Lane Splitting, The Law and You

[Hedgehog]

I appreciate that the law on this varies from place to place but this is  an interesting article because it shows how rider behavior is directly linked to financial outcome in the vent of an accident...

http://bigbikemad.com/filtering-the-law-and-you.html

Food for thought....

[..]

Last paragraph of the article says it all.

5 years as a motorcycle; lane splitting zoom, zoom; messenger and I got knocked off my bike twice whilst lane splitting.

BOTH TIMES MY FAULT FOR DOING IT AT THE WRONG TIME.

[Paxton]

"... rider behavior is directly linked to financial outcome in the event of an accident..."

+1

[Hedgehog]

I actually find that a Valkyrie is quite easy to lane split on - its more agile than you might think at slow speed and its SO DARNED BIG EVERYONE GETS OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!

[Gavin_Sons]

If you cant wait in line with the other vehicles you probably shouldnt be on the road. At least take the shoulder. I know how much it sucks to be stuck in traffic on a bike, been there several times. But if a bike was coming up between me and another car id move over and not let them through. Yes I know im a dick.

[John Schmidt]

I've seen some nasty accidents from lane splitting, a couple fatalities which makes me think there was way too much speed. But if caught doing it in Florida(operative term "if caught"), it will cost you. Enforcement seems to be based on the LEO's attitude; I was sitting next to one during rush hour a few years back and he suggested I do it. I declined at first, metioned the legal aspect of it, and he just laughed....said "that's a stupid law." I agreed but didn't take his offer....you never know when you're being baited and we have a few around here that will do just that. As for me, unless I'm in a locale where it's the norm and drivers are used to it, I won't do it.

[CajunRider]

I think they should make it legal in all states. 

If for no other reason than it would promote bikes and cagers' awareness of bikes.

I've been in countries where it is legal and done on a regular basis.  Cagers in those country always look for bikes before doing anything (especially changing lanes). 

[Paxton]

Hi folks;

Lane splitting is "encouraged" in Los Angeles as a way to get people to leave their cage at home. 
Rationale: driving cages to work with just one person adds to the critical situation of our traffic jams.

I've seen times in heavy traffic when the motorcycle Cop appears to be "leading the pack" through the lane-splits.
Conversely, riding on the shoulder would get you a big fine. ???

If you could not split lanes here, "walking" your bike to work for 50-100 miles is just not practical. 

QUOTE: "... but if a bike was coming up between me and another car id move over and not let them through.
Yes I know im a dick."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gavin_Sons
I conclude that you have never-ever split lanes. 
Notwithstanding, in California proclaiming to be a "Dick" will not prevent you from an entertaining road-rage ass kicking,
especially if you are intentionally blocking a motorcycle's path... and even while he/she's splitting lanes.  

If the cops see you blocking, you'd pay a steep fine. 
If the motorcyclist  and/or the cop is pissed enough, he/she might bring criminal charges of
intentionally attempting to inflict bodily harm with a deadly weapon (your cage). 
 
Were such the case, you'd be arrested...even if your defense is..."... but officer, I'm just a Dick!"

Personally, I hate driving on the opposite side of the road, but  when visiting those countries that do,
I refrain from blocking oncoming traffic even though I decided that
"WTF, they have no business driving the wrong way."

Whether one is a Dick, Cagers who do what you say you'd do, exponentially increase
the chances of motorcycle riding fatalities.

Always remember that half of all people are below average.

RIDE SAFE 

[Mapper]

Well put, Paxton. 

[Daddie O]

Drivers in California are aware of sharing lanes with motorcycles, they do it every day.  Most are considerate and actually move over to give you some extra room.  I have never seen anyone try to use their car to prevent me from lane splitting.  Gavin, why are you such a dick that you would try to prevent a fellow rider from legally lane splitting?  How does being a dick benefit you?  A rider lane splitting does not slow you down in your quest to get you where you are going, in fact it is one less cage slowing you down.

[TomT]

I lived in CA in the late 80's early 90's and rode a Honda V65 Magna at that time. I lived in the Riverside area and worked in Long Beach. 49 miles one way and on a bike, with the ability to split lanes, I could make it to and from work in about an hour. In a cage, I would be looking at 2 hours minimum each way!
Yes, there were a few "dicks" that I had to contend with, but it was just a matter of keeping your eyes open and being aware of what was around you.
Not so sure I would do it now days, but it was the only way to go then.
TomT
PS....I was behind one of those packs with the CHP's leading it one day during the Rodney King riots!

