| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
So I'm riding to work this morning, and upon coming up the onramp there is gridlock. I see the accident a half mile ahead. Traffic is moving very slowly, and the temperature is HOT (mine, too). I'm in the right lane, and the wide shoulder is so appealing I think about pulling over there and riding (slowly) by all the traffic on past the accident. But---I tell myself---"that's illegal, don't do it!" So I patiently sit in line and finally get past the crash (probably a tailgater). So what do you all think about riding on the shoulder in cases like this? What do the law enforcement folks think? I KNOW it's not legal, but...I could plead "air-cooled engine!" (don't tell them about the fan  ) | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I would do it in a heartbeat. But be careful, I've seen cagers ride halfway between the right lane and shoulder, to prevent people (in cages) from passing on the shoulder. Just don't ride like a fool and if you get pulled over explain the air cooled thing and be apologetic. | ||
| M1combat |
I took the sidewalk for the same reason the other day... | ||
| Cyko_bob |
I am in Korea. We ride all over the place...split lanes, ride shoulders, and hit the sidewalk occasionally. But that is the accepted practice here. When I am back in the States I don't hesitate anymore when confronted with gridlock. Obviously you will have some people in cages who will just downright be mad because you can do it and they cannot. I think, hey, this is just one of the advantages of a motorcycle. I have not been pulled over in the States yet (legal in some places), but as you said, be apologetic and explain about air cooled engine. I would not act like a fool when riding the shoulder either. If if means anything, you have my support  | ||
| Drift |
I take it on a case by case basis. The thing to watch for is all the crap in that lane. It's not worth your tires... | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Good point Drift... | ||
| Ted |
Yep, you gotta consider the situation. In this case you were probably ok, as any cops in the area would be at the collision site. (notice i didnt say 'accident' !) i'd probably go for it. | ||
| Bbstacker |
Thank God lane splitting is still legal in California. There is less garbage between the #1 and #2 lane than there is in the breakdown lane. | ||
| Ingemar |
I split lanes but I don't get on the shoulders. Shoulders over here is the place where the glass etc is sweeped onto after accidents. | ||
| Gambafreak |
I got pulled over one time when I drove on the right shoulder (In the Netherlands) in a traffic jam. It's illegal over here to. I don’t know the fine anymore. But this was on a fly-over, only one lane, and a very clean, very wide and smooth road surface on the shoulder I might add. The left shoulder was full of debris and not very wide. I told the cop I didn’t feel safe in the back of the cue with traffic coming up. The cop said I should have stayed in the back of the cue. I didn’t spend much time arguing with him… And every time there is a traffic jam on that fly-over I see a lot of other bikes do the same thing I did. | ||
| Court |
Riding the shoulder in NYC would not be a wise move. You can't believe the things I've seen 1 meter out the window on my daily commute. | ||
| 12r |
Nah, never ride on the shoulder. Dead animals, tyre carcasses, oil, glass, family picnics - it ain't worth it  | ||
| Buelluk |
Agree in full with Court and 12r. | ||
| Bomber |
got busted by the constabulary for doin just what you're asking about -- cost me 75 cash dollars murican, and a morning in court (er, check that, in front of the judge) | ||
| Yeags30 |
shoulder no....lane splitting yes...i only do it in New York City.....damn tourists are always causing accidents and when its hot outside riding gear isn't exactly the most comfortable thing to sit and bake in. | ||
| Kowpow225 |
 | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Court - I agree, some jealous a-hole is liable to swing the door open on you. | ||
| Kaese |
I remember coming home from the MotoGP races at Laguna Seca, traffic was bad, one bozo goes flying by me on the shoulder. (I thought to myself - I will watch him get a ticket because I had seen the cager ahead) CHP cager saw him and he began his turnout to nail him. Just about that time he gets back into the traffic lane. He lets him go. The bozo never did see the cop, and about 5 minutes later he bebops out on the shoulder and buzzes down the road. CHP didn't let it go this time. 1/2 mile down the road, he is signing the citation. Glad it wasn't me. | ||
| Dr_greg |
Kaese, that is EXACTLY what happened to my son and I in Laguna Seca traffic at the WSB/AMA races in (I think) 2001. I pleaded ignorance (I'm from New Mexico, thought "shoulder riding" might be an extension of lane splitting) and the CHP wrote me up but not my son (just following his stupid old man). That's why I started this topic in the first place; I learned my lesson but sometimes the shoulder in still tempting! P.S. I was riding quite slow on the shoulder at Laguna...certainly not a "bozo". | ||
