Lane Splitting Pro's and Con's

[widebody911]

A couple of years ago, I was in my 911 at a light waiting to turn right; I took off and heard an awful yell - I had just run over some biker's foot. This rocket scientist was trying to pass me on the right and while waiting for the exact same traffic I was, had put both feet down. He didn't notice the wide rear track of the 911, and wasn't quite as quick off the line as I was. Luckily, he wasn't seriously hurt, but I'm sure he learned something that day.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by widebody911

A couple of years ago, I was in my 911 at a light waiting to turn right; I took off and heard an awful yell - I had just run over some biker's foot. This rocket scientist was trying to pass me on the right and while waiting for the exact same traffic I was, had put both feet down. He didn't notice the wide rear track of the 911, and wasn't quite as quick off the line as I was. Luckily, he wasn't seriously hurt, but I'm sure he learned something that day.

Wonder if he soiled his spandex tights?

[kang]

Personally, I am against lane splitting.

First, I almost killed a guy doing it. I was making a perfectly safe lane change, right across the lane he was splitting. He was coming up so fast, between the cars that were behind me, there was no way I could have seen him. Luckily I did, at the very last second, and I swerved back into my own lane. I almost got in an accident myself from the swerving. If I had not seen him, well, bye bye lane splitter. It would seem that this would be a big cause of accidents, but I haven’t seen any statistics related to it.

Second, they come up so fast, and are so loud, they scare the cr@p out of people. I don’t startle real easily, and don’t overreact when I do, but I can see some old lady slamming on the brakes or swerving in the wrong direction when some 100db Harley zooming by knocks her out of her socks.

[berettafan]

I just can't get how anybody feels lanesplitting is safe. Absolute lunacy to drive between 4,000lb automobiles like that.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by berettafan

I just can't get how anybody feels lanesplitting is safe. Absolute lunacy to drive between 4,000lb automobiles like that.

Riding a bike in traffic is a lot less scary than it looks from a car. And when you're sitting there on your bike, covered in protective gear with no a/c and the sun beating down on you, and then you see all kinds of places you can easily fit into and be back out of before anyone notices, well, it makes it a little easier. Remember, even the slowest modern bike is far faster and more maneuverable than any car on the road. You don't have to be going fast to pull away from someone who's about to hit you. And you're always supposed to have an escape route when on your bike. You know the feeling when two lanes merge into one and cars are supposed to take turns merging, but a few of them hate motorcycles and so don't let you in? You can easily pull ahead of any car with a fraction of the space on either side.

[MMARSH]

First of all, officially In Califonia, it isn't lane splitting, it's actually called lane sharing. If two cars could fit in the same lane it would actually be legal for them to do so.

I lane share every single day. If I couldn't do it here in California, I honestly don't think I would ride in traffic. I'm always amazed when I see some guy on a bike sitting in LA traffic sweating to death. If I'm gonna do that, might as well enjoy the air conditioning in the car. Like anything, when done responsibly, it's not unsafe at all. Like others have mentioned there is a ton of room between the lanes. The problem is the guys doing it at insane speeds or the guys who bump into cars with thier handlebars and such. I guess maybe the guy sitting there sweating knows his limitations.


Check out this website for some good info. http://www.laneshare.com

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Makes you wonder why they bother to stripe the lanes at all. Shoot, I guess it's just a big conspiracy to kick back money to overpaid slacker DPW workers to paint stuff that ultimately doesn't matter anyway. . .

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Makes you wonder why they bother to stripe the lanes at all. Shoot, I guess it's just a big conspiracy to kick back money to overpaid slacker DPW workers to paint stuff that ultimately doesn't matter anyway. . .

Our road markings, signs and traffic laws are sort of like the old Soviet constitution. They sure sounded great on paper. But.....

[speeder]

If I couldn't lane-split, (or lane-share), I would not ride a bike in CA. There is very little risk in slowly riding between stopped or crawling cars, and no way for them to make a lane change when it's bumper-to-bumper. Like everything else involving MCs, there is a lot of common sense involved with staying alive and in one piece. LSing is the absolute least of my worries when riding in LA traffic.

I've been riding here in MN. all summer and the traffic is a lot lighter, but it takes quite an adjustment getting used to sitting in line like a car at lights when you could just easily slip between them and be ahead of traffic. Done properly, LSing makes riding a lot safer. It is simply another option in the playbook of city riding.

It does not take a rocket scientist to realize that slaloming between cars @ 100 mph is dangerous, but so is any other bonehead move on a bike. Going to the front of the line at red lights makes biking safer, the light turns green and I have the road to myself w/ all traffic behind me. Every time.

