Where lane sharing is legal

[OrangevaleFJR]

I just added this paragraph to the group ride briefing. This doesn't really apply where lane sharing is illegal, unless you just want to be safer. Yes, yes, I know it's so rare to find a faster rider than yourself.

It is possible that a rider that is not with the group is faster than the group. Please be courteous. In California (and some countries), where it is legal to share lanes, it takes less than a few seconds to pull to the right, slow a tad and wave the rider past. Please only do this where it is safe (NOT IN TURNS). Where crossing the double yellow is strictly policed, but lane sharing is legal, we should take the opportunity we have and extend courtesy to our riding brethren. You may want to flash your lights, or tap your horn to let people know that something is coming their way.

Any debate?

 

[VMax_03]

Debate what? Just use common sense and courtesy when in a group.

JW

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Debate what? Just use common sense and courtesy when in a group.JW

I find that common sense isn't that common.

 

[twowheelnut]

Debate what? Just use common sense and courtesy when in a group.JW

I find that common sense isn't that common.

Word. And a good addition to the group ride mantra... :good:

 

[Toecutter]

I find that common sense isn't that common.

 

[Grumpy]

I'm always amazed that a single motorcyclist can wobble from one side of the lane to the other and block the whole thing and get upset if you do pass them. Now a line of these guys is impossible.

jim

 

[VMax_03]

I'm always amazed that a single motorcyclist can wobble from one side of the lane to the other and block the whole thing and get upset if you do pass them. Now a line of these guys is impossible.jim

Did you mean to write/say bicyclist? If so, I agree ... they're a big pain in the ass around here. :angry:

JW

 

[madmike2]

I'm always amazed that a single motorcyclist can wobble from one side of the lane to the other and block the whole thing and get upset if you do pass them. Now a line of these guys is impossible.jim

Did you mean to write/say bicyclist? If so, I agree ... they're a big pain in the ass around here. :angry:

JW

Nope! I think he had it right the first time. Too many guys are "really fast" between corners. I'm trying to teach myself to adapt "touring mode" and not push those who haven't a clue about smooth throttle transitions and maintaining control through an entire corner.

Then...to speak of clusters of them...in our little mountains here on the Left Coast the cruiser of tourer crowd will purposely block a faster bike. I mean, see you in their mirror and crowd the line so you can't pass. BTDT.

Too bad patience is a learned virtue 'cuz sometimes I could use a big dose "gifted" to me.

 

[FJRottie]

purposely block a faster bike

They block the left(passing) lane when in their cage as well. They OWN the road dontchaknow.

 

[James Burleigh]

As a Californian, a daily commuter in a large metro area (SF Bay Area) for the past 3.5 years (rain, shine, or 20 degrees like it's gonna be tomorrow), and a practiced (and inveterate) lane-sharer, I will say that I NEVER split lanes next to another motorcycle. I don't out of courtesy and out of safety, because we bikes move more like humming birds and will suddenly dart in a different direction. I sure do. I'll decide to cruise with traffic for a minute and then suddenly decide "I outta here!" and blast over into the next lane. (Yes, of course I look, but those bikes come out of nowhere--don't they? :innocent: )

Few things piss me off more than when I'm riding in commute traffic at a fairly good clip, and out of nowhere comes a bike flying by me two feet away in my lane. :angry: When I ride aggressively in traffic, I only risk my own life, while only risking minimal damage to a car. But those ass-holes are risking MY life as well as theirs. Most of us will cut up to the opposite split-lane to pass a motorcyclist moving slower up the middle.

Also, I ALWAYS yield to faster bikes coming up behind me, for two reasons: (1) courtesy, (2) I don't like to have an aggressive rider right behind me because, if I choose to not immediately yield, it causes me to increase my speed and hence my comfort zone. So I let them go by so I can focus on my own ride. It's important, however, to judge when you're going to move out of the way. You don't want to be too precipitous, because you don't want to rear-end a car or get rear-ended when you suddenly dive into a gap in the center of a lane.

Only once have I had some hot-headed ass-hat on a bike tailgate me and start leaning on his horn so I'd get out of his way. I was going up between cars and did not see him or really hear him for awhile--because (a) when I'm lane-splitting I'm totally focused on what's going on ahead of me and (b ) I wear ear-plugs. I got over as soon as I could, shaking my head :nono: in a feeble attempt to let him know I thought he was a jerk.

Ironically, the closest I got to being clobbered by another bike was crossing the Bay Bridge one morning and suddenly a bike flies by me on my left about a foot away and going twice as fast as me and therefore three times as fast as the cars (please, no math corrections here). Turns out it was a CHP motor-cop. What scared me was that I was a nano-second away from humming-birding it over to the left lane, right in his path.

Jb

 

[evil_henchman]

I'll lane split with another motorcycle when the traffic's stopped. There's been many times I've ended up at the front of the line at a stop light with another bike. Always a friendly enouncounter, the friendly nod where we're both thinking "look at all the suckers behind us". As for lane splitting when commute traffic's going along at a good clip, that's just rude any way you look at it.

