1. Lane-sharing is illegal, and those who do it are dangerous assholes that will die in a fiery self-induced accident.
Guess again! The number one question people ask me when they find out I have a bike is if it's legal. And in Cali, affirmative. So get over it, inform yourself, and don't creep on my behind because you think I'm some sort of duck to scare me into never invading "your space" again. The faster motorcyclists get away from "the pack" (of cars), the safer it is for everyone.
2. My use of a motorcycle means that no matter what, I want to race your lowered carbon-fiber body kitted Honda civic hatchback out of every intersection, all the time.
No thanks! The street ain't necessarily the racetrack for me as it is for you, that's how people on two wheels DIE. Since your wager ends less often in DEATH, and even though my zero to sixty is inticing for you to challenge, I'll pass. Nice visor, though.
3. Since my mode of transport is smaller, and thus my ability to maneuver prime relative to yours, you can pull ridiculous bullshit within inches/milliseconds of me, I'll easily and gladly accommodate.
Signals, people! If I can use my thumb to do so while switching gears, leaning a bike and reducing speed, surely you in your automatic Escalade can bust a wedge-the-cell-in-your-shoulder, thus freeing your hand in order to signal and notify me that you will indeed be crossing the entire width of Sunset Blvd to get you McDonalds on...
4. The "my college buddy died in a motorcycle accident right in front of me, those are dangerous" lecture is really going to change my perspective on things, especially coming from a complete stranger who yells that at me at the gas staion.
Wow, you're really concerned, I can tell this speech is has only to do with you being a good samaritan and not just a venue to excersize your wise and patronizing tone of voice, dude. Everyone has to take responsibility for themselves, and I am full aware of the risks of riding, but yet I continue to. I can understand it from my mom, but c'mon, I don't even know you... Can I give YOU a lecture on how driving your SUV around LA in traffic with the AC blasting is indirectly harming everyone including yourself? Oh RIGHT, it's not my business!
5. "The Armor-All on the tires" joke/story/suggestion = funny EVERY time.
It's not.
good read, and often my thoughts, cept for the lane splitting, ( not sure if legal here)
Lane splitting is illegal in all states except for California.
And I think Texas. :dunno_white: I had a Buddy that got a Ticket for Lane Splitting.He Asked Several Cops and they said to Go Ahead that it had Passed Legislation.First time He Done it he Got Ticketed.I sent Him a Link to an Article in Cycle World that Said it was Legal so the Judge threw it out of Court. :laugh:
Lane splitting is illegal here in Kansas, but I have done before. My gas light was blinking on my SV in grid-lock traffic and I needed to get to a gas station..
whats up with the armor all thing???
Quote from: bombadillo on December 12, 2007, 10:23:16 PM
whats up with the armor all thing???
I think its something to do with sliding..
or killing traction on a very impirtant item, ( tires)
Quote from: bombadillo on December 12, 2007, 10:23:16 PM
whats up with the armor all thing???
its the next best thing to rubbing lard all over your tires.. oil on tires = no traction Ive seen quite a few squids do it around here.
Good to read considering I just got off my bike commutting to work. The Honda Civic one is so true. That happens all the time around here, heck I just want to enjoy my ride and out of no where some pimpled face 16 year old comes up and wants to race. hahahaaa, that just aint going to happen. Good post, fun reading. Man is it cold here today...29 degrees leaving the house. burrr...
Armor-All...
I really have had about four people tell me not to do this, or sarcastically suggest that it would make my bike look better... I mean I got it- right no oil on your tires, but it must be some local urban legend here because it's come up so much... At this point it's like the "I got your nose" trick.
As far as lane-splitting goes, yeah it's legal here. Well, the CHP does not outlaw it directly... I've heard you can however get the elusive "unsafe riding" or (whatever the technical term is) ticket, but have yet to meet anyone directly who has and why/how they got it. Anyone in Cali know about this? It would be good to know...
Friends in Cali have told me you CAN lane-split, but I think there is some regulation on how much faster you can go than prevailing traffic; i.e. if traffic is going 10 mph you cannot do 60 mph while lane splitting, even if that's within the speed limit.
