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MOTOBRICK.COM => The MBdotCOM Community Center => Topic started by: TimTyler on January 20, 2013, 07:56:45 PM

Title: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: TimTyler on January 20, 2013, 07:56:45 PM
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/19/local/la-me-smith-lane-split-20130119 (http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/19/local/la-me-smith-lane-split-20130119)
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: argent brick on January 21, 2013, 01:28:52 PM
It is amazing how worked up cagers get about lane splitting. Even here in CA. When they complain to me, I normally respond with comments about drivers putting on make up, eating, texting, or talking on the cell phone and the hazards they present. There seems to be an attitude with car drivers that because you ride a bike a wreck is your fault. The few times I have said anything about wrecks (bike vs car) normally being the fault of the four wheeler, the car owner closes his/her mind to the facts.

Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: Lbyvik on February 04, 2013, 07:47:19 AM
Try doing that with "BICYCLE" in the sentence rather than Motorcycle.  I got struck from behind while STOPPED at a stoplight.  I was basically fine, but a $5000 Specialized Tarmac was destroyed.  The Cop tried to cite me for something or other. I was in the line of the cars.  Same place you would be on a Moto.  But ALSO EXACTLY where we are SUPPOSED to be according to the law!  He wasn't even going to cite the driver until I got out my phone and started taking Video of the scene.  My bike was almost completely under the front center of the car and the hood had a nice body size dent in it along with spidering in the windshield where my helmet struck.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: Lawrence on February 04, 2013, 02:32:03 PM
Thanks for posting that piece, Tim.  A good read.  I sure wish the other states were as enlightened as California.  It gets really hot at times here.  The government has done a pretty bad job of planning for grow and the result is a modest town that can have horrible traffic.  Alternate routes?  Ha!  At times it seems that riding (idling?) with an air-cooler engine can be the ticket to disaster.  Lane sharing makes so much sense, yet....
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: frankenduck on February 04, 2013, 04:02:20 PM
Most drivers, especially in stop-n-go or rush hour traffic tend to not pay too much attention to what's going on behind them. When a splitter comes by it can startle/surprise them.

Also, unlike most of the resat of the planet, drivers in North America just aren't used to it.

It also APPEARS to be a very dangerous activity.  Heck, even a fair amount of riders think it's dangerous and won't do it.

In the US motorcycles are generally perceived as recreational "toys", not a form of basic transportation like they are in some other places.

I doubt there will ever be enough legislative impetus in other states to get it legalized.

It's hard to believe that it's legal in one of the biggest nanny states in the country.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: richarddacat on February 04, 2013, 05:03:41 PM
I have no desire to lane split, I want to stay away from vehicles as much as I can or in a position of where I can be seen.
Makes as much sense as no helmet laws to me but to each his own, I welcome the freedom but I won't participate. 
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: frankenduck on February 04, 2013, 05:58:00 PM
It APPEARS more dangerous than it actually is.  I used to swear I'd never lanesplit - until I got stuck in Friday afternoon rush traffic on The Santa Monica Freeway.  After a few bikes went by I decided to give it a whirl.  It didn't take me long to hand the hang of it and I've been splitting in CA ever since.

Many people are of the opinion that it's actually safer because you'll never end up as a rider sandwich when the person in front of you slams on their brakes and/or the person behind rear ends you.  Not only that but to do it safely you need to be constantly paying attention and riding your ""A game."

It also allows you to SEE the road ahead for quite a ways so a 2x4 or whatever doesn't magically appear in the road after the car ahead of you passes over it.

It allows you to make good time as well.  It's especially useful when there's an accident up ahead and all traffic is completely stopped.  How much risk do you think there is when navigating between stationary vehicles in a traffic jam or at a stop light?

Most of the rest of the world does it.

Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: richarddacat on February 04, 2013, 06:53:22 PM
Stopped traffic I probably would, I've gone up a paved shoulder before, otherwise I'll avoid it. Probably never be legal in TN or all states anyway.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: detbmw on February 04, 2013, 08:06:24 PM
I was on a business trip to San Francisco and saw both bicycles and motorcycles lane split. They all seemed to know what they were doing.

The only thing we have in Texas is if there is a single lane on your side of the road and there is also a paved shoulder, when someone slows or stops in front of you to turn left, you can legally drive on the shoulder and pass then on the right.

This always works out okay - until it doesn't. If you are out in the sticks and someone is turning left onto a farm-to-market road or into a driveway and you have good visibility, it works. However, the other day in town a pickup a few cars ahead of me was turning left, so a car a couple places back zings around to the right on the shoulder passing everyone in line. That driver couldn't see that there was a car also turning left across our line of traffic. The car on the shoulder slammed on it's brakes just in time to avoid t-boning the second left turner (did all that make sense).