Interesting idea about the group ride courtesy though. There's been many times I've been stuck behind large group rides and had them be just as frustrating as RV's, made worse by the length of the group. Sadly, I've formed my opinion about big group rides based on those experiences. :huh:

 

[Penforhire]

In twisties I always wave faster bikes by, holding a right-side line as soon as I notice them. On highways I consider lane-sharing to pass another bike extremely rude. There are multiple lanes for a reason. use them.

 

[Last Chance]

As a Californian, a daily commuter in a large metro area (SF Bay Area) for the past 3.5 years (rain, shine, or 20 degrees like it's gonna be tomorrow), and a practiced (and inveterate) lane-sharer,
SNIP

Ironically, the closest I got to being clobbered by another bike was crossing the Bay Bridge one morning and suddenly a bike flies by me on my left about a foot away and going twice as fast as me and therefore three times as fast as the cars (please, no math corrections here). Turns out it was a CHP motor-cop. What scared me was that I was a nano-second away from humming-birding it over to the left lane, right in his path.

Jb

Hi Jim,

Was nice riding with you a couple weeks ago and you are a brave soul commuting in the SF Bay area.

Having driven a set of doubles over the Bay bridge 1,000s of times over the last 18 years. (I used to have a daily bid from Sacramento to San Francisco.) I can tell you that motorcycles blasting by me while I'm driving 80,000 lbs. of truck and trailers has, on many occasions, scared the H@#$ out of me. Not because I'm worried about getting hurt. Heck, I only feel safe while working in my truck. No, what scares me is that they blast by when I was unaware of their presence. I try to inventory all the traffic around me while working or driving any vehicle. This can be difficult in a truck as there are large blind spots. So, I'm in the habit of scanning my mirrors every 5-8 seconds keeping track of traffic. When a sport bike blasts by me, these are some of my concerns:

1. There are numerous pot holes which often cause my rig to "wander" suddenly a few inches one way or another. This could catch the MC and he (or I) would be unable to avoid "touching" When I touch someone in my truck it is a BIG deal.
2. CHP "recommends" lane splitting be done only between the number 1 and 2 lanes. Trucks are restricted to the right 2 lanes and this should serve to provide protection to the motorcycle rider by separating a wide, long, heavy vehicle from a small, light, vulnerable one.
3. I advise everyone I like (especially my wife) to stay as far away from big rigs as possible. 80,000 lbs vs 500 to 5000 lbs tells me the smaller guy doesn't have a chance. Besides, it takes a fully loaded truck much longer to stop than a car or motorcycle. My pet peeve in the Bay Area is that everyone is so eager to squeeze into that space cushion I try so hard to maintain.
4. CHP also recommends lane splitting should not be done at more than 10 mph faster than the flow of traffic. This is because the MC rider will have insufficient time to react to "things/sh#t" that happen. You know, people that change lanes without warning, or the occasional A$$ H@#$ that sees you and attempts to put the squeeze on you because he just doesn't like the fact you are moving forward faster then he/she is.

One of the benefits of riding in CA is that one can "lane split". I lane split often. It can also be perilous, especially between two big rigs. Lane sharing should be utilized as safely as possible.
Having observed lane splitting from both ends for 20 plus years , I can only say, "Be careful out there and use all the common sense you can." :dead: :blink: :drinks:

YMMV

LC

 

[James Burleigh]

Having observed lane splitting from both ends for 20 plus years , I can only say, "Be careful out there and use all the common sense you can." :dead: :blink: :drinks:
YMMV

LC

It was nice riding with you too. Thank you for the sage advice. I take all the advice and good wishes / karma I can.

I can tell you that trucks are the kryptonite to my super powers. I never lane split next to a semi. I was bit by a semi while it was STOPPED, in fact. I toodled on by it to get to the front of a red light, and suddenly...tug. Something on the side of the stopped semi grabbed my Harley leather saddlebag. I pulled over after the light and noted my bag was torn in half and the contents missing.

We lost a MC cop down here who was on his way home after his shift, lane-split next to a truck, and got run over. Also, a guy recently was killed on the Benicia bridge by a truck he was lane-splitting next to.

So when I see a truck, I just shut it on down and wait till I can get around safely. And I am frankly moderate in my speed relative to traffic compared with other riders. I believe in the Smith Rule of Driving, which says, "Leave yourself an out!"

See you at Napa?

Jb

 

[dcarver]

As a Californian, a daily commuter in a large metro area (SF Bay Area) for the past 3.5 years (rain, shine, or 20 degrees like it's gonna be tomorrow), and a practiced (and inveterate) lane-sharer,
SNIP

Ironically, the closest I got to being clobbered by another bike was crossing the Bay Bridge one morning and suddenly a bike flies by me on my left about a foot away and going twice as fast as me and therefore three times as fast as the cars (please, no math corrections here). Turns out it was a CHP motor-cop. What scared me was that I was a nano-second away from humming-birding it over to the left lane, right in his path.

