[colryn]

I just got back from San Diego from a business trip. First off, I gotta say that place is really purdy. The weather was great. I drove on highways 168, 5, 8, and 15. Traffic was terrible. One thing I was amazed at were the cycle riders driving in between the cars. I would be scared ****-less doing that. I cannot imagine any sane rider doing that. I know it is legal but from a safety standpoint, it is nuts.... All it takes is for some cager to open his door and wham, down the rider goes. Keep safe all of you Californians.

[Gazzacbr1000rr]

Lane splitting is literally the way forward

In the UK while it’s not illegal, if you do get knocked off it will be down to you when it comes to an insurance claim.

OK in slow traffic I reckon.

[Proto]

Have to confess coming from the NEC show on Wednesday on the M42 southbound, the traffic was horrendous so lane splitting at 70mph was the order of the day. Courier/despatch riders would have been impressed. Maybe.


Here in the UK you only overtake on the right (never could get used to your "any side you like" stuff when in the US, too scarey ) but BK and I were weaving in an out all over the place. Very naughty but you just sort of get into the swing of it.

[dB]

Originally Posted by Proto

(never could get used to your "any side you like" stuff when in the US, too scarey )

Supposed to pass on the left here though it's widely ignored, much like the speed limit.

[Zippy]

Someone opening a door? You've been listening to too many fables. I lane split for more than a decade in L.A. I think there was one jerk to pretended to be opening his door in front of me. One of the main advantages that helps keep you safe when lanesplitting is that the drivers don't usually see you coming in time to react to you. It's when they deviate from their ordinary driving patterns, such as when they try to react or accomodate you that things get dicey. Going 5 miles per hour faster than rolling traffic is more hazardous than going 10 or 15 faster, because the cars have time try to either move over for you, or pull over to block you. What you want is no reaction at all. That keeps everything predictable.

I'm not saying that it's easy to lanesplit safely, it is not. From my personal experience, I would say it takes about the same level of concentration as circulating a track at racing speeds. In fact, there are actually a lot more variables in lane splitting than there are on the track, and the decisions need to be made much more rapidly when lane splitting.

Another thing that makes it hard is that most of the time, it is easy. So you tend to start to relax too much. But that will get you in trouble as soon as you need your very best reactions. When lane splitting, no relaxing is allowed unless you are a fool.

[esoteric]

Originally Posted by dB

Supposed to pass on the left here though it's widely ignored, much like the speed limit.

I don't know the exact rules, but passing on left has a lot to do with two lanes per direction where lane position should dictate relative speed. Three or more lanes, particularly on surface streets where left turns occur, gets fuzzier as position doesn't tend to indicate speed.

Passing on the right happens simply because people keep to the left. If I have to traverse three or four lanes to the right in order to get around a Soccer-Mom convention, you can bet I wasn't planning to be there when I started my drive.

[Mojave954]

This is allowed but, must be done in a safe and prudent manner. THAT, is up to the officer that stops you.

Personally, if traffic is moving, just go with it. If not, will split, but don't go all that fast. There are some that shoot down there like they are at the track. What is funny is watching the harley's do it with those FAT front ends. I have seen CHP almost get hit doing this as well. As a matter of fact I think one got bounced a couple of weeks back. Feel for the driver of that cage.

Thing is, you have to pass on the inside, next to the center line. Under no conditions are you to leave the road to pass... no using the shoulder. Seen one guy get pulled for this. One a beamer none the less.

[qoelet]

Here in Brazil lanesplitting is like a 'grey zone' in traffic law, much like in the U.S. The difference is that it is done all the time, mainly in big cities all around the country,where traffic jams are the norm.

I do it frequently both on streets and roads but sure it's a little bit scary. It's not like someone will deliberately try to take you down or block your path, it's the swerving (sp?) of the cars and big mofo's SUVs that worries me.

[WetShrub]

Originally Posted by colryn

I just got back from San Diego from a business trip. First off, I gotta say that place is really purdy. The weather was great. I drove on highways 168, 5, 8, and 15. Traffic was terrible. One thing I was amazed at were the cycle riders driving in between the cars. I would be scared ****-less doing that. I cannot imagine any sane rider doing that. I know it is legal but from a safety standpoint, it is nuts.... All it takes is for some cager to open his door and wham, down the rider goes. Keep safe all of you Californians.

