Lane Splitting

[Carrie]

video here

[Freeway]

Hey, that's my stomping grounds! That's the 101 Freeway south through the San Fernando Valley. Pretty typical traffic, and he even lanesplits in the same lane as I do. I've done that exact same ride hundreds of times, except I get off at the next exit, Woodman, to go home.

[8-Ball]

I'm there... a little more conservative than this guy, but it looks pretty familiar...

[dmax]

We had a lane splitting bill that failed to pass here in Texas. Would have been interesting. I'm sold on the idea that it's actually safer to split than waiting in traffic and getting rear-ended. But I still have a fear that in some places in the country, people are agressive to the point of cutting you off just for spite. Like Dallas and Houston for example, I guarantee those people would take offense that you aren't "waiting in line".

Although currently illegal, I've split in a traffic jam where traffic is completely stopped. I'm going on the assumption that even if a car calls in my license, the cops won't issue a ticket unless they witness it. This is unlikely in a traffic jam.

I have more faith when cars can't go anywhere i.e., they are blocked in traffic. But in that video, he passes a couple times where there are not two cars side by side. I fear this leaves an open lane that the car might jump into right when you're in the blind spot? Of course, the camera angle may have made it look worse then it was...

[shinbone1028]

To people who have never split lanes in traffic it must seem dangerous and foolhardy.When I first moved to Ca I wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not.
But after 30 plus years,I'm convinced that the worst thing you can do is sit in traffic,in someones blindspot,waiting to be run over.Splitting lanes becomes very natural.There are a few disgruntled cagers who try to pinch you,but you can usually spot them pretty easy,turning their side mirrors out as you go by is a blast.Most drivers around here move over if they see you approaching.I split lanes at stoplights,slowed and stopped traffic,traffic at speed and faster,basically anytime I don't feel comfortable with my position in the traffic.
A few months ago I was on the way home from UCLA,as I was going over the hill to the SFV traffic was about 30,I was splitting lanes about 50,thought I was moving pretty good until an LAPD split between me and the lane I was splitting doing about 75.Splitting lanes is a skill that every motorcyclist should use,legal or not.

[LittleBear]

I have to go with dmax about TX drivers. It is a race on the roads here and God forbid you get ahead of somebody. They dive like A$$holes and would pinch you in an instant to keep you from getting there before them. The attitude seams to be, I have to wait in line, so do you.
I have done it in CA and AZ, not legally, but it beats sitting in traffic.

[dmax]

Funny, I haven't found that California drivers are any better than others around the country. However, this splitting deal seems to be the exception. I'd say it's cause CA folks see cops splitting lanes, and so they are raised to accept it. Also, when I've done it in Texas, I carry enough speed and hit the slot when the other car isn't paying enough attention (which is all the time!) This way, it's over before they know what happened and I feel there is less chance for them to block. Who cares if they are pissed as long as they a couple cars behind you and can't run you down!

It really is strange. Most southern people are very nice in general. Standing in lines, holding doors open for people, etc. But when they get behind the wheel, I've seen nice old ladies use suburbans like they are running blocker for a load of moonshine! What kills me is they do this just for spite, half the time they aren't even in a hurry to get where they're going!

Same thing happens when you park your bike on the sidewalk; Some people think you are a jerk. Very few seem to realize that you are actually doing them a favor by leaving a whole car space for them to park in, instead of wasting the space on a bike.

[39800]

"Riding Tips

Lane splitting is permissible if done in a safe and prudent manner "

The above is from the CA DMV Motorcycle book.

Belolw is more information regarding lane splitting/lane sharing.


"Is lane-splitting legal?
Here's the text (verbatim) from the CHP's site: "Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible under California law but must done in a safe and prudent manner." The text used to also include "The motorcycle should be traveling no more than 10 mph faster than surrounding traffic (without exceeding the speed limit) and not come close enough to that traffic to cause a collision." but has since been removed. Perhaps they wanted to give cops more latitude to interpret what they thought was safe so they removed it.
If you lane split, avoid weaving between the two lanes and don't exceed traffic speed by more than 10 mph. The former could get you a ticket for changing lanes without signaling while the latter could get you a ticket for reckless driving.
Your odds of getting ticketed also increase if you lane split between the carpool and fast lane. A double yellow line divides the two lanes and those are illegal to cross (with rare exceptions that would never occur on the freeway); I know of riders who have been specifically ticketed for crossing the double yellow while lane splitting between those lanes."

