| Author | Message | ||
     Jpgrego |
I'm not on here very often, but a co-worker sent me this link and thought I'd share. I'd say the odds of anything happening are slim but it's worth a shot. https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-mo torcycle-lane-sharing-all-public-roads/qP86QbjN -Patrick | ||
| Slaughter |
I don't think it's a Federal issue - except on Interstates. Here in CA - we do have (and need) lane sharing. | ||
| Sifo |
Even the interstates are governed by the state they fall into. I agree that it's not a Federal issue. | ||
| Ratbuell |
The way cagers drive? You couldn't PAY me to split lanes. | ||
| Midknyte |
I'm not for it either. Cars invade my space enough already. We don't need to teach them to believe that that's ok... | ||
| Court |
The way cagers drive? You couldn't PAY me to split lanes. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I still split here in Georgia on occasion. Usually just at a red light, but only when I can see there are no cops around. | ||
| Jpgrego |
Good points, I didn't stop to think about the federal vs state angle of this. I agree it's really a state issue, but getting some national attention could lead to some states seeing the light... I'm with Pwnzor, I would probably only split at traffic lights or in very slow traffic. But even that would cut my commute in half. I'm sure if we legalized it nationwide it would be really dangerous for several years until cagers figured out how to deal with it. | ||
| Slaughter |
It's an option here. Nobody REQUIRES you to split lanes. It's nice to have that option. | ||
| Ronbob43 |
I enjoy my visits to Ca. and wish I could do the same on Wa. freeways and surface streets. | ||
| Jaimec |
If traffic is at a complete standstill (as it often is where I live) I see no reason why we shouldn't be allowed to trickle between them. If the cars are actually in motion, I don't see any need to go between them. That WOULD be taking your life in your hands... but if they are incapable of moving trickling between them is perfectly safe and should be encouraged. | ||
| Tod662 |
As I was very explicitly told by a CHP officer after it took him 12 miles to catch me, the Cal. rule states something like you can only split lanes when traffic is doing under 25 and you can only go 10 over traffic or something like that. While in LA going downtown from Santa Monica, I was following a Harley with a rocket coming up behind me, I was riding at a manic speed and I was barely willing to keep up with these crazy bastards. I learned quickly to watch the traffic and only pass (mostly) when cars were besides each other. I've said before I cant believe everybody in LA are not on a bike( you can travel anywhere in half the time) but at the same time I cant believe anybody rides a bike (crazy stupid cagers) | ||
| Jaimec |
Some things I've learned about California's "Lane Sharing." There is no "rule" indicating how fast you can go, or how fast traffic must be moving for you to split lanes. That is entirely at the officer's discretion. If he feels you are riding in an irresponsible and unsafe manor, then he WILL pull you over. The CHP published "guidelines" for safe lane sharing, however some nitwit complained that it was the first step in establishing rules (or some idiocy) so the CHP had to take them down. There is only one reason lane sharing is allowed in California and nowhere else: It is the ONLY state without a law specifically prohibiting it. It is "legal" because it is not "illegal" as it is in every other state. Here is a link to the "deleted CHP guidelines" hosted at the "Ride to Work" website: http://www.ridetowork.org/files/docs/lanesplitting _guidelines.pdf | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Having a red dodge ram thats been rear ended 3 times I think its safer to split lanes properly than sit in stop and go traffic. But I certainly wouldn't recommend it for a noob. The chp guidelines were gokd but they had to take them down after a lawsuit because it came of to some as law when it was just guidelines. | ||
| Strokizator |
Depends on where in California that you live. People who regularly commute in cars in LA or SF are used to it and things generally go smoothly. In mid-sized towns like Fresno or Bakersfield, stop-and-go freeway traffic is a recent phenomenon and you lane split at a higher risk of an accident. People just aren't used to it or they intentionally block your path because they think you are doing something illegal. In years past, leaving the MotoGP at Laguna Seca, traffic is backed up for dozens of miles and people take offense if you lane split past them. Seems like the bigger the vehicle they were in, the bigger the ass they are in trying to block you off. I mostly lane split just at red lights. Saves tons of time and cars are already at a stop so they can't maneuver into your path. | ||
| Froggy |
I don't want to end up like this guy. | ||
| Aesquire |
I already have cars lane share with me. Scary enough on the bike. Worse in the VW. Btw not legal here, and I have no experience in doing it where it is. Bozos here will cut you off and kill you. On purpose. | ||
| Court |
Texting changed everything. I was stopped at a red light in Long Island recently. 4 lane highway - well lit - 1 mile clear vis ahead. I looked in the mirror and saw the headlights. Not even slowing down. Splitting lanes used to require skill. I used to do it all the time in California. Everything has changed. | ||
| 86129squids |
I still REALLY want to install an honest-to GOD train horn on all my vehicles- it's doable for cages, not so easy for 2 wheelers. As far as texterdrivers go, I'd just as soon pinch their heads off and zhit down their neck. Glad you survived, Court. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Had to split lanes for a couple miles tonight, accident and traffic backed up. You do it for a while (like the last 35 or 36 years) and you get a feel for what you can and can't do. Yes, the freaking texters have made even more challenging. You get to where you can tell where they are too and keep away. I just point at them - get in their "personal space" with an obvious "hey YOU, you stupid dork" kind of point, and they'll put the phone down, all embarrassed. Still keeping my distance, though! Don't try it when splitting lanes! | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
