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who here does it ? who thinks its the coolest thing ever and who thinks its dumb and dangerous
splitting lanes
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G
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·What is your definition of splitting lanes, because I know two definitions, one which I think is heinous, and one which I don't do, but could tolerate.
The worst is splitting at highway speeds, between cars travelling at normal speeds...
The okay one is splitting in deadlocked traffic or at stop lights...
I won't do either, simply for the fact I feel vulnerable enough on a motorcycle, I don't want to get where people expect us even less, or piss off a guy in a truck who decides to nudge me into a ditch.
The worst is splitting at highway speeds, between cars travelling at normal speeds...
The okay one is splitting in deadlocked traffic or at stop lights...
I won't do either, simply for the fact I feel vulnerable enough on a motorcycle, I don't want to get where people expect us even less, or piss off a guy in a truck who decides to nudge me into a ditch.
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Splitting lanes, to me (and where I'm from) seems like the rider is in a rush to get somewhere and is overly aggressive. I can see the benefits of doing so, but i feel it's unnecessary. However, in deadlocked traffic, my opinion would change to the effect that if i didn't, my engine would overheat.
But i never see that happen. ever. not in Wisconsin anyway. I wouldn't take Interstates or Beltlines or anything of the line anyway. State roads for me.
But i never see that happen. ever. not in Wisconsin anyway. I wouldn't take Interstates or Beltlines or anything of the line anyway. State roads for me.
Splitting lanes is a way of life here in CA, Nearly every rider does it here, and in fact many commuters ride a bike just so they can do it. If you live in or near LA or OC like I do, splitting lanes can mean a difference of up to 40 min/hour. It takes me 20 min to get home from work each day on my bike. When I have to take my car it’s 45mi-1hr, or worse if there’s a wreck. Of course it’s plenty dangerous, I know a guy who ran into a door that was opened right in front of him so the driver could spit; it nearly totaled his new Goldwing and put him in the hospital for a month with very serious injuries. When traffic is moving, the law limits our passing speed to 15MPH faster than the speed of traffic. Plenty of ignorant drivers change lanes without looking or signaling, so this could be extremely dangerous at speeds above 35 or 40MPH
Two little vignetts.
I was puttering along between two rows of stopped cars on the Sunrise Highway in Long Island, NY when I came to a Cop parked by the side of the road who motioned to me to stop. He told me He didn't know if i was breaking any laws, but that he was going to hold me there till all the cars I had just passed went by, then I could go.
Talking with a co worker, a reasonablby intelegent fellow, when the subject of the advantages of motorcycle Comuting came up. One of the advantages I mentioned was Lane splitting. His reply shook me. He said if he ever sae a Bike comming up behind him he would wedge the guy into the other cars or the guard rail. I said incredusllywhy? He said " If I'm stuck he's going to be too"
So laws aside If you choose to lane split. Keep in mind there are a fair number of attitudes out there that would do you harm, simply because their jelous. I only do it now when the cars are stopped. That way they can't go sideways, but they might open their doors.
FOG
I was puttering along between two rows of stopped cars on the Sunrise Highway in Long Island, NY when I came to a Cop parked by the side of the road who motioned to me to stop. He told me He didn't know if i was breaking any laws, but that he was going to hold me there till all the cars I had just passed went by, then I could go.
Talking with a co worker, a reasonablby intelegent fellow, when the subject of the advantages of motorcycle Comuting came up. One of the advantages I mentioned was Lane splitting. His reply shook me. He said if he ever sae a Bike comming up behind him he would wedge the guy into the other cars or the guard rail. I said incredusllywhy? He said " If I'm stuck he's going to be too"
So laws aside If you choose to lane split. Keep in mind there are a fair number of attitudes out there that would do you harm, simply because their jelous. I only do it now when the cars are stopped. That way they can't go sideways, but they might open their doors.
FOG
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my thoughts as well.FOG said:
i dont do either. splitting moving cars is asking to be squashed or nudged. and cutting (lets not put a fancy name like "lane splitting" to it...its cutting) its just wrong IMO. if everyone else has to wait, so can i. i despise those people who zoom up till the very last chance to merge so they can force their way in, so i wouldent do it unless my exit was like right up the way.
I hate ppl who are jealous to or want to harm motorcycle drivers.. that's why I dont "lane split", even if all the cars have stopped i wont split. I have heard too much of riders crashed to an opened car door.. AND THEY OPEN THEIR DOORS ON PURPOSE!!!
wtf
just outrun them off the next lights!
sometimes car drivers put OIL instead of washing agent in their windscreen washing system. then they adjust those nozzles to point sideways, and when a motorcycle passes them they just pull the switch. if the mc driver has his visor open.... ==> some serious injuries.
wtf is wrong with them..
wtf
just outrun them off the next lights!sometimes car drivers put OIL instead of washing agent in their windscreen washing system. then they adjust those nozzles to point sideways, and when a motorcycle passes them they just pull the switch. if the mc driver has his visor open.... ==> some serious injuries.
wtf is wrong with them..
