Quote:
Originally posted by sammyg2
Motorcycles are allowed to split lanes under certain conditions, one of which is that it must be safe to do so.
If there isn't room to split lanes, it obviously isn't safe to do so.
|
I just moved from CA, and rode a bike there for the first six years I lived there.
I never had a problem with drivers except one time. On the street that runs north of Cal State Hayward, where my apartment complex was located at the time, as I pulled up to a stop light a 1/2 ton Chevy pickup was already at the light stopped. As I pulled up to a stop, his drivers door opened wide, and of course overhung the dividing stripe between his lane and mine. The road is 4 lanes wide. I usually ride to the left of the center of my lane, so with a slight move further left, missed the door by a good margin, but it's hard to think that this was a accidental opening. The truck was relatively new, and would have been unlikely to have a faulty door latch.
As far as lane splitting goes, it's up to the motorcyclist to determine the safe operation of his bike, and the cop that sees wreckless driving to ticket the motorcyclist if necessary, and not up to you to mete out instant punishment for operation that you deem wrong. Assault charges would be the least of your worries I'd guess.
There were plenty of times that people wouldn't move over during traffic jams on my commute, the remedy for such jerks was usually found by moving elsewhere in the selection of lanes, or using the commuter lanes which were open to bikes.