Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ANDS! wrote:

1. the first statement has nothing to do with what he is saying. A biker splitting traffic in a densely packed construction zone with a car passing another car on the sparsely packed freeway (if you can use the pass lane to pass, its not packed) are two totally different things.

Of course it is - both are methods of convenience.

No its not the same. Lane splitting in a construction zone is usually 1 lane not 2. Its not lane splitting if there is more than one lane and your passing on the left/right LANE (which passing on the right on a highway is illegal just like driving in the left lane is illegal). You need to read up on the defenition of Lane splitting. If there are 2 lanes of road and there is a stand still I WILL pull over in front of you if your trying to pass especially if its a construction zone. If it is 80mph traffic I could give a whoot less because that means both lanes are open, not congested, and if you want to ride faster than me fine. there is no reason to lane split if there is open road and everyones doing like 80 mph. In congested areas why should you get to your destination faster than me because im in a car instead of a bike? you should wait in the congestion just like everyone else and use the full LANE to pass the other LANE not lane split. I mean its not my fault you didnt leave your location a few minutes earlier to avoid the congestion.

your 1 bike is not going to make 1 iota of difference to congested traffic if you stay in line or not. Also as I mentioned before im not talking about city roads im talking about highways/freeways where there is road construction going on. Yes michigan is one of the few states that will give you a $500 ticket (thats what the price used to be as my friend got a ticket for this) for waiting till the last second to move over for a construction choke point.

You should take the time to study the statistics on driving in CA where lane splitting is legal. Lane splitting has been shown to be safer for motorcycles, and it does not cause more accidents or problems with traffic. The general consensus is it eases traffic. Part of why the federal government allows motorcycles in the car pool lane - a reward for lowering traffic congestion is part of it.

I've been envious of lane-splitting motorcycles, but not angry or furious. Motorcycles doing illegal things like speeding excessively in the brakedown lane is another story.

Lane-splitting in CA used to be defined as only being able to do it when traffic is going 30 mph or slower, and you could only do it at around 10 mph over the speed limit. They've made the definition more loose it seems to give the cops more leeway. Lane splitting is also only legal when there are 2 lanes of traffic going in one direction. You can do it between lanes, but not in brakedown lanes and not between lanes of opposing traffic.

Asking why a motorcycle should get to go when you are stuck is the same as asking why should a motorcycle be stuck when you are. One really doesn't have anything to do with the other as they are completely different types of transportation and should be treated as such.

At stoplights, I usually split lanes and filter to the front. In fact, if I'm the first in line and can't split lanes, I feel vulnerable in the back and will watch my mirror anxiously until a car pulls in behind me to act as a shield. If I'm filtering to the front of the line and the light turns green before I reach the front, I merge back into traffic and wave a, "thank you," to the car behind me for letting me back in.

The following is a quote from the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety by the MSF and the NHTSA:

There is evidence (Hurt, 1981) that traveling between lanes
of stopped or slow-moving cars (i.e., lane splitting)
on multiple-lane roads (such as interstate
highways) slightly reduces crash frequency compared
with staying within the lane and moving
with other traffic.

Fo shizzy. I wouldn't be pissed or feel the urge to block a biker for splitting in traffic. City or construction or otherwise. Nalian has it right, I'd be envious. I mean really, who cares if a biker passes you in slow traffic. More power to em.

Pulled of my FIRST lane split today (after noticing SEVERAL enticing opp's throughout the week). I nodded thankfully at those beside me and got nary a look.

I wasn't as brave as the guy who lane split through 4 lanes of backed up traffic. I'm sure he pulled in somewhere nice.

I regularly commute through Manhattan rush hour traffic on a Vespa, and if I DON'T squeeze between the backed-up traffic and parked cars on a cross street I get yelled at by the traffic cops. I kid you not. They just want to keep it all moving, and even a little Vespa does in fact take up space that could be better used by a car. I just thank god that the parked UPS & Fedex trucks have sliding doors.

ofblong wrote:In congested areas why should you get to your destination faster than me because im in a car instead of a bike? you should wait in the congestion just like everyone else and use the full LANE to pass the other LANE not lane split.

I can sort of see your point in terms of "rights"; a motorcycle rider expects (and should be given) the right to a full lane during normal traffic, so why should that rider impinge on the lane rights of a car in congested traffic?

But ultimately I disagree with the logic. Motorcycles as a whole decongest traffic, never more so when they're allowed to filter to the front (therefore freeing up space for a car, that the motorcyclist otherwise would be taking up unnecessarily). Letting a rider through won't hurt you, and in fact, helps you.

Then again, given the real world, this is a moot point. I see you're from Michigan, where it's been decided that lane splitting is illegal. Therefore riders shouldn't do it, and therefore it shouldn't be surprising that drivers get royally tee'd off when they do.

Grey Thumper wrote:

ofblong wrote:In congested areas why should you get to your destination faster than me because im in a car instead of a bike? you should wait in the congestion just like everyone else and use the full LANE to pass the other LANE not lane split.

I can sort of see your point in terms of "rights"; a motorcycle rider expects (and should be given) the right to a full lane during normal traffic, so why should that rider impinge on the lane rights of a car in congested traffic?

But ultimately I disagree with the logic. Motorcycles as a whole decongest traffic, never more so when they're allowed to filter to the front (therefore freeing up space for a car, that the motorcyclist otherwise would be taking up unnecessarily). Letting a rider through won't hurt you, and in fact, helps you.

Then again, given the real world, this is a moot point. I see you're from Michigan, where it's been decided that lane splitting is illegal. Therefore riders shouldn't do it, and therefore it shouldn't be surprising that drivers get royally tee'd off when they do.

I understand where the people in this thread are saying its a good thing and im not arguing that point cause its true a motorcycle can easily do it without harm. I am just looking at the "wait your turn" side of things. In michigan they have found with "statistics" (though im not sure who came up or did the statistics) that more accidents are caused by lane splitting and those who wait till the last second to change lanes for a construction zone than those who wait in line. So thats why they give you a $500 ticket for lane splitting as well as waiting for the last second at road construction lane change points.

I remember reading a letter in a UK bike magazine. This guy was hit while passing by an inattentive cager. The cager admitted he was at fault but then changed his story when the cops came.

When both biker and driver went to court the judge said something along the lines of when you're on a bike, you're meant to filter or something similar. Who'd have thunk it.

Jas0n wrote:I would never do it, but does anyone here do it?

All the time - there is a reason operate a skinny vehicle...

Min you it is legal here in stationary or slow moving traffic* although you'd be hard pressed to find car drivers that believe it. I've had a few twats try and stop me by pulling across and one van open its passenger door but I keep my speed inside my reaction time.


* As long as it is safe to do so. An accident is usually taken as evidnce that it wasnt safe. :/