Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Yeah, chalk another one up for lane splitting. Alot of instructors, books, and riders say that when you come to a stop, you should keep an eye on escape routes. Then, in addition to getting your escape route, you have to keep your eye on your mirror to make sure the guy on his cellphone sees you, and if he doesn't you have to throttle up and get the hell out of there before he hits you. That's alot of factors to consider while your a$$ is hanging in the breeze.

Riding a Motorcycle is all about being PROACTIVE. That means Not waiting for some asshat in an SUV to come barreling at you at a stop before you practice your safety maneuver. It means never being in that situation to begin with.

If you pull between the traffic at a stoplight , you are safely out of harm's way, and you can just concentrate on what's AHEAD of you, not BEHIND you. Plus you can pull away faster than traffic anyway. The biggest danger with this technique is that some crazy may be running the red light after yours turns green - so that's what you have to watch out for.

Disclaimer: This is illegal in 49 of the 50 United States. aka Kids, don't try this at home.

When I lived in the BIG city, I lane-split/filtered every single day in thick traffic for 10 years straight, otherwise It would be no advantage to ride the bike to work.

Not to mention the fun factor of zipping in & out of slow pathetic car drivers.

I NEVER had one incident while doing it. If you know what your doing it is safe, but it's an art you have to master & you have to get experience at it.

Of course it is a huge risk but that is one of the things I liked about it.

But then, I am addicted to adrenalin....