| Author | Message | ||
     Slowride |
I generally reside myself to riding my slightly stroked steed (M2) to and from work on a daily basis. The run covers 50 miles round trip and it is all within the confines of the public toll road jungle of Dallas, TX. I live far north of the Metro-plex and traverse the income levels as I blast south into downtown. I pass the common Toyota to the extreme Ford GT or Aston Martin regularly. I ride with all sorts of steed and cage as you can imagine, but it seems they all tend to behave the same way under stress and threat of impending traffic snarls. As the traffic begins to snarl and slow to a snails pace every person young or old, rich or poor immediately start jockeying for position and begin changing lanes at random and increased frequency for no apparent gain. For the average motorcyclist this becomes a nightmare of long wait times and burning legs. But wait to the rescue! The state of Texas enacts a bill to enable the lowly motorcyclist to travel within the same lames of traffic as its bigger siblings. It was to pass on Sept. 1 of 2005, but as of this date I am not sure whether it has passed. I am sure that this has been the topic of many threads here at Bad Web. I also bet this has spurred plenty of Flaming and personal rhetoric to boot. I have personally witnessed the destruction of many a calm, opinionated thread about this topic on other sites, but I wanted to offer just one story from the common man. It all began one faithful morning as I operated my steed in a rather slightly urgent method. I averaged about 90mph (flow of traffic) all the way down the toll road to work and played the usual game of Weave and Bob to the rhythm of the caged driver’s inability to keep a constant distance between them as the LAW (driver’s handbook) states. I come to the end of my journey only to be stuck in a see of cages and red tail lights for as long as the eye could see. I managed to work my way over to the far left of the highway and waited patiently for my turn to move the .001 miles an hour the rest of the drivers were doing. I then remembered the Law that was put into place for just such an instance. So I proceed to merge into the left shoulder and ride down the highway at a brisk 20mph. I passed 50-60 cars and started thinking this is really going to •••• someone off, but ignored it just the same. I was approaching a big rig and started thinking how the last time I did just such a thing was prior to the September 1st date and as I passed a diesel truck I rolled passed a Motorcycle cop. At which point I promptly merged back into traffic only to have the cop pull up next to me and ask me if I was from around here. I said no (lying through me teeth because my tags were from out of state). He then proceeded to tell me that it wasn’t legal to do the lane splitting here. He then tore off down the shoulder and crossed 3 lanes, in traffic and split down the left shoulder off into the sunset. The funny thing, I was envisioning this scenario as I passed by the current diesel and didn’t notice the scene unfolding in front of me. It was like a bad dream, I cleared the diesel and noticed the glimmering chrome of what looked to be a Motorcycle Cops saddle bag, but wait there was more than one, Holy crap! Am I seeing double, at this point my mouth drops to the tune of 12 motorcycle cops and more than 20 police cars and state troopers all lined up in procession blocking all lanes of traffic. Yes, I had done it now. I was lane splitting on a major highway during the Funeral Procession of a fellow officer. How did I know this you might ask? Well I managed to ride unobstructed to the Cop car, at which point I slowed to a stop and turned my signal on. The lead officer then rolled up a little closer and rolled down HER window. She asked me if what I was doing was legal. I replied with a definite “Why yes, as of Sept. 5 of this year” (hell if I know) she smiled and said “good to go”. I then asked her what the reason was for the over abundance of Police. She replied with a funeral of a fellow officer in another part of the city. I dropped my head in respect and told her I was sorry for the loss. I then asked her if I could cut in front of her. She said absolutely and motioned for the state trooper on the other side to let me through as well. This opened up a path to the right shoulder to run all the way to the on ramp of the exit I need. Very nice cops they where. The moral of the story, none really…. Just use your head and make everyone else believe you know what you’re talking about… LOL! Thanks for your time. | ||
| Glitch |
An adventure in rush hour. Sounds like ya'll got traffic like Atlanta, bummer. We aren't allowed to lane split (by law) but when traffic is at a stand still, no one says anything. Good read. | ||
| Superbee24 |
I too wish this house bill would have passed. But the house bill was referred to public safety which in effect killed the bill as it never made it back to the house. So no, it is not legal to lane split in TEXAS, now if the cop believes you..... | ||
| Spike |
Man, I'm jealous. There's not that much need for lane splitting in the Raleigh area, but there are definitely times when it would come in handy. If I had any idea how I'd be working on getting lane splitting legalized. That and the ability to treat a red light as a stop sign when it won't change. | ||
| Bomber |
