Spliting Lanes and dealing with crap drivers

[terryk]

OK, admission, I split lanes all the time and have for decades. Legal here in SoCal.

So for those who do the split deed what is the best way to deal with a really crap driver doing you bad, crowding you in the split on purpose or just sleep driving. .

OK, confession, for the first time ever, I hit a crap drivers hood in frustration today, not too proud really. And, it hurt my wrist as the hood is mightier than the hand.

[1tinindian]

Earlier this summer, I left work on my FJ and was stopped at a busy intersection, lots of cars and people had their windows down, when a co-worker of mine came right up to my right muffler with his front bumper, and laid on the horn.
I knew he was having fun, but no one around us knew what was going on, so at the blast of his horn, I slammed the palm of my hand down on the hood of his car as hard as I could, (his car a POS Toyota Corolla), and the looks from the people near us was priceless! I think it kinda shocked him also, but we had a good laugh the next day at work telling of our "staged" road rage event! LOL

Leon

[axiom-r]

You know... those folks in cars are mad at you. Why? Because they think you are doing something you should not be allowed to do...  The reality is they are afraid to be out there on a bike taking advantage of the advantages of being on a bike.  When you lane split they become offended because you are willing to do something (and benefit from it) that they are unwilling to do. You take a risk that they won't take.

What you have to keep at the front of your mind is: you will never win in a skirmish against a car.  Whatever they are doing- be above them. When we ride in traffic it is ultimate control over the others out there on the road.  They bike has superior power and handling and you can maneuver circles around them if you need or want to.  When ever I run into someone like that I go a lane over, lane split past them and then move back to splitting the #1 and #2 lanes...

Technically you should no be lane splitting unless traffic is at less than 10MPH.  When heavy traffic does move that slowly you ARE safer when splitting than you are staying between the bumpers.  So do it.

Just pity the fool that gets mad at circumstances so clearly beyond their control.....  pity them and pass them by.

Your legs are so worth it.

[terryk]

In california lane splitting is permissible above 10 mph. agree with most of your post as well.

Here is the statement of law from the CHP's right off their website under FAQ's -
Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.

DMV position - Motorcycles may travel faster than traffic during congested road conditions and can legally travel in the unused space between two lines of moving or stationary vehicles, which is commonly called "lane splitting."

The LANE SPLITTING ruleS of thumb - do not exceed 15 mph faster than the prevailing rate of traffic or break the spped limit, har har. Do not swerve all over the lanes and the nice policeman will leave you be.

[FJmonkey]

In california lane splitting is permissible above 10 mph. agree with most of your post as well.
Here is the statement of law from the CHP's right off their website under FAQ's -
Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
DMV position - Motorcycles may travel faster than traffic during congested road conditions and can legally travel in the unused space between two lines of moving or stationary vehicles, which is commonly called "lane splitting."
The LANE SPLITTING ruleS of thumb - do not exceed 15 mph faster than the prevailing rate of traffic or break the spped limit, har har. Do not swerve all over the lanes and the nice policeman will leave you be.

Terry, what does it say for ridding 5+ miles on the shoulder to get past 200+ RVs with trailers to get past an accident site? Not that I or any of the FJ club members would do that on a Sunday ride in SoCal.... 

[Klavdy]

I lane split in every country I've ridden in and when in the U.S.A I'll lane split in every state I'm in.
Sure, it may be illegal in some of them, sure, it may piss idiots off but why would you care about them?
I ride a bike, I don't drive one.
I've even had other bike riders get all butt hurt about it, wtf business it it of theirs?
It's not like you are pushing into a line or anything.
It's a bit like waiting at a checkout when you haven't bought anything,stuck behind some freak with two trolleys and they want to pay with pennies and food stamps .
You should just go past.

[andyb]

How is this related to a business?

Any time I'm going to go up against a big wall of cars, I'll only jump to the sides and blow past is when I know there's no fear of retribution, i.e., I can see my exit and have enough room that no one's going to open their door into me or whatever.

I've come up to someone's car after being cut up by them and gently tapped on their window with my glove from a lot closer than they expected... they promptly blew the light to get away from me, silly kids.

[terryk]

How is this related to a business?

Any time I'm going to go up against a big wall of cars, I'll only jump to the sides and blow past is when I know there's no fear of retribution, i.e., I can see my exit and have enough room that no one's going to open their door into me or whatever.

I've come up to someone's car after being cut up by them and gently tapped on their window with my glove from a lot closer than they expected... they promptly blew the light to get away from me, silly kids.

