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America has this "Me first" attitude where if anyone "cuts the line" it creates a road rage situation.
Yet the majority of the world allows filtering or splitting.
California/Utah have it legalized and they're fine.
Arguments I hear are against:
-that it's dangerous and mirrors will be broken or car sides swiped.(Can happen with cars too)
-That car drivers don't want to worry about what is essentially an extra lane and having to look over all the time.(You're supposed to check your mirrors anyway)
-That the sudden noise is scary or it feels too close( If you ride a bike you know there's plenty of space. Try it before you hate it)
-From bikes themselves I hear " I would never do it" Yet technically they don't have to. It would be an option like wearing a helmet in a no helmet state.
Arguments for it are:
-Creates less traffic. That's one less spot in a traffic jam being clogged up. So imagine 6 bikes being able to pass through. That's 6 spots that were once cars in a traffic jam, alleviated. Extrapolate that to a couple hundred and it makes a difference
-In the age of smart phones. People are on their phones all the time during crawling commutes. Fender benders aren't a big deal in a car, but they can hurt you on a bike. Splitting lanes would prevent that.
-Time saving for the biker. Promotes biking. Bikes consume less gas. Less carbon footprint, etc etc.
But, you are correct, there's a strategy to lane splitting that actually reduces the risk to riders. I've been doing it since 1976....maybe 1975, I dunno.
But, you are correct, there's a strategy to lane splitting that actually reduces the risk to riders. I've been doing it since 1976....maybe 1975, I dunno.
I agree, and have lived to tell the tale after decades of splitting in LA.
That said, I've seen some horrific accidents (fatalities) as a direct result, so I hope YMMV.
The rest of the world also has a different mentality surrounding MCs and driving in general, which, we dont' share here in the US, so that definitely plays a part.
After 30+ years riding in CA I have at least 100,000 miles on the line. Mod cut...........a few out of state uninformed slide over and block the lane thinking they are the lane split police........always a fun challenge.......just wait and pass on the other side making them look like idiots. The white line was actually started in the 40's by the air cooled Harley riding CHP!........yes the cops started the whole thing God blesse'm. It's actually safer on the line than parked at the tail end of stopped cars waiting to get crushed by some soccer mom on her phone. It works well because on most bikes you can see over the cars and a half mile down the line, and so able to dodge the sketchy situations. It does require intense focus you mentally wandering allowed.......the CHP bikes do it all day long at 80+ and sometimes 110mph.
Last edited by PJSaturn; 04-03-2021 at 12:55 PM..
Reason: Reference to troll post which has been deleted.
After 30+ years riding in CA I have at least 100,000 miles on the line. [Snip.].........a few out of state uninformed slide over and block the lane thinking they are the lane split police........always a fun challenge.......just wait and pass on the other side making them look like idiots. The white line was actually started in the 40's by the air cooled Harley riding CHP!........yes the cops started the whole thing God blesse'm. It's actually safer on the line than parked at the tail end of stopped cars waiting to get crushed by some soccer mom on her phone. It works well because on most bikes you can see over the cars and a half mile down the line, and so able to dodge the sketchy situations. It does require intense focus you mentally wandering allowed.......the CHP bikes do it all day long at 80+ and sometimes 110mph.
addendum......110mph is just filtering thru our fabulous freeway traffic.........
Isn't splitting lanes in California only legal below certain speeds? And they aren't very high. I think as low as 25mph on the freeways. Anyway, I live in Virginia and am baffled they don't allow splitting lanes out here. You think L.A. traffic is bad? Come visit the D.C. area. And despite having some of the worst traffic in the country Virginia doesn't allow splitting lanes.
Worth noting: I don't even own a motorcycle and think below certain speeds those on bikes should be able to split lanes. Of course you always will have guys who are going 50 while everyone else is sitting still. You shouldn't make make or not make a law on the outliers though. Most guys/gals on a bike just want to get to where they're going safely like anyone else.
Also, in states where splitting lanes is legal, I'd favor traffic fines for drivers who impede motorcycle traffic. I've never understood the mindset of someone who feels that, since they have to wait in traffic, others using a more compact mode of transportation should have to as well. But the proclivity to do that is probably a product of a larger issue when behind the wheel (I'd be willing to bet there's a high correlation between people who impede splitting lanes and people who engage in other, more risky forms of road rage). You start fining these people and eventually suspending licenses and maybe you can make positive changes to overall driving habits.
Isn't splitting lanes in California only legal below certain speeds? And they aren't very high. I think as low as 25mph on the freeways.
Common misconception, but not correct. This came about since CHP used to "recommend" (i.e. should, not can't) lane splitting no greater than 10mph above the flow of traffic. That said, basic speed law still applies, as does unsafe speed, which can both be cited while lane splitting. Its also worth mentioning that weaving in and out of highway traffic is not lane splitting.
There is no speed provision in the VC:
21658.1.
(a) For the purposes of this section, “lane splitting” means driving a motorcycle, as defined in Section 400, that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways.
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