Triumphrat

SpeedyPete · 02-08-2007

Just curious on this one.

How is it possible that lane splitting is legal in California (and a few others?) but not in most states?

I used to lane split in slow / stopped traffic when I lived in HK, and it was legal. Not sure I'd do the same on a US highway.

Any thoughts?

P

Normandy · 02-08-2007

It seems that it may be an attempt to improve traffic flow but was meant to be done at slow or stopped cars speed in heavy traffic centers ?

MattTriumphs · 02-08-2007

Formerly living in LA I'm all for lane splitting if it's done safely, mainly at slow speeds in their horrendous traffic. I'd consider doing it Denver in bad traffic as long as I thought any cops couldn't get me!

Doing at freeway speeds doesn't seem safe to me.

DrEnglish · 02-08-2007

Know what? I'd rather have a mandatory helmet law and legal lane splitting than no helmet requirement and no lane splitting.

Just goes to show that the loudmouths in motorcycling have been complaining about the wrong thing all these years.

rwright · 02-08-2007

Legal or not, it really doesn't matter what we riders think...it's what does that cager up ahead thinks. jm2cents.

d2mini · 02-08-2007

I always thought the reason it was legal in CA was for health reasons of the rider. If they are allowed to split, they are not out in the middle of all that heat and smog. Sitting at a standstill on a freeway in LA or here in Houston for that matter can be pure hell in the summer. The last thing the Hwy Dept needs is motorcyclists passing out and falling over in the middle of the freeway.

FattRat · 02-08-2007

I could be wrong, but this is what I was told.

The air cooled motorcycles of yesteryear were nowhere near as efficient as modern oil/air cooled bikes. They could not sit for extended periods of time without air moving around/through the cooling fins. It was for this reason that motorcycles worldwide could "lane-split"/"filter"/share a lane."

Apparently some have stopped allowing this practise.

I split lanes on a regular basis being very careful not to offend cagers with my exhaust noise. I don't speed through the traffic, I show my appreciation by waving when cars afford me more room, and I assume that a break in traffic means a car in the neighboring lane WILL suddenly try to occupy it. It's a practise only as safe as you make it.....

OldTimeBiker · 02-08-2007

Technically, lane splitting is not legal in California. It's just that it is not specifically illegal that makes it allowable in that state. A highway patrol officer has discretion, and could write a reckless or negligent ticket for lane splitting if he felt the situation warranted it.
Last year here in Illinois a state senator who is a strong advocate for mandatory helmet laws, introduced a bill that proposed legal lane splitting in exchange for a madatory helmet law. The vast majority of the motorcycle community came out against this and it died. The main reason the motorcycle community opposed this was NOT because of the helmet provision, but because, legal or not, only a crazy fool with a death wish would lane split on the Dan Ryan, Stevenson or Kennedy expressways in Chicago during rush hour!!! You wouldn't be taking your life into your hands, you'd be putting it in the hands of the road raged drivers around you!

MattTriumphs · 02-08-2007

I'm very against helmet and seat belt laws, but I use them both always. Once a legal adult I think those types of decisions should be made by the individual, not anyone else.

bonnevillebilly · 02-08-2007

Quote:

On 2007-02-08 18:54, MattTriumphs wrote:

I'm very against helmet and seat belt laws, but I use them both always. Once a legal adult I think those types of decisions should be made by the individual, not anyone else.

RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!