Riding on shoulder

[henwil]

Hi Folks,

There are several single lane (one in each direction) roads here in CA that get backed up quite a bit at times. My assumption was that it is illegal to slowly pass the cars on the shoulder, although I see many motorcyclist doing it. But then I also saw a CHP officer doing it. It it legal? If yes that would be very handy.

Thanks!

 

[Bounce]

Can't speak for CA but in TX do a search in the DOT code for "improved shoulder" and you'll see that:

1. Slow vehicles are encouraged to move to the improved shoulder to allow others around

2. You use the improved shoulder to go around someone waiting to make a left

3. You use the improved shoulder to go around traffic backed up in the main lane.

 

[t-wej]

A bunch of years ago I asked a motor cop about riding on the shoulder. He had 2 responses. 1- "Why would you do that?" 2- "There are a lot of things over there that can make your tires go flat."

In a different conversation with an officer, he said it wasn't legal to ride on the shoulder. "It's a shoulder, not a lane".

FWIW

 

[Roy Epperson]

I have seen CHP pull over cars and bikes use the shoulder.

 

[Tyler]

Not legal... but not to say that folks don't do it. Not me of course...

 

[SacramentoMike]

Hi Folks,
There are several single lane (one in each direction) roads here in CA that get backed up quite a bit at times. My assumption was that it is illegal to slowly pass the cars on the shoulder, although I see many motorcyclist doing it. But then I also saw a CHP officer doing it. It it legal? If yes that would be very handy.

Thanks!

Lots of things are legal for CHP officers--or any other officers--that you and I can't pull off. But with that said, when it's just one lane in your direction and traffic is stopped, I'd consider a little lane "sharing," as long as you are actually within the same lane as the vehicle you're sharing with. And of course you can always pass, if traffic allows, and the centerline is not a double one.

I really don't remember ever having done this (the sharing part), by the way, but in a real jam-up, and for just long enough to get by it, I probably would. At least here in Cali. I might not win, but I could probably make a pretty good argument that it fell under the same heading as normal lane splitting here. Anyway, sometimes you take a chance and hope for the best. Like the day a few of us got stuck on a hot day outside of Sparks with a big rig turnover a couple miles ahead. I finally just split lanes--very slowly and carefully--most of the way up to the bottleneck. Nobody else did, but they showed up at the hotel pretty soon after me anyway. They all rode the shoulder. :lol:

 

[Bill Lumberg]

I can't speak for other localities, but it's illegal here and every other place I've lived. Police can do lots of things in traffic normal drivers cannot. Normally, where I live, folks who presume their need to get to their destination is more important than the other drivers usually get ticketed by police or blocked by republican drivers. But it could be perfectly legal where you live.

Hi Folks,
There are several single lane (one in each direction) roads here in CA that get backed up quite a bit at times. My assumption was that it is illegal to slowly pass the cars on the shoulder, although I see many motorcyclist doing it. But then I also saw a CHP officer doing it. It it legal? If yes that would be very handy.

Thanks!

 

[Intech]

I was on rt 30 in PA a couple weeks ago (2 lane divided) when I noticed smoke up ahead. I was hoping it was on the other side. It wasn't. Car fire on the shoulder. Traffic was backed up and stopped for about a mile and it was hotter than Hades out there and no place to exit or turn around. I decided that if I was going to have to sit in the hot sun on that pavement I would be the first to move on once the road opened up. I took the shoulder all the way to the lead and pulled in front of the first car. I probably pissed a few people off, but they were sitting in their air conditioned cars. Tough. The road was awesome once it opened. Wonderfully void of traffic!

 

[timk]

When we lived in WVa my wife went to pass to the right when the car in front was turning left(signal on). Car ahead must have changed their mind,turned right into her. Accident still deemed wifes fault.

 

[NightShine]

"There are a lot of things over there that can make your tires go flat."

This is a worthy consideration not to be casually dismissed. Still...
We all endure that wonderful opportunity to learn patience, those "snail races" ahead of us as one trucker overtakes another on a two lane roadway. But on rare occasion they don't just overtake in the passing lane, rather they seem take up residence.

