Lane Splitting Pro's and Con's

[Guest24]

I've been talking to a Georgia legislator that is interested in the Ca-Lee-Fore- knee-a lane splitting law. Since I have his ears of the subject I need some experienced input from you west coast pp riders.

[Rick Lee]

Well, I want this law in VA too. Lane splitting reduces traffic by about the length of space bikes take up. Since most bikes don't have cats, they pollute less when they spend less time idling behind cars. It's always good to get away from bad drivers. If the state refuses to enforce the left lane, at least let bikers get around the idiots squatting in the left lane.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

All upsides. Not a single downside I can think of, other than if you do it wrong, you hit stuff.

- Less likely to sieze an (air cooled) engine sitting in traffic
- Helps keep people vigilant (in theory)
- Ultimately a more efficient use of the road as a resource
- Helps encourage fewer people to drive

I'm a big fan of it. It's nice being able to get anywhere in SoCal in 1/3 to 1/2 the time of everyone else - and that's WITHOUT riding like an idiot or whipping in between cars at 100 mph. That's simply being able to coast along at 15-25 mph when the rest of the stuff is dead-stopped.

It's a BIG incentive to own a bike. Only reason I'm selling mine is I never commute anywhere anymore. . .

[widebody911]

Con:
* RUBs who feel the need to blip the throttle as they pass each car window
* RUBS on motorhome-sized bikes that scrape cars as they go by

Pro:
* inexperienced bikers contributing to the organ donor pool.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Con:
* RUBs who feel the need to blip the throttle as they pass each car window
* RUBS on motorhome-sized bikes that scrape cars as they go by

Pro:
* inexperienced bikers contributing to the organ donor pool.

Pretty much.

I've seen some awful wrecks from lane splitting. Traffic stopped, biker flying down between lanes. Lady decides to open her door to pour out old coffee. Honda loses a door, biker loses a leg. (But he was making great time!)

[Neilk]

My dad has a bike in France. If they outlawed lane splitting, he'd sell his bike. I think if they could enact a law that states that lane splitting is permissible under the following conditions.
1. traffic is rolling less than 30 mph
2. Lane splitter can not drive at a speed greater than 20mph than the cars being passed.

Then it would at least legally allow a relatively safe way to lane split. I say relatively because there is no counting for idiot drivers.

I do find it amazing to see riders in Dallas in 100 degree heat sitting behind a car in stalled traffic when they could easily lane split.

[NICKG]

as a biker, i still wonder how it is that people think lanesplpitting is safe...much less a prudent action. I see them doing it here in Nj and more often see them doing stupid things...Personally, I would not lane splitt ever , even if it was legal, the thought of being squished between a SUV and a car are enough for me to use better judgement.

it is illegal to lane split in Nj...

[Rick Lee]

Actually, lanesplitting would be unnecessary if we just had better drivers and laws were actually enforced. When I ride in DC, I regularly go to the right of the line of cars in the right lane, waiting to make a right turn, because the idiot at the front of the line doesn't understand right turn on red or is on the cell phone or can't see that he has his own lane on the adjacent street. In front of my house there's an intersection, where right turners have their own lane on the adjacent street. But they always stand there, staring left at the oncoming traffic, not looking at the empty lane to their right with the solid line dividing it from the other traffic. I go around them on the right on my bike and have even done it on the left in my car. These people need to lose their privileges. They cause traffic and the need for lanesplitting.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by NICKG

as a biker, i still wonder how it is that people think lanesplpitting is safe...much less a prudent action. I see them doing it here in Nj and more often see them doing stupid things...Personally, I would not lane splitt ever , even if it was legal, the thought of being squished between a SUV and a car are enough for me to use better judgement.

it is illegal to lane split in Nj...

Just like anything else, the rider can make it safe or dangerous. I believe it's an established fact that more is gained by prudent lane sharing by avoiding rear-end collisions than lost by accidents caused by the sharing. In CA it's legal and a godsend. As a rider, you really need to be on your toes and anticipating potential lane changes to avoid problems.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Con:
* RUBs who feel the need to blip the throttle as they pass each car window
* RUBS on motorhome-sized bikes that scrape cars as they go by

Pro:
* inexperienced bikers contributing to the organ donor pool.

Agree with most. I split lanes at times and while its a bit more risky, so is riding a bike. This sort of thing is not for a newby motorcycle rider.

[nostatic]

Done properly, lane splitting is safer than staying in your lane. My rule of thumb was to have less than a 15mph differential between my speed and the speed of traffic (usually 0-5). In stop and go accordion traffic, rear end collisions between cars are fairly common. If you're on a bike, you don't want to be the meat in their sandwich...if you're lane splitting that doesn't happen. But you have to contend with inattentive drivers drifting (or doing it on purpose because they think you're "cheating"), tossing stuff out the window, or other festive behavior.

