Lane Splitting Rules heading to Gov Brown - California

[moparman70]

Legal soon but with specifics provided by CHP

http://ktla.com/2016/08/04/chp-to-create-guidelines-for-lane-splitting-under-bill-headed-to-gov-brown/

( didn't even know they were working on this)

sc2

[ZOA NOM]

Great, now the CHP can ticket you for not following their "guidelines". I'm out of this nanny state ASAP.

[FJmonkey]

Great, now the CHP can ticket you for not following their "guidelines". I'm out of this nanny state ASAP.

But we don't know what the guide lines are yet. I understand your trepidation, more rules and hassle from the man. As a lane splitter myself I have my own rules/guide lines. And they are a bit more cautious then what I see others doing. Just my $0.02...

[Pat Conlon]

Great, now the CHP can ticket you for not following their "guidelines". I'm out of this nanny state ASAP.

Rick, the CHP has always had the ability to ticket you, this is nothing new.
While lane splitting...or lane sharing is not illegal, riding in an unsafe manner, or worse, a reckless manner has always been a cite-able offense. The problem is, uneven enforcement. Without guidelines, every CHP officer has their own opinion as to what is unsafe or reckless.

Regarding the specifics of the guidelines, what gives you heartburn? I think they are reasonable.

[CutterBill]

The part I don't like is the "No lane splitting above 30mph."  Because sometimes I really don't want to go 55mph behind some clueless jerk in the carpool lane.  When the other lanes are doing 80...   

[FJmonkey]

The part I don't like is the "No lane splitting above 30mph."  Because sometimes I really don't want to go 55mph behind some clueless jerk in the carpool lane.  When the other lanes are doing 80...   

I tend to avoid that but in all honesty will confess my guilt. Having the grunt of the FJ and the choice to get into clear lanes is too much to pass up.

[jagcofj]

I been riding for a long time my 1st bike was a RD350, though the years groups I road with have split lanes like that. I never did and would not do it you never no what the driver of the car is thinking. Plus I seen my share of crashes. 

[FJmonkey]

My fundamental rule on lane splitting is based on how the cars are spread out. As soon as the gaps open up and cars have room to change lanes I stop splitting. When the driver of any vehicle can see another car next to them I feel safer (Not Safe) to pass between. The aggressive drivers will take the opening the size of a postage stamp to get that little bit further. I don't want to be that postage stamp.

[PaulG]

Be thankful they allow you to lane split.  Even if it was legal here in Ontario it would be a suicide mission - at least within the Greater Toronto Area - based on the quality of drivers.

As far as guidelines for ticketing that's a neverending issue.  A cop has a shitty day and you sneeze in his general direction you're fucked.  A cop has a good day and he pulls up beside you, checks out the bike, gives you a nod and a thumbs up.  That's human nature and no guideline is going to fix that. Especially if they're behind in their quota.  Oh wait, quotas don't exist  - I forgot.

As an aside the only time I split lanes was in England in 1990 when I went to the TT.  We rented bikes in London and headed north on the M1 on a Fri. afternoon.  We were a small group of about 4-5 bikes all from Ontario.  As we crept north in rush hour we saw bikes splitting lanes left-right-& centre.  After an hour of this the guy in the lead pulls out and starts splitting, so we all follow - suitably gapped.  I noticed the pace picking up and we were doing this for quite a while - people would actually move to either side to let you through.  I eventually checked my speedo and my eyes popped out of my head - 90mph! - and cars were still passing us!  So back in line I got.

I wouldn't do this in Toronto at 30mph.  I don't even commute to work anymore on the bike when I'm scheduled on weekdays.  So enjoy your freedom even if there is a string attached.

[FJmonkey]

I my early  days when I had my '86 CBR600 I went to AZ to visit family. Traffic backed up and I started splitting lanes. I had checked the Motor Vehicle laws before my trip and saw that both CA and AZ had the same wording I felt safe splitting lanes. I got pulled over by AZ HP. I explained that my bike was boiling over in the heat and I had researched the traffic laws and thought all was good. I was given a gentle explanation that the law may be written the same but not interpreted or enforced the same. He let me go with that and I continued my trip on surface streets till the freeway cleared up.

