Lane splitting / filtering on a motorcycle - Is it enforced in Chicago? (Virginia: live in, legal)

[throwaway664]

I know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this, but I see bikers occasionally filtering between lanes or occasionally jumping into the parking lane / bike lane for a moment (when clear) to get to the front of a line of stopped cars at a stop sign or traffic signal. In many parts of the world and some US states this is completely legal and saves both the rider and car drivers time, as they do not occupy another spot in traffic. How is the enforcement of doing things like this by city police? Will you be ticketed? What is the punishment?

Thanks for any info from fellow bikers.

[It'sAutomatic]

I've been riding for two years. Never had a problem. I rarely go between two active vehicles though, mostly between vehicles & the side of the road or parked cars.

[glass_of_merlot]

They can do whatever they want. It'some s their life.

[doodlemagic]

California this is legal as well as many other states as you mentioned. I know studies actually show this is safer for motorcycles however it scares the hell out of me when i see people doing this. Look around next time your driving and at least 4 out of 10 people are looking at their phones, swaying in lanes, someone moves over a couple inches in their lane and your dead an run over by a dozen more cars.

Here's something else, I notice cars tend to get pissed off at cars and bikes when someone tries to ride a shoulder or somehow get ahead of them. I think its reasonable for a bike at a line of cars at a light to go through the center of still cars and get to the front, they'll get out ahead of the traffic and I can see that actually speeding up traffic and the bike is faster off the line so makes complete sense but I've seen cars slowly edge to try to close the gap between lanes, open their doors, etc.

Many drivers are either crazy, stupid or don't pay attention so I personally am a very cautious motorcycle rider

As far as enforcement on the expressways never seen anyone pulled over for doing it and in the city I don't think a cop could go after someone even if thy wanted to if they were behind a few cars.

[sfcambridge]

It's very startling to me as a driver too, and I have seen a few near accidents occur. I wish they wouldn't do it, and I am shocked to hear it may actually be legal anywhere in the US. Had no idea.

Really risky.

[doodlemagic]

Originally Posted by sfcambridge

It's very startling to me as a driver too, and I have seen a few near accidents occur. I wish they wouldn't do it, and I am shocked to hear it may actually be legal anywhere in the US. Had no idea.

Really risky.

"Lane splitting eases traffic congestion by taking motorcyclists out of the line of cars and trucks. And the practice increases safety by allowing motorcycle riders to avoid the risk of rear-end collisions in stopped or slow-moving traffic."

Studies have actually found it's safer...

""Lane splitting eases traffic congestion by taking motorcyclists out of the line of cars and trucks. And the practice increases safety by allowing motorcycle riders to avoid the risk of rear-end collisions in stopped or slow-moving traffic."

However as a motorcycle rider it doesn't strike me as being safe and as a car driver its somewhat alarming when someone zooms by 2 inches from your window, I could very easily see someoen being startled and jerking the wheel and hitting a biker which would be a nasty accident. I suppose if you live in an area where people are accustomed to it people know to expect it. Also I can sorta see how its unsafe motorcycles sitting in stop and go traffic with everyone on their phones waiting to be rear ended so that part sorta makes sense

[Bitey]

You have to do something egregious to get pulled over by the CPD like zip down a side street at 50 miles an hour, drive the wrong way down a one-way street, hit something/somebody with your car, or look really suspicious by swerving erratically, handing things to random passers-by out your car window, or being black.

Filtering between occupied cars on a four-lane road would probably raise suspicion. Filtering between occupied cars and the curb or an occupied car and parked cars probably won't unless you're doing it in a marked bike lane for more than a block or so.

Originally Posted by doodlemagic

California this is legal as well as many other states as you mentioned.

California is the only state where lane-splitting is legal. I've seen some motorcycle websites claim it's legal by omission in Illinois but that's not true, the IL vehicle code specifically forbids it. The only loophole is that the statute specifies it's illegal to do it in TWO-wheel vehicles so I guess that makes it legal by omission if you do it on a Piaggio MP3 or in a Tango EV.

[doodlemagic]

Originally Posted by Bitey

You have to do something egregious to get pulled over by the CPD like zip down a side street at 50 miles an hour, drive the wrong way down a one-way street, hit something/somebody with your car, or look really suspicious by swerving erratically, handing things to random passers-by out your car window, or being black.

Filtering between occupied cars on a four-lane road would probably raise suspicion. Filtering between occupied cars and the curb or an occupied car and parked cars probably won't unless you're doing it in a marked bike lane for more than a block or so.


California is the only state where lane-splitting is legal. I've seen some motorcycle websites claim it's legal by omission in Illinois but that's not true, the IL vehicle code specifically forbids it. The only loophole is that the statute specifies it's illegal to do it in TWO-wheel vehicles so I guess that makes it legal by omission if you do it on a Piaggio MP3 or in a Tango EV.

Yeah your right Cali is the only state where it's explicitly legal however like you said states that "may" allow it via omission or not mentioning it are Montana, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, and North Carolina

[BOBNCHI]

As rider, I would never do it, legal or not!

[Chicago_Person]

Bump for bike season coming up.
I lane split. So far I haven't really gotten anyone get mad.
I do it when traffic is under 10mph.

I don't understand why car drivers get mad when I'm literally making more space for you.
They have this "me first" attitude.

I really hope it is legalized zome day.

On regular streets i use the bike lane to get to the front.
Technically its not illegal to ride between operating vehicles and a curb. Just between two operating vehicles.

I have had many times where I was inches away from getting rear ended in my car. I see the cars behind me brake suddenly. Especially in heavy traffic, people just start using their cellphones to pass the time.