Traffic jam-What do you do?

[pocket aces]

Lets say your on the interstate bad traffic jam. Stop n go moving up little by little.
Do just wait and move up little by little or do you lane split or ride the shoulder?

[Gryphon Rider]

Lane splitting and shoulder riding are unlawful here, so I unzip my jacket, take off my gloves, and crawl along with everyone else.

[The emperor has no clothes]

For me it depends on the situation and location in the country. I don't lane split much 2up on the Interstate anywhere. But sometimes I've used all 3 scenarios.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Lane splitting and shoulder riding are unlawful here, so I unzip my jacket, take off my gloves, and crawl along with everyone else.

Thats the thing I really like about Canadians. Always so polite and lawful.  You'd have probably made a citizens arrest on me yourself riding in New York for the 3 days. These people reward motorized mayhem and spit on politeness. 

[cookiedough]

why lane split or move over to shoulder?  will not get you much further and just created more frustration with other drivers.  grin and bear it not much you can do just creep along and fiddle with the radio but NOT your darn cell phone....

I am probably one of the worst for traffic jams,  drives me nuts, thus I try to avoid traffic as much as possible.  Even on 2 lane country roads,  I try to keep as far away as possible to other vehicles if at all possible by varying my speed some to keep away from all others on the road.  If me driving say 63-64 mph in a 55 mph speed zone I see a car come up behind me doing 70 mph or more,  it does not bother me as much though and usually those people pass me and does not bother me since have found a few miles up the road them pulled over by the police for speeding saving me a speeding ticket.   If I am going faster than the car ahead even if say driving 50-55 mph, I pass instantly when safe to do so for following vehicles going slower is frustrating as well not able to go my own speed.  Thank god I do not live in NYC or larger cities I would not make it very long.  

[RainMaker]

Sit in the jam.  Never have lane split (don't see me doing that with the I/S) and never drive the shoulder unless directed to by law enforcement officer due to a wreck or such.  It's not a race.

[Jess from VA]

I stand up on the boards and look to see if there is an exit close by, or an authorized vehicles only dirt strip between north and southbound lanes, and if there are any cops around.  If so and if not, I will ride the breakdown lane quickly and safely and get off or turn around.  But I risk a big ticket in VA, maybe a 6 pt. reckless.  I once even rode up an entrance ramp (the jam did not start until just past the exit ramp).  

But I was caught in a compete shutdown on I-81 N, miles from any exit or other way out, in a nonstop downpour and had to just sit there on the kickstand in my rain gear whistling Dixie, for hours.  There had been a tractor trailer accident miles ahead, and cops were all over the place, so no chance of running a breakdown lane for miles.  This is where I decided to carry a small collapsible umbrella on long trips.  

I had my half cover along, and thought about pulling across the breakdown lane into the weeds and covering the bike and getting under and trying to get some sleep, but did not want to miss it when it finally started to move.  My hopeful optimism was misplaced.  Needless to say, not one cager wanted to invite the waterlogged motorcyclist into his vehicle.  

As long as there is movement (however slow or intermittent), I wait my turn and roll slow.  Once I get close enough to a ramp, I may run the breakdown to the ramp, but it is always a risk.  

[..]

Lane split at a very slow crawl doesn't seem to annoy others.

[3fan4life]

As long as there is movement (however slow or intermittent), I wait my turn and roll slow.  Once I get close enough to a ramp, I may run the breakdown to the ramp, but it is always a risk.  

That's pretty much my M.O. as well.

Needless to say, not one cager wanted to invite the waterlogged motorcyclist into his vehicle.

My bet is that it had more to do with what he looked like than how wet he was.   

[hubcapsc]

Damn this traffic jam, how I hate to be late, it hurts my motor to go so slow.
Damn this traffic jam, time I get home my supper'll be cold, damn this traffic jam.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Damn this traffic jam, how I hate to be late, it hurts my motor to go so slow.
Damn this traffic jam, time I get home my supper'll be cold, damn this traffic jam.

