Lane Splitting Part 2

[jdog109socal]

I have witness many moto cop lane split at all speeds and is very common for them down here to lane split at 60 mph and above.... Talk about Balls and no fears...My Hats off to the Moto Popo's

Jdog

 

[Toecutter]

Now that the man has passed on, and even if he gave up the fight previously....

[SIZE=24pt]CAN WE PLEASE JUST CALL IT SHARING!!![/SIZE]

Somebody else just took up "The Cause". Even though what was depicted was not "Sharing" in the legal sense.

Edit- Watched the video, it doesn't look too terribly bad, by SoCal standards

 

[HYCLE]

I have to agree with Toe on this one.

I will share a lane and I will signal when I change lanes.

What I saw in the video looks like a rapid succession of unsafe lane changes.

On the other hand, it looked like fun for someone with the skills of Fairlaner and Jdog.

Ride your own ride.

 

[Jagermeister]

Sexy Video!

Wish I lived in an Enlightened State.

Roasting in a traffic jam on a hot day is one of the inner circles of Hell!

 

[madmike2]

If you blow by a LEO at speed, do they give you a thumbs up?

SPEED is the question. I've passed them at reasonable speed and never had an issue. IMO, and probably theirs, too, passing them @ 50 or 60 when the traffic is going 20 would likely produce unfavorable results.

So then if traffic is moving 45mph you can scoot by at 50-60 and they're OK with that?I though it was for really clogged roads, <30mph, but above that, you had to stay in line.

There is no "hard & fast" rule about staying in line. If the officer deems it an unsafe maneuver he can write you for reckless driving. And, certain locations will allow a bit of leeway....like the freeways in L.A.

As a general rule, above 45 is placing yourself "at risk" for a ticket. I've passed many CHP and local PD when they have been stopped at a signal or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Keep in mind, though we may ride in stop-and-go traffic, there are moments when even that traffic will spurt to 45 mph then slam on their brakes and slow to 5 mph. The traffic isn't driving at a static speed but their rate will vary over a 20 mile (my commute distance) stretch.

If one decides to avail themselves the option of "lane sharing", one must also bear the responsibility of being mindful of the traffic around them. There ARE those automobile drivers who will change lanes without signaling, cut a rider off on purpose (The "squeeze play"), generally be inattentive or distracted, etc. There are also those drivers who are aware and mindful, will actually move over and allow a motorcycle to pass, wave a biker past, etc. The RIDER must be aware in each scenario by watching for head/body movement, turning front tires (to predict a lane change), and a thousand other "clues" as to what might happen.

Obviously, this can't be done when traveling at a higher rate of speed. If one is riding 20-30 mph faster than the traffic any hazard would arise too quickly to safely avoid (by braking or swerving). That's why one must be vigilant and apply some common sense to what one is doing. It can be done safely riding 5-10 mph faster than the traffic flow, my preference being about 5 mph faster than the traffic, whatever speed they're moving. This means I am not "blasting" through stopped cars @ 20 mph, but gliding through them @ parking lot speed or sharing their lane while passing them (at relative speeds: their 20 mph:my 25 mph). The key thought is MOVING while they are stopped and safely MOVING through stop-an-go drivers to maintain air flow on my person and my motorcycle

BUT....this is far afield from the original intent of this thread and has again turned into a defense of one of the privileges we are granted in this state. There are many motorcyclists who do not lane share in CA. That is their choice, and I must say that while riding my touring bike, I didn't lane share because the bike was just too large for my comfort while riding in confined spaces (like between cars). On my FJR, commuting sans panniers, with the top case only, works just fine for me. YMMV.

 

[Fairlaner]

At least we didn't pass on the right this time.

R

 

[tcfjr]

Many people who don't ride feel motorcycling itself is terribly unsafe, but riders know that with the proper training, experience, and preparation, riding can be a reasonably safe and enjoyable experience. The same goes for lane-sharing. The more you do it, the more comfortable you get with it, and after a while it becomes second-nature. I feel it is much safer for me to move between slow or stopped lanes of traffic than to risk getting rear-ended by the F-250 driver who was watching the blonde in the convertible in the next lane.

A few months ago, I was following a CHP motor officer in the HOV lane of Interstate 210 in downtown Pasadena. Traffic in the HOV lane and the number one lane was going about 25mph, and we were going about 5-10 mph faster. A guy in the number one lane driving a truck must have lost focus, and started drifting over the double-yellow that separates the HOV lane from the main line, just as the CHP rider was about to pass him. The truck quickly moved back into his own lane, and the CHP rider rolled up to the guy's side window, and turned his head to look at the driver. It was only for a few seconds, and I couldn't see the patrolman's face, but from the look on the driver's face he must have given the guy one hell of a stare. Priceless.

