Lane splitting thoughts

Just throwing this out there to see what other members here think. What are other member's thoughts on the practice of lane splitting? I'm guessing most bike guys have heard of this practice, but for those that haven't, it's when motorcylists pass traffic ahead of them by riding on the center dividing line of multiple lanes of traffic heading in the same direction. I'm not sure this is even legal (I don't see how it can be) in other countries, or here in the U.S. either, but I know it goes on. I'll relate a story where we (family) were on vacation, on a divided interstate highway with two lanes of traffic heading in either direction. The "keeping up with traffic" speed was about 75-80mph. I was passing a semi (tractor-trailor truck) in the left lane with the semi in the right lane. As I was along side the semi, I saw in my rear view mirror two motorcyclists close rapidly on me from behind, and rather than wait for me to complete the passing of the truck, they rode the center dividing line right between I and the semi and passed in between the two of us. Since I was running, as I said 75-80mph these guys had to be doing about 90mph. As anyone who has ever driven in close proximity to a semi (which is everyone) knows, the amount of air that a semi displaces at speed, and the buffeting it creates can move the nearby vehicles around. To me, this event was lunacy. It's one thing to pass cars or pickup trucks at lower speeds, but at high speed plus have one of the vehicles be a semi, well as I said, is crazy. Bad s*** happens quickly at 80mph. I know every biker that uses this practice will defend doing this somehow, but that's why most countries have multiple lane highways to allow travel at high speed and be able to pass slower traffic. Do bikers really need to resort to this? They, of course, don't "need" to. I'm guessing everyone that's ever owned a motorcyle has at some time rode at "well above the limit" speeds. But on a wide open road with no traffic is one thing, but to do so when passing traffic that's arm's length away on both sides of you seems, I'll say it again, crazy. What do others think?

quawk said:

Just throwing this out there to see what other members here think. What are other member's thoughts on the practice of lane splitting? I'm guessing most bike guys have heard of this practice, but for those that haven't, it's when motorcylists pass traffic ahead of them by riding on the center dividing line of multiple lanes of traffic heading in the same direction. I'm not sure this is even legal (I don't see how it can be) in other countries, or here in the U.S. either, but I know it goes on. I'll relate a story where we (family) were on vacation, on a divided interstate highway with two lanes of traffic heading in either direction. The "keeping up with traffic" speed was about 75-80mph. I was passing a semi (tractor-trailor truck) in the left lane with the semi in the right lane. As I was along side the semi, I saw in my rear view mirror two motorcyclists close rapidly on me from behind, and rather than wait for me to complete the passing of the truck, they rode the center dividing line right between I and the semi and passed in between the two of us. Since I was running, as I said 75-80mph these guys had to be doing about 90mph. As anyone who has ever driven in close proximity to a semi (which is everyone) knows, the amount of air that a semi displaces at speed, and the buffeting it creates can move the nearby vehicles around. To me, this event was lunacy. It's one thing to pass cars or pickup trucks at lower speeds, but at high speed plus have one of the vehicles be a semi, well as I said, is crazy. Bad s*** happens quickly at 80mph. I know every biker that uses this practice will defend doing this somehow, but that's why most countries have multiple lane highways to allow travel at high speed and be able to pass slower traffic. Do bikers really need to resort to this? They, of course, don't "need" to. I'm guessing everyone that's ever owned a motorcyle has at some time rode at "well above the limit" speeds. But on a wide open road with no traffic is one thing, but to do so when passing traffic that's arm's length away on both sides of you seems, I'll say it again, crazy. What do others think?

Click to expand...

Do you know who Harry Hurt is?


Have you read the Hurt report?


How long have been a licensed street operator?


Any adolescent dirt bike experience?


"I'm not sure this is even legal (I don't see how it can be) in other countries, or here in the U.S. "
It's been legal in CA a long time. A few other States are joining in, IIRC

"Do bikers really need to resort to this? They, of course, don't "need" to."

Have you ever spent time in L.A. traffic? I-5? I have.

In my state of Queensland, Australia, motorcycles are allowed to lane split when traffic is at a stand still or move less than 30kmph, it's illegal to split higher than 30kmph, this law came into effect just a few years now and works pretty good in peak hour traffic when the traffic is moving slow.
I have seen some crazy riders who split at higher speed and really they are putting their own lives in danger, I seen outlaw bikies (1%ers) flirt the law, they don't care.
The worst thing about lane splitting in heavy slow traffic is some car owners try to block the motorcycle rider clear passage (its illegal to do so if the rider is under 30kmph) as some get pissed off because they are stuck in traffic and the MC rider has free passage, but I have found a lot of car drives move over to let you through, not all car drivers are bad.

