Question about lane-splitting

stangbaby67 · July 17, 2006, 01:13:18 PM

I was just wondering how long most of you were riding before you started lane-splitting, especially on the freeways (it's legal here in CA). I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but had a friend following me in a cage, so splitting wasn't even an option. But even if it were, I don't know how comfortable I am with that yet.

So I'm curious.. How long/how many miles had you ridden before you started? And were there any tips or tricks for it?

Cal Price · July 17, 2006, 01:23:06 PM

This is the classic no right, no wrong answer. Every case is truely different. Most of us seem to start either creeping up to those red lights or in slow jams. In UK it is not specifically illegal but if something went wrong it would probably be used as evidence of "Without due care and attention" Doing it in a freeway/motorway/autobahn situation requires very great care indeed.

Unnamed · July 17, 2006, 02:01:47 PM

When I was in London I swear that the biggest reason for owning a bike was to be able to get to the front of any line at stoplights.

RVertigo · July 17, 2006, 02:34:37 PM

It's totally illegal here... So, I waited at least 4 months before I even thought of trying it...

I only do it when traffic is DEAD STOPPED and usually only on back streets (and sometimes sidewalks). People HATE it here. They FREAK OUT if you pass them while they're sitting, parked on the roadway... In their air-conditioned/heated car.

The best advice is to start small, slow, and safe... DON'T push youself when lane-splitting. Even in CA, where it's legal, if you screw up and wreck, it's YOUR fault, even if it's someone else's fault. ,

12thmonkey · July 17, 2006, 02:41:07 PM

Yeah, i agree. Start at stop lights. Creep up to the front of the line. It will help you get used to where your mirrors and bars are in relation to the cages around you. Make sure you are ultra-attentive to what's going on ahead of you and alongside you. Someone even starting to change lanes could be very bad. i waited a couple months before i started spliting on the freeway. Was going to wait longer...but i had a few days where i had to commute from Anaheim to Malibu.

It took an hour and a half...and at least half of that was splitting lanes. It was super scary at first...but got me used to it pretty quick.

Don't start if you're not really comfortable just riding. And whenever you start, be super careful. It about quadruples the possibilities for mishaps.

Yankee Punker · July 17, 2006, 03:01:19 PM

There's to many damned stupid tourist here in Panama City Bch for me to even consider moves like that.

I've seen them do some pretty retarded things that makes me question even being on a bike around here.

TragicImage · July 17, 2006, 03:30:33 PM

uhm...

Week #2.

there's been plenty of things written about it.

I suggest you swing by http://www.socalsportbikes.info/xmb/index.php there are plenty of people there to give you advice about it, as its geared more specifically to the laws and environment of california.

pantablo · July 17, 2006, 05:22:26 PM

Quote from: stangbaby67 on July 17, 2006, 01:13:18 PM
So I'm curious.. How long/how many miles had you ridden before you started? And were there any tips or tricks for it?

I had been riding a month. dont know how many miles bit it had to be under 1000. First time on the freeway too, then got caught in traffic on the 405 around LAX...didnt even think twice-went straight to the line. stressful as hell the first time. My shoulders got really tight. even now they get tight if I dont consciously relax them. I dont like to split lanes if I dont have to. I try to avoid the freeway when I can.

stangbaby67 · July 17, 2006, 05:49:18 PM

Thanks for the input guys. This wasn't so much a "when should I" question as a "when did you" type question. I was talking to my neighbor last night, and he's been riding for a year. In the scant month I've had my bike, I've tried more stuff than he has, even though he's definitely the more experienced rider. I'm on the adventurous side, willing to push myself. I just dunno if I'm ready to push myself in between lanes of traffic. I was already on the freeway the first weekend I had the bike..

I'm wondering if maybe I'm pushing too hard too fast, or if other riders were ready to just go out and do stuff like that.

Queso · July 18, 2006, 08:12:56 PM

About 200 miles, around a week when I first lane split. I was kind of unsure when it was "appropriate" to lane split besides stopped freeway traffic. I was on Beach Blvd, and I saw this biker pass me and split the lanes up to lights, so I just followed him to get the hang of it. Bumped a couple mirrors the first few days. A couple days later I got some good experience in a traffic jam. Now I lane split all the time, commuting is not only significantly more fun, now it's a heck of a lot faster! I'm relaxed when lane splitting, but extremely attentive. Only took off one mirror

... so far

stangbaby67 · July 18, 2006, 08:59:17 PM

Quote from: Queso on July 18, 2006, 08:12:56 PM
About 200 miles, around a week when I first lane split. I was kind of unsure when it was "appropriate" to lane split besides stopped freeway traffic. I was on Beach Blvd, and I saw this biker pass me and split the lanes up to lights, so I just followed him to get the hang of it. Bumped a couple mirrors the first few days. A couple days later I got some good experience in a traffic jam. Now I lane split all the time, commuting is not only significantly more fun, now it's a heck of a lot faster! I'm relaxed when lane splitting, but extremely attentive. Only took off one mirror ... so far