I interpreted business not as a company but as the business of riding a bike or being a rider or biker, oh, never mind.

We ride the chute (area between the lanes of cars) on 10-14 lane highways every morning and every afternoon. Gotta go zen and always look out for the nervous nellie, the lane jumper and never take your eyes off the front tires or the drivers heads as even a-holes will look most times towards the chute if they plan to jump lanes. Rule number 1 - As soon as the front tire on a car starts to turn your way, react.

It is a bit of an odds game and not completely safe or sane but, well, AGATT and it is safer than being a sitting duck in traffic.

Get hit on a glancing blow in the chute, sucks and you could hit the pavement.

Get hit from behind by someone sleep driving or taking a conference call or looking at the person in the car next to them, or reading and driving, or texting,or scratching their privates, or picking their nose, or rubbing their dog against their crotch as they let their precious fluffy lick them in the mouth, or yelling at the kids or the spouse, or slipping into a disturbed mental state due to not taking thier medication or putting on make-up or stuffing their face with the fast food wrapper covering their eyes as they slip into a food coma, or copping a feel as they grope and lust after one another,  could easily be fatal.

So, I will not be a sitting duck and run the chute and run my luck, safer.

[terryk]

ok, please vote

[FJTillDeath]

As much as I would like to break mirrors and kick doors and hoods etc, it really isnt a good idea

Especially if the cager targets the next unlucky rider. For all you know a cager might be targeting you becos of a previous rider they encountered.

Bottomline is they have a suit of armour, you have the road to keep you company on your way to the hospital/ morgue.

Best is to do as Andy said, interpret what other drivers are going to do, then when you are certain its safe, gun it still making sure you have a backup plan for if something goes wrong

[axiom-r]

Get hit from behind by someone sleep driving or taking a conference call or looking at the person in the car next to them, or reading and driving, or texting,or scratching their privates, or picking their nose, or rubbing their dog against their crotch as they let their precious fluffy lick them in the mouth, or yelling at the kids or the spouse, or slipping into a disturbed mental state due to not taking thier medication or putting on make-up or stuffing their face with the fast food wrapper covering their eyes as they slip into a food coma, or copping a feel as they grope and lust after one another,  could easily be fatal.

Yer cracking me up Terry- its all true as can be though!  Hey I guess if you gotta smash a few mirrors off so be it.  I don't live in the BIG city areas any more - our widest highway up here is 3 lanes......    Thank my lucky stars not to be in a population that big!!

For the record, I do lane split unapologetically, but when I run into an a-hole I "take advantage of the advantages" and get myself around them while they can barely move!

Cheers- be safe out there!


tim

[Mark Olson]

OK, admission, I split lanes all the time and have for decades. Legal here in SoCal.

So for those who do the split deed what is the best way to deal with a really crap driver doing you bad, crowding you in the split on purpose or just sleep driving. .

OK, confession, for the first time ever, I hit a crap drivers hood in frustration today, not too proud really. And, it hurt my wrist as the hood is mightier than the hand.

your vote poll does not have the correct category for some of us. since nobody else is gonna say it ,I will.

I have lived in lane splitting state for a long time and make use of it a lot . Way back in the 70's if you cut me off it cost you a drivers side rear view mirror.

In the 80's mirrors were harder to snap off so you got your drivers door kicked in. In the 90's the stupid breakaway mirrors if hit just right the glass fell out.

By the 2000's a punch to the drivers window just to get their attention . Now in the 2010's It is perfectly normal to scratch the side of their car and say they hit you and sue them for damages cause you got it on video cam.

or call them in as a drunk driver .

[andyb]

And those same drivers will call you in for driving recklessly and at high speed, of course.

I think people who use cellphones while driving, particularly to call the cops, need to be punched in the face until it stops being funny.  Especially when it's their boyfriend as the county cop.

Not that I'm bitter.  Didn't get a ticket of course, because the cop never locked a beam on me, but I've been pulled over a number of times from some loser calling the cops. 

[Mark Olson]

And those same drivers will call you in for driving recklessly and at high speed, of course.

I think people who use cellphones while driving, particularly to call the cops, need to be punched in the face until it stops being funny.  Especially when it's their boyfriend as the county cop.

Not that I'm bitter.  Didn't get a ticket of course, because the cop never locked a beam on me, but I've been pulled over a number of times from some loser calling the cops. 

we all get called in for riding unsafe. we are on motorcycles.

[Klavdy]

Take advantage of design features.
Mirrors on late model cars need to be hit in a downwards motion.
Pops them straight off.