Well, in New York, the worst I've ever seen is they'll crank the wheel over and gun the engine enough to stick their nose into the space you're about to occupy. (This is at a standstill,) or drift over the line in front of you at speed. I've never seen anybody actually open their door into an oncoming biker, except accidentally. (Doors are expensive.) Since lane-splitting is illegal here -- as are handguns -- the usual response seems to be to chase one until close enough to copy your license plate, followed by a long and fruitless cell call to the authorities, where they tell you that cell-phoning from a moving car is -- you guessed it -- illegal.
If one were to blow by a police car between lanes -- even gently, it's a moving violation "unsafe lane change," usually accompanied with "avoiding arrest" if you don't pull off the road at the first whoop of the siren. Points on your license, enough o' them and you lose it. Often a bump in your insurance rates.
Ya wonder why they make all these laws. Ya'd think it wuz dangerous or something.
bikermeow wrote:On lane-splitting, so in States that are illegal, what will happen if a bike lane split? Vigilante justice, public hanging or what? It is unimaginable to me.
I believe it is illegal in every state in the USA except for California, where there is no stipulation either way. Our cops do it.
For those other states, it's usually vigilantism especially out here in the West where cowboy justice rules. If you can't ditch the do-rights while on your bike, brandishing your weapon will often have the lynch mob backing off. Unless they draw theirs of course; then you had better hope you've spent enough quality time at the range.
Right, I think it's pretty much the rule that states in which lane splitting is illegal, it's ok to carry a concealed weapon. There may be exceptions to the rule. Some states don't want you to do anything that's fun.
I don't get caught in the rain, I ride in it on purpose.
Boy, watching that video sure tightened my spincter a time or two - that was almost as thrilling as a short fast ride.
BoxerMania - I too, was amazed at the lane splitting in CA and asked a few folks about it. The word that I got from CA folks is that it is Legal in CA (within the speed limit and the policed perceived limits of Reckless Driving) which amazed me. Apparently the concept is that most motorcycles are air cooled and in the many freeway backups they overheated. It is common out there!
In VA it would be a certain reckless driving ticket in every instance.
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don’t have it.
I enjoy lane splitting when traveling cross town. It can be fun and exciting in the same way a good canyon road is. You have to have 100 percent focus, thats for sure, and it is very satisfying to cruise past endless lines of cars. Keep at no more than 20 mph or so above the surrounding traffic and its doable. Just about everybody either moves over or does nothing. Its very rare to have somebody pull a blocking move. The real fun is when you pick up the tail of a CHP rider who is splitting. I've followed them at 80 through 65 traffic. I do think it is safer between the sides of cars than between the ends of them. The safest spot is right between two cars traveling next to each other as a car won't change lanes into another (very often) and a MC fits neatly in the space cars tend to give each other. Mirrors are fun, truck mirrors are above MC mirrors, compacts below them, and minivans just equal. Mirror/mirror spacing is sometimes just an inch or so. The worst is sliding up along large trucks. I still don't have the nerve to split between two big rigs as they shimmy down the road. I commute by MC almost every working day of the year in LA, but very, very little of my everyday commute is splitting.
I too found it tame by new york standards. Heck, if I didn't lane split in/out of the metro NY area, i'd have WAAAAYYYY more hours on my bike then what you would expect for the mileage!
Coming back from the Lima, OH Rally, I had to lane split the ENTIRE state of Pennsylvania on I-80, save for the initial 20 miles. THE ENTIRE state. I still made it back to LI in 16 hours!!! I was weaving in/out of the lanes with my extra-large lids! I must say, having those lids has taught me the way of lane-splitting...surgical precision. they're like whiskers, only not-bendy.
As for cops, you have to be mindful of them. I pay particular attention to that in order to avoid fines. The sad thing is, you'll be less likely to get a ticket lane splitting then if you ride the shoulder, even though the shoulder is safer.
Scott
Black '50R
Long Island, NY
double-secret probationary lifetime member #311
As I understand the thinking in California, motorcyclist are entitled to use of the road as well as cars, they just need less of it, as long as you don't ride on the lane lines and stay in one lane or the other, your ok. So stay off those painted lines guys and gals. BTW I could not have gotten to the ship on time in the morning when I was stationed in Long Beach unless I split lanes. I hate traffic......