I "lane split" all the time or filter as we call it
If I didn't I wouldn't get anywhere especially on the M25
But I do it carefully at low speeds
Plenty of drivers move over when they see you coming
Overs close the gap to stop you passing
Also beware of giant poodles sticking their heads out the windows!

There is “lane splitting” which is what California has, where I believe you can actually drive at speed between cars and other vehicles. New Jersey allows “lane filtering” which allow a MC to get around traffic jams, and only applies under certain conditions.
California drivers should be use to seeing bikes drive between lanes, so there might be an awareness factor there. Most New Jerseyians (sp?) probably are not aware of the “filtering” law, so will probably make an extra attempt to hit/block you.
Riding a bike is dangerous enough because of most people’s lack of attention, I can’t see how putting 3 objects in a space normally make for 2 can be good. I would not be comfortable with it.

concours said:

Do you know who Harry Hurt is?


Have you read the Hurt report?


How long have been a licensed street operator?


Any adolescent dirt bike experience?


"I'm not sure this is even legal (I don't see how it can be) in other countries, or here in the U.S. "
It's been legal in CA a long time. A few other States are joining in, IIRC

"Do bikers really need to resort to this? They, of course, don't "need" to."

Have you ever spent time in L.A. traffic? I-5? I have.

Click to expand...

To answer your questions, No, No, 54 years, Yes, and No and hope I never do.

quawk said:

To answer your questions, No, No, 54 years, Yes, and No and hope I never do.

Click to expand...

Proclaiming something should be illegal because you don't feel comfortable doing it, is draconian.

Feel free to just not do it.

We have NO helmet law in the State I live in.
I respect that.
I also CHOOSE to wear a full face Arai EVERY RIDE.

We do not need more laws.

The LA traffic jams benefit from motos using less space and lane splitting.

A better way to keep riders alive is to educate them about the realities.






Summary here, if facts are too boring:






The full deal here:

This thread reminds me of this lane splitting story from many a year ago.

I never carried my Atlas tool kit or tire air pump, as i felt they would be tempting targets for thieves. In place of the tool pouch, i carried a rain suit. The rain suits in those days were nothing like the modern ones .... but my primary concern was that it fold up and fit in the underseat Atlas tool tray. My Atlas never had saddle bags for storage.

Between my 3rd and 4th year undergraduate semesters, I landed a summer job as a junior engineer. Professional attire (jacket and tie) was required. If I made the 30 mile commute to this job on the Atlas, the rain suit had to go, as I required a covering for my coat and tie. For this purpose, I used a military unlined fatigue jacket that I rolled up and stored in the tool tray.

Needless to say, I never rode the bike if rain was in the forecast, but on one fine day, either because no rain was forecast, or because I failed to check, I made the commute on the Atlas, and in the late afternoon, there came a gully washer. The rain came down in torrents for about 2 hours, and it was still raining when security closed the engineering offices and booted me out. With nowhere to take shelter, I resolved to get wet and make the 30 mile trip.

I soon found the roads to be gridlocked, as the low places, such as underpasses were flooded. Seeking an alternate route, as everyone else was, resulted in more gridlock, but I found myself on an unflooded boulevard, but with all auto traffic dead stopped. I went to "lane splitting" or riding in between the stalled cars. I know this was highly illegal and dangerous, but the cops would be in grid lock, the cars were dead stopped, and if I kept my speed to little more than the minimum to control the bike, I could stop if some guy decided to open his door in my path.

Soaked to my skin, I rolled up to a signal controlled intersection, the light cycling green-yellow-red over and over with no one moving either way. Being a law abiding driver, I waited at the intersection until the red light turned green.

While waiting, the window of the car next me opened, and the driver said "Hey, Hey! Let me ask you a question?"
"Sure, ask!" I said. He said "Don't you feel like an asshole riding that thing in the rain?" I looked at the traffic signal, until I saw the yellow come on for the cross traffic, then I turned to this guy and said "Yes, I do". He shot a grin ear to ear. Then I said "Now let me ask you a question?" "Sure, ask"! He said, still grinning.

I said "Don't you feel like an asshole sitting at the head of an intersection, (and pointing to the traffic signal) while you have a green light to go"?

His grin suddenly vanished, and i went thru the intersection continuing to thread my way between the cars.