Like it was said above, you have to be on your A-game.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: tsbt on February 05, 2013, 08:14:11 PM
I'm all for lane splitting just not in a country that allows it. Oh Canada.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: Qdude on February 08, 2013, 08:31:02 PM

Lived in Japan 5 years where there is a type of lane splitting allowed.
You are allowed to go up the outside of the lane.
I rode scooters and took advantage any time traffic was backed up.
There seems no indignancy from the cagers either.
They seemed instead to cooperate and proactively create space to allow you to pass...

Therefore I gotta advocate for lane-splitting here in the states too.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: noppo on February 08, 2013, 11:50:35 PM
i, like qdude, have time in Japan. Still here.

Lane splitting is not on the lawbooks as being illegal. So, it's allowed, and even the bike cops do it. 
Cages, for the most part, if they see you and see that they're in the way, will move aside for you. Taxis are in most cases nicer than most cages because impeding their movement would lower their income for the day, so they try to accommodate when possible.  i hate taxis for the stupid things they do, but love them for moving out of the way, when they can. 

Here in Tokyo, other than in the winter, bikes make their presence known by the sheer number of them lane splitting, in other words, they rule here.  For those who haven't seen it, it's a modern phenomenon worthy of attention.  Seriously. 

I think Tokyo's city streets are very much like LA's expressways.  Not to mention the expressways outside of Tokyo that also have a significant amount of lane splitting going on when either leaving or going back into Tokyo.  On good weather days, the city streets and expressways are parking lots. Bikes go by the cages like they're standing still.  it's because they are.  Lane splitting is where it's at for me.  I've been doing it for 17 years without problems at all. Knock on wood.

However, that being said, i cannot say that it's fun.  It's a bit more stressful and hard on the shoulders cuz of the way it makes me tense up when it's longer than 30 minutes. And, one cannot take their eyes off the road for even a split second, for obvious reasons.  Even looking at the gauges is risky.  Too much of that and i pull over to take a break.

i used to not do lane splitting, but now it's a given.  The time one saves is highly significant.
 :bmwsmile
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: TimTyler on March 15, 2013, 11:16:17 AM
Looks like riders wanna split in OR too:

http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/measpdf/sb0500.dir/sb0541.intro.pdf (http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/measpdf/sb0500.dir/sb0541.intro.pdf)

Senate Bill 541

"Allows operators of motorcycles and mopeds to pass vehicles in same lane during traffic jams or slowdowns. Allows operators of motorcycles and mopeds to travel between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles during traffic jams or slowdowns."
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: Qdude on March 16, 2013, 01:25:23 AM

Damn Son. I am sooo jealous.
That is almost as cool as legal 420...
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: WhiteTassieDevil on May 14, 2013, 09:25:53 PM
I had my biggest accident because I did not filter (for US readers - lane split) going home from work one morning. I was on my new Honda VFR800FI-Y heading home after a 12 hour night shift, coming up to a que of traffic I decided not to filter as I was very tied. I joined the outside lane of the duel carriageway (the A32 from the Junction 6 M4 to Windsor in the UK) and was doing about 30mph in 3rd when I was hit from behind by a sales rep doing about 90mph (according to the police) talking on his mobile phone. The VFR had the rear subframe, swinging arm and exhaust ripped completely off the bike before it was catapulted down the road into the car in front, I received 7 broken bones including 4 ribs, both wrists and one seriously shattered left shoulder. The rep got away with "driving without due care and attention" with 3 points and a £200 fine.

The morale of the story is to filter through traffic safely if you can!   

Brian
Title: Re: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: BexarWolf on May 15, 2013, 07:15:31 AM
Quote from: richarddacat on February 04, 2013, 05:03:41 PM
I have no desire to lane split, I want to stay away from vehicles as much as I can or in a position of where I can be seen.
Makes as much sense as no helmet laws to me but to each his own, I welcome the freedom but I won't participate.

+1

The lane splitting debate has been debated to death on a couple of other forums I'm a member of. To each his/her own. Even if it were legal in Texas, I won't split lanes. There's already enough road rage in this state to go around and I don't want to be the next victim of some goober who's already stressed out or some soccer mom scheduling her next wine party on the phone.

I respect every rider and their choice of bike, choice of gear (or lack of same) and choice of riding style. As long as it doesn't affect my freedom to ride...... Ride on.

But as others have stated, riding a motorcycle here in the US is a choice we make. Go anywhere in the US and the overwhelming mode of transportation has at least four wheels. So when riders use the "but it's hot out, you are sitting in an air conditioned car, my bike over-heats sitting in traffic, etc", you made a choice to ride a bike. If it's too hot or raining or you have to lane split to keep your vehicle operating properly....... take a different vehicle. If a motorcycle is your only mode of transportation, that's another choice you made.

I take the mode of transportation that suits my need of the day. If I'm going on a shopping trip, I'm not going to take the bike and then bitch because I can't get all the groceries on the bike and demand the motoring public to accommodate my choices and allow me to tow the shopping cart behind the bike at four miles an hour.