I thought the same thing about your optional helmet policy last time I was in Florida.

Couple guys blew by me on the freeway (traveling at 75 mph) with no helmets. Took me a minute to remember where I was.

[colryn]

Originally Posted by WetShrub

I thought the same thing about your optional helmet policy last time I was in Florida.

Couple guys blew by me on the freeway (traveling at 75 mph) with no helmets. Took me a minute to remember where I was.

Stupid is as stupid does. When I moved to Orlando last April, I was pulled over by the local LEO. After handing me my ticket, he thanked me for wearing my helmet and gear. I told him that I always do. He explained that I will be in the minority in Central Florida. Most riders do not. He then proceeds to tell me that he has cleaned way to many riders head parts off the road beacuse a helmet was not worn.

[MrX954]

NH doesnt have a helmet law either, its kind of nice when you are just putsing over to a friends house right down the road.

A lot of the "cool" riders can be seen bombing down the highway at 100mph+

[oldfogey]

In UK urban traffic, it's the main reason to ride a bike. Prudently done, assuming the worst of drivers around you, you get to your destination.

In a motorway snarl-up, it's usual for bikes to ride between the two outer lanes of traffic. I wouldn't do it at "normal" traffic speeds, but if you're in a jam at 30-40mph, it's accepted practice.

[Zeeman]

Heard recently that lane splitting is frowned upon in the US in general (apart from CA).

Having said that, I'm a bit of a lane splitting demon - I can't NOT lane split. Apart from the gain in traffic - I see it as safer to split than to not split. When I split, traffic is usually stopped. My headlight is off so I'm less likely to be seen by someone in the rear view mirror. but, the big gain - I KNOW I wont get rear ended. If I'm 10 cars ahead of the dude not paying attention coz he has to chat up his girl on his new Nokia, I'm not gonn agte nailed when I runs into the back of the innocent people stopped at the lights. Seen it happen more than once...

Z...

[smoothrideronli]

The funny thing is it is said that it is safer to lane split than to ride in traffic. You are more likely to be hit from behind on a bike than someone swerving into you or you hitting someone. Thats why they say in the US it is safer for bikes to travel a bit faster than other traffic.

[colryn]

Sorry, but it still looks scary to me. I can speak with no experience in the matter but the thought of doing that raises the hair on the back of my neck.

My two cents worth.... But not worth it.

[Scout]

You can learn to do it "safely", albeit a STEEP learning curve. I don't look at it as dangerous, as long as you know what to look for to keep yourself from getting hit.

Everytime I've ridden down to the LA basin or San Diego, I end up lane splitting. It's almost not an option when trying to make forward progress on the 5 or 405. I believe it's accepted by the cage commuters there.

I often lane split up to the lights where I live, but most the rednecks don't realize it's legal in California, so it's not as accepted as it is farther south.

[NewVenom]

I can see why splitting is done so often, especially when traffic makes you want to strangle someone.

Of course, if everyone deviated from the implied laws, we could find ourselves in this situation:
http://www.texasarlingtoncs.us/video...5364_a563f.wmv

[WetShrub]

Originally Posted by NewVenom

I can see why splitting is done so often, especially when traffic makes you want to strangle someone.

Of course, if everyone deviated from the implied laws, we could find ourselves in this situation:
http://www.texasarlingtoncs.us/video...5364_a563f.wmv

The 3rd world countries I have been to are all like this in heavy traffic situations. The people tend to drive slower than here but rarely stop or adhere to traffic signals. Instead they signal each other with honking. It's actually not as efficient as what we have here but I found it not very unsafe either. Because they are all traveling so slowly and not EXPECTING other drivers to do anything predictable, all the drivers are on their toes at all times. They expect some one to randomly turn in front of them or a pedestrian to step out into the street. That's why they don't go very fast and honk all the times. It's sort of like a large flock of birds. They fly around and squawk at each other to let the rest know where they are and their intentions. Cool video.

In the US everyone expects the other drivers to adhere to certain laws and conditions. When they don't, no one is prepared to act or react and then accidents happen. It's all about awareness.

[dB]

Originally Posted by Zeeman

Heard recently that lane splitting is frowned upon in the US in general (apart from CA).