I live in SoCal and lane split/ filter all the time.
I will say one is safer splitting and filtering than staying put and getting smushed.
IE, at a traffic light with 2 or more vehicles in front on both sides. Is it safer to stay at the back in your lane, or filter to the front between the vehicles?
Think about it.

That being said, splitting between a truck and car at 90+ is not very smart.

In some countries I might consider it at very low speed with lanes wide enough to be safe - not in the US.

I was driving on the George Washington Parkway one day. Everyone doing about 45mph with most following too closely. A guy passed me between lanes. Two cars ahead, his handlebar on the right caught on a car's mirror. Not only did he go down, but was run over by multiple cars, caused many cars to crash and left a bloody mess on the road. I was one of the few that didn't wreck because I saw it and went for the shoulder. I was lucky because much of that road has no shoulder. The car behind me wrecked and ran him over. Needless to say, he was dead on the scene.

Cured me of ever thinking about riding between moving cars or even stopped cars on narrow roads!

In the US, we are not taught well how to drive. We are not taught how to ride at all in many states. In general, we are not taught to share the road and definitely not our lane.

I've had a car license and a motorcycle license for 58 years. I had driver's ed in high school in a parking lot - never on the road. My mother drove me to the DMV, I passed the written and eye tests and then drove around the cones in the parking lot and got my drivers license. Then I illegally took my bike to the DMV and passed the riding test (cones in the parking lot) and got my motorcycle addendum. I've never had any motorcycle riding training.

concours said:

Proclaiming something should be illegal because you don't feel comfortable doing it, is draconian.

Feel free to just not do it.

We have NO helmet law in the State I live in.
I respect that.
I also CHOOSE to wear a full face Arai EVERY RIDE.

We do not need more laws.

The LA traffic jams benefit from motos using less space and lane splitting.

A better way to keep riders alive is to educate them about the realities.

Hurt Report - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Summary here, if facts are too boring:

http://gruenehog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Hurt-Summary-Report.pdf

List of findings in the Hurt Report - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

The full deal here:

Hurt Report Volume I: Tech Report : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Unofficial mirror of http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/562839-hurt-report-volume-i-tech-report.html

archive.org

Click to expand...

Not to start a war here, but since this is a forum and by definition a place to discuss viewpoints and ideas, nowhere did I proclaim this practice should be illegal. Draconian?? Really?? I did question whether or not it was legal because I didn't know, Ignorance if you want to call it that. If by me saying what happened in the story I related was crazy and therefore I'm "proclaiming" it illegal, that's not exactly correct. I also live, as you do, in one of three states in the U.S. that require no helmet for any rider, but I also choose to wear a helmet whenever riding. As I said in my original post that started this thread, riders who employ this practice will defend it. I've got to ask since you've obviously read my original post, have you ever used lane splitting at 80-90 mph and done so between a van (yes, we were in a van) and a semi, or do you think that's a good idea or good practice? This wasn't "filtering" as some have referred to it where traffic was stopped or at a crawl.

Id say most bikers here filter all the time. I do. It is one of the few advantages of riding a bike anymore.

Onder said:

Id say most bikers here filter all the time. I do. It is one of the few advantages of riding a bike anymore.

Click to expand...

To those riders in the U.K., I've never been there so have never been on the roads there, and at this point in life will probably never get to. So I can't comment on your riding or laws there. Maybe it's common practice there, and if it is, maybe the non-riding motorists are at least aware that it takes place. And, to me anyway, that's what presents the larger problem here in the U.S. that most motorists have never been on a bike, and in most cases are not very observant of them (us). And nearly all of those non-riding motorists aren't aware that this lane splitting practice even occurs. And when it does occur, the unaware car driver can very possibly be startled and bad things happen. Can I ask how long this practice has been allowed in the U.K.?

Onder said:

Id say most bikers here filter all the time. I do. It is one of the few advantages of riding a bike anymore.

Click to expand...

So, the law in Germany, as I recall it, was that faster to move vehicles were to move to the front of the line at places like railroad crossing where evenyone was stopped as it was logical that they could get going faster than things like trucks, thus moving traffic better.

In Virginia two motor vehicles cannot be in the same lane - this includes two motorcycles in the same lane side by side (motorcycle cops break this law all the time while simply riding)

VA 2020 HB1236 (been talked about since 1995) never came to a vote and left it up to the Dept of Transportation who did nothing:

Lane filtering; motorcycles. Authorizes the operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle to pass another vehicle that is stopped or traveling at no more than 10 miles per hour in the same lane, provided that there are at least two lanes of travel in each direction, such motorcycle does not exceed a speed of 20 miles per hour, and the operator executes such passing safely.