| Cruisin |
Does anybody have a complete list of what common practices are legal in what states? Things like lane splitting - I have no idea if it's legal in Vermont or not. Another thing is passing on the double yellow - legal here unless there's a sign prohibiting it (usually near schools). It would be nice to have a list of places you can or can't do certain things (keep the list concise though) | ||
| Cataract2 |
I've done it a few times to make a right turn if the car in front of my is not going to turn. Not the safest thing to do but in some places the lights are backed up bad and I hate baking on my bike in the summer. | ||
| Ara |
I believe that lane splitting is only legal in California. Go figure. | ||
| Bomber |
lane splitting only legal in Cali -- illegal in all other states (howsabout our Euro brothers chiming in here) shoulder cruising similarly illegal in all states, last I looked -- enforcement varies tremendously on this one, according to the time of day and phase of the moon AMA used to have apges liting helmet laws, passenger regs and the like, but I don't remember seeing a listing of other "customs" anywheres Sidewalk driving is legal in NYC, if you believe Court, and frightneing as all get out, if you believe Road_Thing | ||
| Outrider |
Shoulder and center median are historically for emergency stops and accident avoidance. Not for riding or driving on, especially in the instance of attempting to get around grid lock. Sure wish Lane Splitting (aka: White Line Fever) were legal in all States. That and the weather are about the only two things I miss after 30 years in California. | ||
| Tomzweifel |
Lane splitting is legal in NY | ||
| Gaz |
Lane splitting is illegal in Britain too, but the cops turn a blind eye. Just don't do it past them. Hard shoulder? No way, a definite bust over here. | ||
| Outrider |
I believe the legal term is Lane Sharing. As I was taught in traffic school, in CA the operator of any vehicle is entitled to only the space the vehicle occupies on the road which is the loophole that allows lane sharing. Here in Wisconsin, the DMV clearly states that a vehicle is entitled to the full width of the lane as well as a certain space ahead and behind it. Is like a protective cushion zone, eh? When you consider laws like we have in Wisconsin, I wonder what the legal position is concerning two bikes riding side by side in the same lane? I think I will look that up this week. Incidentally, I hate riding side by side as I don't trust the other rider. Plus, it messes with my ability to take evasive action in the event a road hazard suddenly appears. | ||
| Court |
>>>Lane splitting is legal in NY Shame you weren't there when I was stopped. You sure? | ||
| Ivershay |
hit the diamond lane! bikes are usually allowed to use it | ||
| Yeags30 |
i'll split lanes until i see "the man"...then i merge back into traffic until i'm out of his site..then back up the middle...i don't go blowing by anyone, i take it nice and easy...who wants to sit in NYC traffic sucking carbon monoxide?? | ||
| Tomzweifel |
Uh, yeah, I thought it was legal. I mean, I never personally read the statute myself, but I was told... did you get stopped for lane splitting in NYC? I might want to find out for myself, then. | ||
| New12r |
A buddy and I got pulled over for speeding the other night and we were riding right next to each other, only for a moment, the cop let us ride off with no citation but told us very sternly not to ride next to each other? Who cares as long as I am confident in the rider next to me. | ||
| Outrider |
Charles...Just a note to let you know I wasn't referring to riding side by side for a short moment to communicate. I was referring to riding on the city streets, highways and county roads for any real length of time. Have seen way too many surprise road hazards pop up with little or no warning. That's when you have to trust your riding buddy to consistently see everything you do, when you do and react the same each time as it is only a matter of a second or two and you can be in deep yogurt. Just an opinion. YMMV | ||
| Jlnance |
A buddy and I got pulled over for speeding the other night and we were riding right next to each other, only for a moment, the cop let us ride off with no citation but told us very sternly not to ride next to each other? Just in case anyone else is confused by the terminology like I was... Side by side riding, in the same lane, is legal here in NC. But thats not lane splitting. Lane splitting is riding between cars which are in adjacent lanes. Essentially riding on the dotted white line. As far as I know, thats only legal in California. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
although it doesnt address lane splitting (at least in the few states i clicked on), it does have info on lane sharing, helmet usage, eye protection, insurance, etc. for all the states http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/laws.asp |