But other than the odd glitch, most drivers are happy (enough) to let you by, and many will gladly move over to give you room if they see that you need it. The FJR's stock mirrors are well positioned - high enough to go over the side mirrors of most cars, and low enough to go under the side mirrors of most trucks/SUVs.

 

[FatNakedGuy]

Sure would like to get lane sharing legal here in UTaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah... That's the biggest thing I miss from SoCal..

How would one go about getting a law passed?

 

[evil_henchman]

Looks like just another day at the office

Or i should say, east bound on capitol city freeway at 5:00pm on the way to scenic Rio Linda :glare:

I don't do the tight stuff with side bags on though and it gets old quick. Enough that I packed up and moved closer to work...

 

[ShawnKing]

For those who say they would NEVER dream of lane sharing, spend a while on the congested roads before making your decision.

Some of us *do* live/ride in and around New York City.

 

[FJRBluesman]

This is long winded and should be in NEPRT, with all the other great discussions.

Other people in the PRC (Peoples Republic of California) can help me here....

I believe I read this online somewhere, I thought it was by a LEO writing an article or on the AMA website ICR:

You can lane share and pass at speeds not to exceed 10mph then the traffic you are passing, and not to exceed the maximum speed limit; and done safely. It really comes down to, was the pass and lane sharing done safely. Now that's subjective to the LEO that decides to pull you over for such a thing. IIRC there was a maximum speed like 40mph to lane share.

Did some digging:

The 2008 CA Motorcycle Handbook (CMHB) says you can lane share, however, it's NOT safe. They don't refer to any CVC but…. On one hand they say you can do it as long as it's executed safely, but doing so is unsafe. If that isn't political double speak.

CA Motorcycle Handbook:

Pg 14) Maintain an adequate space cushion. Allow yourself enough space when following, being followed, lane sharing, passing, and being passed.

Pg 15) Lane Sharing - Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane to operate safely. Lane sharing is not safe.

I did some more digging on the CA Vehicle Code website. The CVC doesn't specifically address "lane Sharing"; however, here are some codes that allow you to pass on the right. It doesn't address lane sharing as being illegal, since it's not specifically addressed it's legality is upon safety and any other violation of the CVC. The key is sufficient room and done safely.

CVC:

Passing on the Right

21754. The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and

pass to the right of another vehicle only under the following

conditions:

(a) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to

make a left turn.

( B) Upon a highway within a business or residence district

with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or

more lines of moving vehicles in the direction of travel.

§21755 —394— Div. 11

© Upon any highway outside of a business or residence

district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and

clearly marked for two or more lines of moving traffic in the

direction of travel.

(d) Upon a one-way street.

(e) Upon a highway divided into two roadways where

traffic is restricted to one direction upon each of such

roadways.

The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of

a slow moving vehicle from the duty to drive as closely as

practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway.

Pass on Right Safely

21755. The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and

pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions

permitting such movement in safety. In no event shall such

movement be made by driving off the paved or main-traveled

portion of the roadway.

B)

 

[johnny80s]

I was watching the news one day here in San Diego. They were doing an story on lane sharing/splitting. They actually looked up the law for the story.

Lane Sharing/Splitting is ok up to 40mph. You can't go more than 10 mph faster than traffic and it is only allowed in the far lanes. All the way to the left or to the right but not in the middle lanes.

The thing you need to keep in mind when sharing lanes is that you don't have to go as fast a Fairlaner did in the video. On my commute I normally pass and get passed through out the commute. When splitting lanes you go only as fast as you feel comfortable. I have seen what happens when people go to fast through the cars and don't have time to react when some one does make a stupid move.

The biggest problems are when their is a large difference in the speed of the cars and the speed of the bike. Stopped cars and a bike doing 40 mph is good recipe for a crash club membership.

I have to disagree with the comment that the FJR mirrors are just the right height. Mine are all nicked up from hitting the cagers mirrors.

Lots of motorcyclists take ff the rear bags and only use trunks when splitting lanes. I hit cars with my bags a lot. I thank Mama Yama for the rubber strip they so nicely included on the bags.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I was watching the news one day here in San Diego. They were doing an story on lane sharing/splitting. They actually looked up the law for the story.
Lane Sharing/Splitting is ok up to 40mph. You can't go more than 10 mph faster than traffic and it is only allowed in the far lanes. All the way to the left or to the right but not in the middle lanes.

I hear ya on this but if you can't produce any "law" that states this, it's just LEO/journalist interpretation on safety. The CA motorcycle handbook doesn't even mention those parameters. I'd love if someone could show me this in the CVC, please post if you find it.

