knows is easy enough to do.

[rhinor61]

Here in California we can share lanes, split lanes and filter lanes, its not illegal to do it.
It takes practice, and NEVER go more that 5-10MPH above the speed of the cars your around.

Traffic is bad, even away from the big cities, and in California, TRUCKs can be in the right 2 lanes ALL the time doing 55MPH and the rest of the traffic must share the fast lane doing 65MPH...
Does that make any sense?  it suck and splitting lanes is a lot of energy not to get hit..

The guy in this video, going WAY to FAST and not LOOKING far enough AHEAD.

You CANT split 2 trucks, he would have been better off on the shoulder (although illegal in most areas including CALI) he would have saved his bike...

Yes my Fat Lady splits lanes on the highway...my commute is 35 miles each way and I have to split 20-30 miles on fridays to get home.

BECAREFUL.. and enjoy

[Willow]

I've been in other countries in which lane markings are only a matter of low level suggestion and the number of vehicles of any type within a given lane seems to be a non-issue.  Interestingly in those countries they don't seem to experience any higher rate of traffic accidents than we do on the highly structured roadways of the U.S.  Between you and me, the average driver in those areas appears to be more skilled than what we encounter as well.

I'm moderately amused by folks who live in a highly structured and restricted culture expressing how well they know how dangerous anything else must be.

Truthfully, making the wrong choice, pushing the chances can result in disaster anywhere.

Properly executed "lane splitting" in a traffic congested area shortens the congestion and, as a side benefit, greatly improves the travel time of the ones able to "lane split".  Improper or careless movement through traffic with or without "lane splitting" can result in damage or death. 

[Oss]

we saw 5 nasty scooter accidents on the way from the Rome airport to the hotel  Everyone splits lanes
and that is just the start of it

At a red light its like lining up for the grand prix as dozens maybe even a hundred scooters converge over the lines yellow or otherwise to the front and then zoooom off

Circles are another story entirely

In spite  (or maybe because) of the bedlam I rented a 400cc scooter in Florence and did some traveling out of the city and in some rain as well

I brought the bike back intact

The adrenaline rush lasted much longer than the day rental

Would NOT do that again    Bonnie concurs.  She was on the back  using sign language as befitted
the situations    She is of course a keeper

[Jess from VA]

Driving in Turkey was much the same experience as Rome, Evan.  Lanes are rarely marked,  and you get as many cars across as will fit (one foot clearance).  Every intersection gets twice as wide as the regular road (maybe 30 cars across), and when the light changes, everyone floors it across to the other side, then with brakes squealing and horns honking, they funnel back down to the usual width road.  To do it again at every light and intersection.  Think Army ants traveling in the jungle.  Think Keystone Cops, raging testosterone, yelling and fist shaking, every man for himself, and practically no traffic police enforcement of any kind.  Add a million pedestrians running across the roads everywhere because there are very few marked crosswalks.  Potholes and 18" high curbs that could not be jumped, only hit, to keep the carnage in the streets.  

If the cops did pull you over, it was just to check your paperwork. I never actually heard of anyone getting a moving violation of any sort during two tours there.  Unless you killed someone, then you were charged with a crime.  

Thou many had their own cars shipped over, most of us took taxis everywhere as cheap, plentiful and less wear and tear on your own car.  Every taxi ride was an exciting adventure, and you were either scared shitless or laughing your ass off, or both.