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when i was in the navy in the bay area i had my vulcan 500. lane splitting is a way of life. the traffic is so bad that even the bike cops do it!!i did get freaked one time though...i was on the bay bridge(connects oakland to san fran)i was on the lower level splitting lanes following a crotch rocket. the lanes are a little tighter on the bridge. it was purty intense. a van with large side mirrors lommed ahead i shifted over to avoid but still nipped hisside mirrors. i never stopped and never looked back. i was a little shaken up after it but i still kept lane splitting!!!too bad they don't let me do it in georgia!!
Knowing the drivers in this area and their attitudes, lane splitting would first have to be made legal and then remain legal for a good 10 years before I think I'd try it. And honestly, I'd make sure I got my concealed carry permit before I started splitting. Alot of U.S. drivers (maybe other places, too, I just haven't been there) are too arrogant, self-centered, and violent to allow motorcyclists to safely do much of anything, including ride their bikes.
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yeah. i got one lady to yell at me at a light when i did it. i usualy only do it at red lights when there is like 3 or more cars. lol and man it makes me feel cool
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252 Posts
ya peeps use to try and wreak me but by the time they moved i was gone!!
Always wanted to do it, but the reprocutionns (*spelling?) arent worth it. California is the only "legal" place you can do it...and that is like under 40mph or somthing like that. I belive if jelousy gets the best of you in that state and door opening or wedge formation of cars to stop the biker is worth 10-15 years in jail no questions asked....that helps preventing it from happening.
Janinja
Janinja
I can't reconcile expecting cars to respect my full lane width if I don't do the same. Until lane lines are as wide as me and my bike, so I'm not encroaching on anyone else's lane, I'm willing to sacrifice additional time in traffic for an expectation that the entire width of the lane I'm in is MINE.
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Here in Chi-town, lane splitting will get you pinched in a jiffy. I was on I-290 in very dense traffic and a dude on a yamaha was splitting, bout 20 min and 2-3 miles later i saw him on the shoulder with a cop standing next to him (lord knows why he stopped for the police in the first place, if i was hauling ass on the lane lines in gridlock i sure wouldnt be going out of my way to get pulled over). But i have been forced to do it myself, on a more busy street by my house i got cut off and had i just nailed the breaks i would have been rear ended, since there was also a car to my left, i just scuttled my way between the cars infront of me for the sake of my own well-being. Aside from situations such as that, you'd have a hard time getting me to ride between two cars, not worth the risk of moving violations or injury.
That's an interesting point of view.ex_dsmr said:
Did you ever think that being on the side of cars is less of a chance of getting "squashed"
The greatest chance of getting squashed is being behind the car in front of you and in font of the car behind you.
Get it?
I live in San Francisco, and my commute is a round trip crossing the 3 main bay area bridges. That's the Golden Gate, Richmond/San Rafael, and Oakland Bay Bridge for a total of 44 miles round trip, 5 days a week, sometimes in heavy rain.
It feels so much safer to be in between the rows of cars at 40mph than on the back of somebodies bumper waiting to get squished because Cindy soccer mom who's sucking down a latte while trying to arrange a baby sitter doesn't "see" the motorcycle in front of her and jams the brakes at the last second, I can't tell you how many times I've heard that sound behind me, and I've thought I'm a gonner.
Some dumb ass tries to crowd me because they feel I'm violating their first amendment rights to get there before everyone else? I'll take their mirror home as a souvenir. It's not hard you can do it with your elbow.
When I stay at the GF's house in Oakland and come into the city in the morning there are usually 10-15 other bikes within site of me. That's hundreds of bikes commuting each morning, each one getting more than 30mpg, and taking one less car space on the bridge.
Isn't that what it's all about so Cindy soccer mom can get her Uber utility vehicle to work that much faster?
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This has got to be a west cost thing. I see this more and more on west coast boards than any other. Personally, i don't care WHAT they do, this action is totally uncalled for. Any contact with another vehicle for whatever reason is bad road manners, period. If you've got enough anger when you ride to damage another motorist, maybe you're not in the right mindset to ride until you cool off. You're not much good on the road when all you see is red. I can not stand hot heads at all.
No it's not a “WEST COAST THING!” and you are an A$$ for suggesting such a thing…Knightslugger said:
As a west coast rider I take great offence to your comments.
Personally, I think YOUR comment is condescending and totally uncalled for.
As a moderator you should know better and refrain from personal judgments against any particular area or group of riders.
Since we here on the west coast have the most experience with this particular subject, and since opinions vary so widely, there are bound to be many more different opinions about it here than anywhere else in the country.
Here in LA I put my life on the line every day I ride on the heavily congested freeways. I can only guess what your idea of heavy traffic is in “Central Wisconsin” but it’s obvious your experience is as limited as your knowledge about “WEST COAST” riders. I doubt you would last a day in real concrete jungle. LOL
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