Still trying to get the hang of lane splitting in California. If you know the freeways here, I always travel from the 210 to the 605 to the 5 and then the 91.

I know by law you can only split the carpool lane and the one next to it, but what about on streets? Can you split those lanes when everybody is stopped at a red light? Or could you get a ticket if a cop sees you? What about the traffic lights before you get on the freeway?

I'm just amazed too at some parts when rider's split lanes too, like those bulky utility trucks or buses, and they're going way faster then 10mph over everyone elses speed. I let those guys go by of course, i'm taking my time to get familiar with lane splitting

Also, when in slow traffic and merging on the freeway to get to the carpool lane, can you cross that double line to get over, or should you wait in traffic before the line breaks?

Thanks everybody. Eric

1: Lane sharing, not lane splitting.

2: It's not legal - it's just not illegal.  That means there are no laws governing how you do it.  The CHP says 'safe and prudent,' and that's a good general rule of thumb.  To my way of thinking, a speed delta over about 10 isn't safe and prudent, and sharing between lanes other than the fastest and the second fastest isn't.

YMMV.  Don't go faster than you feel safe going.  Don't dawdle between cars, though; that's the time when your escape options become limited.  Look behind you for people who want to go faster, and let them by.

And most importantly, don't do it unless you know you can make it.  Hitting cars is very, very bad publicity for all of us.  That bit in Dark Knight when Batman laneshares and hits every goddam mirror?  Don't be him.

I'm grateful we have the option to do it legally in CA, and I try not to take it for granted.

Thanks for correcting me, that's how you can tell i'm new to lane sharing, lol...........and yes i'm only going to go the speed i feel comfortable, and let those who want to go faster to let them pass.

But what about some of the questions I have? What's your opinions or comments on those type of situations?

I commute from hollywood to inglewood 5 days a week on surface streets, lane sharing most of the way due to rush hour traffic. Everything i learned from spending years on bicycles in urban environments has been invaluable. Dont go more than 10 mph faster than traffic is moving, try to keep the controls covered, go very slow when driving between (un)moving traffic and parked cars, and dont risk slipping through paths where you cant see how they end. You wont see the car running the red light when splitting and you shoot into the intersection when a bus is the first vehicle in the left hand lane.

I made most of these mistakes years ago on bicycles and was able to crash or bail with little injury. I was "doored" (parked car opening driver side door and you smashing into it) on the bicycle and was lucky to walk with only bruises, a cracked a rib, and some missing skin. Every day i see people on bikes and scooters fly between parked cars and traffic grinding my teeth. Those car doors can open any time. Go slow enough to be able to stop when they do. Let the cruisers and ducatis zip by.

Quote from: respite on February 22, 2009, 01:46:44 AM
I commute from hollywood to inglewood 5 days a week on surface streets, lane sharing most of the way due to rush hour traffic. Everything i learned from spending years on bicycles in urban environments has been invaluable. Dont go more than 10 mph faster than traffic is moving, try to keep the controls covered, go very slow when driving between (un)moving traffic and parked cars, and dont risk slipping through paths where you cant see how they end. You wont see the car running the red light when splitting and you shoot into the intersection when a bus is the first vehicle in the left hand lane.

I made most of these mistakes years ago on bicycles and was able to crash or bail with little injury. I was "doored" (parked car opening driver side door and you smashing into it) on the bicycle and was lucky to walk with only bruises, a cracked a rib, and some missing skin. Every day i see people on bikes and scooters fly between parked cars and traffic grinding my teeth. Those car doors can open any time. Go slow enough to be able to stop when they do. Let the cruisers and ducatis zip by.

+a billion
I was a bike courier here.  You learn a lot when you are among them for 10-12 hrs a day making a living. oh and being "doored" or as we here call it, "cruise missile car doored" sucks balls.  it can be devastating.  I got nailed by a slr600 door.  I went over it and luckily landed on my camel back with a recently refilled bladder inside.  saved me from possible spinal injuries. still hurt like hell.  Folded my front rim in half. 

Quote from: GSrookie500 on February 21, 2009, 05:51:04 PM
Still trying to get the hang of lane splitting in California. If you know the freeways here, I always travel from the 210 to the 605 to the 5 and then the 91.

I know by law you can only split the carpool lane and the one next to it, but what about on streets? Can you split those lanes when everybody is stopped at a red light? Or could you get a ticket if a cop sees you? What about the traffic lights before you get on the freeway?