Do not filter/split in VA!

quawk said:

Can I ask how long this practice has been allowed in the U.K.?

Click to expand...

Filtering has never been illiegal in the UK as far as I'm aware.


"Additionally, when filtering in slow-moving traffic, take care and keep your speed low."

marshg246 said:

I've had a car license and a motorcycle license for 58 years. I had driver's ed in high school in a parking lot - never on the road. My mother drove me to the DMV, I passed the written and eye tests and then drove around the cones in the parking lot and got my drivers license. Then I illegally took my bike to the DMV and passed the riding test (cones in the parking lot) and got my motorcycle addendum. I've never had any motorcycle riding training.

Click to expand...

I find it curious that in your school driver's ed you never drove on the road, and that your car and motorcycle test was around cones in a parking lot. From your comment about how long you've had your license, were are close in age. In my small rural school district, we spent nearly all of our driver's ed hours out on the public roads. You took both your car test and bike test on the streets/roads.

"I've got to ask since you've obviously read my original post, have you ever used lane splitting at 80-90 mph and done so between a van (yes, we were in a van) and a semi, or do you think that's a good idea or good practice?"


No.
As for me passing judgement on everyone around me.... how much time have you got?

Clearly, the scenario you describe is not a legal "lane splitting". It mentions speeding, occupying the same lane as another vehicle. It scared/startled you (based on your description).
Not a common occurance where I ride, but I see a fair amount of sport bike squidery from Boston to Philly and everywhere in between. It's been going on a LOOOONG time. Clearly, the opportunity for it to go wrong is multiplied by doing those things. Most of us manage our risks at a less agressive level.




Sorry if you didn't expect an opposing viewpoint.
You'll find plenty of validation.

I'll fold my tent.

Carry on, you're doing great.

quawk said:

I find it curious that in your school driver's ed you never drove on the road, and that your car and motorcycle test was around cones in a parking lot. From your comment about how long you've had your license, were are close in age. In my small rural school district, we spent nearly all of our driver's ed hours out on the public roads. You took both your car test and bike test on the streets/roads.

Click to expand...

I am 74.

Your first sentence is correct, to your last sentence: I did not take my license driving tests on roads - like I wrote - I took them around cones in the parking lot.

I got my licenses in South Dakota in 1966. Learner's permit in 1965, Driver's ed in early winter 1966 - massive snow in SD that time of year - school thought it to dangerous to be on the road. Driver's license on my 16th birthday - too much snow for the DMV to send a tester on the road with you. I learned to drive in a Volkswagen bus by my parents in the winter mostly in the Black Hills of SD. Then in 1968 I was retested for my motorcycle addendum in IL in a parking lot when I applied for an IL license with motorcycle as I was having trouble getting insurance with a SD license having an SD address. When I moved to VA in 1970 I only had to take the eye test to get a VA license with the motorcycle endorsement since I had a valid IL license with motorcycle.

marshg246 said:

Your first sentence is correct, to your last sentence: I did not take my license driving tests on roads - like I wrote - I took them around cones in the parking lot.

Click to expand...

My response post should have been: I took both my car and motorcycle test on the streets/roads. Unclear grammar. My bad.

If one wants to lane split or ride without a helmet where it is legal, knock yourself out.
Many do, literally.
And many of them end up in a wheel chair or pushing a walker around drooling on themselves the rest of their lives.

As well there is always some competitive notion that flairs up with a lot of drivers when a rider on a bike is passing on the shoulder or shooting the gap...they get pissed and want to block the bike from lane splitting.
"If I can't move ahead of this traffic neither can you!".
It's a petty, childish attitude but nonetheless prevalent on a lot of the public roadways these days.

I don't GAS about ones choice as long as MY tax dollars are not being used to provide medical care for your pile up or spill. In my state a helmet is optional...BUT...you have to provide proof of medical coverage while riding without one if requested by law enforcement.
No coverage?
Law enforcement is authorized to seize the motorcycle and fine your ass into the next century.

I used to "shoot the gap" as we called it all the time when I was young and bullet proof 50 something years ago. Now, and I have been hit twice in my riding, the downside of getting pinched or blocked aka "eating pavement" is just too obvious and a convincing deterrent for me.
Personally I want to keep riding a motorcycle, not a wheelchair...but to each their own.