Illegal lane splitting

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by miss_syn

Ironically my boss went into a bitch fit the same day this went up

"If I'm stuck in traffic those motherf***ing bicyclists should sit behind me too!"

Ive never understood this logic... When I saw people do it I was always like damn I need to get a bike..

Then I got one. but there isnt traffic like that here.

Originally Posted by Alex

Your boss is an idjit.

word.

[akima]

Originally Posted by Alex

Your boss is an idjit.

+1

[Mountain Dew]

I'll lane-split on private property (mainly in the parking lot on campus because when I'm done with classes, it's a MADHOUSE there.

[ungluck]

i lane split when i can period..my brother and 3 of my best friends are HPD..i didnt get in cos of my accident(injury drop) and most dont really care about it if your doin it in traffic, or shoulder riding....but if your doing 100mph splitting..different story.

[massacremasses]

yeah thats a good way to die...

[phr3ek]

i do it all day everyday for my 1 hour commute to and from school

i posted i vid on youtube of my daily ride, but im to lazy to post it again and get flamed for unsafe practices

[jamesio]

I have been splitting more and more lately. But only when traffic is at a dead stand still, or close to it. I had one guy in a minivan start honking like crazy at me one time when I got in front of him at a light But for the most part it seems people don't care, and I find it relatively safe when traffic is at a stand still or a crawl, when there are way less gaps for cagers to randomly switch lanes into. Even still tho, when I split I go slow. Usually keep it in first gear and no faster that 10 or 15mph. And I watch for front wheels turning towards me and peoples heads in their side view mirrors and blinkers and people not paying attention.

IMO splitting is a perk of riding on the street and I use it to my advantage. Who wants to be stuck in stop and go traffic on a bike? It gets very tiring very quickly playing with the clutch, balancing the bike, foot up and down over and over and then there is weather fatigue. And also all that idling isn't good for the bike. I notice it heats up really quick when idling in traffic forever. Our ninjas are small and nimble, so as long as the conditions are relatively safe in my eyes, I have no problem with it.

When I choose to stay in slow traffic tho I like to practice my slow speed maneuvering and balancing the bike. I have to say I think I have gotten pretty good, I can go suuuuuuper slow without having to put my foot down and can balance her upright at a complete stop for a few seconds until traffic moves a little again. I also practice that at stop signs. This is when the rear brake comes in handy, it tightens everything up nicely at slow speeds

[infinitethrill]

So, while we are on the topic, I did have a question. I do live in California and will lane split when safe to do so (freeway in slow traffic, yes, I do know the dangers etc) and will filter to the front of a stoplight. I have no problem filtering to an intersection when there are two lanes going straight, and sometimes even in the middle when two lanes are turning left. My question is what is legal when it comes down to one lane? Lane sharing implies one car and one motorcycle per lane... It is illegal to pass on the shoulder, so can pass on the left side of the stopped vehicles? How about if there is one lane for left turing... Can you filter to the front by passing the cars on the right? Again if this isn't safe to do, but if traffic allows, what are the specific's?

[phr3ek]

single turn lanes - i filter to just behind the 1st car in line, same with dbl turn lanes
single straight lanes - i filter all the way to the front
stop signs - no filtering at all, just wait your damn turn

[ungluck]

yeah stop signs i just wait..traffic <10mph i will split to the left or on the shoulder, intown..it's not as easy as there is a TON of foot traffic in waikiki(it's a shithole) and pedestrians,even if they sprint into the straight via a jaywalk, and you hit them..your going to jail..sooo fuct up...especially all of the idiot tourist who just wonder into the street...takes everythin gin me not to mow them down when i'm in my car.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by phr3ek

single turn lanes - i filter to just behind the 1st car in line, same with dbl turn lanes
single straight lanes - i filter all the way to the front
stop signs - no filtering at all, just wait your damn turn

i used to do the same. then i got hit with the double turn situation. now i only pull 2nd if its a single. on doubles i'll slide just forward of #1 and pull ahead on green (provided no drunkies are running the red light) to make sure the douches can't hit me. i find the only safe place around a protected double left turn lane is at the very front, or one car forward of the back (avoid the rear-end) anything else and people do really really stupid things.

[phr3ek]

sometimes on a dbl turn i just filter all the way to the front and stop on the crosswalk

but i rarely do that now, since im never really behind red lights

[akima]

Originally Posted by phr3ek

sometimes on a dbl turn i just filter all the way to the front and stop on the crosswalk

but i rarely do that now, since im never really behind red lights

I always wondered about that. What happens when you filter up to some traffic lights and there is no space to go in front of the car waiting behind the lights?
Do you go in the area reserved for cyclists to stop?
Do you go in the cross walk?
Do you stop parallel to the car so the two of you are side by side?
Do you stop parallel to the car so the two of you are side by side, but position your tire slightly in front of the car indicating to the car that you will pull away first?
Do you not filter right to the front because it's a bad idea?
Do you do something else?

[blink]

relax lol

[akima]

Originally Posted by blink

relax lol

So you chose option 6 yeah? You get to the front of the queue, relax and laugh. Sounds good!

[jamesio]

Originally Posted by akima

I always wondered about that. What happens when you filter up to some traffic lights and there is no space to go in front of the car waiting behind the lights?
Do you go in the area reserved for cyclists to stop?
Do you go in the cross walk?
Do you stop parallel to the car so the two of you are side by side?
Do you stop parallel to the car so the two of you are side by side, but position your tire slightly in front of the car indicating to the car that you will pull away first?
Do you not filter right to the front because it's a bad idea?
Do you do something else?

I would just go in the cross walk. Of course if the first car is already stopped inside the crosswalk then you're kinda screwed then you feel kinda dumb

I would never stop parallel to a car at a light because said cager might feel offended that you are lane splitting and try and beat you through the light and cut you off or accelerate faster than you, etc. If it's a left turn that could end up bad for you.

[akima]

Originally Posted by jamesio

I would just go in the cross walk. Of course if the first car is already stopped inside the crosswalk then you're kinda screwed then you feel kinda dumb

I would never stop parallel to a car at a light because said cager might feel offended that you are lane splitting and try and beat you through the light and cut you off or accelerate faster than you, etc. If it's a left turn that could end up bad for you.

Most of our traffic lights have little painted areas reserved for cyclists to stop in front of the cars... I guess it's not that naughty stopping in there. Maybe if I add a bell and a basket to my motorcycle I can blend in with the cyclists!