got to make an involuntary contribution to the state general fund a couple of summers ago for shoulder riding -- 1.5 mile backup at the troll booth, and this chuckle head pops me for doing 15 mph on the shoulder -- "it's unsafe" he sez the enjoyable part of it was that the traffic jam (damn, this traffic jam! hurts my motor to go so slow) was caused by a confluance of two completely unrelated events taking place at two different place on the same weekend -- Event one -- SCCA regional at Road America -- lot's of beat up van's pulling trailers with great looking race iron of all kinds and types Event the Second -- Grateful Dead show at Alpine Valley (just minutes away from East Troy, btw) -- lots of beat up vans trailing the sweet smell of success -- the fiunniest part was the fact that the vans were all darned near interchangable -- only the drivers were different ;-} still, it was an expensive chuckle (90 cash dollars american), and a great example of law enforcement gone wrong | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I seldom deviate from my lane as it is still illegal in the People's Republic of Massachusetts. When I do, I never go faster than 2000RPM in second. A lot of idiots like to take the law into their own hands and cut you off to teach you a lesson. Steeltoe boots break BMW tail lights pretty easily. (I am told) I don't like to ride on the shoulder since that is: #1 where there is the most road-schrapnel. #2 where the cops wait to tag you. I have found that the best place is between the left and middle lanes. I only do it if the traffic is stopped. | ||
| Essthreetee |
It is legal here in Cali (At least I think it is)...but only 5 mph faster than the flow of traffic. Still you get the occasional A$$Hat that tries to pull over so you can't get by...because they don't think that you should be allowed to move if they can't...apparently they think that all motorcycles should be water cooled so they can sit in traffic just like they do...I used to split lanes when we lived in the Bay Area...but now there aren't too many lanes that need to be split...more like the occasional farming equipment. | ||
| Kdan |
I split lanes like crazy here in Atlanta traffic when it's stopped, or moving insanely slow. It's a rush. Everyone else hates it. I consider a "4-beep" commute a success. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
I have to split lanes so much here in LA that I often find that i'm tempted to do so even when the traffic is moving at a good clip. I'm not sure that the "5 mph" that Ess mentioned is correct or what the law states, but much more than that can get you in deep doo-doo real quick - not with the cops, but with the phone-talkin', coffee drinkin,' kid yelling, paper-reading, taco eating, cig lighting, inattentive I'm-gonna-do-everything-I-can-at-the-same-time-as-drive buttheads that seem to have a propensity to ignore with intent to kill or maim any of us fool enough to ride a motorcycle on THEIR road. ( But the weather's good) Sorry, started to rant a bit there. AL | ||
| Chiefiron |
Amen brother  | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Just attended MSF school at Camp Pen Cali and talked with the CHP about this. In Cali there are no specifics in the law about lane splitting, 5 mph or otherwise. Purely up to the individual officer whether or not you're being a jughead. The wording in the vehicle code that makes it pseudo legal for you to split lanes is a little phase about two vehicles safely sharing a lane. I plan on trying to change the law here in AZ cuz of the heat! | ||
| Brucelee |
I lane split all the time. Praticed sanely, it is a GODSEND. Which means that CA should outlaw it any time soon! | ||
| Buellin_ri |
Not legal in RI, I still do it though. | ||
| Newxb9er |
I do it all the time. It's a lot of work when it's dark, and everyones mind is somewhere else. Sometimes I wish I could be the guy in the car being mindless and not paying attention to anything. Then it rains, and I drive the cage and sit in traffic. I sweat, get jittery, and have no patience! I hate traffic, love my ability to split lanes, and love good weather!! | ||
| Court |
It's a poor idea, me thinks, in New York City. If the IQ of the average local driver and the speed limit are within 10 points of each other....I'd suggest you rethink how big a hurry you are really in. I had to sit in traffic about a month ago watching a Vulcan, with rider still attached, extracted from beneath a car on the BQE. It may just be me, but I also seem to see geniuses in NYC who think they have a zone of protection surrounding them as they cruise, with 4' wide bags, past cars that, in my mind, serve as rolling billboards, testifying to the fact that the owner/driver cares little about anything. If a person drives a trashed K-Car what in the world makes you think he/she/it gives a •••• what happens to you? Anyway . . . | ||
| Chasespeed |
If I had any idea how I'd be working on getting lane splitting legalized. That and the ability to treat a red light as a stop sign when it won't change I would do the same in Hampton Roads..BUT, honestly, I'd feel a bit nervous about lane splitting in my area. No one can drive there. I would feel more comfortable, splitting in NYC, or Boston... But the stoplight thing is an issue here...it doesnt matter, you run teh light, you pay the fine, or you sit there until you get a car behind you(at 2-3 am..lol), adn tehn wait somemore. When I took it to court..I was told, well, buy a car, adn you wont have to sit at a light.... Gotta love these egomaniacal fools in communist wealths... Chase} | ||