[Aerkuld]

Well, I've ridden in the UK, lived in Cali, and now live in Georgia. If I tell you that I sold my motorcycle here because - A) It is pointless having a bike if you can't move any faster then the congested traffic, and B) It's too bloody dangerous to ride with all the inattentive morons on the road - Then you'll probably get some idea of the problem. In most cases lane splitting works well. Like any time riding a motorcycle you have to be paying 110% attention, use caution and good judgement at all times, and assume everyone else is an idiot. Unfortunately I don't think that most of the motorcycle riders I see over here would be capable of doing that. It's one thing riding between the lanes of traffic to get to the front of the line at the traffic signal, but quite another zipping between cars with a 30 mph speed differential on the freeway.
Personally, lane splitting would be a good encouragement to get another Ducati, but I think it would increase car/motorcyle proximity errors to the detriment of the riders.

[masraum]

I'm not a biker, but I find that in the miata, and even more so the 911 before that, you can get through traffic because your smaller car fits into places more easily and is more maneuverable than the 6000# behemoths that are running around out there with us. I'm sure that on a bike, it's no different.

But when I've been in Cali and seen bikers doing it my first thought is always, "holy crap, that's not for me." From a car it looks like it would be quite scary. As stated, I assume that it's got to be done smartly and you've got to be hyperaware, but that should be the norm anyway.

[70SATMan]

I believe in Cal it's only legal under 45 mph (maybe 40). There is a max speed differential also but, I don't recall it. It's the *********s who think they still need to do it when traffic is rollin just fine at 55 and up that pisses me off. That and the guys who are splittin at 40 over the rest of traffic at night when it's tough to differentiate the headlights. If you're doin that kind of crazy ***** you deserve to get clocked by the person changing lanes who can't see you because of the Ford Expedition behind em.

And, I'm takin out the next guy that pounds on my Jeep as he goes by because he felt I didn't move out of his way enough when he decided to move into my lane "sharing".

[nostatic]

actually there aren't any specific numbers...it is only what is "safe."

Lots of hostility towards bikers here. Yes, there are some jerks, but the number of idiots behind the wheels of cars FAR outnumbers the nutso bikers. I had a number of close calls on my bike and they were all due to drivers who were on the phone or drinking coffee or pulling their pud or something else they *shouldn't* be doing while driving. That is one thing I liked about riding was that I could focus on what I was doing. No radio, no phone, no distractions. Other than wondering what moron was going to take you out either because they were clueless or decided that they deserved the space on the road more than you did...

[berettafan]

so far i just see people saying 'i like to do it and i'm careful and i hate to sit in traffic' but i see no explanation of what makes it a safe and reasonable practice.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by berettafan

but i see no explanation of what makes it a safe and reasonable practice.

than you didn't read the whole thread. in bumper to bumper traffic, the most common accidents are rear-enders. thats a given. by lane sharing, motorcycles are not in a position where they will be smashed into the back of an SUV by the SUV that couldn't stop in time. its safer, trust us that know.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

I can lane split with both arms stretched out and not touch the cars to each side in most cases.

Hmmm. That sounds safe.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Hmmm. That sounds safe.

read it again... it says "I can" not "I do". But I have had passengers that have. They always tell me, "Wow, its amazing how much space is in there that you dont ever realize when you're sitting in your car."

If you're afraid or its not for you, then fine, don't do it. I'm not going to hold a gun to your head and force you to. But I'm pretty sure I know what I can do safely and what I can't. I've been riding for over 30 years. But as someone who's never even ridden a motorcycle, not ever even attempted to lane-share, you really have no idea as to how safe it is or isn't. Much like I wouldn't want someone who's never touched a firearm to tell me what is or isn't safe about it.

[stevepaa]

Originally Posted by speeder

Going to the front of the line at red lights makes biking safer, the light turns green and I have the road to myself w/ all traffic behind me. Every time.

of course, this is why I went to the empty lane on the far left so I can get ahead of everyone in my car this morning. Then the biker lane splits and is slow to get going when the light turns green. I had to inhibit my foot to allow this clown to get going and then he moves to the far right where the carpool lane is.

If you lane split, I expect you to move your ass when the light turns.

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Lots of hostility towards bikers here. Yes, there are some jerks, but the number of idiots behind the wheels of cars FAR outnumbers the nutso bikers. I had a number of close calls on my bike and they were all due to drivers who were on the phone or drinking coffee or pulling their pud or something else they *shouldn't* be doing while driving. That is one thing I liked about riding was that I could focus on what I was doing. No radio, no phone, no distractions. Other than wondering what moron was going to take you out either because they were clueless or decided that they deserved the space on the road more than you did...

From what I understand from you I wouldn't expect that you are one of the ones riding a GSX-R down the freeway at 95mph wearing sandals, shorts, and a vest, or riding a Harley around South Carolina with no helmet. I know it is a personal choice, but this makes me cringe.
I do know what you mean about the lack of distraction. I used to enjoy that on my bikes. I wonder if it would be a good idea to make everyone ride a motorcycle for 12 months, it certainly changed my view of driving a car!

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

read it again... it says "I can" not "I do".

Easy boy. Kindly note the winking eye following my "tongue in cheek" comment. I didn't think you really did that. Sheesh.