[Mapper]

I'm not from California… things are different here for sure.  When I lived in San Diego 15 years ago, I was surprised the first time a CAR shared my lane with me to make a right hand turn at an intersection.  This was not standard practice in Alabama, or Virginia, where I had spent most of my earlier years driving, but is both legal and common in California.

I also recall the shock I had the first time I saw motorcycles splitting lanes up to the front at a stop light.  I remember feeling a little cheated at first.  <-- That is because I am from the southeast US where lane splitting is not allowed, not commonly seen (I had never seen it), is not accepted, and most of the time has no real benefit (I am not from a big city).

Everything that has been said in favor and protest so far has some merit.  Like mentioned, in California they have been doing it for generations and is part of the driving culture.  This fact alone makes it safer to lane split in California than any other state in the US. 

As far as moving over to be a dick, if traffic is gridlocked enough, a car would find it difficult to move over far enough to block a motorcycle.

As far as lane splitting myself, it seems at first like a bad idea… counterintuitive.  However, when traffic gets that accordion effect going and you are on a motorcycle trying to balance between stopping in time for the car in front of you while not getting rear-ended by the car behind you, that sweet space in the middle of two lanes starts to look all the more attractive. 

In my opinion given the legality and culture of it in California, it is safer to get through stop and go traffic splitting two lanes than it is hanging out between two cages stopping and going with me in the middle.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Baron Von Grumble, teaches the class. On filtering.

How "I" Filter or Lane split in London	powered by Aeva

Oh and Paxton, if you scratch my car or truck, you are liable for that as well.

[..]

Baron Von Grumble, teaches the class. On filtering.

How "I" Filter or Lane split in London

Oh and Paxton, if you scratch my car or truck, you are liable for that as well.

Baron von Plonker broke about 6 laws in the first 5 minutes. Idiots like him give all 2 wheel riders a bad name. Filtering within the law is great.

Also note that he makes it obvious he is a much better road user than others. Generally those with that attitude are the worst type of road user.

[hubcapsc]

Lane splitting, you say? 



-Mike

[mrider]

as many bikes on the road here in Tx splitting lanes would work but very dangerous, hell i've done it here in houston as well as passing in the HOV lane.......what can i say but would never block a bike from passing just to be a dick and if someone did it to me then we'd have to have a one sided
conversation.     

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Baron Von Grumble, teaches the class. On filtering.

How "I" Filter or Lane split in London

Oh and Paxton, if you scratch my car or truck, you are liable for that as well.

Baron von Plonker broke about 6 laws in the first 5 minutes. Idiots like him give all 2 wheel riders a bad name. Filtering within the law is great.

Also note that he makes it obvious he is a much better road user than others. Generally those with that attitude are the worst type of road user.

I just thought it was funny. He is a Plonker for sure, and lucky to be alive.

[PAVALKER]

Baron Von Grumble, teaches the class. On filtering.

How "I" Filter or Lane split in London

Oh and Paxton, if you scratch my car or truck, you are liable for that as well.

Baron von Plonker broke about 6 laws in the first 5 minutes. Idiots like him give all 2 wheel riders a bad name. Filtering within the law is great.

Also note that he makes it obvious he is a much better road user than others. Generally those with that attitude are the worst type of road user.

I just thought it was funny. He is a Plonker for sure, and lucky to be alive.

Oh yea it was and he is.  WOW         Over in London, and quite a few places in Europe, lane splitting is legal (or not but still happens).  Attention to your surroundings in a car, truck, bike, bicycle or as a pedestrian over there is paramount from my experiences.  And never, ever, make eye contact or you will have relinquished right of way and maybe your life.   That being said..... WTH is with those squiggly lines....  I can't recall those.



Lane splitting is not a good thing IMO.  And trying it on a Valk is not either.

The reason it might work in some crazy places is because it's just the way they have been doing it for some time and the drivers got used to it, and are... more importantly... aware of it.   Take a transplant biker from there to here and he won't survive.... or take a transplant cager from here to there and they could have a mental road rage incident.    Just the way things are..... those Cali folks do things differently, and they don't like guns either.... so be it.

[Gavin_Sons]

Hi folks;

Lane splitting is "encouraged" in Los Angeles as a way to get people to leave their cage at home. 
Rationale: driving cages to work with just one person adds to the critical situation of our traffic jams.

I've seen times in heavy traffic when the motorcycle Cop appears to be "leading the pack" through the lane-splits.
Conversely, riding on the shoulder would get you a big fine. ???

If you could not split lanes here, "walking" your bike to work for 50-100 miles is just not practical. 

