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Lane sharing is actually rather safe and promotes faster traffic, works Beautifully in congested cities/countries when you don't have your typical raging 'Merrycan driver behind the wheel.
In the US, yeah, adding risk on top of risk. People are too stupid to realize that a motorcycle that's lane sharing is one Less vehicle in front of them/causing traffic. Usually they get all bent out of shape because "someone" else is going to get "there" faster. Can't mind their own dam business and worry about their life/faults first.
Lane sharing is actually rather safe and promotes faster traffic, works Beautifully in congested cities/countries when you don't have your typical raging 'Merrycan driver behind the wheel.
In the US, yeah, adding risk on top of risk. People are too stupid to realize that a motorcycle that's lane sharing is one Less vehicle in front of them/causing traffic. Usually they get all bent out of shape because "someone" else is going to get "there" faster. Can't mind their own dam business and worry about their life/faults first.
I haven't really had many problems splitting lanes. Once in a blue moon you'll get a cager try and block you off, and a bit more frequently you'll have one change lanes on you without looking. In both cases, it's pretty easy to see it coming and avoid it. Then again, I'm also not splitting at 50 mph through stopped traffic. Usually only doing 10 mph more than the traffic. Before I knew it wasn't legal in WA and OR, it worked beautifully there as well... so I'm sure it still does, I'm just a lot less likely to do it now.
I have seriously rode over the road and Enduro/cross country for over 20 years and I never thought/misthought to do this I rode my road bike on trips of several hundred miles a trip to a couple thousand miles a trip. I was more than a weekend rider for sure. I haven't road for almost 20 years and I just wondered if there was a class I missed.
AFIK "splitting lanes" on expressways in New England is illegal and I do not ride the bike in high density expresssway traffic if I can avoid it. I tend to travel in the right lane left tire track on these roads. That keeps me out of the fast lane but still leaves me visible.
On the two lanes I also ride the tire tracks but when playing on a twisty road I will use all of the available lane to use late apex cornering techniques as appropriate. I still stay within the lane. I was surprised how control of the rear brake is improved by putting the control on the left handlebar. I ride a Suzuki Burgman 650 "scooter" with a "automatic" transmission. The thing is amazingly easy to ride quickly when I want to and at a slow walk when that is appropriate. The severe street tires make it less happy on gravel roads and I simply will not attempt loose dirt.
Anyone who's been riding long enough will tell you that the yellow lines are the slipperiest part of the road, especially when wet. I try to avoid them at all costs.
AFIK "splitting lanes" on expressways in New England is illegal and I do not ride the bike in high density expresssway traffic if I can avoid it. I tend to travel in the right lane left tire track on these roads. That keeps me out of the fast lane but still leaves me visible.
I do the exact same thing. I ask my fellow auto drivers how often they glance at the passenger side mirror when driving and the answer is most likely zero or minimal. In my experience, most car drivers rely on their rear view, or a combo of rear view driver side mirror. If I'm on a bike in the right tire track behind you, you will not see me all the time. At least I have a chance of being seen while on the left portion of the lane.
I saw this last week while in southern Illinois on a quiet rural 50mph road. 3 cruiser/Harley type riders were coming towards us, and one of them was riding the yellow line on the slight bend in the road (leaning to the left). Handlebars and much of him were crossing into our lane. There were no potholes, water, no reason to ride like that. We were in a mid size suv, squarely in our lane. The bend in the road was slight, and easily rideable at 60mph+ without needing to cut the apex or anything.
I think it's just a case of 1% of the population being an idiot. Nearly every other motorcyclist I see rides well.
I ride in the "tire track" to avoid oil and coolant spills. The right or left track depends on which one has the fewest bumps and pot holes. I also expect car drivers to cross the double yellow line to straighten out corners.
I ride the right tire track. Riding the left is just too risky for me. On a windy day you can find yourself over the line in a split second. I see guys all the time riding in the center. Just the other day, I saw this guy riding in the center of the lane just as it started to rain good.
I ride the right tire track. Riding the left is just too risky for me. On a windy day you can find yourself over the line in a split second. I see guys all the time riding in the center. Just the other day, I saw this guy riding in the center of the lane just as it started to rain good.
I typically stay as far right as I can. I figure that if I biff it, I have a lot better chance flying into the ditch, than flying into oncoming traffic.
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