[vash]

ALL good points!

here is my take. lanesplitting is a great tool. i think getting rear ended in stop and go traffic would be just an inconvience in a car, but devastating on a bike. so better to keep moving. but like all good things, there are some total jackasses that abuse the tool. if traffic is moving steadily, there is no need to split lanes. i hate when i am moving forward, 45 mph, and some fool comes flying by. moving is moving. it is wise to stay on one side of the lane, ready to duck in between for safety.

that throttle blipping thing is just stupid.

[Tobra]

Funny this should come up. It depends on the players. Inattentive person on a scoot or rolling in a cage can end up with dramatic trips to trauma centers. Saw a cat doing this in an unsafe manner, weaving around, flying up to stoplights between cars. I did one of my little timesavers for the drive home and ended up with him about a mile back, coming fast between the cars in the two traffic lines. I was in the right lane, and when he was about a half mile back, I opened my door and gave him a hard look leaning out of the car. He slowed down and seemed to begin behaving a bit more wisely, said nothing to me while sitting next to me at the front of the line.

I pay more attention than most while driving and would never drive a bike in traffic, unless it were on a race track.

[vash]

wow, an opening car door is "pucker" to a lanesplitter.

i let the fast guy do their thing unhindered. not my skin.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by NICKG

as a biker, i still wonder how it is that people think lanesplpitting is safe...much less a prudent action. I see them doing it here in Nj and more often see them doing stupid things...Personally, I would not lane splitt ever , even if it was legal, the thought of being squished between a SUV and a car are enough for me to use better judgement.

it is illegal to lane split in Nj...

as a biker in NJ, you are misinformed. Lane splitting is legal in NJ the same way it is legal in CA. There is no law that prohibits the action of lane splitting, lane sharing, or filtering. It was shown in the Hurt Report that it is actually safer to lane split in stop and go than not because of the reasons mentioned above(ie. accordian effect, rear-enders). As a biker, you've read the Hurt Report, haven't you?

Which type of accident concerns you more, getting bumped on the side, or getting rear ended and driven into the car in front of you? Seriously.

Have you ever even looked at how much space there is between 2 cars on the freeway? I can lane split with both arms stretched out and not touch the cars to each side in most cases.

[TerryH]

Many the time I'm sitting first at a light and just as it changes to green, the lane-splitter goes full throttle in my ear. It scares the living crap out of me and while it sounds humorous, it most certainly could cause harm. I'm might not be a heart attack candidate, however the momentary freak out could cause some to swerve or brake and create a situation.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Many the time I'm sitting first at a light and just as it changes to green, the lane-splitter goes full throttle in my ear. It scares the living crap out of me and while it sounds humorous, it most certainly could cause harm. I'm might not be a heart attack candidate, however the momentary freak out could cause some to swerve or brake and create a situation.

But in the situation you just described, the bike would be long past you by the time you braked or swerved.

When you sit at red lights, do you ever check your mirrors to see if anyone is coming from behind you?

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

as a biker in NJ, you are misinformed. Lane splitting is legal in NJ the same way it is legal in CA. There is no law that prohibits the action of lane splitting, lane sharing, or filtering. It was shown in the Hurt Report that it is actually safer to lane split in stop and go than not because of the reasons mentioned above(ie. accordian effect, rear-enders). As a biker, you've read the Hurt Report, haven't you?

Which type of accident concerns you more, getting bumped on the side, or getting rear ended and driven into the car in front of you? Seriously.

Have you ever even looked at how much space there is between 2 cars on the freeway? I can lane split with both arms stretched out and not touch the cars to each side in most cases.

I have never heard of the HURT report...but I have been pulled over by State Troopers quite a few times for lane splitting on rt 80 (apparently ALL bikes look the same, so they just pull them all off) and been told quite clearly that it is Careless driving at the least and even can be considered Reckless driving. They made it absolutley clear to me that it was illegal... I cannot see where it can be legal, even if there is no specific law against it, that is the same as saying doin' a burnout is legal...no law says it isn't, so they slap Careless on you as a catch all.
I don't even ride to work because of it, I am a VERY conservative rider, I ride like everyone is trying to kill me, so I always prefer to err in the overly caustious side. Maybe the troopers here are hard asses, just the same, I think it's nuts.
Don't take it as being arguementitive, I just hate to see wrecks. 8 people died on the roads by me this summer already and I just don't want to join them. (they all were riding way over their heads)

[stevepaa]

Ah, yes. The lane spliiter who then comes up and moves in front of my car at the stop light and then can not get going as fast as my car when it turns green.

The careful ones I don't mind, but the hogs who need to blip their motors as they come up from behind actually scare the beejesus out of my wife and if she was drivng might end up with an involuntary movement of the car into the fools.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

But in the situation you just described, the bike would be long past you by the time you braked or swerved.

When you sit at red lights, do you ever check your mirrors to see if anyone is coming from behind you?

Evidently you haven't had this pleasure. Sure I check my mirrors. When I'm first at the light and there are a dozen stopped behind me the need to keep checking the mirror has passed and I'm likely daydreaming about the ice cold beer waiting at home.

I wasn't the least bit worried about where the damn biker is while I trying to gather my breath back. I'm just saying when you get startled like that, bad things could happen.