Triumphrat

redninja

lol, i didnt know posting those would strike it up like it did,i agree not the safest lane splitting vids, but you know some people ride, in general within all the rules and precautions available,and still get wiped out, I'm not sure riding dangerous makes riding anymore dangerous than what it really is,,the fact that some of you guys sound horrified is funny
would i lane split like that 3rd guy, hell no,but that just boils down to my skill ability, if i felt i could, i would occasionally, i'm sure the rush is great,but being in houston area,we dont get alot of practice anyway
but really, lighten up guys or get a vespa

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Tbirdnz

I think it all boils down to riding to your own skills, sensibly and safely, this means different things to different riders. Common sense is not so common.

It's what another thread is all about, anticipation, defensive riding, observation, and self preservation, you get all this with experience.
I lane split, but I do it on bumper to bumper traffic, if the traffic is moving ok I just follow it, I don't try to make a nuisance of myself and hack off other road users. I'll filter upto the traffic lights when traffic is stopped and get out of their way.

On blocked motorway it makes sense to lane-split, it's safer for you, as well as faster.

If you're happy with it then go for it, if not then don't.


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Ride on !

DuckMan001

You mean I'm not supposed to that stuff while driving?

Cagers aren't the only stupid people though. One day on the beltway I saw this good-ole-boy on a goldwing with no helmet, t-shirt, shorts and sandles in rush hour traffic talking on a cell phone.

Yep, *I* own the road.. I pay taxes on the road from this curb to that one over there and everyone else can have the rest.


You forgot parallel parking

There is a guy from Liverpool that works in my building. He said on his driver's test, the Trooper brought out a trainee and asked if he could ride along. After the road test, he turned to the trainee and said "See the difference?" The guy asked what he meant and he said people from the UK drive better. Americans in general are lazy drivers, cutting left turns, veering left to make a right turn, wandering over the road, etc. I doubt 10% of US drivers could pass the road test in the UK. The only time I'll ride my bike in Houston proper is when the HOV lane is open or the beltway has light traffic.

BTW, if you see a guy in a yellow helmet with big mean looking red reflective eyes on back and a yellow jacket, riding either a BRG Trophy or yellow Thruxton, thats me.

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miker

Ummm.... not sure about that one. If they do get wiped out, perhaps they really weren't still riding within all the rules, and didnt take ALL precautions, or maybe just thought they did and learned a new lesson.

Mick

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"We may not be able to change the direction or strength of the wind, but we can always trim our sails"

Tbirdnz

Here bikes own the road more than cars, I pay $260 p.a. road tax for my TB and $220 for a Jag.

I'm just waiting for someone to approach me for taking a curbside parking spot when that's all that is available.


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Ride on !

Lee

I think if the US made lane splitting legal there would be an expectation of a big increase in biker fatalities. We are not seen now by cagers and lane slitting would just add to this.

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Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.

BombFactory

Lane sharing/splitting is indeed legal in California, but does have limitations. The law states that it must be done at 'safe speeds' and ‘prudently’ and these definitions are chosen by the rider or officer giving the citation. Regarding video #1 and the van moving out of the carpool lane: yes, the van made an illegal lane change over a double yellow but the motorcycle was going too fast for 'safe' lane splitting. Both individuals were breaking the law, but I would say the motorcyclist was the cause of the accident due to dangerous riding. If the rider was moving at a safe speed and properly scanning, the accident could have been avoided. Coming from multiple police buddies of mine, and some random conversations with bike cops, the rule of thumb for CA lane sharing is to not exceed 15mph over the flow of traffic and not to share a lane at all when traffic flow is over 50mph. According to these officers, cops will usually give tickets if the rider is moving faster than these guidelines.

I use to lane-split more so than I do now, but I would only do it if traffic was flowing less than 25 mph and I would not go over 5 or 8 mph than the cars around me. Now I only split lanes when traffic is less than 5 mph and only if I am really heating up or need to get somewhere. I try to plan my route so that I don't get stuck in these situations. I never split lanes in a heavy city-street situation, as there are way too many people aggressively maneuvering.

The biggest problem I have had with lane splitting, believe it or not, is other motorcycles. Some riders are absolute morons! I only split lanes in the left most lane (lane #1/fast lane) and on the right of the cars. I don't weave in and out of lane #1 and #2, but stick to #1. There have been multiple times when other motorcycles appear from no where going 20+ mph faster than the moving traffic and spilt the right side of the car in the lane to my right (#2.) So as I am on the left side of a person's car this idiot rider is splitting their right side. The first reaction of most people in a situation when an object appears on their right inches from the car is to swerve left--directly into me. It is really sad that other riders don't think about looking out for other bikes and hazardous situations like this one. All in all, if you are skilled and wise at splitting lanes, it isn't that big an issue, but in the long run it isn’t as safe as not splitting lanes. A very old and experienced motorcyclist friend once told me that if you behave on a motorcycle as if you are a car, cars will tend to treat and respect you more like a car. This can be argued, but from what I have experienced I tend to agree with my friend.

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miker

A sound point Bomb.... If ever that kind of thing happens to me, and the other rider is caught at the next light and I can cathc up to them, I will tell them that what they did was irresponsible and put another rider in danger. Most of the time they say "Thanks, I didn't think of that." Although I have had a couple of wankerrs tell me to (*&^(*& off. They'll get it eventually, when it happens to them.

As I keep saying, educate the other riders when you can, or they'll get taken out eventually.

Mick

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"We may not be able to change the direction or strength of the wind, but we can always trim our sails"

Tbirdnz

A wise and valid point and also passed onto me by my father, I followed that rule for years, then when the incidence of being hit in the rear in bumper to bumper traffic increased, I started lane splitting.

.....but I still follow the rule, don't annoy other drivers when doing it.


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Ride on !

88blkbird

I would split lanes while I lived in California but like Bomb I would NOT exceed 12-15 mph and when traffic began to move again I would get back into a lane. My issue with splitting was cars with jealous drivers swerving into me because they didn't like the fact I could continue to travel while they were stuck in traffic. I could be wrong but in California I believe the reason lane splitting was initially allowed was for air cooled motorcycles that cannot sit in traffic for long periods without damage to the engine. I know that was my primary motivation, the Triumph is a great bike but it doesn't like to be overheated any more than my Harley. While you are splitting a lane you have to be attentive at all times and there's no place for arrogance if you ask me.

Dave