Lane splitting: Thoughts?

[Rasbutan]

Should it be legal across the US?

:coffee

[DarrylRi]

Works for me, here in California.

[jdiaz]

I can't imagine it ever working in Chicago.

Sure made getting thru traffic in Italy a piece of cake!

[jdmetzger]

I'm worried enough about people on cell phones drifting into my lane when I commute, in the mornings. If I cut down the clearance from a whole lane into the tiny space BETWEEN lanes, I probably would end up with a very crushed airhead.

I must admit, I HAVE thought about how nice it would be, at times. I would be happy with being able to lane split to the front of traffic at a stoplight, and then get out in front of everyone when it goes green!

[flash412]

After living in Europe for two years (where lane splitting is legal and encouraged), when I moved back to Colorado, I thought my head would pop from NOT being able to split lanes. Thank goodness I was visiting Cacafornica fairly frequently back then and could borrow a bike instead of use a rental cage.

Besides Europe, I've split lanes in Hong Kong between columns of double-decker buses. I've split lanes south of Yokohama and through rush hour traffic in Johannesburg. I'm really NOT clear on how something considered safe in most of the rest of the world is horribly unsafe in most of the USA. But then again... most of those other places tend to require folks to LEARN to ride before giving them a license.

One of the reasons I have not joined the AMA is because they are not lobbying for 50-state lane splitting legality. If they do that, I'll sign up.

[Polizeitaucher]

I think it should be legal. I live in Oregon but have traveled through California and really thought the lane splitting was great. I can understand the arguements about it being dangerous. But I think individuals should be able to make the choice.

[snoone]

Yes, absolutely.

[BubbaZanetti]

yep, i do it here on occasion in MA, i know its not legal but its better than engine damage on a hot day.

[username]

i'm all for it, and would LOVE for it to be legal here in texas. it actually comes up in committee here in the state leg, but nevers gets out.

[Mika]

I favor it with training for the cagers. I have seen too many cases of cagers slipping down the shoulder of a clogged freeway to get to an exit a few cars ahead, only to have some self appointed protector of the road squeeze them off. I am afraid in MN it would take a good deal of training to be safe.

It is an issue that is raised in the ride to work day program.

[Rob Nye]

I am all for it.

[Stuff2C]

Just stay out of Emergency lane.
This is whats left of the semi that lost his brakes on a hill and then came past me in the emergency lane. That will add a button hole to your favorite seat.

[Stuff2C]

He walked away UNHURT!

[Stuff2C]

Alot of us were real lucky that day...no one was hurt. :thumb

[GSWayne]

An interesting thing about lane splitting is that non-riders all think it is the most dangerous thing in the world, but in all the accidents reports I have read I have only heard of one related to lane splitting. I'll bet deer take out 100 times more cyclists than land splitting, and non-riders never think of them as a motorcycle threat.

[Motor31]

Not all non riders think it's dangerous. There are some of us riders that do as well. I'ts bad enough trying to maintain a single lane for a vehicle, the idea of trying to share a lane with the typical "cage" driver is not a good idea IMO and my experiance.

[knary]

For it, in theory. But as diaz hints at, I don't know that I'd want to be the first riders to try it in some places!

[snoone]

For it, in theory. But as diaz hints at, I don't know that I'd want to be the first riders to try it in some places!

Sometimes here in NYC it's necessary to do sidewalk splitting just to get to the lane

[kbasa]

I love it here. I've saved untold hours, gallons of gas and money because of lane splitting.

Additionally, being able to scoot up between the cars will keep from getting rear ended in stop and go traffic.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

I'm really NOT clear on how something considered safe in most of the rest of the world is horribly unsafe in most of the USA. But then again... most of those other places tend to require folks to LEARN to ride before giving them a license.



You hit the nail on the head here. It won't work for at least one generation as we have too many morons on the roads. We need to start from scratch in teaching people how to drive/ride like they do in Europe AND ban the use of cellphones in vehicles on the move.
I wish we could legally lanesplit everywhere, but with the bluehairs down here, no way :jose ,as most are unaware of BEING in a car let alone drive one properly.

[88bmwJeff]

I've been street riding for two years, and driving for 25+ years, and I'd have to say NO. All too often the motorcyclist who is dividing a lane comes up as a surprise to me. This is not a good situation for the driver of a vehicle. It may not bother the rider, but it does bother and startle drivers. I've learned most people have an inate reaction to pull away from things that startle them. This would send them into the lane next to them, and perhaps into you. Also, I've found myself drifting to one side of a lane only to have a motorcyle skip past on that side missing my car by inches. In a few cases they actually hit my car. Not enough time to get any licenses for a hit and run.