I'm just amazed too at some parts when rider's split lanes too, like those bulky utility trucks or buses, and they're going way faster then 10mph over everyone elses speed. I let those guys go by of course, i'm taking my time to get familiar with lane splitting

Also, when in slow traffic and merging on the freeway to get to the carpool lane, can you cross that double line to get over, or should you wait in traffic before the line breaks?

Thanks everybody. Eric

Hey there Eric...
im another CA member.... im on 101 near the 580

Quote from: starshooter10 on February 22, 2009, 02:33:19 AM

Quote from: GSrookie500 on February 21, 2009, 05:51:04 PM
Still trying to get the hang of lane splitting in California. If you know the freeways here, I always travel from the 210 to the 605 to the 5 and then the 91.

I know by law you can only split the carpool lane and the one next to it, but what about on streets? Can you split those lanes when everybody is stopped at a red light? Or could you get a ticket if a cop sees you? What about the traffic lights before you get on the freeway?

I'm just amazed too at some parts when rider's split lanes too, like those bulky utility trucks or buses, and they're going way faster then 10mph over everyone elses speed. I let those guys go by of course, i'm taking my time to get familiar with lane splitting

Also, when in slow traffic and merging on the freeway to get to the carpool lane, can you cross that double line to get over, or should you wait in traffic before the line breaks?

Thanks everybody. Eric

Hey there Eric...
im another CA member.... im on 101 near the 580

Hey mn, how's it going? We should ride sometime. It doesn't seem like there's alot of people around here who ride GS's.

Hey, I'm near the 5 and 405 "Y" Lived in So Cal all my life.

Been riding (lane sharing) for many years.  Everything above is excellent advice.  Lane splitting is a luxury not a right.  Use it wisely.

One thing I'd like to share (for those who don't know it), is the "Ghost Rider Rule."
Ride like a ghost or become one.

It's simple:  When you ride, you must act like your invisible - COMPLETELY invisible. No one can see you at all.  The #1 thing said by drivers involved in MC verses 4+ vehicles is,  "I didn't see the MC."

Imagine going to a crowded party.  For some reason you can not be seen.  Your invisible but still can be bumped into.  If you are touched by someone, brushed, even just stepped in front of abruptly (so you spill your drink), you loose and have to go home - BUMMER!  You goal is to get from the front door to the back of the party.

It's up to you to navigate a path through the people.  They are talking, telling jokes, laughing, acting out the day's events, and just plain not giving a sh#t about anyone trying to get past.  You HAVE to stick and move, anticipate everyone's Else's move, plan your escapes.  Ever try to move across a crowded dance floor? And there's someone dancing wildly with their eyes closed?  You cannot be in the same place at the same time as anyone.  It is hard to do and takes an incredible amount of concentration. And most of all patience.

I know this sounds a bit dumb, but it is a good concept.  I was taught it early, I practiced it,  and I'm sure I'm here because of it.  I cannot count my number of near misses (or near hits).  But, I can count the number of times I've gone down.

Riding makes you smart...  Your always having to think for the other guy too!!!

Having said that, If you are lane sharing to make up time this is bad.   Time your commute as a car and take the extra minutes you save by lane sharing, and use them to relax at you destination, look up and give a little smile to the 2 wheeled spirit in the sky. 

Paul Kaas 

This won't work for me, I follow the opposite strategy. When I go to a party I try to be in places where the girls will always bump into me

Quote from: Pkaaso on February 23, 2009, 02:41:27 AMIt's simple:  When you ride, you must act like your invisible - COMPLETELY invisible.

This.  Loud pipes won't save your life.  You have to assume that you can't be seen, and that any given car is going to get in your way in the worst way possible, and be ready with an escape route for when they do.

Oh, and for the first question - sharing isn't any more illegal on the streets than it is on the freeway.  You can filter to the front at a stoplight.  I actually think there's a safety gain to that, as you can't be asspacked by someone who isn't paying attention if you're not stopped at the end of a line.  But I don't biltz out when the light turns green; people run stale yellows and fresh reds, so I look both ways and take off with caution.  It's saved me more than once.

Yeah, you can lane share coming up to a stop light when traffic is stopped.  That is one of the main benefits of MC commuting.

I still don't understand why you can't lane share in other states.  If congestion is a problem, you can reduce some of it by allowing lane sharing. 

Quote from: Juan1 on February 23, 2009, 10:21:19 AM
Yeah, you can lane share coming up to a stop light when traffic is stopped.  That is one of the main benefits of MC commuting.