I split lanes on my commute going home from santa barbara to ventura, usually the traffic moves slowly 15 to 25 mph at some places. I never exceed 10 to 15 mph over the the general speed of the traffic. Twice I have passed CHP officers while splitting lanes, yes it is not a comfortable feeling, but it is legal and since I am not going faster the 10 mph over the traffic speed it is ok. Any faster then you risk an unsafe riding, and justly as well, because it is unsafe to be going much faster anyway while splitting lanes.
Quote from: trumpetguy on December 13, 2007, 09:28:40 AM
Friends in Cali have told me you CAN lane-split, but I think there is some regulation on how much faster you can go than prevailing traffic; i.e. if traffic is going 10 mph you cannot do 60 mph while lane splitting, even if that's within the speed limit.
There is no law that says what your relative speed or absolute speed must be while lane splitting. Generally it is accepted that ~10 mph or so is a good difference between you and the rest of traffic, but by no means is it hard and fast. Also, if you plan on splitting above ~30 mph, don't be surprised if you raise a few eyebrows. That said, I can and do split at 50-60 mph on a regular basis. (I wouldn't recommend that on most roads though.) Ultimately, it's going to come down to the individual officer (or judge, should it go that far). Also, fyi, technically "lane splitting" is illegal but "lane sharing" is legal. Splitting implies that you need to straddle the lanes to do it, which technically means you are constantly making unsignaled lane changes.
Quote from: dana_nishi on December 13, 2007, 08:46:53 AM
As far as lane-splitting goes, yeah it's legal here. Well, the CHP does not outlaw it directly... I've heard you can however get the elusive "unsafe riding" or (whatever the technical term is) ticket, but have yet to meet anyone directly who has and why/how they got it. Anyone in Cali know about this? It would be good to know...
I actually got pulled over for splitting a few weeks ago. I was doing 50 mph while traffic was anywhere between 40 and 30 mph. The officer actually had to ride on the shoulder to catch up to me, as he and/or his pig of a cruiser couldn't split very well. When we pulled over, he start lecturing on me how it was unsafe, illegal, etc. I told him that nowhere in the vehicle code did it say it was illegal, and a 10-20 mph delta is far from unsafe on that road. (Highway 85, which has super wide lanes.) He asked for my papers, I think hoping to nab me for not having a license or insurance. After he saw that it was all in order, he gave it back to me and said, "Most officers won't give you a ticket for what you did, but I will. You're just lucky you caught me on my way home, so I'm going to let you off with a warning this time." Hah, sure buddy, more like you know that I will fight it and win.
If you are going to split, make sure you have all your stuff in order. Right or wrong, officers can very easily come up with enough cause to stop you almost whenever you are splitting. Make sure you know the law and your rights, and keep your license/registration/insurance in good standing.
Quote from: dana_nishi on December 12, 2007, 06:36:43 PM
2. My use of a motorcycle means that no matter what, I want to race your lowered carbon-fiber body kitted Honda civic hatchback out of every intersection, all the time.
No thanks! The street ain't necessarily the racetrack for me as it is for you, that's how people on two wheels DIE. Since your wager ends less often in DEATH, and even though my zero to sixty is inticing for you to challenge, I'll pass. Nice visor, though.
Lol, im glad to know it happens over the pond as well. I am forever riding on a duel carrigeway and some chaved up honda civic or toyota celica will pull alongside matching my speed in the fast lane and be trying to initiate a race. Its like look mate im not wasting my fuel (which costs an abject fortune) and adding more risk to my riding just to prove to you yet again that motorcycles are faster than cars.
That being said i have smoked a few of them on a couple of occasions. One memorable one was riding around leamington spa (pretty much hot spot of boy racers in my area) and on the way out of town a racer overtook me on a city street! then was driving around in front of me slowing me down and been a prat, then it got to the last roundabout out onto the main road and i followed him round and he got off before me at my exit and proceeded to slow down then rev his engine. So i just gave her a handfull of throttle and blasted past him at about 100 lol. He was completely left in the dust. Some people don't get the message its just dangerous racing on the streets.
Quote from: dana_nishi on December 12, 2007, 06:36:43 PM
4. The "my college buddy died in a motorcycle accident right in front of me, those are dangerous" lecture is really going to change my perspective on things, especially coming from a complete stranger who yells that at me at the gas staion.