Jb

Hi Jim,

Was nice riding with you a couple weeks ago and you are a brave soul commuting in the SF Bay area.

Having driven a set of doubles over the Bay bridge 1,000s of times over the last 18 years. (I used to have a daily bid from Sacramento to San Francisco.) I can tell you that motorcycles blasting by me while I'm driving 80,000 lbs. of truck and trailers has, on many occasions, scared the H@#$ out of me. Not because I'm worried about getting hurt. Heck, I only feel safe while working in my truck. No, what scares me is that they blast by when I was unaware of their presence. I try to inventory all the traffic around me while working or driving any vehicle. This can be difficult in a truck as there are large blind spots. So, I'm in the habit of scanning my mirrors every 5-8 seconds keeping track of traffic. When a sport bike blasts by me, these are some of my concerns:

1. There are numerous pot holes which often cause my rig to "wander" suddenly a few inches one way or another. This could catch the MC and he (or I) would be unable to avoid "touching" When I touch someone in my truck it is a BIG deal.
2. CHP "recommends" lane splitting be done only between the number 1 and 2 lanes. Trucks are restricted to the right 2 lanes and this should serve to provide protection to the motorcycle rider by separating a wide, long, heavy vehicle from a small, light, vulnerable one.
3. I advise everyone I like (especially my wife) to stay as far away from big rigs as possible. 80,000 lbs vs 500 to 5000 lbs tells me the smaller guy doesn't have a chance. Besides, it takes a fully loaded truck much longer to stop than a car or motorcycle. My pet peeve in the Bay Area is that everyone is so eager to squeeze into that space cushion I try so hard to maintain.
4. CHP also recommends lane splitting should not be done at more than 10 mph faster than the flow of traffic. This is because the MC rider will have insufficient time to react to "things/sh#t" that happen. You know, people that change lanes without warning, or the occasional A$$ H@#$ that sees you and attempts to put the squeeze on you because he just doesn't like the fact you are moving forward faster then he/she is.

One of the benefits of riding in CA is that one can "lane split". I lane split often. It can also be perilous, especially between two big rigs. Lane sharing should be utilized as safely as possible.
Having observed lane splitting from both ends for 20 plus years , I can only say, "Be careful out there and use all the common sense you can." :dead: :blink: :drinks:

YMMV

LC

Well said LC. Motorcyclists need remember the Lug Nut Rule. He with the most number of lug nuts, RULE.

 

[Last Chance]

Ah, a golden oldie, Smith System rule #5 "Leave yourself and out." And a new rule, The lug nut rule. Now that's funny. :lol: :blushing: :nhl_crach: ardon: I'll never forget the "perfectly" circular pattern I once left in a Ladies door when I made a lane change. Unfortunately, although I checked my mirrors several times and signaled my intention I just couldn't see that little Toyota sitting in my blind spot just off my right front fender. Fortunately, I always move slowly from lane to lane, giving me a chance to hear my mistake. The lady, although quite "shaken up" was very nice about it. Her husband drove truck and had warned her to never, never "hang out" in that particular blind spot of a semi. I told her I was extremely sorry and that her husband was absolutely correct!

Hope to make Napa, Jim and already have a room reserved for WFO-6. Think It'll warm up by February? These last few morning have been "brutal" for us CA types.

LC

 

[FlyingLow]

Here in Cali, where it's legal to ride in the car-pool lane, the unwritten rule is to pull over to the left to let Ricky Racer go by.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Here in Cali, where it's legal to ride in the car-pool lane, the unwritten rule is to pull over to the left to let Ricky Racer go by.

Yep, there are different practices for different situations when it comes to lane sharing. I'm not so much looking for a lane sharing discussion here as I am looking to promote common courtesy among riders. Typically, our group rides don't involve too many miles on the slab. We tend to venture to lesser travelled areas so all this discussion about commuting and lane sharing doesn't really fit that well into the kind of lane sharing I was thinking about for the group ride. I'm thinking of rural roads that often have double yellow lines even on the straights.

 

[madmike2]

Interesting idea about the group ride courtesy though. There's been many times I've been stuck behind large group rides and had them be just as frustrating as RV's, made worse by the length of the group. Sadly, I've formed my opinion about big group rides based on those experiences. :huh:

As a sidebar, that's why the last large group meeting for the Hwy 36 ride we split up into 2s and 3s. Way fun, no entanglements at corners or narrow roadways and bridges, no reports of a "near-incidents" AND everyone had fun!

New Years Day we only had 10 bikes or so and the traffic was extremely light (Imagine that!) so we rode as a group but kept 3 seconds spacing. It worked well as many didn't know the roads we were riding, so nobody got lost.