Eastbound I-10 just outside of San Antonio one clear day in February, and some clown in a big rig was doing just that. Or maybe he was just having an extended face-to-face conversation with his buddy in the rig he was (not) overtaking. And while this pair tootled along at almost 20 mph under, I was perhaps 10 or 12 cars back and could see highway traffic backed up for as far as I could see behind me. And as the big rig in the right lane slowed his speed slightly in an attempt to allow this fellow to more expeditiously pass, the clown would slow to match his speed!

After 15 minutes of this, the alternatives were endure in place, split-lanes (not the healthiest option by far, given this clown), or take the shoulder since it seemed clear enough of debris. What would you do?

 

[Intech]

"There are a lot of things over there that can make your tires go flat."

This is a worthy consideration not to be casually dismissed. Still...
We all endure that wonderful opportunity to learn patience, those "snail races" ahead of us as one trucker overtakes another on a two lane roadway. But on rare occasion they don't just overtake in the passing lane, rather they seem take up residence.

Eastbound I-10 just outside of San Antonio one clear day in February, and some clown in a big rig was doing just that. Or maybe he was just having an extended face-to-face conversation with his buddy in the rig he was (not) overtaking. And while this pair tootled along at almost 20 mph under, I was perhaps 10 or 12 cars back and could see highway traffic backed up for as far as I could see behind me. And as the big rig in the right lane slowed his speed slightly in an attempt to allow this fellow to more expeditiously pass, the clown would slow to match his speed!

After 15 minutes of this, the alternatives were endure in place, split-lanes (not the healthiest option by far, given this clown), or take the shoulder since it seemed clear enough of debris. What would you do?

I would take the shoulder being very wary of some pissed off cager without the balls to do it trying to block me.

 

[Spud]

In August I was with 2 other FJR riders in Victoria BC, there was a huge backup of traffic where we were trying to get out of town on a highway. A bike came by in the left hand improved shoulder. We weren't sure so sat there in stop and go for 30 more minutes. Then another bike came by, so off we went and followed him. To say we passed 1000 cars would probably not be an exaggeration (3 lanes gridlocked for several miles). I'm sure people were pissed, but being Canadian no one expressed it ha ha......

 

[gregory]

I have on rare occasions passed using the shoulder. Once was the Sparks trip that SacMike was talking about. Hotter than hell, and I managed to dive back into traffic unnoticed by the cops working the accident. And once on I-10 going up hill following two trucks that I knew were going to be side by side for an extended period of time going about 35mph. I knew in both instances, if I was caught, I was gonna get nailed with a huge ticket.

I was also worried about debris in the road. If you have ever ridden a bicycle on a major road or highway, you see all kinds of tire killers in that space.

And, as a final though, after watching lots of youtube video of mostly Russian riders getting mowed down for doing just that, I will only pass on the shoulder for a car turning left in front of me when I have a clear view and know that I will not get hit by someone changing their mind at the last moment.

 

[Burnspot]

It's the simple pleasures... When I lived in Los Angeles and drove big rigs professionally, traffic jams were the norm and you just dealt with them; I lived 20 miles east of downtown and it could take 2 hours to get home sometimes (I didn't have a bike for awhile). The shoulder was always tempting; however, it seemed like 70% of the time I saw some self-entitled jacka$$ move onto the shoulder to get ahead, a CHP officer wasn't far behind, lighting them up. I'd smile.

The CHP and other law enforcement types have the brass pass...its the ticket to ride. The reality is that in LA, the shoulder is often the only means to get emergency vehicles to the source of the problem, if there is one. That said, if my exit were less than a 1/4 mile ahead, I'd probably do it.

It's not legal here in NC except in specific situations, but that doesn't seem to deter many folks.

