Topic: lane spliting

[dusterdude]

yea,but at least you`re not in california anymore.

[angeldeville]

yea,but at least you`re not in california anymore.

very true.... I do miss the lane splitting though.... and not knowing if your date is really a female.....


oops, disregard that last statement....

[dusterdude]

hahahahaha

[ieism]

There have been several accidents here (Netherlands) with bikes beeing hit by cars while passing trough trafficjams. There's no law for it yet, but the insurance companies will blame a car for the accident if the motorcyclist sticks to these rules:


In my country this is OK to pass jams on highways between the two lanes that are most to the left. Not between any other lanes.So no passing at the middle of the road facing oncoming trafic or at the far end of the road next to the hardshoulder.
You can start passing cars if they go slower than 45km/h. You have to maintain a speeddifference of less than 10km/h.
You should not use your indicators when you start splitting lanes to avoid convusion. When the cars start to drive above 45km/h again, use your indicators and go back to either lane.

For cars these rules apply:
Look in you mirrors to see if bikes are coming.
Drive in the middle off your lane.
ALWAYS look in your mirrors and over your shoulder before you switch lanes. Use your indicator.
Only open your door in case of an emergency, and look in your mirror before doing so.

[johnny-from-bel]

In Belgium it is legal so why not do it ?

[Odge]

I lane split. Its legal here in california and I think its one of the main advantages of having a motorcyle. I don't lane split if traffic is moving faster than 10-20 miles per hour. I see a lot of guys lane splitting when traffic is going 40-50 mph and wonder where the fire is. Lane splitting at high speed is dangerous and also freaks out the drivers. It seems like a great way to get a lobby of anti lane splitting car drivers demanding that the police crack down on it. The car people are jealous enough without making it worse by burning by at 60 miles per hour!    Maybe I'm just getting old...

[heffay]

on a rare occasion i will split some lanes.  usually occurs when grandma is in the right or left lane depending on where she has no idea she is and a business woman on the cell phone in the other lane that can do nothing but pace someone else who happens to be grandma.

i make sure to watch the other drivers carefully during the process. 

i think it should be illegal... if it doesn't seem like the safest thing to do it probably shouldn't be legal. 

but, i can understand advantages other than time savings such as while riding an air-cooled bike.

[dusterdude]

if it doesn't seem like the safest thing to do it probably shouldn't be legal. 

then perhaps motorcycling should be illegal.

[heffay]

ok.... if it seems like a really dumbass thing to do then it should probably be illegal.   


 

[ofreen]

You won't have to look very far to find a lot of people that think riding a motorcycle is a dumbass thing to do.

[heffay]

very true ofreen... that is why i didn't really argue with duster 

i really do think that it is becoming much more understood and accepted than it once was though.

[ofreen]

i really do think that it is becoming much more understood and accepted than it once was though.

Maybe so, but I wouldn't like to see the legality of motorcycling put to an up or down vote to the general populace.  I don't know that we'd win.

[Klark Kent]

its a good thing we dont live in a representative democracy and wild fringe groups like ours and the religious right are able to go unchecked.
-KK

[dusterdude]

yea,what he said.

[Gordon]

Maybe so, but I wouldn't like to see the legality of motorcycling put to an up or down vote to the general populace.  I don't know that we'd win.

When motorcycle riding is outlawed, only outlaws will ride motorcycles!

[736cc]

Lane-splitting in stop-and-go makes sense on a motorcycle, but not when traffic is moving over 15-20 mph. Scariest thing I ever saw was a CHIP (California Highway Patrol) splitting freeway lanes during 55-60 mph traffic while doing about 80-90 MPH on a Kaw 1000 w/ his feet on the hiway pegs. Then his partner few by, too.

[canyon750]

I would rather lane split then sit in slow moving traffic and become a hood ornament.  Here in California the guy behind you is talking on his cell phone, reading a report and shaving all at the same time!     I'll admit that I will sometimes split lanes even when the traffic is moving past 40mph but only to get away from people who aren't paying attention to the road! (that's a lot of people on CA roads!!  ) As for the legality, lane splitting actually isn't legal in California, they just don't have a law to enforce against it.  It all depends on who sees you and what mood the cop is in when you get caught.    

[medic09]

A friend visiting from Israel couldn't understand why I don't do it here.  Everyone there does it (don't know if it's actually legal).  Car drivers are crazy, but not vindictive like in NYC.

I think if I did it here (New Mexico) I'd be taking my life in my hands.

[Rsnip988]

cant do it in NC as its illegal

[GroovieGhoulie]

I would rather lane split then sit in slow moving traffic and become a hood ornament.  Here in California the guy behind you is talking on his cell phone, reading a report and shaving all at the same time!     I'll admit that I will sometimes split lanes even when the traffic is moving past 40mph but only to get away from people who aren't paying attention to the road! (that's a lot of people on CA roads!!  ) As for the legality, lane splitting actually isn't legal in California, they just don't have a law to enforce against it.  It all depends on who sees you and what mood the cop is in when you get caught.   

Similar deal in Texas.  No specific law, but if a cop sees you and wants to be a dick, he can get you for "failure to maintain your lane" or "reckless driving".

[Rsnip988]

even if it was legal i dont think i'd do it unless there was a traffic jam and i was in a hurry, i may do it even though ots illegal if i get stuck

[boatsdickson]

Mercy... I just sat through a 12min video on utube of splittin highways in Japan. Guess it wouldnt bother me so much if that was the 'normal' way to get anywhere, but in 15years Ive only done it 2or 3 times. And that was only because of the smoke and squealin tires behind me. Also Im a firm believer that those on 4 wheels dont have the consideration, perception, and attention of those on 2 wheels. --Unless they have rode, know people who ride, etc.

[andy750]

In Japan its very common to lane split and everyone does it. Ive done it in Japan  both as a rider and a passenger (where I had not control over my driver and she was VERY competent at lane splitting. In my experience the Japanese drivers are more aware of motorcycles and even move to let you go through (in contrast to the UK where they often try and close the gap!!  ).

cheers
Andy

[loonymoon]

Did it this morning on way to work on my big scooter. It stresses me out quite a bit though - the Yamaha Majesty isn't the nimblest of bikes and I'm not the smallest of riders and the route I go has 3 very narrow lanes of  about a mile of very slow/stopped traffic to thread through - not the easiest.. I hadn't ridden for a while either so my confidence is shot- I was letting other bikers past me all the time!

[burmashave]

Loonymoon, I don't know about bravery.  I don't ride slowly; however, I ride defensively.  I don't see how I could be defensive while splitting lanes, especially on a CB750.  Drivers seem to get nutty about being in the "fastest" lane when they get stuck in traffic.  I do know the feeling though; I've always felt wimpy while watching bikes zip by me as I stand still in a lane.