So, if you wanna lane split, rock on. Ride safe and get where you're going in one piece. I'll wave as you ride by and say a silent prayer that someone doesn't take you out because they're jealous of your freedom.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: TimTyler on October 21, 2013, 01:52:55 PM
Lucky rider, unlucky bike.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4e2_1381841605#ZQAZkKHLv09FtiFA.01 (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4e2_1381841605#ZQAZkKHLv09FtiFA.01)
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: ssray on October 21, 2013, 02:22:47 PM
I love lane splitting or filtering as we call it on this side of the pond,I`m an ex london dispatch rider,I have also done paris-best bit two cops on r80rt`s who moved over at around a ton to let us through

In belgium there was a report published that stated (i think) if 10% of commuters swapped to two wheels then journeys would take 40% less time

Ray
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: johnny on October 21, 2013, 02:27:20 PM
one word... abs... nuff said...

j o
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: CRASH on October 22, 2013, 12:42:26 AM
Quote from: TimTyler on October 21, 2013, 01:52:55 PM
Lucky rider, unlucky bike.

He used all his luck up on that one.  You catch he was passing on the left shoulder at one point at the beginning?  You just catch a glimpse. The question is, does he understands he was 100% at fault on that?

Don't need ABS if you don't ride like an idiot.  Those are the guys that get the cagers all in a froth and want to stop lane splitting.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: noppo on October 22, 2013, 06:23:06 AM
Indeed he used up all his luck on that one.  He owes that trucker bank!  Dude better go home and do some intro/retrospective thinking.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: Opus on October 22, 2013, 08:43:20 AM
Although Lane Splitting can be a good idea, I find it would not work well where I live. Too many "Lane Jockeys" switching lanes back and forth to be safe. Cars, Trucks, & Big Riggs will pull over without a signal and be looking at you as the do it. They complain about Sport Bikes blowing down the road while they are doing the same thing. I have seen cars cut off bikes just because the bike is in a faster moving lane and then flip off the rider when they hit their horns to warn them. I have been pushed into the breakdown lane by cages looking at me while talking on the phone and then get made at me because I did not move out of the way faster for them. Until driver education includes a form of mandatory Motorcycle Safety Course,  to make drivers more aware of motorcycles and the dangers they face, Lane Splitting is not an option that I would take even if it was legal in my state.

Just me 2 cents..... 

PS. Good to see you Frankenduck!!!  :2thumbup:
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: noppo on October 22, 2013, 09:00:12 AM
You are right. Half of my life was spent in Memphis, and i got my bike license there.  You're right - lane splitting there would be suicide. Smart man.

Clearly the rules of the location determine the possibility of doing it. Sucks!  Gotta get the feel for it wherever you go.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: CRASH on October 22, 2013, 09:59:46 AM
A lot depends on how long - if ever - it has been legal. Since I have been riding, it has always been legal in California.  There is the occasional jackhole that is mad he isn't riding, but for the most part - especially during commute time - the cars give you ample room and most look for you (at least the commutes I have done in NorCal ... riding in SoCal is an entirely different animal but still not too bad usually).   My bike with bags is 4 feet wide ... exactly.  And I split every day, I am a little slower than some (but I can STILL go over the recommended maximum of 10 over the speed of traffic) and have to wait once in a while, but for the most part, I just blow through. People here expect it and as many stupid moves as I still see, for the most part they do okay.  Once you learn to read the signs (watch heads of drivers and tires, people will turn their tires before they look to see if anyone is there) it works well.

This guy makes SEVERAL bad calls. Speed ... way over on speed.  10 MPH over and never split when traffic is going over 35 mph - usually I stop around 30 mph and just ride close to the edge while watching behind me a lot so I don't get rear ended.  One of my biggest rules is NEVER split past a semi or bus.  They are impossible to see around, they wander more than cars do, and those freakin' front lug nuts are like cheese graters. The biggest mistake he needs to correct is to learn respect for the machine and the process.  Giant squid is all he is.  All he had to do was slow down and wait a few seconds and it would have been a clean pass.
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: Opus on October 22, 2013, 10:17:36 AM
Quote from: noppo on October 22, 2013, 09:00:12 AM
You are right. Half of my life was spent in Memphis, and i got my bike license there.  You're right - lane splitting there would be suicide. Smart man.

Clearly the rules of the location determine the possibility of doing it. Sucks!  Gotta get the feel for it wherever you go.

Noppo!
A Fellow/Former Memphian!
Well Met My Friend, Well Met.....
Title: Re: Lane Splitting (LA Times Article)
Post by: TimTyler on January 28, 2015, 09:38:46 PM
New Lane Splitting bill filed in WA State  :clap:

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1515.pdf (http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1515.pdf)

http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1515&year=2015#documents (http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1515&year=2015#documents)

No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic
or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles unless the operator of
a motorcycle is traveling at a rate of speed no more than ten miles
per hour over the speed of traffic flow and not more than thirty-five
miles per hour. Any operator of a motor vehicle that intentionally
impedes or attempts to prevent any operator of a motorcycle from
operating his or her motorcycle as permitted under this subsection is
guilty of a traffic infraction.