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.