 

[evil_henchman]

Last time I checked the DMV rule simply stated that lane sharing is allowed as long as it's safe to do so. No mention of speeds.

It's actually brilliant in it's simplicity in that it puts the burden squarely on the person sharing lanes, i.e., if something happens it must not have been safe to do so and you (the lane splitter) are at fault.

The fact that there are no speed limits gives LEO's some discretion to decide whats safe or not since it can be perfectly safe to lane share at full freeway speed. Which I've done right in front of CHP's and had them wave at me. CHP motorcycle cops are probably the best lane "splitters" around, I've learned a lot watching those guys.

 

[Duff]

I'm with FJRBluesman... show me the law that states it and I will believe it.

I took a keen interest in this when I moved out here. Not being from CA, I had heard about lane sharing and wanted to know what the rules were. In ALL the digging I have done, the rule is this: There are no SPECIFIC rules forbidding lane sharing, therefore, it is legal.

Like MadMike said, you have to use common sense. What is common sense? Well, that is up to the officer you pass who sees you lane sharing. I try to keep my speeds down below 15mph faster than traffic and normally only share below about 35 or so mph. This is MY IDEA of safe and I am willing to go in from of a judge and argue that. Others may disagree and think it is ok to do at higher speeds, but are they truly willing to stand in front of "The man" and answer to those standards.

That said, has anyone on here ever exceeded the speed limit? That is a HARD AND FAST RULE, no interpretation or "common sense" involved and yet, we have all broken that rule. How often and how much is a personal choice and that is why we have LEOs. They are our conscience and, sometimes, our corrective device. Without fear of reprisal, we would all do whatever the hell we wanted.

I will say it again: I LOVE the ability to lane share out here. I wish the entire country would allow it. Because of it, I think Californians are MORE aware of motorcyclists and 99.9% are courteous to us. I continue to drive for that .1%... the idiot savant who is doing everything behind the wheel except driving and the "deprived/depraved" individual that thinks motorcyclists have some sort of an unfair advantage that we should NOT have. We do, but he could have it too if he had the balls.

FWIW, I lane share with bags and sometimes the trunk. I do it empty and fully loaded on trips. I assume every car on the road has no idea I am there while I do it. That is what keeps me safe... at least in my mind. :dribble:

One final note: The most intense riding I have ever done (dirt or street) was sustained lane sharing for 5 minutes or more. Do it for 20 or 30 straight and you will know it when you are done. Most sharing comes in short spurts... just a few minutes here and there and then traffic moves again giving a break. I know some of the L.A. area guys can attest to tens of minutes or more of continuous lane sharing.

 

[AVGeek]

Great video, loved the song choice!

Love that 101 through Santa Barbara and along the coast. I ran that a lot when I used to oversee an office in Santa Barbara.

And I definitely miss lane sharing, one of the only things I miss about the PRC. My best sharing story was on a return from Palm Springs, I was riding the 60 westbound. At some points, it got to be that I was the only one moving; near the top of the hill coming out of Moreno Valley, there was a forklift that had come loose from the truck, overturned, and caused another vehicle to overturn. All but the #1 lane was blocked; the back up was at least an hour to an hour and a half. I bailed off once I was pass the accident and called my buddy who was also coming home that way and was able to warn him not to take the 60. He was able to get hme in time for his sons baseball practice.

 

[CHRIS_D]

Has anyone every seen it done in London? I'm telling you now those Riders really split lanes. They will even split the center lane down a two lane road. It's a different world over there when come to riding motorcycles.

 

[HYCLE]

FWIW, I lane share with bags and sometimes the trunk. I do it empty and fully loaded on trips. I assume every car on the road has no idea I am there while I do it. That is what keeps me safe... at least in my mind. :dribble:

Yesterday included lane sharing on Hwy 1 and 101 from Half Moon Bay and across the Golden Gate Bridge.

We were 2up with bags and trunk on, no problems with clearance.

I will agree, it can be very stressful maintaing 1/2 inch clearance on both sides. :dribble: :dribble:

 

[pawtracks]

Nice video jdog!

I miss CA :dribble:

But...have to side with Toecutter on this one

To quote Tim

"It's all about public perception. 'Splitting' is a negative word, whereas 'sharing' is positive.

As example: Would you rather share my pie or have your head split open? "

I'll take the Pie

 

[pawtracks]

Has anyone every seen it done in London? I'm telling you now those Riders really split lanes. They will even split the center lane down a two lane road. It's a different world over there when come to riding motorcycles.

Try Italy... I've witnessed plenty of Ducat-eye "split lanes" on a narrow windy "single lane" road at over 100 mph differential speed

They will pass between same direction and on coming traffic blind corner or not

I think that's plural for a Ducati