| Ryker77 |
I've spent some time in Europe. Those guys ride scooter WOT all the time. Sidewalks, wrong lane, nothing matters to them. I've never split a lane. Becuase I'd rather not split my head open. I know that I am an ••••••• that does not ALLOW cars to cut in front of me. If I had to wait for 30 minutes for the exit ramp only becuase every 5th car in the other lane zoomed up front only to cut in. So I would not put it past a cager to cut me off or toss a drink out the window. And for you guys in Atl.. I think the motorcycle accident rate is over 100%. I bought my first bike from a NewYorker who moved to Atl and was too afraid to ride it! In the Atl area they are called DonorCycle for a reason. Be Safe Be Smart. Is 30 minutes worth months of physical therapy of a loss of limb?? | ||
| Djkaplan |
Not legal in Georgia, but I will do it if I have to. It always scares the crap out of me though. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
Legal schmeegle  First one home from work wins. (Just don't get pissed when the law gets ya) | ||
| Outrider |
If a person drives a trashed K-Car what in the world makes you think he/she/it gives a •••• what happens to you? Too true! I just saw one the other day in Milwaukee that was totally covered in duct tape with the seediest looking driver one could imagine. Have to admit the application of duct tape was aerodynamic and almost artistic. However, I think of it more at a public service wherein the owner was attempting to protect all those around him from either }flat tires that could result from the rust shards that could fall every time he hit a bump or the flying shrapnel every time he got it over 25 mph. LOL | ||
| Dark_vapor |
I don't think I have ever performed lane splitting. It scares me, I saw a rider split lanes somewhere NY or CA cant remember where, but I noticed the cars merge in to block him off. Pretty scary when people are out to kill ya. | ||
| Norcal_blast |
This is my standard comment on lane splitting... the Hurt Report (big motorcycle safety report by a Dr. at USC) concluded that lane splitting was SAFER than being stopped in traffic. This is also my personal experience... the only time I've ever dropped a bike was when my Buell was totalled last summer when I was rear ended sitting at a dead stop on a freeway. The car behind me was stopped, someone plowed into them at 40 mph. A few weeks after that accident I saved my Ducati by diving for the ditch in a similar traffic slow-down... fractions of a second before the car behind me smashed into the car that had been in front of me. my motto now is "never stop moving" | ||
| Firemanjim |
Just one of the skills aquired living in any of the urban CA. areas.I do it all the time,some days it cuts my commute in half.I use a 10/35 rule,go no more than 10 mph faster than traffic and stop splitting when traffic moves at 35.It takes an amazing amount of attention,I have had to do it a couple of times for over an hour and was beat when I was done.Only had one close call from a young lady who swerved into my path without even a glance in her rearview mirror---that's how I look for cars turning in front of me.Watch the body language and eyes in their mirrors.I did a stoppie beside her window yelling the whole time.Scared the crap outa her. | ||
| Sarodude |
FMJ is dead nuts on. You spend an extraordinary amount of brain juice reading faces, body language, and doing various non-politically correct forms of cultural and vehicular profiling. No method is perfect - but it's better than nothing. Lane splitting can really be a lot of work. One Friday Loli and I split the whole way from the San Fernando Valley to freakin' San Diego traffic was soooo bad. Man... -Saro | ||
| Leftcoastal |
I also split lanes for a long way - Thousand Oaks to Burbank, on a Fri. nite before a long weekend, and by the time we stopped (3 bikes) Man, I was flat jangled. Felt like my brain was vibrating. What FMJ & Saro said above is spot-on. I too (now that I'm a bit older and not as smart) subscribe to the "10 - 35 rule". The best and least stressful place to split lanes is to slide in behind a CHP or other motor officer and just roll as far as you can before he or you have to exit. NOBODY doesn't see the cop coming up between! AL | ||
| Bigj |
I ride 90 miles round trip everyday. On the 60/10 all the way through downtown LA. Splitting IS MUCH safer than not. It is also much safer than surface streets. I'd preferably be on open freeway for the most safety, but that is generally not the case. BTW splitting saves me at LEAST an hour a day round trip. That time is priceless.  | ||
| Ryker77 |
"BTW splitting saves me at LEAST an hour a day round trip. That time is priceless." I spent three months in an arm cast, then right after that was 2 months for knee surgery. Over a year in physical therapy. Lost nearly 40lbs of muscle which took over a year at the gym to get back. I sure hope you take a second thought about riding a bike in such a dangerous way only to save 1 hour.. Slow down enjoy life. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Sorry,Ryker,I still believe it is safer to be moving and able to quickly dodge/evade trouble than to be stuck in bumper to bumper cages.Most of which have drivers doing anything but driving.Seen too any rear-enders in those situations. | ||
| Oldog |