[BradfordBenn]

My understanding from a CA State LEO is that Lane Splitting is not legal, it is just not illegal. There is no statue that says that two vehicles can not share a lane, the other states have a law that say you can't share lanes.

I would like to be able to do it, especially in stop and go traffic - most of my travel in Chicago seems to be like that.

[Kayseventyfive]

I have seen at least two accidents involving lane splitters. Both were the fault of the car driver changing lanes without signaling. However, the biker would not have been involved had he not split lanes.

My own sissy position is I do it when traffic is at a crawl, and at almost every stoplight.

[IndyGT]

I've done it on California freeways where cage drivers expect it, but can't conceive of it catching on here in Indiana. Too many beefwits.

[jgr451]

There are different modalities of lane splitting here that need to be differentiated.
The one I practice,though it is not condoned here in West Coast Canada,is the very slow approach up a left or right shoulder/breakdown lane in a traffic jam.Why should air cooled or lightly water cooled bikes stay trapped in traffic when they can move up and disappear in traffic without depriving some cager of its place??
Then there are the higher speed splitting situations where some dickhead is parked in the fast lane with cruise control set at 111 km in a 110 km zone?Why should a bike not ,BRIEFLY,pass in the middle?ie,lane split briefly,to pass,not to cruise?

In Canada and in the US ,I have had drivers get instant road rage at a bike (me) passing on the left or right shoulder at very slow speed to get by a traffic snarl.Why?Who knows?
I think we need a different driver ed system in which cagers are told that it is OK to see a bike go by and not get angry,because you probably won't see it again unless you happen to stop at the same gas station.

It is a puzzle.

[SNC1923]

Should it be legal across the US?

Yes, of course.

[davealan42]

Personally I attribute my 28 years of riding bikes with no wrecks with staying the hell away from cars as much as I can. I do not want to lane split. But it sure would be nice sometimes.... :laugh I sure wouldn't want to do it here in New Mexico, you're lucky if you don't get run off the road every week here.

[Visian]

For it, in theory. But as diaz hints at, I don't know that I'd want to be the first riders to try it in some places!

ha, yeah! i tried it once in georgia and wound up wearing a badge of a.b.c. tobacco on the 'stich.... :sick

i believe the issue involves cage drivers' perception that by lanesplitting, the rider is not taken his/her "rightful" place in line....

[Cliffy777]

ha, yeah! i tried it once in georgia and wound up wearing a badge of a.b.c. tobacco on the 'stich.... :sick

i believe the issue involves cage drivers' perception that by lanesplitting, the rider is not taken his/her "rightful" place in line....

I hear that. There would have to be long term attitude training for lane splitting to work in Michigan. I cover a local dragstrip and have tried a form of lane splitting when leaving a race at the end of the night. It is not unusual for cars/trucks to pull out in front of me so that I cannot pass.
Three weeks ago one of the County Mounties assigned to traffic control waved me over and made me stop because he said I was pissing off the people in cars. I said, "One of the reasons I rode my bike is so I could get out faster." Nope, not on his watch. So I parked and watched the snail parade for an hour. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
If they made lane splitting okay here, I would probably wait a couple years before I did it!

[PacWestGS]

It seems there are two camps on this debate.

Those who have - and therefore think (and know) that it is a safe(r) and prudent use of a MC when used at the appropriate place and time.

and, those who haven't - and therefore believe it is dangerous no matter what the time or place. But would like to be able to get around or through certain conditions without the fear of some a$$hat in a cage flingin' their door open or worse.

I grew up in S.Cal and learned to ride a bike there. This was the 70s and traffic was light compared to todays standards but still had its moments of congestion. At the time MCs were a lot smaller and narrower and therefore led themselves to be used for this manner of sneaking through.

There were unwritten rules of conduct at the time that would not draw the ire of the populace or attention of the law. They were as I remember them

) Traffic flow less than 35-mph. (Stop-n-Go)
) Your speed not greater than 10-mph over the flow.
) You split primarily between the (inside lane) number 1 and 2 lanes on the freeway. (Not the breakdown lanes either side)
) You filtered up at lights only if you could position yourself ahead or behind a stopped vehicle and did not impede them when the light changed to green.

) If traffic was traveling faster than 35-mph or you were traveling faster than 10-over the flow, the CHP could site you for reckless operation.

I guess and the last times that I've been driving down there, most if not all of that is history. But, then again MCs have changed (read lightning fast) and rider's attitudes have changed but the driver's are so used to it that no one cares.

I wish I could lane-share everywhere if I felt safe and had room, but it would take a colosal public information campain to keep all the cagers from trying to hit me or worse shoot me.