[Gryphon Rider]

I stand up on the boards and look to see if there is an exit close by, or an authorized vehicles only dirt strip between north and southbound lanes, and if there are any cops around.  If so and if not, I will ride the breakdown lane quickly and safely and get off or turn around.  But I risk a big ticket in VA, maybe a 6 pt. reckless.  I once even rode up an entrance ramp (the jam did not start until just past the exit ramp).  

I've done through-the-median turnarounds before, which I see a little differently than passing stopped or slow vehicles to get to the front.  A trip through the median means one less vehicle in the jam.  Passing everyone illegally means I consider my time to be more valuable than everyone else's.

Having traffic shown on your phone's map app (or your GPS) sure is helpful for deciding what to do.

[Jess from VA]

I've seen 4-wheel drives stuck in the mud trying to get across the median (often a ditch).  I don't try it on those medians.

I've only used the breakdown when the exit is a couple hundred yards away or so, and have always shared with with cages doing the same thing.  We Virginians know the cops will be on site shortly, so run for the exit ASAP, you only have a short window of opportunity.   

[old2soon]

I've had people attempt to cut me off in that situation when I've gone around on the breakdown/rumble strip. In a "construction" scenario we've all seen this-left lane closed 3 miles ahead right down to left lane closed 500 feet ahead. AND AND some dumb ass sumbitch whose time IS way more valuable than yours tries desperately to cut you off!.  Lets just say when I was in my big truck I made cursed SURE you would NOY do dat!  RIDE SAFE.

[NewValker]

My buddy was stuck in traffic from an accident on the way to Cape Cod on I-495. He was on a wing so he scooted down the breakdown lane. Went a mile or so and heard a siren behind him. A trooper told him to pull off onto the grass. Trooper said he was going to the accident scene and for him to get back in line and stop at the accident for his ticket.
Being smarter than the average bear, he changed from a red shirt to a blue one, and pulled his wife's  white helmet out of the trunk and switched it with his.
When he went by the accident he said he looked straight ahead, never making eye contact with any of the troopers...
Craig

[Dave Ritsema]

Lane splitting and shoulder riding are unlawful here, so I unzip my jacket, take off my gloves, and crawl along with everyone else.

I do the same.

[Wizzard]

Lane splitting and shoulder riding are unlawful here, so I unzip my jacket, take off my gloves, and crawl along with everyone else.

I do the same.

Me as well.

[baldo]

My buddy was stuck in traffic from an accident on the way to Cape Cod on I-495. He was on a wing so he scooted down the breakdown lane. Went a mile or so and heard a siren behind him. A trooper told him to pull off onto the grass. Trooper said he was going to the accident scene and for him to get back in line and stop at the accident for his ticket.
Being smarter than the average bear, he changed from a red shirt to a blue one, and pulled his wife's  white helmet out of the trunk and switched it with his.
When he went by the accident he said he looked straight ahead, never making eye contact with any of the troopers...
Craig

Traffic????  On 495 ??????? Say it ain't so!

[msb]

Thankfully don't have to do any freeway or "rush hour" riding here to get to where I want to go, but if traffic is backed up on a highway or road due to an accident or whatever, I pretty much just wait it out. I never lane split or ride on the shoulder now (both illegal in BC)....in my much younger years I was definitely more "reckless" and wouldn't hesitate to take a chance or two to get through traffic, but I've made it to my sixth decade now without ever being in any type of motorcyle accident (going on 43 years riding), and I'd like to keep that slate clean so am as patient as I need to be.
Do a lot of riding in the US, and am always very careful to obey the rules....traffic fines there cost an extra 30% for us "foreigners" from North of the border just on the exchange rate alone
I like Gryphon Rider's analogy.... I don't see my time being any more valuable than those in the vehicles I'd be trying to get ahead of in a traffic jam...

