Lane splitting and AMA

[7UPyours]

See.. the 90 vs 70 is insane to me. Can't imagine how that can be safe (or legal) and from what I hear, this sort of thing can be seen in California too.

I'd be incredibly happy if they made it legal in my state to split at 10 miles over car speed, up to 20mph (meaning traffic is between stand-still and 10mph). That would transform my commute.

Absolutely agree that there will be loads of people getting ticked off.. blocking us off, swerving into us. It'll take time to spread the word and it'll never fix everyone, just like now.

I think if they put up signs for cagers to see than there shouldn't be any issues. Even thou it is illegal to do it in MASS, I have seen bikes getting pulled over, I still do it when traffic is dead stop or moving below 10mph, don't do it often but do do it, one time even had a statie move over to give me more room while thinking that I'm toast

 

[Karate.Snoopy]

I think if they put up signs for cagers to see than there shouldn't be any issues. Even thou it is illegal to do it in MASS, I have seen bikes getting pulled over, I still do it when traffic is dead stop or moving below 10mph, don't do it often but do do it, one time even had a statie move over to give me more room while thinking that I'm toast

I filter when ever the traffic is still, would happily take the ticket versus being a sitting duck

 

[Erci]

I filter when ever the traffic is still, would happily take the ticket versus being a sitting duck

As would I, if it didn't also mean losing ridercoach job. LEO can site you for reckless driving in NJ, which is 5 points. Maximum points allowed on license by my school is 4.

 

[JayyVee]

If you ever travel to a country like Mexico or India, you would notice what I call a traffic dance aka chaos. But given the conditions there are very few accidents, this is because folks aren't driving/riding like automatons.
They are driving in the context and have good situational awareness.

I think that Lane splitting would lead to similar conditions where in people would be on the lookout for riders before maneuvering.

This reminds me of Cairo as well..

 

[VEGASRIDER]

For the states that do make it legal, for the cities that have some sort of electronic information messages displayed on the highway, like you see when their is an amber alert, when not in use, would be a great opportunity to display a warning to all drivers to be aware of splitting motorcyclist since they wouldn't be initially use to the idea.

 

[Ssky0078]

That's good!

As a European, where lane splitting is legal pretty much everywhere i really don't understand why it is illegal in most of the USA!
It really makes no sens at all, both congestion wise and safety wise.
It is definitely safer to lane split than not to. So much faster to!

In the USA if there is a reason to cite you for something, the legal system, never wants to give that up any source of revenue.

A lane splitting law passed here in AZ for specifically when traffic is stopped so it would have made filtering legal. The governor vetoed it saying that drivers would not be aware of the change and therefore it would be unsafe.

 

[2wheelieadv]

I've been talking about it all along. It's what our knucklehead politicians don't get to understand.
America was always more car-oriented country unlike Europe, so the notion always was as bikers are all bad boys. Also the mentality of drivers here is "if I'm in front of you -I have to be first. If I can't do this - you shouldn't too". They too selfishly blind and ignorant to understand that we drive completely different vehicles...
Oh, and the mentality is like - it's more convenient to restrict then to educate.

Jees, I feel so freer and easier riding in Europe.

I opened a petition here some time ago - https://www.change.org/petitions/ne...-body-legalize-lane-splitting-for-motorcycles

And here a is a very educating video which I also placed there: How and Why Motorcycle Lane Splitting is Safe and Good - /RideApart - YouTube

 

[SweaterDude]

moving out of the dark ages maybe.....

 

[Cloggy]

I recently saw this article which seems to suggest that there will be a report on a lane splitting study published at the beginning of 2014 commisioned by the CHP (conducted by Berkley). I'm curious what they will say.

 

[Erci]

I recently saw this article which seems to suggest that there will be a report on a lane splitting study published at the beginning of 2014 commisioned by the CHP (conducted by Berkley). I'm curious what they will say.

That should help the cause. :thumbup:

 

[Marcelor73]

I grew up riding in Rio, Brazil where lane splitting is allowed. All motorcyclists do it and every cage driver expect motorcycles to filter through, specially in heavy traffic.

Having now lived half of my life in the DC area, I can tell you that when I first started riding here in the US I was appalled to learn that lane splitting wasn't legal. Having said that, my main use for lane splitting would be for getting to the head of the line at a traffic light and to get through slow moving traffic. I would not feel comfortable lane splitting around the cell-phone-using-newspaper-reading-fast-food-eating-non-attention-paying drivers around here. At least not where average speeds were moving at a decent pace.

I hope it becomes legal nationwide so we can start with the education efforts.