Am I greedy for wanting to go down that seven foot wide path in grid-lock on my bike when it's 90+ degrees out, or sitting in a downpour going nowhere while they sit comfortably in their cage with wipers on? Maybe I am and sometimes I just can't take it any longer...

[flash412]

There are really two sorts of lanesplitting. The first is splitting lanes between MOVING lines of cars. The second is when you are on your motorcycle in what is essentially a parking lot, but it is called a freeway. One of them is riskier than the other. In theory, in California, one never exceeds 35 mph while lane splitting. In practice, in Colorado, if you are stuck in a traffic jam on a motorcycle, you have to sit there with the rest of the cages until emergency workers clear the highway or risk getting a ticket.

[username]

when i travel to CA, and get stuck in traffic, i almost always get startled by the *first* splitter that buzzes by my car. after that, i think, "oh yeah, they do that here." then i make sure to check my mirrors a little more frequently.

and all the bikes i've seen splitting (i've probably commuted in traffic in the bay area about 60 days of my life, so this is a really small sample) have been under control and filtering through nearly-stopped traffic.

my reaction when i saw it the first time was, "smart."

[Motor31]

FSDOC,

There's another camp. Those of use who have lane split and still feel it is dangerous. The isdea of splitting isn't one of gaining additional safety, it's just wanting to move faster than the flow of traffic. That doers tend to piss off everyone else on the road who have expectaions that EVERYONE will drive with9in the same set of rules and be predictable. Kind of why the road laws were enacted.

I've split lanes on a rather large and very well decorated bike and STILL had folks surprised when I did so even when I announced (with a 120 decibal announcement system) that I was doing so. The reactions can get scary for both sides.

[PacWestGS]

FSDOC,

There's another camp. Those of use who have lane split and still feel it is dangerous. The isdea of splitting isn't one of gaining additional safety, it's just wanting to move faster than the flow of traffic. That doers tend to piss off everyone else on the road who have expectaions that EVERYONE will drive with9in the same set of rules and be predictable. Kind of why the road laws were enacted.

I've split lanes on a rather large and very well decorated bike and STILL had folks surprised when I did so even when I announced (with a 120 decibal announcement system) that I was doing so. The reactions can get scary for both sides.

True Mike, there is danger involved, and the rider must always maintain control and expect the worst: a door, spit, hot coffee, cigarettes, and spitle. To aggressive drivers using their cage as weapon or some dimwit just failing to look or signal before changing lanes.

Motorcycle, big red scary firetruck/EMS rig, or police crusier - riding in them on calls, I've seen the best and worst in human responses. The worst place to be sometimes is the only place you have to get to the scene - the right hand breakdown lane. What is everyones first trained muscle memory when they finally hear that 108db or louder siren? "Pull to the right" There second memory is slam on the brakes. Problem with sirens and new cars is that the cars are sound proofed better than the sirens penetration ability so no one hears them until you right on top of them.

I've been wondering for a long time and being a paramedic for a long time helped me confirm that the auto industry could save hundreds of dollars per cage by removing the mirrors and not installing them in the first place. It could be an 'option' for the people who use them, (other than picking zits and applying makeup) and the other drivers who don't wouldn't have to worry about breaking them off in parking lots. Hehehe

YMMV :stick

Doc :D :D :D

[themayer]

BradfordBenn is right, lanesplitting (or lane sharing as the CHP calls it), is merely "not illegal". Riding in the breakdown lanes on either side, though, is not lane sharing and IS illegal. Those CHPys will cite you for it (don't ask me how I know). Also, the image of those mellow california cagers smiling benignly as you motor past is far from true. Here in the SF Bay area, I regularly have drivers move over to prevent me from going past.

[HexST]

I guess California has the best drivers because it works there and I'll bet they have drivers of all ages.After visiting last year and seeing that most drivers encourage it by staying away from the centerline and signaling you to pass them I was very encouraged. In the cities it was great as the bikes went to the front of the line at red lights leaving more room for cars in the driving lanes.Of course riding in the mountains was great too because every California plate would move out of the way (except Logging Trucks). In fact on 101 when things got backed up one of the five of us Fla. guys wouldn't lane split and thats when he got the finger by slowing down the cagers.

[sgtboring]

"I'm really NOT clear on how something considered safe in most of the rest of the world is horribly unsafe in most of the USA. But then again... most of those other places tend to require folks to LEARN to ride before giving them a license."


I lived in England for three years and liked to follow messengers on off days through and around London to develope my chops and have fun. I learned a lot from them and had some close calls. In the states I think that as a group we Yanks have less then good driving skills. Add to the fact that most people in the states get offended if they are passed. How do you think they would react to lane splitting?