About to become legal here. Having ridden in Cali and seen how much more aware cagers are (generally) I'm all for it. New lane filtering rules for Queensland Commencing in early 2015, motorcycle riders with an open RE or R motorcycle licence will be allowed to move between lanes of stationary or slow moving vehicles travelling in the same direction as the rider, provided they are not traveling at more than 30km/h and it is safe to do so. Learner and provisional riders will not be allowed to lane filter because of their relatively limited on-road driving and riding experience. If done safely, lane filtering may ease traffic congestion for all road users, allowing motorcycle riders to move quickly and safely away from congested traffic. Lane filtering safely Motorcycle riders will be prohibited from lane filtering in school zones during school hours. Motorcycle riders will be advised to always look out for pedestrians and cyclists when lane filtering. It will also be recommended that a motorcycle rider should not lane filter near heavy vehicles or buses due to the safety risk as drivers of heavy vehicles and buses may have trouble seeing motorcycles. Riding on road shoulders and kerbside On major roads, such as motorways and freeways where the speed limit is 90km/hr or more, a motorcycle rider who holds an open licence will be allowed to ride past stationary or slow moving traffic at speeds not greater than 30km/hr on the road shoulder (the sealed area of a road to the left or right of an edge line). A motorcycle rider will be required to give way to cyclists or motorcycle riders already on the road shoulder. Riding on a road shoulder will not be allowed on roads with lower speed limits where there may be more pedestrian activity and it may pose a greater road safety risk to pedestrians. To ensure pedestrian safety, lane filtering will only be allowed between lanes of traffic and not between a vehicle and the kerb. | ||
| Hootowl |
I split lanes from San Diego to Long Beach in a massive rain storm. In fine Sammy Hagar fashion, it took me 16 hours to get (close) to LA. I witnessed four accidents. Witnessed. There were many others of which I only saw the aftermath. It was the longest period of wetness I'd experienced since before I was born. I was pretty thankful for the option to go in between the stopped cars. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Moving between stopped cars is no big deal. Splitting thru slow traffic and going about 10 MPH faster is no big deal. However, I have been in LA and seen pretty moronic lane splitting. Those guys have a death wish and I am shocked we don't read about more accidents due to these idiots. Usually it's going significatly faster than the rate of traffic or splitting when traffic is moving near the speed limit. Darwin is at work here, no doubt. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
It's a cultural thing too. In Europe it's the norm and expected, many countries particularly France car and truck drivers will open space for a bike to go by. It's viewed as a common courtesy that costs nothing. Having been driving here for 6 months now it appears to me to be the exact opposite. Nobody wants to make space for a bike to filter because the bike is perceived to be getting a free unfair advantage which just won't do in the "me first" battle for road supremacy. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Uninformed motorists unaware of a new law permitting lane splitting observing motorcyclist taking advantage of the new law = recipe for disaster. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Grumps is right. Here in the good ol U S of A, there is no compassion and no sense of courtesy. It is strictly "me first and the others be damned", and if someone does get past you, well, theres gonna be hell to pay. Its sad, actually, that we've bred such a self centered culture. Case in point - commuting home the other night. Empty highway. Cater doing 60 in the left (passing) lane. I flash my brights 2x, quickly, on approach. Nothing. I pass on Tue right. Junior in the cage is apparently offended, as he starts to flash his brights over and over and over as he speeds up to ride my ass, eventually at 80mph. All because I had the nerve to use a legal flash-to-pass alert and then drove around him. No horn, no salute, just drove by because I wanted to get where I was going on an empty highway. How dare I? | ||
| Hootowl |
"Grumps is right. Here in the good ol U S of A, there is no compassion and no sense of courtesy" Depends on where you live and how much migration there has been from those places with angry drivers. I'm looking at you, California. | ||
| Sifo |
I'm amazed how often I'll be in light traffic on the expressway with the cruise control set minding my own business. You slowly reel in the car ahead, that you spotted when it was a half mile ahead. As you near it, you change lanes, and gradually pass, returning to the right lane allowing a safe distance. Suddenly the car you just passed speeds up by about 10 mph, passes you, gets back in the right lane only to go back to his original speed. WTF? I seem to hook up with at least one of these guys every single time I'm on the road. Sometimes it's just fun to count how many times you will pass the same car. | ||
| Lynrd |
I lane split a lot - practically daily, as most motorcycle commuters here do. In CA, the drivers are used to it, and my experience is that most of them cooperate - many scoot to the opposite side of the lane to let me past. I would say the ratio is 20 to 1 for each moth breather that wants to crowd me and keep me from passing. Been doing it for 30 years now, never had a significant problem in California. One time when I was in Tennessee, however, I came up on a bad traffic tie up. On reflex I started to lane split on my FXR. The ••••••• drivers about had a riot - every plucking one of them felt called upon to crowd me, some of them pretty aggressively. Based on that one experience, I think you'll have a hard go implementing lane spitting in other states. Related note - when I lived in TN, the local ABATE came after my shop and me personally for donations for helmet law repeal. I asked them what the policy was about getting lane splitting legalized - the response was that was a crazy idea, it was far too dangerous. | ||
| 86129squids |
Better late than dead. Grumps post about the courteous culture in Europe makes me sad and ashamed about meathead 'Murrcan motorists, too busy talking or texting to care about anything or anyone else on the road.. |