Wow, you're really concerned, I can tell this speech is has only to do with you being a good samaritan and not just a venue to excersize your wise and patronizing tone of voice, dude. Everyone has to take responsibility for themselves, and I am full aware of the risks of riding, but yet I continue to. I can understand it from my mom, but c'mon, I don't even know you... Can I give YOU a lecture on how driving your SUV around LA in traffic with the AC blasting is indirectly harming everyone including yourself? Oh RIGHT, it's not my business!
OMG! i hate people like that, i get it about riding all the time from everyone under the sun people i dont even like or care for or who dont give a stuff about me just want to make themselves feel better by thinking they have helped me in some way. I also get it about riding horses (i do horse jumping) and some "aquanintence" in the village where i live who i dont even like starts telling me the story about her cousin twice removed on her step fathers side blahdy blah who fell off a horse and broke their back. I was fed up of it by now and said yes thats unfortunate however im good at what i do and il carry on thankyou very much.
Quote from: dana_nishi on December 13, 2007, 08:46:53 AM
Armor-All...
I really have had about four people tell me not to do this, or sarcastically suggest that it would make my bike look better... I mean I got it- right no oil on your tires, but it must be some local urban legend here because it's come up so much... At this point it's like the "I got your nose" trick.
As far as lane-splitting goes, yeah it's legal here. Well, the CHP does not outlaw it directly... I've heard you can however get the elusive "unsafe riding" or (whatever the technical term is) ticket, but have yet to meet anyone directly who has and why/how they got it. Anyone in Cali know about this? It would be good to know...
You CAN get a ticket for lane-splitting, unsafe speed(for condition), and unsafe lane change if you are weaving in an out of the two lanes. but you wont get a ticket if you are
lane sharing safely :thumb:
http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980 (http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980)
Lane splitting is legal in several more states than just CA and TX. NC and colorado I believe also. many more, I thought it was legal in 30 or so, but that was a 2000/01 count, or maybe illegal in 30, legal in 20.
However in NC or in TX or most other states besides CA, the other morons on the road are so bad they will kill you trying to stop you because they think it is Illegal. Oh yea in texas, they are probably Illegals as well.
Like they say, "god bless taxes" ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on December 13, 2007, 02:02:01 PM
Lane splitting is legal in several more states than just CA and TX. NC and colorado I believe also. many more, I thought it was legal in 30 or so, but that was a 2000/01 count, or maybe illegal in 30, legal in 20.
However in NC or in TX or most other states besides CA, the other morons on the road are so bad they will kill you trying to stop you because they think it is Illegal. Oh yea in texas, they are probably Illegals as well.
Like they say, "god bless taxes" ...
Cool.
Srinath.
I would be very surprised is this was still true today. As far as i know CA is the only state where law enforcement(chp) has actually said lane
sharing is permissible. Texas and Washington tried to pass legislation to allow it but i believe they fell through. nonetheless, lane splitting is illegal in
all states 'cause you cant ride the line (yes its a play on words but its technically true).
California is the only state where it is legal, although "lane sharing" is not specifically excluded in many states it is categorized as opertaion not safe and reasonable or impedinng a vehicles full usage of it's lane of travel.
I lane split all the time along with the MC cops either in front of me or behind in xome cases never had any trouble with speed limits during stop and go traffic 10-12mph bith me and the mc cop splitted at about 60mph no hassle this freeway has a big gap.
like this
non carpool lanes
============
============
carpool lanes
I go in the middle
Quote from: dana_nishi on December 13, 2007, 08:46:53 AM
Armor-All...
I really have had about four people tell me not to do this, or sarcastically suggest that it would make my bike look better... I mean I got it- right no oil on your tires, but it must be some local urban legend here because it's come up so much... At this point it's like the "I got your nose" trick.
As far as lane-splitting goes, yeah it's legal here. Well, the CHP does not outlaw it directly... I've heard you can however get the elusive "unsafe riding" or (whatever the technical term is) ticket, but have yet to meet anyone directly who has and why/how they got it. Anyone in Cali know about this? It would be good to know...
the most common way to get a "lane sharing ticket" is by riding the double yellow between the carpool lane and #1 lane on the freeway. Other than that I havent heard of anyone who's gotten a ticket for lane sharing.