Yeah, that's when I was really tempted to try. There were two or three strings of bikes splitting lanes in bumper-to-bumper on the 101 near La Conchita, and I figured it would be easiest just to follow them, since the cars would be aware of the bikes by the time I got through (hopefully). I'm thinking I'll just try sneaking to the front of the line next time there's a red light that I'm not already first for, so long as there's room. We've got some lane hoggers around here. Oh, and no buses. I always end up near the buses. Stupid public transportation.

Hopefully you took the mirror off something that deserved to lose it?

Queso · July 20, 2006, 06:51:08 AM

I followed someone to get a feel for how much space is needed, because spaces always looked to small to me at first.

See this post about the mirror

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=27880.0

Mk1inCali · July 20, 2006, 09:42:02 AM

I was introduced to lane-splitting the first time I rode my bike down to LA, I came down over the grapevine on 5, then went 210E. As I was headed out to Chino on the 210, I was in the carpool lane, doing 86, and a guy on a green Kawi split in-between myself on the YZF600R, and a Suburban that was doing it's best to push me off the road without going completely into the pool lane. He must have been doing 100+ to pass me that fast.

So, I downshifted, and followed him for a bit, seeing how different his idea of safe and sane was from mine. Turns out it was very different, and he just dropped me like buttered toast.

Anyway, to answer the original question, I have been riding motorcycles/dirtbikes since age 8, so when I moved to Cali and had the opportunity to start splitting, I went right for it. Felt like the insane rush at the first corner at my motocross races for a while, but now I'm comfortable splitting and know where my bars/mirrors are. Haven't smacked a mirror for a few months, and I've had to commute from San Diego to Bev Hills 10 times in that time-span, so I don't think it's really an acceptable thing. You didn't ask for opinions on that though, so I'll leave it at that.

knowlsey · July 20, 2006, 10:04:49 AM

they call it filtering here in the UK, i started doing it on my lessons, due to the fact I knew the instructor and he never give a sh*t

brett · July 20, 2006, 10:52:25 AM

I'm not sure the exact mileage, but it was under 500 and within a few weeks of getting my bike. Like everyone said, practice by going to the front of the line at stoplights. When you are doing this, don't be afraid to put your feet down. I clipped a guys mirror with my handlebars because I was trying to keep my feet off the ground at a very slow speed. Also, I wouldn't try to keep up with other bikes you see splitting. There are some folks who have been splitting for a long time in socal, and frankly some of them scare the crap out of me with how fast they split. Go at whatever speed you feel comfortable with, but also make sure to check your mirrors from time to time. Just like in a cage, you should pull over and let faster splitters pass you.

scratch · July 20, 2006, 12:42:34 PM

After about one month.

Or, not: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20195.0
Memory's fuzzy.

stangbaby67 · July 20, 2006, 06:41:35 PM

That last thread you posted was really helpful, Scratch. Thanks.
I'm definitely not comfortable enough to try splitting, but will try creeping up at red lights next time the chances arises. I'm already doing mild twisties, and was on the freeway the first week I had the bike. Put about 200 miles on it this past weekend (roughly half of that on a mountain pass, and the other half in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 101), so my comfort level (and subsequently skill level, I hope) is on the up and up. But I like pushing myself, so we'll see where that gets me. Sadly, I'm not gonna have any good time to ride until Sunday.

CRXDrew · July 21, 2006, 12:14:17 AM

I split traffic for a good bit for the first time today. I've had my bike a few months now. It was complete stand still traffic coming from Chicago into the burbs on 290. Not a hard thing to do... I definitely noticed a few jealous faces in traffic as I rolled by.

Alphamazing · July 21, 2006, 12:22:22 AM

Quote from: CRXDrew on July 21, 2006, 12:14:17 AM
I split traffic for a good bit for the first time today. I've had my bike a few months now. It was complete stand still traffic coming from Chicago into the burbs on 290. Not a hard thing to do... I definitely noticed a few jealous faces in traffic as I rolled by.

Dude. Lane splitting is only legal in California. What you were doing was illegal. Most likely those were looks of confusion and pity rather than jealousy.

CRXDrew · July 21, 2006, 12:34:54 AM

I thought we recognized already in the thread that lane splitting is illegal in most states and also in the UK. Just saying I took slight advantage of the situation and split a lil bit going < 30mph. These drivers were definitely not "confused" I believe they understood the situation... confusion would have been me when guys on liter bikes a few nights ago lane split between me and a truck and had to be going +90.

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Question about lane-splitting

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