I still don't understand why you can't lane share in other states.  If congestion is a problem, you can reduce some of it by allowing lane sharing. 

come to the DC metro area. the ONLY time i'd want to do it around here is when the cars are stopped dead or going under 20.  that said, i also have zero experience with it in the states (only on a scooter abroad) so i could be swayed after a couple years on the left coast...

Lane sharing, splitting, whatever you call it, legal or not, is dangerous, especially when traffic isn't moving.  One dumbass opens his door to empty his ashtray as you whiz by and you're in the Intensive Care Unit.

Quote from: Juan1 on February 23, 2009, 10:21:19 AMI still don't understand why you can't lane share in other states.  If congestion is a problem, you can reduce some of it by allowing lane sharing. 

I think the right way to go about it is with emergency services.  It would solve a number of problems:
-It would get emergency services to accidents faster.
-It would make people aware of moto sharing in a positive context - they would associate it with people being helped and problems being cleared.
-It would make cagers more aware of motos in general, which is a chronic problem everywhere in the US.

I saw a moto-ambulance in Australia, and thought - if one of those shared through traffic and saved your life, you'd be a lot happier about motos sharing.

Oh wow there isn't lane sharing in Fl. Oh wait it's just idiots constantly taking my lane! I don't think the IQ level is high enough here to implement it safely! Red light running is insane down here. I see very few times where lane sharing would be that big of a benefit. Maybe on I-4 but then again drives on that are a krap shot. When I go to Universal which is 14 miles away is only 20 minutes on a good day. On a bad day about an hour. I don't even know how late I should leave for work anymore. If I go in an hour and a half earliy then I usually putz around for an hour. Go in about 40 minutes and end up having to run to hit the time clock. It is maddning at times.

But, yeah ride like they are out to kill you.

Mary

Come to the the other side of the pond where you can split lanes all you want. Notice i say split lanes. Your not ment to ride side by side in a lane and lane share. But you can split between traffic at traffic lights. Generally its only used at traffic lights or in traffic jams in which case it saves time. We don't do lane sharing thats going to get you killed.

Quote from: GSrookie500 on February 21, 2009, 05:51:04 PM
Still trying to get the hang of lane splitting in California. If you know the freeways here, I always travel from the 210 to the 605 to the 5 and then the 91.

I know by law you can only split the carpool lane and the one next to it, but what about on streets? Can you split those lanes when everybody is stopped at a red light? Or could you get a ticket if a cop sees you? What about the traffic lights before you get on the freeway?

I'm just amazed too at some parts when rider's split lanes too, like those bulky utility trucks or buses, and they're going way faster then 10mph over everyone elses speed. I let those guys go by of course, i'm taking my time to get familiar with lane splitting

Also, when in slow traffic and merging on the freeway to get to the carpool lane, can you cross that double line to get over, or should you wait in traffic before the line breaks?

Thanks everybody. Eric

You can lane split wherever it is safe, there is no law that prevents you from doing so. They can bust you for being unsafe (in their opinion, not yours) and they can bust you for changing lanes too frequently (I've known people to get this ticket..), but in LA I've never seen anyone get pulled over for lane splitting. You should take it easy when learning to lane split and only do what you think is safe. When I started riding a year ago, I didn't lane split at all. I started out only going to the front of the line at red lights and working my up from there. You'll find that lane splitting on the freeway is actually easier than on surface streets because the lanes are much wider and there is a lot more space between cars.  Just take it easy and don't do anything that you feel is unsafe. You'll get used to it and in a few months time you'll be lane splitting with ease. I take the 5, 110 and 101 all the time and with lane splitting I can get to work in half the time it takes me to drive in my car. I can't imagine living in a place where I couldn't lane split. There is just so much room between cars, and when it gets really hot out, keeping moving is the only thing that keeps you cool.

One last thing, don't cross the double yellow lines to get into the carpool lane. Just because you can lane split doesn't mean you can break any laws. You'll just end up pissing off cagers doing it and you'll draw the attention of cops, which is never a good thing.

Stay safe out there.

Thanks everybody. Very awesome advice to know and learn. Thank you guys 

Quote from: GSrookie500 on February 24, 2009, 11:16:52 PM
Thanks everybody. Very awesome advice to know and learn. Thank you guys 

Sure thing. You, me and all the other people who replied to this post from the LA area should go on a ride some day...

Yeah we should all ride up the 101 in and split for the 30 miles it takes to get through LA. Yes I have split lanes numerous times through there for 30 whole miles straight traffic. Really makes you feel productive, even if you're only headed to Galco's to buy some old tyme sodas.