I still do it however. :nyah I just keep a look out for the fuze and my plate has mud on it!

But this is comming from a guy who used to kick the mirrors of cars whos drivers irritated me in my road rash youth. ( I am pretty sure 15 years is past the statute of limitation for that crime) :deal

[Burnszilla]

I do it every day. That's one of the benefits of commuting on a motorcycle. Some car drivers move out of the way to make more room for me. They must think I'm a moto-paramedic with the yellow suit and modulating headlight.

[Mika]

Burnszilla, never thought of you as a poser. What some guys won't do to speed their commute. :stick

[jmerlino]

I'd like to see lane splitting made legal, but I fear that here in the Boston area, the hostility of the cagers might lead to some tragedy. What I'd really like to see is something that was proposed in the legislature which is that bikes would be allowed to use the breakdown lane if traffic is moving below a certain speed (I believe it was 35 mph on the interstates). This bill was killed in committee, but I'd like to see it reintroduced and become law.

[rgvilla]

yesterday on my way to work I was behind a toyota SUV and a large truck heading for an intersection where I needed to make a right hand turn. the lane next to me is full of parked cars, no drivers, with plenty of room for me to pass on the right and make the right turn. I did so and pulled into the entry to my parking garage, I stop to get out my electonic gate opener and the lady in the Toyota SUV pulls up next to me and mouths "*******" to me. Now mind you I didn't cut her off, prevent her form turning etc. I just took advantage of my bikes size and manueverability. As far as I can tell she was pissed because I got ahead of her. I don't do much lane splitting here in PA due to the legality but get away with it occasionally when I can't stand to sit in traffic and a cop isn't around. I lived in LA from 79-81 and lane split there all the time. It was generally when the freeway was at a standstill and I was doing maybe 15 or 20 mph max. I always watched for cars changing lanes and never had an accident. If American drivers were trained like European, yes. otherwise, you're taking a risk. Especially where drivers aren't used to it and are territorial about their space and place in line. the best part of the situation above was when I followed the pissed lady into the parking garage. She panicked, I guess thinking I was following her and took off. I parked and went up to the office :D

[Mika]

I came across these in my morning wondering around the internet.

Tips for Splitting Lanes (http://www.whybike.com/motorcycle5.htm)

Lane Splitting 101 – Video (http://www.whybike.com/video.php)

We don't split lanes in the state of confussion, so this seemed informative of the issue, to me at least.

[Ebet]

I split lanes every day in the Los Angeles area.

I understand those who have never (or rarely) split lanes feeling it's nuts. I used to feel exactly that way myself before I started filtering. Once I started filtering regularly and developed the skill set, I realized it works great, provided you use your head of course. Everyone who splits lanes has to use his or her own judgment, depending on the traffic, the road conditions, what your own bike can do, and what you yourself feel comfortable with. Some riders do it less than others, and some won't ever want to do it. I respect our differences. But I think we should all have the choice.

I don't think we necessarily have better cage drivers here in California. They may be a little more accustomed to motorcycles coming closer to them, but they still gab on their cell phones while eating a burger and swatting their kids in the back seat. To me, when splitting lanes (like when riding in general) it's a good idea never to trust the drivers to do or not do anything. I try to ride like they're all completely unpredictable. In my experience lane-splitting can de done so as to greatly minimize drivers' opportunities to collide with the bike, partly by using their innate desire not to collide with other cars. It takes time and experience to learn to do it well, just like it takes time and experience to learn to ride well in general.

I imagine that car drivers act more aggressively when they see motorcycle riders doing things that the drivers know are illegal. So we don't get spit on as often in California, although there are a few drivers who don't even understand that we're legal in the car pool lanes. There would certainly be learning curves if other states legalized filtering, as cage drivers slowly grasped the concept. But yes, absolutely I think lane splitting should be legalized/decriminalized throughout North America!

[wildwilly]

I used to split lanes here in SoCal, but discontinued the practice after several close calls. What with sharing the roads with inattentive drivers, DUIs, nut cases, and the unlicensed/uninsured, the margin of safety has diminished to the extent that the justification to save a few minutes doesn't mean SQUAT.

[Motor31]

I used to split lanes here in SoCal, but discontinued the practice after several close calls. What with sharing the roads with inattentive drivers, DUIs, nut cases, and the unlicensed/uninsured, the margin of safety has diminished to the extent that the justification to save a few minutes doesn't mean SQUAT.


I just have to say this is well said. Frankly the only real reason to split is to save some time because you don't want to drive like everyone else. If you are that short of time that you need to split lanes to get there on time, you should have left earlier or taken a better route.