I took my sled to Miami Fl ( Hileah area ) there was a stretch that would take 30 min to cross if you stayed with traffic, it also had a fair portion of heavy truck traffic, imagine passing between 2 dumptrucks I split, saved 20 min or so each AM. Me too as far as what FMJ, Saro, and Lefty said The 10/35 rule makes sense, the grey matter must be full on. Splitting is not legal here in NC I do it in the rare instance that I think its needed. (makes up for getting caught in the rain or in the cold), I was in Central America not too long ago (Honduras) they Split as a rule, it is nerve wracking to watch knowing that in some cases they are MM from serious injury, Dr or Hospital care? Not realy. | ||
| Sparky |
I'm with FJM & the others on this. In addition, there are several things one can do to make it less stressful, like use high beams only while splitting, wear bright colored or reflective clothing, install twin Fiamm or equivalent LOUD horns and, in general, relax but be specially vigilant when passing open spaces where a car can dart in on ya. I mean, a car driver is naturally not going to want to change lanes into another car, so the alert level can notch down a level as long as there are two unbroken walls to ride between. Stock horns are useless, but LOUD horns work amazingly well when a driver starts to cross the line. I've seen an errant SUV almost flip over trying to get back into his lane when I blasted him! | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I split all the way from North Pendleton to San Diego. I agree with FMJ. It's better to keep moving. I move slightly faster than all traffic on the road. I feel safer that way cuz then I only have to worry about the idiots in front of me! LOL! | ||
| Bigj |
Ryker, I am sorry about your accident. However, riding a motorcycle is dangerous. The reason is that, even though on a motorcycle, you can avoid MORE dangerous situations than a car, when it happens you have no protection. That is one of the tradeoffs. Are you saying that lane splitting was responsible for your accident? | ||
| Al_lighton |
I do it daily and have for almost 20 years. It's all in how you approach it..Drive like a maniac car cutting with large speed differences between you and the other cars, and your MTBRP (Mean Time Before Road Pizza) is not a large number. But if you move between the cars as if you are invisible (you are), are always be looking for the out, and drive under the assumption that any other driver cares only about his OWN self preservation and shiny paint job, then Jim is absolutely right. Moving thru the traffic puts all your threats in front of you, on the same side that your eyes are on. That's why its safer. Loud pipes don't hurt either. Anyone who says that loud pipes DON'T save lives hasn't lane split daily for long enough. It literally is the reason that I choose to live in SoCal. If you took lane splitting away, I would have to move. It is too congested here to live in a cage. Al | ||
| Ghostrider |
Well, as someone new to SoCal, and thus to lane splitting, I can tell you honestly that it scares the •••• out of me sometimes. However, I have done it and find that I'm getting better at it. You just can not sit in traffic cooking from the exhaust fan on your XB. And it is amazing how many people here multi-task while driving. I think they should pass some sort of law that says if you are going to talk on the phone in the car, you need a hands-free device. | ||
| Brucelee |
When I first started splitting, it was freeky. However, as you get used to it and gain some judgment, it is all good. Judgment here is the key word. Al's words are dead on here. | ||
| Krassh |
Probably right about the interpretation of the law according to the officer in California. I was cited for unsafe speed years ago in Harbor City while splitting lanes on the freeway. The officer stated that you can't split lanes over 35 mph and that you can only go 15 mph faster than the slowest lane you are splitting between. So technically if one lane is traveling at 30 and the other 10 you can only legally go 25. First and only time I have ben ticketed for that in California. It was probably around 20 years ago. | ||
| Krassh |
I also have been hit twice while splitting lanes. One I stayed upright and the second went down with a bone bruise to my heel. That one was a week before my wedding, should have been an omen with how that hellish marriage ended. Even after those two times I still split lanes and will continue to do so. I have to admit I believe both of those times were a good portion my fault. The first one where I stayed upright there was an opening a few cars long in the lane to the right of me and I should have moved over sooner. The car that hit was moving to that lane to occupy some of that empty space. The second where I went down I was probably distracted looking at cute girls as I was riding by. Since then I have become quite adept at reading body language and behavior of the drivers ahead of me. Even though there have been some close calls they were not that bad as I had a feeling the driver was going to do something stupid and either backed off a little or got by them quick. I have a friend who does not white line get rear ended on a surface street stopped behind some cars. He was hit from behind by the typical SoCal SUV driver occupied on their cell phone. I would rather be at the front of the line than be a paragraph on page four. |
