I'm not really sure where to post this. It's not really a tip.

Last night at around midnight, I was driving back to the East Bay from San Francisco. For those of you who haven't been there, the Bay Bridge is a constant annoyance and a general bureaucratic disaster. During the week and at night, they close part of the on-ramp to the bridge such that traffic is rerouted, through the city streets (including stop lights) to another temporary on-ramp further down the road. It's a pain to say the least.

Traffic was parked, like, cars turned off, on the ramp (delay was an hour to go 5 miles), but I was riding my bike and zipped through without much trouble. I was pretty nervous because I hadn't really done this before, but there weren't any troubles.

Until...

I went to bed that night and had a dream about some angry SUV driver who was pissed that I was "cutting in line" or something. I was cruising along, splitting lanes, when he just guns it and cuts me off and I woke up like a shot and basically jumped out of bed. That shit was scary, and it was only a dream. I consider that my first accident.

How do you guys feel about splitting lanes? I rode by a guy on his bike, and he was just patiently waiting in traffic. I thought that was odd.

I wish we could split in stopped traffic like you describe here in Texas. It would save time and maybe be safer.

Certainly illegal here in Ohio, but it would be sweet. Scary, though. It would take a lot of getting used to and really sharp reaction time. Even if I could do it without getting a ticket, it would be a while before I seriously considered trying it though.

I don't know how long it would take me to feel comfortable splitting lanes like they do in LA. It was unnerving being in the car when someone on a bike zooms by.

I don't think I'd be zooming by cars just because I try to be courteous (unless you're blocking the passing lane, which can turn me into the Hulk in about 2 seconds), but there have been several situations in Baton Rouge that made me wish I could do it, and was tempted to try. You're just looking down between the two lanes at a space you could almost fit two bikes between while you're sitting in traffic roasting on a hot summer day...

Wow, I was actually unaware that it was illegal in other states.

Wow, I was actually unaware that it was illegal in other states.
Yep, legal only in CA.

Only in CA?! I'm really glad I live here I guess. Until my nightmare actually comes true, and then I'll wish I hadn't split lanes.

Only legal in CA? Really? Wow, I thought there were at least a handful of states that let riders do it. That REALLY sux. Well, I've been doing it comfortably now for about 7 or 8 months, and uncomfortable for several months before then. It's scary at times, but I can't help it. Being stuck in traffic when I am allowed to skip past it makes me keep going. I do, for the most part, obey the 10 to 15 mph limit to how much faster we can go when splitting lanes than the vehicles around us. I do that more for my own sanity than out of fear of a ticket.

I also don't ride in cars' blind spots, usually stay in a lower gear than necessary for added torque and noise, and don't pass a whole car if there is an open space just in front of it in the other lane - as sure as you try to pass, that fool will speed up and try to change lanes, cutting you off. But for the most part, I normally reserve doing it when traffic is moving 30mph or slower. Anything over that and I feel I can just cruise with the traffic for the most part. Of course there are those time when there is about a car width of space in between to cars side by side and you shoot between them at like 80+ to pass them. But that's not the norm. At least not my norm. I still have this pesky love for staying alive that keeps me from doing it too often.

Anyway, all that to say. If you feel comfortable doing it, do it. If you don't, don't. but once you start, you'll find it hard not to do. And if you're riding with a few people who are doing it and you're not feeling it - let em go. They'll wait up for you somewhere ahead. And even if they don't, you're still enjoying your ride.

of course, in order to get a ticket for it, a cop has to catch you. in order to get caught, the cop has to have a bit of room to manoeuvre. if the cop had a bit of room to manoeuvre, well, you wouldn't be splitting lanes, now would you?

it's pretty standard operating procedure around nyc. just a little bit hairy sometimes because the lanes *aren't* all that huge, especially on roads like the brooklyn-queens 'express' way.

the concentration it requires will wear you out the first few times. after that it's fun. djamalt gives good advice. following the ca law makes me feel pretty safe, but at least around here, most bikers use a *much* larger speed differential than 10-15 mph--more like 30-35mph. i check my mirrors every so often so that i can move over and let other people by. i think the ca law also specifies going between the two left-hand lanes, which i also stick to.

some people will take it personally, and try to block you off (this can be moderately amusing if you realize how small of a space you need--on the 599 your handlebars are the widest bit, so it's easy to gauge). i've also had people in the midst of the nastiest rush hours tell me nicely, 'be safe!'

finally, remember that california is a rule in a country of exceptions. that is, filtering is standard pretty much everywhere except the us. filtering is safer than sitting in traffic and waiting to get rear-ended (at least according to dr. hurt's old study), but u.s. automobile culture is more macho about 'protecting one's personal space' and 'not letting that guy get in front of me' than most places.

you pays your money, you takes your pick.

cheers.
.cyb
________
EXPERT INSURANCE (http://xpertinsurance.com/)

of course, in order to get a ticket for it, a cop has to catch you...
Interesting philosophy... :wink:

Here in Orlando, people jump lanes so much I'll only do it with stopped traffic... praying that if an officer does see me, none of his buddies are up ahead... :lol:

of course, in order to get a ticket for it, a cop has to catch you. in order to get caught, the cop has to have a bit of room to manoeuvre. if the cop had a bit of room to manoeuvre, well, you wouldn't be splitting lanes, now would you?
BRILLIANT!!! I love it. I lived in the NYC area for almost 4 years (Jersey City, Queens and Brooklyn), I always wondered what it'd be like to ride out there. I imagine cruising to the end of LI or going upstate would be nice, and the Verrazano at nigh on a bike would be the shit (I LOVE THAT BRIDGE). But I can't imagine doing the city on two. I knew lots of people who did it, but still.. DAYUM!!! My hat is off to you :thumbsup

I wish we could split in stopped traffic like you describe here in Texas. It would save time and maybe be safer.

i just moved from texas about a year ago and texas senate PASSED a bill that made lane splitting legal!
unfortunately here in washington state it is not...at least that what the moto-cop told me when he pulled me over for it....should have seen the look on his face!

of course, in order to get a ticket for it, a cop has to catch you. in order to get caught, the cop has to have a bit of room to manoeuvre.
Not necessarily. At least according to a guy I work with. He tried it here in Ohio a few years back on I-75 when it was gridlocked and got nabbed. He still has no idea how he got followed by a cop on an interstate that was a parking lot at the time. Maybe the cop radio'd ahead or something. Either way, he got a ticket. Cop told him he could have technically brought him in, but just gave him a ticket because he "understood" and the speed was reasonable.

But that's just one story amongst many, I'm sure.

Splitting is a daily reality for me here in the South Bay area, and I can't imagine how bad it would suck if I couldn't split legally. It was scary at first. REALLY scary. Then you get used to it.. I see guys splitting with one hand on their leg :wtf - I'm not quiet that crazy. But I do it for the same reasons djamalt mentioned, and I do it at reasonable speeds - 10-15 over the speed everyone else is moving.

Every time I go to NY and I drive down Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, I wonder how on earth one is supposed to split on these narrow ass roads with no shoulders. I take my hat off to the riders in NY. Brave souls.

As far as I know, there's no lane splitting allowed here in CT.
The only time I split is on the highway when traffic is stopped from an accident. Usually I'll just scoot down the shoulder.
It amazes me how pissed off all the cagers get when I pass them. They yell and honk their horns. Many will watch to see me coming in their mirrors and pull out at the last second and try to cut me off, or try to block me. My response is to look back, smile, and give a BIG happy wave as I merrily continue on my way. Man, that really pisses them off!! :ride

I wish we could split in stopped traffic like you describe here in Texas. It would save time and maybe be safer.

i just moved from texas about a year ago and texas senate PASSED a bill that made lane splitting legal!
unfortunately here in washington state it is not...at least that what the moto-cop told me when he pulled me over for it....should have seen the look on his face!
I read about a a bill that was killed in committee. I didn't see anything about a bill being passed. Everything I have read says that the bill did NOT pass.

splitting lanes is the only reason I own a street bike, if I couldn't do it I would not want to ride street

LANE SPLITTERS MAKE BETTER LOVERS

Lane splitting is much like picking up woman. Take it slow and easy. It requires a lot of confidence and competence. It gets your blood pumping. You deal with rejection and some try to cut you off but in the end you get through it and find yourself where you want to be. Life is a wonderful thing.

LANE SPLITTERS MAKE BETTER LOVERS

Lane splitting is much like picking up woman. Take it slow and easy. It requires a lot of confidence and competence. It gets your blood pumping. You deal with rejection and some try to cut you off but in the end you get through it and find yourself where you want to be. Life is a wonderful thing.

Great analogy!

So what's your secret to get her to let you "repack her tailpipe"? :lol:

I began riding in Israel which has similar traffic laws to the UK, and the motorcyclist's lane was between lanes. all the cagers respected that bikers passed them and i never encountered anyone there who had a problem with filtering. Here, in Maryland I'm constantly filtering and people get super pissed i had a pickup truck pass me on the left shoulder after i passed him, it took me about 5 seconds to pass him while waving at him stopped in traffic. :D I find that the 599 is incredibly menuverable, ulmost made for filtering! :D

i live in the north bay and split lane every where I go stoplights highways everywhere I have only had one hairy time coming home from san francisco going up 101 and a old man tried to swing his door open on me. but I saw him one car lenght back and he just keep his door open till I swung wide around him slowed down to give him the finger than keep going on my merry way.Im still a little pissed about that and it was a year ago. But it is not going to make me stop splitting lanes it is legal. :lol:

i live in the north bay and split lane every where I go stoplights highways everywhere I have only had one hairy time coming home from san francisco going up 101 and a old man tried to swing his door open on me. but I saw him one car lenght back and he just keep his door open till I swung wide around him slowed down to give him the finger than keep going on my merry way.Im still a little pissed about that and it was a year ago. But it is not going to make me stop splitting lanes it is legal. :lol:

Holy crap! That's unreal! I can't believe that actually happens.

Opening the door on a rider is nothing short of an aggravated assault and people shouldn't be getting away with it. If it were to happen to me, and I actually drop the bike, I will get witnesses, his license plate, and call the cops and have the idiot arrested for aggravated assault.

I'd love to try lane splitting if I had the chance. But hey, can't complain too much, there's no traffic out here. 8)

Be careful splitting lanes in CA as the law is extremely vague
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html]http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html


Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?

Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.

Its so vague that if the officer thinks you were doing it in an "Unsafe" or "imprudent" manner you could get a ticket.

I would kill to be able to split lanes. Too many times do I get stuck behind slow cars.

I haven't tried splittling lanes on the freeway since I only have a five minute commute. But, in town, I do split to get to the front of the line. It's nice to avoid being hit from behind by a distracted cager, but being first off the line does increase the risk of being hit by a red light runner. I always look both ways before launching.