LANESPLITTING

[ribbert]

The lesson in all of this, seems to me, is that you need to assume that cars do not see you, and ride accordingly.  Whether you are pretending to be a car or not, whether you are lane splitting or not. 

Dan

I was just having that very same thought, but for different reasons (mandatory Hi-vis clothing)

If you are relying on being seen by motorists to be safe, you are riding with the wrong attitude.

Noel

[crzyjarmans]

I don't have a problem with anyone riding splitting lanes, I don't do it, for a couple of reason other than its illegal here in NV, My nephew's uncle on his fathers side, was killed doing this, he lived in Cali., had two others I know die this same manner

[Klavdy]

Almost died

[FJmonkey]

I don't have a problem with anyone riding splitting lanes, I don't do it, for a couple of reason other than its illegal here in NV, My nephew's uncle on his fathers side, was killed doing this, he lived in Cali., had two others I know die this same manner

I feel for you, some really abuse the option. I see bikes really pushing what I fee are safe. Once traffic opens up they can start changing lanes, that is when I more like a car. And some of the speeds over traffic are alarming....

[FJmonkey]

Not quite lane splitting but point taken, when metal meets metal, the law of mass and crumple zone apply. Bikes have neither mass or crumple zone.... 

[Capn Ron]

Not quite lane splitting but point taken, when metal meets metal, the law of mass and crumple zone apply. Bikes have neither mass or crumple zone.... 

Actually, that video Klavdy posted wasn't exactly lane splitting, but illustrated the original post in this thread perfectly!  If he was IN the lane of traffic, he would have been a gonner!  Because he was off to the side of the lane, he survived.  Wow.  That truck didn't even see the car in front let alone the bike!!!  Amazing any of us survive out there...As many have pointed out, it's because of our alertness and wits, not those of car drivers.

Stay safe!

Cap'n Ron. . .

[FJ_Hooligan]

The real question with that video is why did the stupid bikers stop on the side of the road?

[rktmanfj]

The real question with that video is why did the stupid bikers stop on the side of the road?

I heard one of the people in the video say 'it's a funeral procession'.

In this part of the world (Central Indiana), traffic generally comes to a stop for a funeral procession (even though it's not the law)... a lot more than they do for emergency vehicles even.

[Jeff0308]

I was pulling out of a side street on to a main road in the car today. T intersection major road near me  im at the T waiting to go accross the 2 lanes. The car in the left lane stopped, the car in the right lane just about stopped  as the traffic was banking up from the traffic lights. Both the drivers waived me through, when suddenly out of nowhere straight up the middle between the cars come this bike at about 50 Kmh. I just missed taking him off by about 3 inches or less. I slammed the brake son and so did he. Bugger me the bastard started to abuse me. At that point I wished the best of the worst for him. Also many years ago a guy I worked with was beingvacwise guy in peak hour doing much the same. I wasn't in any hurry and was sitting in with the stationary traffic when he flew past me tooted and about 50 ft in front someone opened there door on him. He stopped abruptly. I saw him some weeks later on crutches with pins hanging out his legs. A sobering thought.

[ribbert]

I was pulling out of a side street on to a main road in the car today. T intersection major road near me  im at the T waiting to go accross the 2 lanes. The car in the left lane stopped, the car in the right lane just about stopped  as the traffic was banking up from the traffic lights. Both the drivers waived me through, when suddenly out of nowhere straight up the middle between the cars come this bike at about 50 Kmh. I just missed taking him off by about 3 inches or less. I slammed the brake son and so did he. Bugger me the bastard started to abuse me. At that point I wished the best of the worst for him. Also many years ago a guy I worked with was beingvacwise guy in peak hour doing much the same. I wasn't in any hurry and was sitting in with the stationary traffic when he flew past me tooted and about 50 ft in front someone opened there door on him. He stopped abruptly. I saw him some weeks later on crutches with pins hanging out his legs. A sobering thought.

