traffic rules in your country??

[easyman05]

Is a lane splitiing allowed in your country for motorcyclists?

I mean riding between the lanes in the same direction?

And when there is a traffic jamming?

thanks a lot in advance.

 

[Howardrg]

In South Africa it is legal

Howard

 

[Ignacio]

You don't say where you're from or what country you are referring to.

If you're asking about the United States, then laws vary from state to state and the only state the allows lane splitting I'm aware of is California.

 

[slapnpop]

California is currently the ONLY U.S. state in which lane splitting is legal.

For a complete list of motorcycle laws state by state, visit the American Motorcycle Association's Website.

 

[teerex51]

In Italy it is "Italegal", i.e. a gray area.

Not expressly forbidden, therefore allowed. Truth be told, it's one of the main reasons for the booming sales of MC's in this country.

The other reason for that is a fellow by the name of Valentino...

Stef

 

[FJRottie]

The only place in North America where it is legal is California.

In Canada, they legal statement sounds like this,

- "a vehicle shall be driven as nearly as may be practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety."

-"not follow more closely than is reasonable and prudent for having due regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic on and the conditions of the highway."

etc, etc.

In Toronto, the traffic hellhole of the nation, it has been done, but not a lot.

When traffic was stopped dead, bikers have gone to the side and travelled on the shoulder and between the odd car. Even cops didn't care. Why not !

So, in Canada, doing it just because, no. In most places there isn't a need anyway. Traffic moves nicely.

I suspect it is tolerated in California because traffic there is very, very dense.

In Europe, lane splitting is not only legal, it's expected, and car drivers are usually very aware that motorcycles will be coming between lanes.

A few places in Europe it is a gray area, as teerex mentioned.

I have driven/ridden in many place in Europe and the UK and it is normal.

I find European drivers better than North American anyway.

 

[eurofjr]

My understanding of the CA law is that "lane-splitting" per se, is not legal. What allows motorcycles to share lanes with cars is a law stating that a bike and car may share a lane as long as it is safe. Although this may seem like semantics, in the event of determining liability (in case of accident), it would most likely place the onus on the rider to prove that sharing the lane was safe. Otherwise, the effect of the law is the same as lane-splitting.

That's my two cents worth.

jim.

 

[twowheelnut]

California is currently the ONLY U.S. state in which lane splitting is legal.
For a complete list of motorcycle laws state by state, visit the American Motorcycle Association's Website.

Erm...

It is not 'legal' to 'split' lanes in California. It is, however, not illegal to share lanes in California. There is NO written provision (read; statute, law, etc) that provides for lane sharing. There is a brief reference to lane sharing (the term 'splitting' is never referenced in the, uh, guideline.) in the driver's/rider's handbook and that's about it. In fact, whether you have or have not committed a moving violation is completely left to the discretion of the attendant Johnny Law...

-Judge Whopner

 

[painman]

I heard on the radio Monday, the legislature in Texas had agreed to endorse the sharing of lanes with motorcycles and it had passed. Ride on Texas! Painman. <><

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

California is currently the ONLY U.S. state in which lane splitting is legal.
For a complete list of motorcycle laws state by state, visit the American Motorcycle Association's Website.

Erm...

It is not 'legal' to 'split' lanes in California. It is, however, not illegal to share lanes in California. There is NO written provision (read; statute, law, etc) that provides for lane sharing. There is a brief reference to lane sharing (the term 'splitting' is never referenced in the, uh, guideline.) in the driver's/rider's handbook and that's about it. In fact, whether you have or have not committed a moving violation is completely left to the discretion of the attendant Johnny Law...

-Judge Whopner

Yup, and the cops share lanes, and I've shared lanes right in front, behind and beside cops are they always just give me a nod and a smile. They know my bike is faster.

 

[3dogs]

I used to follow the CHP in CA down the 405 Fwy on my way to work. They only give tickets for splitting way too fast (you're going 60 and the traffic is moving at 20 etc.).

Lane splitting along with speeding, running stop lights is legal in Russia! Quite a riding experience in downtown Moscow.

 

[rogdeb]

I think if you "share" a lane at a speed more than 10mph faster than slow moving traffic -- that could be a no-no.

 

[jaybird]

I understand it is permissable in Slovinia, but only when the temperature is above 55 degre :bigeyes: es. Go figure.....

 

[tripletango]

My understanding of the CA law is that "lane-splitting" per se, is not legal. What allows motorcycles to share lanes with cars is a law stating that a bike and car may share a lane as long as it is safe. Although this may seem like semantics, in the event of determining liability (in case of accident), it would most likely place the onus on the rider to prove that sharing the lane was safe. Otherwise, the effect of the law is the same as lane-splitting.
That's my two cents worth.

jim.

It was originally set up to allow motorcycles to keep moving as they overheated when stationary. This evidentially reflected problems with Harley Davidsons!

 

[tripletango]

I heard on the radio Monday, the legislature in Texas had agreed to endorse the sharing of lanes with motorcycles and it had passed. Ride on Texas! Painman. <><

Heard that too. It will take a hell of a long time to train the cagers though! Watch out for some pissed off ******** cutting you off and even opening doors on you. Some TX drivers do not like to be overtaken at the best of times.

I used to eek along on my Speed Four and got shouted at alot by the great unwashed when they were in park on the 635!

 

[FiveOon05]

Negative Will Robinson- lane splitting in TEXAS is not permitted by law. There is no provision for said lane splitting/sharing in the traffic code. Yes some in the Legislature were looking at it as an attachment on a bill but NO it did not pass. This concludes our portion of the program...

Fiveoon05

 

[roiscuba]

Call me the odd man out but even if it is legal, semi legal, "allowed" ,etc there is no way in hell I'll lane share/split/dominate, etc.

I have a hard enough time with cagers watching out for me, let alone be in a spot where they are not expecting me to be. Plus the ******** who will "retaliate" against lane splitters with things like throwing the door open.

Essentially when I ride, I ride just like I'm in my truck. The only time I'll break this rule is to drive on the shoulder if an intersection is within a few seconds away and traffic is backed up. Otherwise, I drive with the mindset that I'm also a cage.

To me, the supposed "benefits" just aren't worth the few seconds it will supposedly save me and the risks.

Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong. YMMV, etc.

 

[tripletango]

Negative Will Robinson- lane splitting in TEXAS is not permitted by law. There is no provision for said lane splitting/sharing in the traffic code. Yes some in the Legislature were looking at it as an attachment on a bill but NO it did not pass. This concludes our portion of the program...
Fiveoon05

Like I said cagers don't like to be passed even if it makes total sense. If I have to wait then that guy on the bike has to wait too.

Brainless BS but at least TX is trying.

 

[twowheelnut]

Negative Will Robinson-  lane splitting in TEXAS is not permitted by law.  There is no provision for said lane splitting/sharing in the traffic code.  Yes some in the Legislature were looking at it as an attachment on a bill but NO it did not pass.  This concludes our portion of the program...
Fiveoon05

Like I said cagers don't like to be passed even if it makes total sense. If I have to wait then that guy on the bike has to wait too.

Brainless BS but at least TX is trying.

Not true. Cagers, for the most part, are pretty cool about it here in Cali. Heck, a lot of them even slide over a bit to let you through! I make sure I always acknowledge their gesture with a wave or nod.

It is not often that I'll get blocked, flipped off or otherwise 'raged' at. Well, there was that one chick last week who deemed my speed of 85 mph was holding her up so she decided to pass me by sharing my lane... :blink: