lane-splitting outside of CA

[ajgs500]

Ok I will try...... it is illegal there so they can ticket you for it.... depending what mood the cop is in who knows what kind of fines he may give to you if you get caught but this is what I would be really concerned about..... sinse most people on bikes dont do it there the cagers probably wont even be expecting it so they wont know the maybe look for it thus probably causing you more of a chance to get in an accident or someone to rage more.  Riding on the shoulder/breakdown lane is stupid because of all of the debris that is in those lanes.  But if you dont mind $$$ in fines and a possible if not probable accident go for it!!!!

[RVertigo]

So I was just wondering if Mak only argues with people from Seattle???

Envy?  I dunno...  I figure it has a lot to do with the fact that he has no control over his own life and always has to be right, even when he's totally wrong.

[roguegeek]

Agree with AJ. In the other states where it's just not legal, I'd be more worried about how other vehicles would react to me lane splitting when they aren't use to seeing it than the ticket I may or may not get from doing it. Here in Cali where it is perfectly legal, other vehicles give me room when they see me split. They're just use to motorcycles splitting lanes and are, for the most part, courteous to us motorcyclists.

Not sure where mak gets his info from (), but considering he's in Texas and doesn't ride in California regularly (or not at all even?), I wouldn't consider him a great or even remotely reliable source for California highway laws.

[pandy]

I think Cali is the *only* state where it's legal to laneshare, and even a lot of folks here don't know it's legal. I've been lucky so far that I've not met too many wackos out to kill an evil biker lanesharing. I've heard stories of the CHP moto cops actually LEADING bikers in a safe (fast) split, but I've yet to experience this myself... 

I'm looking for an article that was written for a small (I believe independent) newspaper in northern California by a bay area LEO. It does a great job of informing the general public about lanesharing (aka lane splitting, but sharing is the preferred term). It wasn't on the newspaper site anymore (but for $2.99, it could be all mine!! bwahahaha...I'm too cheap)....so someone who knows someone who works at said newspaper is trying to get a copy of it. I sent a copy of the article to my best friend, and even SHE didn't know that lanesharing was legal in California!

I actually e-mailed a note of appreciation to the officer for the great community service he did by writing the article (and he even responded..what a guy!!).

[scratch]

Was it a copy of Friction Zone?

[pandy]

I don't think so. It was a fairly brief article written by Officer Harvey for BayAreaInsider... I'm still trying to get a copy of it...

[pizzleboy]

The concept is "burden of proof."  The burden of proof is on the person claiming the existence of something, whether it be god, ghosts, or a law prohibiting lane splitting.  Lane splitting, when done reasonably and safely (and therefore not meeting the threshold of reckless driving), is AFAIK not prohibited by California law.  If you know of a law prohibiting such, which flies in the face of all evidence to the contrary, then you must show it to be taken seriously. 

The "proof" has been provided by the very people trying to convince us that it's legal.  All they've done is simply point out that the state of California makes no provisions for or against lane-splitting...which means that it's 100% up the witnessing officer's judgement as to whether it was an appropriate act or not.  You could pass between cars, travelling 10mph under the speed limit, 5ft of room on either side and an officer could still ticket you for wreckless driving and the charge would stand.

Based on what you said here, the officer might charge them with reckless / careless or something.  not with "lane splitting".

[arcsecond]

What's that old saying? "No matter where you are or what you're doing there is some ordinance under which you can be charged" Reading a lot of these vague laws, it sounds to me that most of them are just there to give the LEO grounds to stand on when he decides to ticket or arrest someone doing something he doesn't like.

-James

[RVertigo]

Arrest and/or ticket doesn't determine guilt and/or law breaking either.  Cops arrest and ticket people when they think they should, then a judge decides if they were right.

But, in this case pizzleboy is right...  They might be able to change you with reckless or speeding, but they can't charge you for lane sharing, since it's not illegal in CA...  But, in WA it is illegal and you will be changed with it.

[pizzleboy]

But, in this case pizzleboy is right... 

Does that mean I'm not right the rest of the time???  Who cares.  I LOVE BEING RIGHT!! 

ps:  someone tell my X

[RVertigo]

But, in this case pizzleboy is right... 

Does that mean I'm not right the rest of the time???  Who cares.  I LOVE BEING RIGHT!! 
ps:  someone tell my X

I was just pointing out what "Being Right" looks like... Since some people find it hard to tell the difference between being right and being wrong.   

[pandy]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 22, 2006
Section: Argus
Article ID: 3534373

Motorcycle insight

IN THE BAY AREA, we as drivers have become accustomed to driving in traffic. Everywhere we go, no matter what, our everyday activities revolve around
traffic congestion. Nowadays, you just can't jump in the car and go from point A to point B without some planning.

Most California drivers always are in a big hurry, and they will "mow you down" if you don't get out of their way.

A number of families have two cars, and they leave the nice expensive one at home in the garage. Why? Because they have a commute car — you know,
the one that they can "beat to death." The one that they can swing the door open and dent your car. The car they can drive on the shoulder of the road and pass another car. The one they can open the driver's door on a motorcyclist splitting lanes.

Lane-splitting by motorcyclists? Most drivers can't stand this. Are car-bound drivers jealous? Are these motorcyclists "punk kids" on a motor vehicle that is too powerful for them?

Before you judge a motorcyclist, you should know the law and not jump to conclusions.

California is one of the few states that allow motorcyclists to split lanes. Yes, it is legal!

I own two motorcycles and drive one here at work.

Lane-splitting is permissible as long as it is done in a safe and prudent manner. The definition is broad, and it's up to the officer's judgment if he or she observes a violation in their presence.

Everyone recognizes that lane-splitting is a way for motorcyclists to save time or to get through traffic quicker — which is why car-bound drivers resent it.

In the defense of motorcyclists, lane-splitting also reduces congestion and helps everyone get to their destination sooner. If a majority of the
drivers on California roads drove motorcycles, there would hardly be any traffic. In addition, air pollution would be cut in half, if not more.

I was reluctant to split lanes myself.

Driving a motorcycle is difficult because you constantly have to be aware of your surroundings, and you are committed to be a defensive driver.

Most car-bound drivers are rude and do not understand the law. They think we are violating the law when we split lanes.

But do they realize that when they merge into a motorcyclist or block their path that they could get the ticket and not the motorcyclist?

I mentioned before that lane-splitting must be done in a safe and prudent manner. This means it should be done with caution and with due regard
for other traffic on the road.

Usually, lane-splitting is done at slower speeds during heavy commute traffic. When motorcyclists split lanes at higher speeds, this becomes unsafe and they can be violating several traffic laws, such as unsafe lane changes, failure to signal and yield of right of way.

The dangers involved in lane-splitting are the close proximity of other vehicles, the limited space for maneuvering and the fact that few
drivers anticipate your presence.

I have had a few close calls myself, and I have witnessed a number of accidents.

It is a fact that most drivers don't see motorcyclists. Motorcycles are quick, and they often are in the blind spots of car-bound drivers.

Whether you drive a motorcycle or a car, be careful, be defensive, drive safely and prudently, and know the law before you take action.

Share the road. Motor vehicles are not the only ones using the roads — pedestrians, bicyclists, truckers and other motor vehicles are on the
roads, too.

Officer Dan Harvey is a traffic officer with the city of Fremont. His column appears every Wednesday. If you have questions you want answered, you can
e-mail him at dharvey@ci.fremont.ca.us.

(c) 2006 The Oakland Tribune. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.