QUOTE: "... but if a bike was coming up between me and another car id move over and not let them through.
Yes I know im a dick."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gavin_Sons
I conclude that you have never-ever split lanes. 
Notwithstanding, in California proclaiming to be a "Dick" will not prevent you from an entertaining road-rage ass kicking,
especially if you are intentionally blocking a motorcycle's path... and even while he/she's splitting lanes.  

If the cops see you blocking, you'd pay a steep fine. 
If the motorcyclist  and/or the cop is pissed enough, he/she might bring criminal charges of
intentionally attempting to inflict bodily harm with a deadly weapon (your cage). 
 
Were such the case, you'd be arrested...even if your defense is..."... but officer, I'm just a Dick!"

Personally, I hate driving on the opposite side of the road, but  when visiting those countries that do,
I refrain from blocking oncoming traffic even though I decided that
"WTF, they have no business driving the wrong way."

Whether one is a Dick, Cagers who do what you say you'd do, exponentially increase
the chances of motorcycle riding fatalities.

Always remember that half of all people are below average.

RIDE SAFE 

Im just an old hillbillie from indiana, avoid big cities like the plague,  espically with the bike. I have no use to split lanes nor do I ever want too. It just takes one dick like me to open their door and end it for you. Ill keep away from that kind of traffic and take my country highways. 

[HayHauler]

Baron Von Grumble, teaches the class. On filtering.

How "I" Filter or Lane split in London

Oh and Paxton, if you scratch my car or truck, you are liable for that as well.

Baron von Plonker broke about 6 laws in the first 5 minutes. Idiots like him give all 2 wheel riders a bad name. Filtering within the law is great.

Also note that he makes it obvious he is a much better road user than others. Generally those with that attitude are the worst type of road user.

I am not sure, but I think Britman just called Baron a "Dick". 
Made my day BM... laughed out loud.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[art]

Don't like lane splitting but have done it. I in socal traffic you either do it or boil in the heat. Doing it on a valk is difficult with the wide handle bars and mirrors sticking out. The worst I've ever seen was a Harley rider doing it at freeway speeds splitting at close to 70 mph.

[BF]

Do they have a bunch of drunks that paint their white lines over there?

[czuch]

I've done it. I grew up in SoCal. Its brutal in the 110 here in Az during the summer.
Bein a Dick has its drawbacks.
1) When the biker finally gets around you, you might find yourself being dragged out of your car through the window that just got smashed. Prior the the entertaining ass kickin previously mentioned.
2) Opening the door isnt really a good idea either. The door isnt as strong as you think and if it dosent come off, it will be seriously chingered and never work right again.
3) Whats the fun in getting hurt, hurting someone, wrecking your door.
4) too many witnesses.
That being said, Ya know what the best part of being a Dick is?
BEING A DICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!bwwaahaahaaahaahaahaah

[Gavin_Sons]

Guess im lucky to live where I do and not have to put up with that stupid crap. It would be a bad day for someone if they tried to drag me out of my car. Just sayin

[Skinhead]

Guess im lucky to live where I do and not have to put up with that stupid crap. It would be a bad day for someone if they tried to drag me out of my car. Just sayin

DICK!

[Gavin_Sons]

Guess im lucky to live where I do and not have to put up with that stupid crap. It would be a bad day for someone if they tried to drag me out of my car. Just sayin

DICK!

  I know it, just my nature I guess.

[wiggydotcom]

A few years ago on our long motorcycle trip, we rode to Long Beach, Ca and then up to Portland, Oregon. I was unfamiliar with all of the LA traffic laws but soon found out lane splitting was legal. I watched in wonder as crotch rockets did it but there was no way I was going to do it with an Interstate and the added width of the bags.

What I did think was cool though, is that we could use the car pool lane as we were on a motorcycle. We were going 50-60 miles an hour in the left lane when the lane right next to us was at a crawl..or even stopped.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Baron Von Grumble, teaches the class. On filtering.

How "I" Filter or Lane split in London

Oh and Paxton, if you scratch my car or truck, you are liable for that as well.

Baron von Plonker broke about 6 laws in the first 5 minutes. Idiots like him give all 2 wheel riders a bad name. Filtering within the law is great.

Also note that he makes it obvious he is a much better road user than others. Generally those with that attitude are the worst type of road user.

Squigly Lines on the Tarmac, what purpose do they serve?

If yah know, cause I sure don't

[Serk]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071125142203AAdbviP

[donaldcc]

If you cant wait in line with the other vehicles you probably shouldnt be on the road. At least take the shoulder. I know how much it sucks to be stuck in traffic on a bike, been there several times. But if a bike was coming up between me and another car id move over and not let them through. Yes I know im a dick.

