Lane-sharing in double left-turn-only lanes

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jstark47 · #11 Unread post by **jstark47** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:48 pm

Brackstone wrote:Can someone please describe "lane-sharing" to me. I'm sure we're not talking about lane-splitting because that is legal in New Jersey or "Not Referenced" according to the AMA website.

Filtering, lane sharing, lane splitting, etc, are not legal in NJ..... unless you're talking about 2 bikes being side-by-side at a red light. It is not legal for a bike and a car to share the same lane, or for a bike to travel between lanes occupied by cars.

Brackstone · Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:04 pm

Ok then can someone explain this to me?

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws ... p?state=nj

Lane Splitting Not referenced in Administrative Code or Statutes

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws ... p?state=CA

Lane Splitting Not referenced in Administrative Code or Statutes

It seems like the laws are the same. If this was some rinky-little website I wouldn't' trust it, but I'd like to believe the AMA stayed on top of these things.

Another line of thought here is what am I supposed to do if I get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and my bike starts overheating? Just turn it off and push?

jstark47 · #13 Unread post by **jstark47** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:09 pm

Brackstone wrote:Ok then can someone explain this to me?

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws ... p?state=nj

Lane Splitting Not referenced in Administrative Code or Statutes
http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws ... p?state=CA

Lane Splitting Not referenced in Administrative Code or Statutes
It seems like the laws are the same. If this was some rinky-little website I wouldn't' trust it, but I'd like to believe the AMA stayed on top of these things.

The following text is in the NJ state Motorcycle Manual:

"Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane in which to operate safely. Automobile drivers and motorcycle drivers should not share lanes.
As a motorcycle rider, there are things you can do to prevent lane sharing. Don’t ride between rows of stopped cars. Don’t try to squeeze past a stopped car in the same lane. Anything can happen — a hand could come out a window, a door could open, a car could turn suddenly. Discourage lane sharing by others. The best way to do this is to keep a center lane position in situations where other drivers might be tempted to squeeze by you."

Brackstone · Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:16 pm

Damn,

Well if my bike is going to overheat I'm just going to ride past I mean I can't just turn it off and wait it out, that's ridiculous.

I also found this which other new jersey riders should take interest in.

http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert ... id=9246261

I know I'll be sending a letter.

A little bit more info on where our government stands on some motorcycle issues.

http://gardenstateabate.org/2007ElectionPositions.htm

badinfluence63 · Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:04 pm

Reviewing many states statutes I was surprisingly disappointed to see that many if not most don't allow motorcycles to share the same lane(side by side). When much younger (20' early 30's) I hung around with the same group of friends and the criteria for anyone I hung around with (besides being able to get along) was that they had a motorcycle. Which brand was inconsequential but what we were gonna do in our free was no surprise. Every where we road, we road side by side and fast. 6-8+ of us. In the corners when turning right the cycle on the left faded back. On a left corner the right cycle faded.

By todays standards thats frowned upon but to us we saw it as I sign of unity. In hind sight maybe we were tempting the fates.

It was cool at the time to be cruising at 50-70mph and reach over and high 5 your buddies hand. I don't have the stones for it any more.

I have some great high speed lane lane splitting memories. If one person decided to open the door I was fcuked but it never happened. And I don't do that anymore either.

I think my nerves are fried as I feel a little anxious when on the highway going over 65 mph and always tend to gravitate towards the secondary roads these days when going anywhere far.

jstark47 · #16 Unread post by **jstark47** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:01 am

Brackstone wrote:Well if my bike is going to overheat I'm just going to ride past I mean I can't just turn it off and wait it out, that's ridiculous.

I realize this isn't the main point of this thread, but why do you think your bike is going to overheat? Isn't your Ninja liquid cooled?

I got stuck in a line going into an air show on a broiling day last May on my air cooled Bonneville. After a half hour, the bike was definitely hot.... but nothing actually happened, the bike was fine.

Brackstone · Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:39 am

jstark47 wrote:
Brackstone wrote:Well if my bike is going to overheat I'm just going to ride past I mean I can't just turn it off and wait it out, that's ridiculous.
I realize this isn't the main point of this thread, but why do you think your bike is going to overheat? Isn't your Ninja liquid cooled?

I got stuck in a line going into an air show on a broiling day last May on my air cooled Bonneville. After a half hour, the bike was definitely hot.... but nothing actually happened, the bike was fine.

Yes it is but the problem for me is most of my traffic happens near the end of my run. So on a day where it's like 95+ degrees my engine is usually running a bit hot by the time I'm almost home.

Then to get stuck in traffic it gets dangerously close to that red-line.

The way my bike stays cool if it's stuck is it turns on a fan, but if the bike is already really hot that fan isn't going to put enough air through to do any good.

Granted it's not going to happen every time, but if my heat gauge is climbing I'd rather risk the ticket than risk damaging the bike.

ANDS! · #18 Unread post by **ANDS!** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:07 am

Its illegal in 49 states, only pisses drivers off (leading to increased road rage), and puts you in danger of being hit by an unaware driver as well.

So does executing a lane change, and turning on lights WHILE changing lanes - but car drivers still do it. Wouldn't stop me.

As to the OP - I do it, and will ride in between the two lanes - I've even been on the left of the left most lane. Only time I wont do it (or will be cautious of doing it), is if the left most is also a U-Turn lane, then I'll just split the two left-turn lanes.

Rarely (and I've only seen it once), will a car actually accelerate out of a stop faster than me. Not that I'm a speed-demon, cars just seem to be idling, not paying attention, or understand to not shoot out with a bike rider next to them.

I remember the first time I lane-shared. I was nervous as hell. But, like all things on a bike - you get over it, and it becomes a vital tool in your commute. The difference between sitting in traffic for 30 minutes or 5 minutes.

ill'n · #19 Unread post by **ill'n** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:56 pm

I'm relieved to hear that I'm not insane for even considering the maneuver. I think I will practice launching into a turn whenever I happen to be first in line at a left-turn-only lane. After I get comfortable with that I will start sharing left-turn-only lanes. It took me about a year before I felt comfortable enough to lane-share. It'll probably take me another year before I get comfortable for left-turn-lane-shares.

shane-o · #20 Unread post by **shane-o** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:10 pm

Not sure what the rest of you do when lane splitting

But

When I split down the middle to the front of the traffic whether the traffic is going to move forward or make a turn as you speak of, I always position my bike in front of one of the cars when I get to the lights, therefore I am always in front of the traffic and can never be caught in the middle of cars taking off, they have to wait for me to move off.