[czuch]

Sit it out.
I did the emergency median turn around, I had a stone and had to pee.
(Those of you who know, know, others cant imagine.)
The nice cop pulled me over and was asking why I used the median.
I told him and he laughed and said he knew the feeling.
He looked like he was reading the riot act as he splained it was to deter anyone else from doing that. Then he said hopes everything works out and get home quick.
Great guy and we laughed all the way home.

[cookiedough]

what gets me upset is when say an accident or signs indicate well in advance to merge left or right down to 1 lane ahead,  the idiot in that one coming to an end lane lane continues as far as possible forward by himself until the very last minute expecting a nice person to let him merge into traffic at the last second.

I just love when pretty much any vehicle me either in my truck or cycle is in say the lane at a stop light that is known to come to an end very soon after the stop light and has to merge into my lane.  9 times out of 10 when light turns green,  he will NOT be in front of me racing up to say 50 mph in town. 

[RainMaker]

On the two lanes going to one comment, I guess I don't really care if someone races to the end of the lane just before the merge.  If I'm in the other lane, I'll make room.  Nothing I do will change their view of how important they are and I always remember it's not a race to see who gets somewhere first. 

I would never get anywhere in NYC, though.  There, I leave it to the professionals who know how to drive in NYC.

[3fan4life]

what gets me upset is when say an accident or signs indicate well in advance to merge left or right down to 1 lane ahead,  the idiot in that one coming to an end lane lane continues as far as possible forward by himself until the very last minute expecting a nice person to let him merge into traffic at the last second.

I just love when pretty much any vehicle me either in my truck or cycle is in say the lane at a stop light that is known to come to an end very soon after the stop light and has to merge into my lane.  9 times out of 10 when light turns green,  he will NOT be in front of me racing up to say 50 mph in town. 

Dang Dude, why so much anger and agression?

I want you to go home and spend some time singing;  Kumbaya.    

https://youtu.be/p3MiD_U4CHQ

[Willow]

If I were in California I might lane split.  Elsewhere I will just wait and move with traffic.

For those that get upset with folks who don't merge early, waiting until the last possible moment to merge is actually the most practical approach and would result in the shortest backup if everyone would do that.  Unfortunately most drivers are too stupid to understand that.

I was headed home along the turnpike one evening when we were shown a sign that said the right lane was closed ahead.  Almost everyone crowded into the left lane and began creeping along.  A few folks stayed in the right lane. Occasionally someone in that left lane would try to block the right or run traffic in the right lane off the road.  After ten miles there was no lane closure.  People finally decided the notice was wrong and those creeping along in the left started to filter back into both lanes and traffic began to run at turnpike speed.

When you're on the road keep in mind that about half the drivers with whom you come into contact will be below average in intelligence.

[Oss]

It depends

In California I did it in Los Angeles after watching several bikes pass me

With a Valkyrie you are much wider than a sport bike

So discretion is advised.

Now a bmw is narrower.....................

 

[J.Mencalice]

Traffic jam? Traffic jam? We ain't got no stinkin' traffic jams.

[J.Mencalice]

Damn this traffic jam, how I hate to be late, it hurts my motor to go so slow.
Damn this traffic jam, time I get home my supper'll be cold, damn this traffic jam.

J.T.

[Fastman71]

Coming back from a 9/11 ride in DC a couple of years ago I ran into the beep and creep on 95 between DC and Baltimore.  It was hot and I wound up sitting a lot.

That wasn't the bad part tho, as there was a white van behind me and I was totally convinced it was going to rear end me.  Every time traffic started moving and stopped again, I was ready to hit the shoulder in case he wasn't going to stop in time.

Fortunately, it never happened as he passed me and went his merry way.

I'm not real keen on shoulders too, as the police around here frown on that.  As for lane splitting, regardless of legality, I'm just not comfortable with it.  Too many lane clogging, door opening fools to suit me..

Safe rides and happy journeys...

Fast Eddie