  With my big Tourer I do not normally do this, but it happens all the time in CA.  Sometimes I do it to get up front in a long line at a light.

   do not understand your reaction Gavin_Sons.  

[Mapper]

Sometimes I do it to get up front in a long line at a light.

I don't feel as comfortable splitting with traffic lights.  Around here, the space between lanes on the freeway seems wider than the space on the city roads.   The cars don't seem to line up as neatly either.  Either way, I only split to get out of the accordion.

[donaldcc]

Im just an old hillbillie from indiana, avoid big cities like the plague,  espically with the bike. I have no use to split lanes nor do I ever want too. It just takes one dick like me to open their door and end it for you. Ill keep away from that kind of traffic and take my country highways. 

  Would suggest you never come to California.  I am sure you do not have enough insurance to cover an intentional battery, and what little insurance you have will deny coverage for such a dumb ass intentional act.  you can be sure you will be penniless after such a stupid act, and likely serving some time in our overcrowded prisons.

  I have enjoyed some of your posts, but from now on will read with a "grain of salt".

  just do not understand this???

[Gryphon Rider]

I've never understood why some people take pride in their...uh...never mind...I've just remembered a George Bernard Shaw quote about wrestling.

[donaldcc]

I've never understood why some people take pride in their...uh...never mind...I've just remembered a George Bernard Shaw quote about wrestling.

    "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."

 George Bernard Shaw

[Mapper]

Friends don't always agree.  For what it's worth, until one of ya'll try killing me with a f%¢¿in' door or something of that sort, I consider you all to be friends...   

[TomT]

For a little clarification, if I remember right, the law for splitting lanes (in California) was something to the effect that you were allowed to go 10 mph faster than the cars in the number one lane (fast lane) up to 40 mph. After that, you were supposed to be back in the lane and travel with the cars.
Might be wrong, but that is how I remember it.
TomT

[Gavin_Sons]

Im just an old hillbillie from indiana, avoid big cities like the plague,  espically with the bike. I have no use to split lanes nor do I ever want too. It just takes one dick like me to open their door and end it for you. Ill keep away from that kind of traffic and take my country highways. 

  Would suggest you never come to California.  I am sure you do not have enough insurance to cover an intentional battery, and what little insurance you have will deny coverage for such a dumb ass intentional act.  you can be sure you will be penniless after such a stupid act, and likely serving some time in our overcrowded prisons.

  I have enjoyed some of your posts, but from now on will read with a "grain of salt".

  just do not understand this???

Never have been to California. You just don't see that around this part of the country. Maybe if i was around it more i would be use to it. i just dont think it is in my best interest to try it. And i'm not comfortable with anyone getting that close to my vehicle with their bike. Everyone has an opinion about this and that is just mine and only mine. Wasn't meant to make anyone mad. I see why people do it, i just wont do it. 

[Serk]

...when in Rome do as the Romans do...

If I were in a jurisdiction where such behavior is acceptable, I would go with the flow. Might even try it myself if I deemed it safe and my vehicle capable of safely doing it.

But in a jurisdiction where it's unacceptable (legal or not, to me that's secondary) it's not wise to try it.

I wouldn't actively try to hit someone doing it here in The Republic, but I just might move over a bit ahead of time to stop them from continuing to do it, we don't take kindly to things like that here.

I WILL move over to block someone trying to cut ahead in a lane merge situation, no matter if it's a bike or a car or even a truck. (I.E. 2 lanes going to 1, most have already merged to one side, and one person thinks they're special and tries to get around everyone that's merged already and sneak to the front of the line.)

Another thing to consider, if you're trying to do something like this in an area where it's not the norm, the other drivers will not be used to it, and will be shocked by it. Do you REALLY wanna be between two SUV's full of soccer players when the soccer mom's operating both vehicles are shocked and scared by something zooming up between them and both jerk the wheel together?

But yeah... as I said, where it's acceptable and part of the culture, go for it. Where it's not the norm, being a trailblazer and trying to make it the norm comes with a very high risk.

[hubcapsc]

My buddy lane splits to work at Spacebook regularly. He got embarrassed by bumping
someone's mirror once on his big Harley, so he got a little Harley (he likes Harleys)...

That's how they roll out there, it is normal to lane split.

They (the cops) will really get you, whether you're in lane splitting country or not,
if you ride down the margin... it is reserved for emergency vehicles...



-Mike

[WamegoRob]

... id move over and not let them through. Yes I know im a dick.

... Wasn't meant to make anyone mad.

Never have been there, don't see that around here, I'm not used to it, it's not in my best interest, I'm not comfortable with it...

You could just say, "I'm sorry... I wouldn't really try to run you off the road" and be done with it.