LANESPLITTING

[novaraptor]

Nope, never lane split nor lane threaded. I don't have that much trust in my fellow motorists. At slow speed, with a mostly clear lane ahead of you, you can at least see most of the problems before the car driver even knows he's going to be a problem.

[skymasteres]

If I have to choose between lanesplitting and passing on the shoulder, I'm taking lanesplitting EVERY TIME!  Passing on the shoulder is dangerous; you're passing stationary cars in a clear lane.  This just dares a cage driver to pull into the lane.  I'd guess they'd rather pull in front of you, rather than behind.

I have used the shoulder on rare occasion when I was deeply concerned about cooking my engine. But I don't recommend it. Because it's large enough for a vehicle to use you sometimes see impatient motorists suddenly pull out and haul a$$ down it. I'd rather not get a Civic suppository...

Nope, never lane split nor lane threaded. I don't have that much trust in my fellow motorists. At slow speed, with a mostly clear lane ahead of you, you can at least see most of the problems before the car driver even knows he's going to be a problem.

I totally respect your position on this. Every rider needs to evaluate the conditions and make their own decisions on how to approach riding in traffic. My rule number one when riding is "Every driver out there like they are TRYING TO KILL YOU. They just don't know it"  (It started out just as, "Treat every driver like they're trying to kill you" But the latter gets the point across better) With care your odds of having an accident on a motorcycle aren't much greater than that in a car. It's just the consequences that are infinitely higher...

Your comment on looking ahead and "seeing" what other drivers are doing is probably the most critical aspect on riding safely in traffic. Your ability to "read ahead" will allow you to take proactive measures to avoid putting yourself in spots that you can't get out of.  One of the reasons I like lane splitting in slow moving traffic is it helps me avoid falling victim of a couple tons of "love from behind"...

[Capn Ron]

If I have to choose between lanesplitting and passing on the shoulder, I'm taking lanesplitting EVERY TIME!  Passing on the shoulder is dangerous; you're passing stationary cars in a clear lane.  This just dares a cage driver to pull into the lane. 

+1  Add to that, the breakdown lanes are what naturally collect road dirt, car accident jetsam, giant hunks of truck tire tread, wayward hubcaps and the occasional remains of a lawn chair that fell off the back of an RV.   

When I lived in San Diego, the traffic reports would often say things like, "There's a mattress in the #3 lane of the 805", "There's chair blocking traffic on I-8 in Lemon Grove", "A bed frame has backed things up on the I-5 in Chula Vista."  I thought that if I was in the right place at the right time each day, I could have furnished my entire apartment in a week!   

Cap'n Ron. . . 

[andyoutandabout]

Peeps,
Never go up the emergency (hard shoulder) lane. I did it about two years ago, passed only about 4 cars and got a 350 buck ticket off a bike cop. (Lesson learnt)
There's nothing like a good lane splitting session to sharpen the mind. I grew up doing it in England, and am lucky it's considered legal in Cal else i'd have no license by now. When I went to Colorado with Pat, Paul and Ed, I was amazed at how angry car drivers got when I came nipping down the lanes in traffic clogged Denver. All I could here was the beginnings of their protests, being well on my way before the f**ks started flying. Guess I got lucky and didn't a tug by the law.
It's all down to personal choice and conditions at the time. Besides, you can only sit for so long before the Fj feels like it's going to burst into flames. Wonder if a cop would let you off, if you went with that argument: yes officer I was just blowing out the flames that were engulfing my ass, so thought it safer to side-step the line of traffic rather than explode all over the carriageway.
Andy

[Klavdy]

Clickity Click for a good article

[ribbert]

Clickity Click for a good article

I wish! (having that much room between lanes)
You could lane split in a bus there.

[Capn Ron]

I wish! (having that much room between lanes)
You could lane split in a bus there.

Here in the U.S., the minimum lane width of an interstate is 12 feet (144" / 3.66 m).  The maximum vehicle width is 8' 6" (102" / 2.6 meters).  If two of the widest vehicles allowed (without permits) are driving side-by-side and are each centered in their respective lanes, that leaves a minimum gap for us on motorcycles of 42" in the worst case scenario.  The widest point on my FJ is my new CBR mirrors at 37" (love them by the way!!!).

So, in the worst case, I fit with 2.5" on either side...Close, but workable.  Put two mid-size SUVs on either side of you in the same analysis and my splitting lane increases to SIX FEET WIDE!!!  There's almost never a case when I can't thread myself safely through those gaps.

Cap'n Ron. . .

[ribbert]

So, in the worst case, I fit with 2.5" on either side...Close, but workable.  Put two mid-size SUVs on either side of you in the same analysis and my splitting lane increases to SIX FEET WIDE!!!  There's almost never a case when I can't thread myself safely through those gaps.

Cap'n Ron. . .

I have heard your roads are much wider over there and all the photos I see bears that out. I often have to put my feet down and lean my bike left and right to "stagger" between mirrors.
As previously mentioned, in the first few weeks after I fitted my CBR mirrors I clipped a number of cars, and they're not that much wider.

A succession of perfectly timed filtering manoeuvres, that is, hitting the front just as the lights change, always puts a smile on my face.

I also just clipped a number of things in my own driveway and garage that I am familiar with, even walking past the bike I would hit it with my arm sometimes.
Anyone considering buying mega dollar mirrors, as recommended by some here, would do well to spend $20 on a cheap set until the extra width logs in rather than risk trashing your expensive ones.
My subconscious knows exactly how wide my bike USED to be and needed to be re programmed.

Noel

[andyoutandabout]

We wait with interest on how much money and time will be invested in a CA lane splitting study that will no doubt provide inconclusive results, which will prompt ineffective legislation, unenforcable pettiness and ultimately make criminals of respectable biking folk.
For example, when living in the UK at the time of the proliferation of speed cameras (the A14 near Cambridge being a prime case), uproar was centered on the notion that a simple 'on, off' judgement about driving behavior was daft. Surely all sensible driving decisions should be based on prevailing conditions. Sometimes is safer to go faster than the robot says it is, other times it's safer to go slower.
A right minded motorcyclist considers conditions, their ability level, and many other parameters before making a move. If they don't do as such, they tend not to remain motorcyclists for too long. When a police officer pulls you, at the least you can reason with the fellow. However, if his hands are tied by mindless and uninformed laws, then what hope is there???
Andy

[Klavdy]

Pretty sure its the Boulevard Périphérique