Having said that, I'm a bit of a lane splitting demon - I can't NOT lane split. Apart from the gain in traffic - I see it as safer to split than to not split. When I split, traffic is usually stopped. My headlight is off so I'm less likely to be seen by someone in the rear view mirror. but, the big gain - I KNOW I wont get rear ended. If I'm 10 cars ahead of the dude not paying attention coz he has to chat up his girl on his new Nokia, I'm not gonn agte nailed when I runs into the back of the innocent people stopped at the lights. Seen it happen more than once...

Z...

+10

[NewVenom]

Originally Posted by WetShrub

The 3rd world countries I have been to are all like this in heavy traffic situations. The people tend to drive slower than here but rarely stop or adhere to traffic signals. Instead they signal each other with honking. It's actually not as efficient as what we have here but I found it not very unsafe either. Because they are all traveling so slowly and not EXPECTING other drivers to do anything predictable, all the drivers are on their toes at all times. They expect some one to randomly turn in front of them or a pedestrian to step out into the street. That's why they don't go very fast and honk all the times. It's sort of like a large flock of birds. They fly around and squawk at each other to let the rest know where they are and their intentions. Cool video.

In the US everyone expects the other drivers to adhere to certain laws and conditions. When they don't, no one is prepared to act or react and then accidents happen. It's all about awareness.

This goes right along with Zeeman, the key is that they are (usually) paying considerably more attention to driving then people I see on a regular basis. They are not on a cell phone, not yelling at their kids in the back seat, not spilling their coffee on their laps. They are focusing on riding/driving and if more people did that, we'd have far fewer sad stories in the news.

[RNBzie]

I lane split like a Mo'Fo'...especially when riding in So Cal... traffic is so bad sometimes but once you travel the same roads you get to know the traffic pattern pretty damn well. Come 3 o'clock its horrible, you just have to be reserve and now when and where to split the lanes. Like the previous post you got to be on your toes at all times and most people actually give room but you do get the ocassional jackass that wont let you pass. After all everyone either knows someone or they ride bikes wheather its dirt or road around here.

[colryn]

Originally Posted by RNBzie

I lane split like a Mo'Fo'...especially when riding in So Cal... traffic is so bad sometimes but once you travel the same roads you get to know the traffic pattern pretty damn well. Come 3 o'clock its horrible, you just have to be reserve and now when and where to split the lanes. Like the previous post you got to be on your toes at all times and most people actually give room but you do get the ocassional jackass that wont let you pass. After all everyone either knows someone or they ride bikes wheather its dirt or road around here.

Personally, I do not see how anybody stays sane driving in southern cal traffic. San Diego was nuts by 4pm. I could feel my blood pressure going up the longer I sat in traffic on the interstate. I come from a small town in Florida. Moving to Orlando was a shock at rush hour. San Diego, made me want to cut my wrists. And I was only there for four days.

[Repeater]

IT's cake here in LA to split lanes. I just try to make sure two cars are side by side. it's when someone has the opertunity to change lanes that makes it a bit harry. It's a trip though when you see a "chopper" with ape hangers wobbling through traffic while splitting lanes. I always have to change lanes and go around them.

CHP riders are the best at lane splitting it's like watching a dance.

[RNBzie]

Originally Posted by Repeater

IT's cake here in LA to split lanes. I just try to make sure two cars are side by side. it's when someone has the opertunity to change lanes that makes it a bit harry. It's a trip though when you see a "chopper" with ape hangers wobbling through traffic while splitting lanes. I always have to change lanes and go around them.

CHP riders are the best at lane splitting it's like watching a dance.

That is true... When im in my car like all the normal folks I trip out seeing all the harley guys splitting traffic with their wide ass bikes...I just get out of their way cause they would rip my side mirror off like butter...

[Zippy]

That is true, you are actually safer when the cars are side by side, instead of staggered.

[esoteric]

Having only had a bikes perspective on the freeway for two days now, I was really suprised how wide the lanes actually are on the 405. Moving between traffic on the freeway is much easier than on the city streets.

[Zeeman]

I think the trick to learning to split is to start with a small bike. If I trie dlearning with the 954, I'd probably have taken longer to get the hang of it. It also takes intima