Lane splitting Europe vs US

[dieziege]

Because people are more obsessed with not wearing helmets (ABATE) than getting anywhere.

[Shorts]

ShawnKing, thanks for the explanation. That makes sense.

The main problem is that driver education in this country, for the most part, sucks eggs. We can't even get most drivers to observe the "keep right except to pass" rule, so it's fancy to expect them to observe the "watch for motorcycles passing between lanes" rule without major driver education.

MontyCarlo, I agree, DriversEd does squat for new drivers except aids in the licensing. People are terrible drivers. The ultimate thing I can see as to why, especially living overseas and looking "into the window from the outside", is that in the US, everything is "my right!". It's my right to do this. It's my right to do that. And everybody is so selfish all they care about is "their rights" they completely lose the big picture and making the situations beneficial and safe for everybody.

People are the problem. Let's get rid of all the people!

[TechTMW]

Here in Italy, the painted lines on the road are merely a suggestion. People drive wherever they see space. If that means going into the lane of oncoming traffic to pass another vehicle, so be it.

I'm not joking. What's more, I do it too.

The craziest thing is - I feel safer riding here than I did in the US. People here expect the unexpected. And Motorcycles and scooters are a part of their sight picture. In the absence of rules, people are forced to use their brains and react accordingly, instead of relying on the rules to do their thinking for them.

What's so bad about a car coming up behind you and passing in your lane? Here in Italy, I don't worry about these things because the guy who's passing SEES ME. In the states people would have a shitfit .... "eeeehhhh he came into my lane!!! waaahhh!!!" Here, it's another fact of daily life.

If you are coming up fast behind a car, and flash your lights - the car in front will 95% of the time move over so you can pass him. In the states, the guy in front says "Who does this jerky think he is!?" and stays in the lane ... then also gets pissed when the faster guy passes on the right.

I guess what I'm sayin is, I'll take a mild anarchy anyday, over a bunch of self-righteous freakos who've "Been educated."


Lane splitting has been proven to reduce emissions and contribute to a freer flow of traffic. I think it also contributes to the riding community in general - People who want to beat traffic will get on 2 wheels. Every freaking motorcyclist in the states should be writing their congressperson dammit!!

[Andrew]

It still comes down to education. Before I started thinking about getting a motorcycle of my own, I never noticed motorcycles on the road. They were never mentioned back in the day when I was taught to drive, and I never had any reason to give them a second thought. The only time I noticed them is when one of the "a$$holes" had super loud pipes or started lane splitting.

Once I began to get into riding, I started to realize how many bikes there were on the road and wondered how I missed them before. I also started appreciating the sound and understanding lane splitting.

I would venture to say that almost 100% of the non-riders out there are like I used to be. Unless they're taught differently from the beginning, that'll never change.

Tech, I've lived in France, Belgium and Germany, so I can attest to the better drivers in Europe. American drivers stick out like a sore thumb over there...

[JC Viper]

"People who want to beat traffic will get on 2 wheels. Every freaking motorcyclist in the states should be writing their congressperson dammit!!"

Congress here is on the take from bug companies which don't like to pay health coverage for those that ride to work so in turn instead of educating people they just regulate cylists.

Unfortunately I remember an article posted on why bikes shouldn't lanesplit... it was written by an middle age woman who drives a cage, who says that not because reckless (unless she saw Verm) but that people don't notice them.

Funny yet they only see us when we're speeding, overtaking quickly or use sound enhacning pipes (not just the totally open straights)

[Sculelos]

I really see no reason to have lane splitting in my area as theres backroads to everywhere and I can easily pass cars if I want to, although I'm speeding if I chose to pass cars cause where I live almost everyone drives right at the speed limit or up to 10 over, and usually the slow ones are nice enough to get in the right lane.

[black mariah]

I've been in cars with people that complain about lanesplitting. "It's not fair!" LIFE isn't fair, you P#$$\Y! STFU and drive you fat#%$# minivan with LCD TV, DVD player, and PS2. *SMACK*

Not fair my balls. If the road was fair we'd all be given one make and model of car. Everyone would drive the same thing. No modifications would be allowed. But the road isn't fair, you whiny little D#^*I. It's a road, not kindergarten. Drive your car and quit your bitching. *SMACK*

Because people are more obsessed with not wearing helmets (ABATE) than getting anywhere.

Too sadly true. There are REAL issues out there, costing lives, and we're worried about the supposed rights violation that is a helmet law? How about you quit YOUR whining while we're at it (pointed towards the anti-helmet dweebs) and put your effort into doing something USEFUL.

Just imagine for a second if every dollar ever spent on whining about helmet laws was instead used to educate drivers on how to share the road with motorcyclists.

Then again, that would make sense and would involve doing something for the greater good rather than for yourself. 'Cause helmets are so HOT and HEAVY.

BTW, this is what happens when I post while I'm tired. My internal rev limiter snaps.

*EDIT*
Just to clarify, that "real issues costing lives" thing was in reference to the lack of general driver knowledge regarding motorcycles. I've learned this much on forums... never leave open ANY hole for some jackass to make assumptions about.

[Kim]

Because people in cars (the majority) are jealous that someone else is able to do something they can't. "It just doesn't seem fair" to them.

When I rode my bicycle more I would often ride along stretches of road where I could keep pace with traffic because I knew the light timing... I'd pedal along at a steady rate while the cars launched from the light and jammed on the brakes at the next light, charge ahead and get trapped by the next light... on and on... why am I mentioning this? Because occasionally, after a few miles, those drivers would become totally irate at me I'm guessing for "cheating" them of their right to go faster than a bicycle. That's why I always rode on the sidewalk... they would try to intentionally try to run me down, or start driving more and more aggressively until they were spinning their wheels when the lights changed or simply running the lights. The fact that a bicycle had an advantage of any sort, even a limited one like that, pissed them off.

Lane splitting does that same thing to some people. Only a tiny percentage, but they are just the ones who will act out their irrationality... more feel like you are taking unfair advantage. Of course, they wouldn't be willing to ride to get that advantage either....

I agree that it can cause resentment with some cage drivers. That's why I feel that if motorcycle riders want to be respected and accepted on the road, they should follow the same rules as any other driver, i.e. not having any special advantages as far as getting somewhere any faster.

[NorthernPete]

I dont know about you..but it looks a little crazy to me....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOcr8423 ... 0splitting

[Andrew]

That is crazy