 

[Bounce]

While not as helpful in as many different situations as lane sharing, the "improved shoulder rule" in TX is a nice one to know. As noted, watch out for debris. Outside of metromesses you'll see nearly every driver use it as a courtesy (getting out of your way, going around a left turner, etc.). Moving to the improved shoulder to make a right is even common in highly-populated cities too, so there are a few citizens who know it an use it in this limited way too.

I'd love to see lane sharing passed here to enhance what we already have.

§545.058 - DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER

• (a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:(1) to stop, stand, or park;
• (2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled lane of traffic;
  (3) to decelerate before making a right turn;
  (4) to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the main traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing to make a left turn;
  (5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;
  (6) as permitted or required by an official traffic control device; or
  (7) to avoid a collision
  

 

[Burnspot]

While not as helpful in as many different situations as lane sharing, the "improved shoulder rule" in TX is a nice one to know. As noted, watch out for debris. Outside of metromesses you'll see nearly every driver use it as a courtesy (getting out of your way, going around a left turner, etc.). Moving to the improved shoulder to make a right is even common in highly-populated cities too, so there are a few citizens who know it an use it in this limited way too.
I'd love to see lane sharing passed here to enhance what we already have.

A few years back, I had to drive down to Austin from NC. The shoulder driving in TX was a surprise and actually quite nice...most of the roads were plenty wide to allow it.

 

[DeSudet]

During the summers in AZ, it's generally accepted for motorcycles to use the shoulder when traffic is at a dead stop. The logic being that an air-cooled bike (yes, they're still on the road these days) will overheat and seize if stopped in 110+ with no air moving across the engine. Pretty sure AZ has a similar 'improved shoulder' law as TX, making it a matter of interperetation. As long as you're careful and not a total dick about it, most folks don't mind. I actually did it last summer on the I-17 north with 20 miles of completely stopped traffic before the next exit. Pulled off there and had some incredible BBQ while we waited for the road to re-open. Yeah, I'm liquid cooled and my temps were fine, but that was going to be the argument I'd make if a LEO took exception to the move. Carefully navigating the shoulder at a reasonable pace of <25mph is safer than a seized motor in the middle of the freeway.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

I rode an air/oil cooled bike for years, up till a year ago, as my primary bike (still have an air cooled bike). While auxillary cooling fans were stock on the model I owned, the bike still sat right at overheat for many hours in traffic over the average summer. I, at times, pulled off and shut it down for a while, but never traveled outside the legal roadway on either shoulder. I did find with the air/oil cooled bike (and still find, to a lesser extent with a water cooled bike) that cooliing in slow or stop and go traffic is improved when the bike is not travelling in the slipstream of vehicles in front of you. Riding the fog line or lane line gives me and the bike a lot more air, as long as there is some kind of traffic movement.

 

[SacramentoMike]

. . . Eastbound I-10 just outside of San Antonio one clear day in February, and some clown in a big rig was doing just that. Or maybe he was just having an extended face-to-face conversation with his buddy in the rig he was (not) overtaking. And while this pair tootled along at almost 20 mph under, I was perhaps 10 or 12 cars back and could see highway traffic backed up for as far as I could see behind me. And as the big rig in the right lane slowed his speed slightly in an attempt to allow this fellow to more expeditiously pass, the clown would slow to match his speed!
After 15 minutes of this, the alternatives were endure in place, split-lanes (not the healthiest option by far, given this clown), or take the shoulder since it seemed clear enough of debris. What would you do?

I think I split lanes as eagerly and happily as any rider in California, and I've already admitted to (at least once) splitting illegally in Nevada in this thread, but I think in your example, Sam, and since you asked, I would just hang back until a safe pass presented itself. Sounds like even if you successfully worked your way right behind the two trucks, you'd still have to get by them, and splitting between a couple big rigs and trailers is one thing I never do. And at least you were moving, and not overheating.

So the benefit of getting past a dozen cars, all driven by crazed, pissed-off, impatient drivers, doesn't really justify the risk. Think it's a good chance to practice patience.

(edit On further reflection, and despite my zen-like approach to this situation, I can't guarantee that I wouldn't flip off at least the passing driver, when I finally did catch him.