I do that constantly, but that guy is crazy on two fronts. Going that fast between stationary cars and entering the gap at an intersection and not expecting someone to use it.
Same for the second guy, going fast enough to bung himself up with a door flung open.

Neither of these are an example of what's dangerous about lane splitting (filtering) they are examples of idiots doing it irresponsibly.

Noel

[skymasteres]

Also many years ago a guy I worked with was beingvacwise guy in peak hour doing much the same. I wasn't in any hurry and was sitting in with the stationary traffic when he flew past me tooted and about 50 ft in front someone opened there door on him. He stopped abruptly. I saw him some weeks later on crutches with pins hanging out his legs. A sobering thought.

This is the main reason I am even more careful when splitting behind another rider. If takes away your advantage of being there and gone before the driver even realizes what happened. (Well the drivers that are distracted, talking, text, and whatever. i.e Most drivers. The drivers actually watching the road will see you coming. But they are in the acute minority) I have found that it can be very dangerous following another rider, especially if the rider is pushing the limits of good sense and agitating slow moving traffic by having a 20 mph speed advantage. I lost part of a fairing one time when I was behind a rider that accelerated away from me while splitting lanes and when I was ten seconds behind him someone opened a door when I was right next to them. The pinch weld of the door cleaved off the right hand side of the bottom fairing and brushed by my knee. Two inches further over and it would have impacted directly on my knee. 

More often than not though, the predominant issue is drivers tightening up after other riders creep past. I guess everyone things they need to be the lane splitting police, and it they can't make progress through the traffic then nobody should...

[crzyjarmans]

Almost died

this video actually as nothing to do with lane splitting, they where just pulling to the side of a funeral line

[Firehawk068]

I lost part of a fairing one time when I was behind a rider that accelerated away from me while splitting lanes and when I was ten seconds behind him someone opened a door when I was right next to them. The pinch weld of the door cleaved off the right hand side of the bottom fairing and brushed by my knee. Two inches further over and it would have impacted directly on my knee. 
More often than not though, the predominant issue is drivers tightening up after other riders creep past. I guess everyone things they need to be the lane splitting police, and it they can't make progress through the traffic then nobody should...

I hope you stopped and got their insurance info, and filed an accident report..........................This is highly illegal behavior, especially where it's legal to lane-split.

[Capn Ron]

I lost part of a fairing one time when I was behind a rider that accelerated away from me while splitting lanes and when I was ten seconds behind him someone opened a door when I was right next to them. The pinch weld of the door cleaved off the right hand side of the bottom fairing and brushed by my knee. Two inches further over and it would have impacted directly on my knee. 
More often than not though, the predominant issue is drivers tightening up after other riders creep past. I guess everyone things they need to be the lane splitting police, and it they can't make progress through the traffic then nobody should...

I hope you stopped and got their insurance info, and filed an accident report..........................This is highly illegal behavior, especially where it's legal to lane-split.

Straight from the CHP website:

Messages for Other Vehicle Drivers
1) Lane splitting by motorcycles is not illegal in California when done in a safe and prudent manner.

2) Motorists should not take it upon themselves to discourage motorcyclists from lane splitting.

3) Intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm to the rider is illegal (CVC 22400).

4) Opening a vehicle door to impede a motorcycle is illegal (CVC 22517).

5) Never drive while distracted.

6) You can help keep motorcyclists and all road users safe by


•Checking mirrors and blind spots, especially before changing lanes or turning
•Signaling your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic
•Allowing more following distance, three or four seconds, when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency

Cap'n Ron. . .

[skymasteres]

I hope you stopped and got their insurance info, and filed an accident report..........................This is highly illegal behavior, especially where it's legal to lane-split.

It was in Colorado, so I didn't really know if I was on the right side of the law or not.

To be perfectly honest I was just tickled I didn't loose my knee. (I still had a LONG ride home)

The driver was just mad at the guy ahead of me and didn't even know I was there.