Lane Splitting

[K9]

Big discussion at work today on "Lane Splitting". Eight riders and Eight deffinitions of it. Please someone detail it so I can let others read it from you guys. On the AMA web site there is no definition about it. Also can't tell if it's leagle in NJ from that Web site. Thanks guys...

[jstark47]

In NJ, although lane splitting is "Not referenced in Administrative Code or Statutes" (AMA), 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."

If you are injured lane splitting in NJ, I doubt you'll have much remedy under the law. If you injure someone else or damage property, I believe a sharp lawyer could make that passage work against you. I wouldn't do it.

[K9]

Thanks for the help. So it is OK though not safe for two bikes to ride next to each other in the same lane, this is not eleagle but not recommended. Is that called lane shareing? There are two terms that are causing confusion among all of us, they are, Lane Splitting and Lane Shareing. What are the differences of both terms? In the AMA data base they refference to Lane Splitting...

[CNF2002]

Interesting that the NJ law recommends you to stay in the center of the lane for safety, when the MSF Motorcycle training courses recommend you do not for safety.

[K9]

It does make you wonder about things. I rode last summer but only to test different sport bikes and see what I like most. I have no real road experience like some of you guys here.My time Motocross racing means nothing when it comes to being on the road I did find some real great reading suggestions from someone on this board, maybe not from this group but good just the same. This is the link to it, http://www.msgroup.org/discuss.asp I did not find the definitions of "Lane Shareing" and "Lane Splitting" there though. Yet I have not been able to read everything there. They go over all kind of importand techniques to sport bike rideing. Check it out and see what you think...

[CNF2002]

I have always thought of it as

Lane Sharing: Two motorcycles side-by-side or staggered where they both occupy a portion of the their lanes simultaneously.

Lane Splitting: Riding on the strip between two lanes, between traffic.

[flynrider]

Thanks for the help. So it is OK though not safe for two bikes to ride next to each other in the same lane, this is not eleagle but not recommended. Is that called lane shareing? There are two terms that are causing confusion among all of us, they are, Lane Splitting and Lane Shareing. What are the differences of both terms? In the AMA data base they refference to Lane Splitting...

From what JStark posted, I'm left with the impression that NJ does not allow any sharing of lanes, be it car/bike or bike/bike. Hard to say whether or not 2 bikes sharing a lane is "safe" or "not safe". Laws on this vary by state. Here in AZ for example, a motorcyclist is forbidden from sharing a lane with a car, but sharing with another motorcycle is perfectly legal and spelled out expressly in the law.

Lane splitting is riding on the line between cars that occupy the lanes on either side of you. The only place (in the U.S.) that I know it is legal is California. It might be legal in some other states, but I haven't heard about it. There was some legislation pending in Texas to make it legal under some conditions, but I do not believe it passed.

[Sev]

Lane splitting - riding down the white dotted line between traffic (whether stopped or moving)

[K9]

OK, I have it now, and Wednesday so will the other riders at work. Lane Splitting is not a good idea, something I will not be doing. I see lots of riders move up front when they are one or two veichle spots behind cagers to be first at lights, that is very tempting but you get a ticket for that "If seen". I admit I might do that, 127HP and 363Lbs equeal rocket ship take offs and it will be hard to be stuck behind anything slow. It will be very hard to resist for a wile with a new machine, but splitting the line between two moving vehiles is not for me. Thanks for clearing this all up....

[VermilionX]

i lane split but only when traffic is stopped or moving very slow.

it's legal here in CA.