Don
2004 Ferro R1150R the stealthiest color
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
Lane splitting is allowed and is so stated on the California Highway Patrol website. In their FAQ section it says:
Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
Obviously there are different interpretations of what is safe and prudent, plus there are some haters out there who don't like being passed. Bottom line is Be Careful!!
I lane split all the time, I'll pass a line of stopped cars at a traffic signal and go to the front of the line. If its done intelligently, its ok.
In PA, lane splitting is apparently considered the most egregious breech of driving etiquette out there. Nothing frosts up those in cages more than to have a bike squeeze by. I've had drivers try to block me by moving over and even opening the door. Also had coffee thrown at me and even a beer bottle once. About 2 weeks ago, I passed a long line of cars waiting at red light only to have a PA trooper come screaming up the shoulder to confront me. He was incredibly irked, told me how inconsiderate I was and that I needed to wait in traffic just like the cars. I held my tongue and didn't mention anything about his misunderstanding of traffic flow theory, and luckily got a way with just a verbal warning.
Apparently also in PA you can be written up with multiple citations that may result in loss of license (at least that's what the trooper screamed at me).
Charlie
'03 R1150R
Life member 365
Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
challey wrote:In PA, lane splitting is apparently considered the most egregious breech of driving etiquette out there. Nothing frosts up those in cages more than to have a bike squeeze by. I've had drivers try to block me by moving over and even opening the door. Also had coffee thrown at me and even a beer bottle once. About 2 weeks ago, I passed a long line of cars waiting at red light only to have a PA trooper come screaming up the shoulder to confront me. He was incredibly irked, told me how inconsiderate I was and that I needed to wait in traffic just like the cars. I held my tongue and didn't mention anything about his misunderstanding of traffic flow theory, and luckily got a way with just a verbal warning.
Apparently also in PA you can be written up with multiple citations that may result in loss of license (at least that's what the trooper screamed at me).
Charlie
(now to get myself thrown out of this website....)
challey wrote:In PA, lane splitting is apparently considered the most egregious breech of driving etiquette out there. Nothing frosts up those in cages more than to have a bike squeeze by. I've had drivers try to block me by moving over and even opening the door. Also had coffee thrown at me and even a beer bottle once. About 2 weeks ago, I passed a long line of cars waiting at red light only to have a PA trooper come screaming up the shoulder to confront me. He was incredibly irked, told me how inconsiderate I was and that I needed to wait in traffic just like the cars. I held my tongue and didn't mention anything about his misunderstanding of traffic flow theory, and luckily got a way with just a verbal warning.
Apparently also in PA you can be written up with multiple citations that may result in loss of license (at least that's what the trooper screamed at me).
Charlie
If I were in a cager sitting at a light behind 100 motorcycles (all in single file I suppose, if you can't be sharing a lane side-by-side with another vehicle), I would wish that those 100 bikes split the lanes so that I can get through the intersection in a couple of red light cycles instead of a dozen.
Traffic signals timed for 35mph, are also timed for 70mph.
rantee wrote:Lane splitting is allowed and is so stated on the California Highway Patrol website. In their FAQ section it says:
Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
Obviously there are different interpretations of what is safe and prudent, plus there are some haters out there who don't like being passed. Bottom line is Be Careful!!
I lane split all the time, I'll pass a line of stopped cars at a traffic signal and go to the front of the line. If its done intelligently, its ok.
I knew this, but it's great you were able to cite a valid source for this info. Prudent also means consideration for your fellow motorists. Don't hold up the line (go when you're supposed to go), don't snap their mirrors because there wasn't enough room to safely split, and (I might get kicked off this website too, for this one) keep those pipes quiet. BTW, I'm a NorCal'er in Sacramento... cagers here are either aggressive or clueless.
Traffic signals timed for 35mph, are also timed for 70mph.
BTW I could not have gotten to the ship on time in the morning when I was stationed in Long Beach unless I split lanes. I hate traffic......
