Lane Splitting

[08GSSteve]

After reading several threads about this topic I thought I would put a poll up and get the figures.  This also includes if you lane split at traffic lights.

[bombadillo]

Yes, its legal here in cali and I only do it in a relatively safe manner.  At least as safe as lane splitting goes.  If I see a stoplight and have 10-20 cars lined up in a row already there, and I am sure I have time, i'll split lanes.  There is also the issue of having enough room.  I have a really narrow bike compared to others around here and my bars are a bit narrower now too so that helps.  Also, if you live in the other states, I didn't think it was legal anyway.  It definitely pisses some people off but saves some time. 

As a side note, the only time i've ever had anything happen was when there was road work being done and I didn't know about it.  There was a bump in the road and all of a sudden the lane i'm trying to split has about a 4" drop point and my front wheel was stuck on the top and rear wheel on the bottom.  That scared the crap out of me and I thought I was going to lay it over on a car right there but it pulled the back wheel on the pavement and all was well.

[utgunslinger13]

I have never done it but I have never lived in a city that it was legal.  However, even if I lived in Cali (which it might be arguing semantics, but didn't someone say that its not LEGAL in cali, just not ILLEGAL) I don't feel comfortable enough to lane split.

Nick

[iride]

Not sure if its' legal here.. but then again, not sure about any of the legalities here. Stupid gov't hides the laws. (Or at least where I can't *Google* them!  ) I don't think I'd do it, even if I could figure out if it was legal.

Why?

Me, we'll say 600 lb on bike with gear and brain.
PLUS
Car, 3000 lbs with metal and possibly no brain  MULTIPLY BY 2+...
EQUALS
pain, suffering and general discomfort plus possible side effect of death

I just don't have that much faith in my fellow drivers. I think this is when the "they're out to get me" conspiracy theories are usually true. Plus, I think lane splitting gives a bad image of motorcyclists, if we're on the roadway with vehicles, we don't need to take advantage of our smaller size when we're trying to be considered equals (or better).

Besides, pissing people off whilst driving is only fun when you are either:
A) in a vehicle built like a tank (or a tank), faster (and able to get away) or bulletproof OR
B) looking to get the insurance to pay for new parts because the P.O. idiot hit you.
Lessons curtesory of Tampa/Orlando, FL School of Insane, Idiotic and Unpredicable Drivers where people have been shot due to ticking off a fellow driver...

[08GSSteve]

ok so I expected more people to vote than this as it has been so heated in many other threads but hey still early yet.

Still early but I must say I am surprised atm.  I honestly thought more people lane split.  Other threads from rough counting has shown 50% either way so this is interesting.  Even when I am out on the road I see about half guys doing it and half not.

[jserio]

legal or not, why put yourself at un-neccessary risk? or why fuel the whole, "motorcylist are the devil" image? just my thoughts.

[vtlion]

Not only is it illegal in VA, but it is tempting fate.  The nut-job motorists here will try to pinch you as you go by (I have witnessed this many times as other cyclists split past me).  Most cops will slap a reckless charge on you for doing it, even in stopped traffic  .  I know of at least one person to whom this has happened multiple times! 

If you have the law on your side like Californians, it might be worth it in stopped traffic.  You won't catch me doing it in the DC area, though.

[Cal Price]

In U.K. it is not specifically illegal but i think if you had an accident so doing it would count against you. I'll do it a lights and occasionally in traffic, some of the roads around here lend themselves to doing it. basically it depends on the traffic and the road, common sense really.
I cetainly won't do it if large trucks are involved, living at a large ro-ro port there is a very high concentration of trucks, some left-hand drive and some right hand drive - nightmare for blind spots!

[brickerenator]

I'd never do it around here.

[natedawg120]

I do not split lanes but its illegal in VA so that has something to do with it.  I will sit behind the front car at a stop light for a second and look for a turn signal or head movement if i am turning right and if no signal and no going when open i will slide by on the asphalt side of the shoulder if there is room.

[respite]

I split lanes every day. I only do it going through stopped or slow rolling traffic at 15-20mph though. Same as i did on the bicycle.

[drewbytes]

I don't split but I filter at every set of traffic lights to the front. Only time I don't is if it appears dangerous for some reason, e.g. a hotted up car at front who I think will try and race me.

[cafeboy]

Cars drift over and I don't want to be there when they do.

[brickerenator]

Cars drift over and I don't want to be there when they do.

You should have seen this lady going through a traffic circle this morning 

[cafeboy]

Cars drift over and I don't want to be there when they do.

You should have seen this lady going through a traffic circle this morning 

We have a few of the circles here and they are always bad drivers on them. 

[Ry_Guy]

this poll won't tell you anything about lane-splitting unless CA riders are the only ones voting

[08GSSteve]

this poll won't tell you anything about lane-splitting unless CA riders are the only ones voting

It is more to see who does and who does not.  Even if it is legal in places people still don't do it.

Think of it more as a safety poll on lane splitting/filtering.

[jserio]

i think this is more of a common sense/safety question. is it safer for you to do so? or is it safer for you to wait in traffic like everyone else? as motorcycle riders, we're constantly complaining the cagers don't treat us with respect on the road. why do anything that will bolseter their claims that we are all reckless hoodlums? just my .02 

[s0crates82]

my commute takes me through downtown LA at rush hour - filtering is basically a necessity.

First time I did it, though, it was unintentional.  A car moved out in front of me with no signal, and immediately started braking hard.  I started emergency braking, and dipped between that car and the one to it's left then kept going over the dashes till I was well clear of the donut-hole.  Heckuva initiation.