Study Confirms Lane Spltting Makes Sense

[Klavdy]

Go on then, read it and pass it on to others.

[ELIMINATOR]

Always struck me as odd that this is illegal in most US states. For me it would make owning a bike far less useful.

[ELIMINATOR]

Shame it can't be put up on the Motorway matrix signs, to show car drivers that we are really doing them a favour.

[Dads_FJ]

Perhaps if more motorcyclist dressed like this (with protective gear) and had reasonable exhaust we would get more respect in the good-ol'-USofA.  I hate being passed by bikes with open exhaust, and lane splitting would get the bike even closer to the cars they pass.  Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of lane splitting and would welcome it in the other 49 states.

[ApriliaBill]

Two thoughts.
1. Was hauling through Az. once on the way back from my home in N.M.to my home in Ca. west of Flagstaff somebody flipped an r.v. I lane split through 40 miles of stopped traffic, got to the front of the line and instantly was approached by AHP, and she was pissed! I explained sitting in 110 degree weather in leathers was not an option for me, and how the hell a state with no helmet law could frown on lane splitting. At that point she was fuming and asked if I was carrying any firearms....... Well just as I was getting ready to get thrown in the pokey, a biker club rode up, and they were Az. bikers, this tossed this woman into a frenzy as she rushed to confront them, I saw an opening and rode my butt off to the border.

2. Lane splitting for some reason sets people off. I have an ex-father in law who would just froth at the thought of bikes lane splitting. He's sitting at an intersection once and sees a biker coming up on his left, so mr. bright idea guy decides to open his door.....in front of a CHP!!! He lost his liscense for six months, and the fines were astronomical....

I'm all for lane splitting, but not at freeway speeds, if traffic is stopped, I split, but never trust somebody at speed with your health, you may not win the confrontation....

[axiom-r]

My understanding is that lane splitting is only legal when traffic is stopped or in stop and go gridlock.  You may also approach the front of a queue waiting at a traffic light.  If any lane is moving consistently at a speed anywhere near the posted limit splitting is a no go??

tim

[ApriliaBill]

My understanding is that lane splitting is only legal when traffic is stopped or in stop and go gridlock.  You may also approach the front of a queue waiting at a traffic light.  If any lane is moving consistently at a speed anywhere near the posted limit splitting is a no go??

tim

Here's how the unwritten rule is as I understand it, and by no means do I have anything in writing to back it up. You can lane split up to 35 m.p.h but no faster than 10m.p.h. faster than the flow of traffic. I don't know how accurate this is, but I've pretty much followed it over the years and it's kept me out of trouble...

[moparman70]

The law as I understand it  states that " Two vehicles can occupy the same lane " or something to this effect.  So when lane splitting you are doing just that.  It doesn't work for two cars obviously due to size but works well for bikes.  

You will get a ticket if spotted doing something that is dangerous -- unsafe.   Some of the stuff has been mentioned - passing while speeding or passing at speeds greater than 15mph than the flow of traffic.  A lot of this is up to the officer perception too.

Generally speaking I have been told you can lane split when traffic is stopped -- but limit it to 15mph ( which only makes sense - but I have witnessed persons going 30+ up the lane in stopped traffic -- very dangerous as you can't react to whatever may occur ).  But you can also lane split when traffic is moving but typically not moving faster than 30 mph.  We get that here;  traffic may move around 15-20 and you can lane split to keep moving.  But moving too quickly through stopped or slow traffic can always get you a ticket for dangerous driving.

When I was in LA -- the normal lane splitting lanes were between 1  and 2 but lately most just ride in between the carpool lane and the 1... not sure this is entirely legal as you are riding on double yellows but they do.

just my 4 cents worth

[craigo]

My understanding is that lane splitting is only legal when traffic is stopped or in stop and go gridlock.  You may also approach the front of a queue waiting at a traffic light.  If any lane is moving consistently at a speed anywhere near the posted limit splitting is a no go??

tim

At least common sense would dictate. Why would anyone need to split lanes with traffic flowing at near or close to the posted limit? In town in a commute situation, splitting lanes at speed constitutes reckless driving. Just my opinion.

CraigO

[terryk]

My understanding is that lane splitting is only legal when traffic is stopped or in stop and go gridlock.  You may also approach the front of a queue waiting at a traffic light.  If any lane is moving consistently at a speed anywhere near the posted limit splitting is a no go??

tim

At least common sense would dictate. Why would anyone need to split lanes with traffic flowing at near or close to the posted limit? In town in a commute situation, splitting lanes at speed constitutes reckless driving. Just my opinion.

CraigO

The vehicle code is vague. The CHP's have an official guideline, vague as well, publiched on the CHP FAQ's on the internets. I guess you know safe and prudent when you see it.

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

[racerman_27410]

I know when i rode with Tom out in LA we rode between the carpool and lane 1 on the double yellows..... we went faster than traffic all the time... even when traffic was moving at or close to the speed limit.
we even pulled over to lane one once to let a fast running CHIPS officer past.... he was doing 80MPH at least with traffic doing about 55. (we were going about 65)  scariest riding situation ever for this Southern boy!

KOokaloo! (preferably more than 10" away from cars on both sides!)

[eddohawk]

I split/filter every day and evening on my commute. Common sense prevails...

My rules are...

Gridlock
To get to the front of a traffic light que to avoid being rear ended
Minimise splitting at night
Dont split where the traffic is moving any more than 15kmh

[tmkaos]

I split/filter every day and evening on my commute. Common sense prevails...

My rules are...

Gridlock
To get to the front of a traffic light que to avoid being rear ended
Minimise splitting at night
Dont split where the traffic is moving any more than 15kmh

+1 on all that, except I will split up to about 30kmh. It's really a judgement call on the traffic situation, are the lanes tight, are drivers frustrated and lane hopping quickly without too much indicating, a million little factors you assess and make a judgement call based upon how far am I willing to risk myself today?

Somedays I take the risk, somedays I tootle along in the fastest lane watching other riders risk their lives.

Generally I notice I am in the lower 50% of the speed range for splitting, most other bikes I see on the motorway do it faster than I do.

James

[Arnie]

When I was living and working in Melbourne and commuting each day, I split/filtered lanes.  On the freeway I kept my speed to no more than 15-20kph faster than the cars, and kept a keen eye on the cars' front tires (first thing to move).  I also kept the brake lever covered.
At stop lights, I almost always filter to the front if there's room between the lanes.  When its too tight, I still stay to one side of the lane to minimize my chance of being rear ended.

Arnie

[Klavdy]