In CA the center lane on surface streets are also treated differently. Some cities will let you turn right into the center lane and then merge with traffic. Others will cite you for turning RIGHT into a lane for turning LEFT. So I did learn something in traffic school... I also learned that the least ticketed colored car in the USA is Black and White. Go figure.... 

[fjbiker84]

The CHP put out "recommendations" 3 or so years ago on lane splitting and shortly afterwards these guidelines were later dismissed as not being an official position - because there was no "official" position.  As I remember, some of the key points to these guidelines were that lane splitting is only allowed if traffic is flowing at 40mph or less, you can't exceed the speed of traffic by more than 10 mph while lane splitting, and it is only to be done between the HOV and 1st lane on freeways.  There were a few other things but it's been a while since I read the article.  You may be able to google "CHP lane splitting recommendations" and find the article because it was published on the internet.  My own observations are that motorcycle accidents on the freeways around the LA area are at an incredibly disproportionate rate to the number of motorcycles on the road.  If you listen to the KNX traffic reports, there is a "motorcyclist down" traffic delay every day.  And my own personal observation just today, while driving home from Anaheim Hills GC to Redondo Beach on the 91, there was an accident with a motorcycle down in the HOV lane and CHP hadn't even had time to respond as I went by.  Several cars had stopped to attend to the biker (and probably were involved in the incident) who fortunately looked to be fine - sitting up and still wearing his helmet - and typing a message on his cell phone.  So something needs to be done. In my opinion there is a lot of lane splitting being done by the motorcyclist that goes beyond common sense.

[Pat Conlon]

....so something needs to be done. In my opinion there is a lot of lane splitting being done by the motorcyclist that goes beyond common sense.

Yes, I agree. That's why they are codifying the guidelines into law.

If traffic is moving 30 mph (44 ft/sec.) and you split lanes at 40 mph (58 ft/sec.) you are moving at 14.6 feet per second faster than the cars you are passing.
You are essentially passing one car per second with a 10 mph speed difference.

Zipping down the freeway at 40 mph, between cars, weaving in and out of slower traffic takes (for me) total concentration and is plenty fast, and exhausting.

fjbiker is correct, it seems lately as we are getting a lot of downed bikers on our LA freeways. It is a bad situation for everyone, commuters and bikers. Sure backs up traffic and pisses everyone off. If Calif were indeed a nanny state, they would out law the practice of lane splitting like everyone else, so I am encouraged.

I'm more worried about the upcoming E15 fuel mandate than the new Lane Splitting standards. E10 is bad enough.

[PaulG]

I almost forgot.... this thread reminded me of a video I saw last year.  If you're ever in Sao Paulo - stay away from this guy.  He seems to love the rev limiter.  The video I saw was a few minutes longer, and I remember actually closing my eyes a few times in expectation of something disasterous.

It starts out almost sane.  If the nanny bureaurocrats see this you can kiss any lane splitting laws goodbye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4KqJYDwxsk

[FJ_Hooligan]

I had to stop watching about half way through. 

I'll bet good money that that guy is probably not alive today. 

Sounded Italian?

[ZOA NOM]

Great, now the CHP can ticket you for not following their "guidelines". I'm out of this nanny state ASAP.

Rick, the CHP has always had the ability to ticket you, this is nothing new.
While lane splitting...or lane sharing is not illegal, riding in an unsafe manner, or worse, a reckless manner has always been a cite-able offense. The problem is, uneven enforcement. Without guidelines, every CHP officer has their own opinion as to what is unsafe or reckless.

Regarding the specifics of the guidelines, what gives you heartburn? I think they are reasonable.

Honestly Pat, I don't have any specific concerns, it's just another tiny infringement that gives the "authorities" more control. I lane split daily, and I do so safely IMO, at various speeds. I'm just tired of the nanny state. I'll take responsibility for my actions, just get off my back already. (the gov't, not you, Pat)