No matter what "skills" you have developed you are just putting yourself into a very small space between drivers with only one escape route. You are totally dependent and at the mercy of the drivers of the larger vehicles already occupying the lane and they own that lane from divider to divider just as you do when you are traveling down the road. They should have the same priveledge of lane splitting with you as you do with them. How would that make you feel to have a car or truck pass you in your lane while you are traveling? To use an old phrase, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[BONEY]

I lane-share almost daily. I can't imagine life without it.

I've also shared lanes in AZ, Seattle, Memphis, Minnesota, and St. Louis. The only place I thought that maybe I was slightly in danger was St. Louis. We were stuck in ballpark traffic... what can you expect from Cardinal fans. :nyah

Hopefully I'm not breaking any rules with this, Moderators please remove it if I am:

Share the Lane tee shirts (http://www.boneytees.com)

[jaschar]

I've always lived in California, where I've always split lanes. When I had my Yamaha RD200 back in the 70's, I had to keep moving to avoid a melt down.

The wildest thing that I've encountered, and the worst "accident" I've had while splitting lanes involved two cars that were very close together, and passing a joint! I saw the transaction just as their knuckles cracked across the headlight if my Honda Sabre. I think they were OK...

Today, I still split lanes, and I think it's a safe practice as long as you don't get too cocky. Go a reasonable speed, and take care with those openings. Oh yeah, and watch for that rider coming up behind you!

[GeneT]

You hit the nail on the head here. It won't work for at least one generation as we have too many morons on the roads. We need to start from scratch in teaching people how to drive/ride like they do in Europe AND ban the use of cellphones in vehicles on the move.
I wish we could legally lanesplit everywhere, but with the bluehairs down here, no way :jose ,as most are unaware of BEING in a car let alone drive one properly.


Cell phones should be made to disconnect automatically when the car is placed in gear, no exceptions.

:dance

[jgr451]

I just have to say this is well said. Frankly the only real reason to split is to save some time because you don't want to drive like everyone else. If you are that short of time that you need to split lanes to get there on time, you should have left earlier or taken a better route.

No matter what "skills" you have developed you are just putting yourself into a very small space between drivers with only one escape route. You are totally dependent and at the mercy of the drivers of the larger vehicles already occupying the lane and they own that lane from divider to divider just as you do when you are traveling down the road. They should have the same priveledge of lane splitting with you as you do with them. How would that make you feel to have a car or truck pass you in your lane while you are traveling? To use an old phrase, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Ah Mike?
You might have noticed that cars and trucks don't fit between lanes,where bikes do??It is because bikes are smaller and faster.
And,for the odd time when bikes "infiltrate " up the left or right breakdown lanes ,while cars and trucks shouldn't/couldn't,WGAF?As soon as traffic starts moving again,you will never see or be stalled by said infiltrating bike again.

OTOH,sauce for the goose ..uh huh..let that 5 ton truck pass on the left shoulder or down the middle of the fast and slow lanes,that would work.

[B2BWYLD]

...the biggest problem with lane splitting in California....is the education of the "cage" drivers knowing the laws .....

.....How many California drivers are aware that Lane Splitting IS legal.....and Why.....?


..... :doh ......


...then again.....WE should follow those laws and NOT use lane splitting to OUR advantage...

.....Zoom.....Zoom.... :brow

[Motor31]

Ah Mike?
You might have noticed that cars and trucks don't fit between lanes,where bikes do??It is because bikes are smaller and faster.
And,for the odd time when bikes "infiltrate " up the left or right breakdown lanes ,while cars and trucks shouldn't/couldn't,WGAF?As soon as traffic starts moving again,you will never see or be stalled by said infiltrating bike again.

OTOH,sauce for the goose ..uh huh..let that 5 ton truck pass on the left shoulder or down the middle of the fast and slow lanes,that would work.


Aahh whatever your name is.... I have had it happen to me. Since I was on my motorcycle and was to the side of the lane by the lane divider like I'm supposed to be, this guy in a car figured he was fully justified in sharing the lane with my bike. Heck there was at least 3 inches clearance so I had no complaint, right? Just like splitting between cars on a motorcycle. Same thing isn't it?

Actually I gave the guy a couple tickets. One for the lane splitting / sharing with his car and the other for driving on a suspended license.

BTW it's called a breakdown lane instead of a traffic lane for a reason. Driving on it is not the purpose of the lane whether it's a five ton truck or a motorcycle. Same goes for the median as well.

[Motor31]

Oh I got your drift including your innuendos. Actually I had quite a bit more to add to the above but will decline. It would be a waste of time I fear and would put me in the position of making it as personal as you have.