[Carrie]

[route66paul]

30 years ago I used to lane split to get to work. I did that on my 650 Triumph. Now, with the wide bars on my Road King, I am wary of splitting traffic, these cagers are all over the road. The 10 mph difference is ok, I have had rice rockets split traffic at a 40 or so mph change. This makes some drivers pull to one side or another. If you are going 85 and splitting traffic going 55 or 60, you can easily have problems if a cager started wandering. When they here an unexpected loud noise, you don't know what they will do. Most drivers do not check their mirrors like they are supposed to.
When you get to the smaller towns, these people are used to driving 2 lane roads. They are never ready for some passing on their right side. If they hear a noise, they will almost always pull to the right, even if there is a lane to the right of them. This is not good for you lane splitters. Now I am old, and it doesn't really matter when I have to be somewhere when I am on my bike, so I don't like to split moving traffic. Just beware, and be careful.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by 16X9 Shooter

Your odds of getting ticketed also increase if you lane split between the carpool and fast lane. A double yellow line divides the two lanes and those are illegal to cross (with rare exceptions that would never occur on the freeway); I know of riders who have been specifically ticketed for crossing the double yellow while lane splitting between those lanes."

I used to commute to Newport Beach from LA on the I-5 and I used that little double yellow line area between the carpool and normal traffic lanes like it was my own personal motorcycle lane when the carpool lane was backed up. It's about 1/2 a lane wide and it's perfect for motorcycles. It was illegal as hell and I knew it, but I was never alone doing it either. I routinely was part of lines of 3, 4, and 5 bikes all in that bike lane. It was my favorite part of the ride home.

[8-Ball]

Originally Posted by 16X9 Shooter

"Riding Tips

Lane splitting is permissible if done in a safe and prudent manner "

The above is from the CA DMV Motorcycle book.

Belolw is more information regarding lane splitting/lane sharing.


"Is lane-splitting legal?
Here's the text (verbatim) from the CHP's site: "Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible under California law but must done in a safe and prudent manner." The text used to also include "The motorcycle should be traveling no more than 10 mph faster than surrounding traffic (without exceeding the speed limit) and not come close enough to that traffic to cause a collision." but has since been removed. Perhaps they wanted to give cops more latitude to interpret what they thought was safe so they removed it.
If you lane split, avoid weaving between the two lanes and don't exceed traffic speed by more than 10 mph. The former could get you a ticket for changing lanes without signaling while the latter could get you a ticket for reckless driving.
Your odds of getting ticketed also increase if you lane split between the carpool and fast lane. A double yellow line divides the two lanes and those are illegal to cross (with rare exceptions that would never occur on the freeway); I know of riders who have been specifically ticketed for crossing the double yellow while lane splitting between those lanes."

I thought it was "lane sharing".

You can share a lane with another vehicle, but can't weave back and forth across the dividing line.

In the case of the diamond lane, as long as you don't cross the double yellow, you should be able to share the lane and effect a pass.

Quoted from the CA DMV website:

MOTORCYCLES

Motorcyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers. While everyone must follow the same traffic laws, motorcyclists face unusual dangers because motorcycles are hard to see (many motorcycles keep their headlight on, even during daylight hours) and they require exceptional handling ability.

Here is how you can share the road safely with motorcyclists:

When you change lanes or enter a major thoroughfare, make a visual check for motorcycles. Also use your mirrors. Motorcycles are small and they can easily disappear into a vehicle’s blind spots.
Allow a four-second following distance. You will need this space to avoid hitting the motorcyclist if he or she falls.
Allow the motorcycle a full lane width. Although it is not illegal to share lanes with motorcycles, it is unsafe.
When you make a turn, check for motorcyclists and know their speed before turning.
Remember that road conditions which are minor annoyances to you pose major hazards to motorcyclists. Potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings, and grooved pavement can cause motorcyclists to change speed or direction suddenly. If you are aware of the effect of these conditions and drive with care and attention, you can help reduce motorcyclist injuries and fatalities.

[8-Ball]

Some more info from: www.laneshare.com

Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?

Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.


source: California Highway Patrol 'Answers'



When it comes to lane-sharing in North America, California is Mecca. In fact, if you want to get anywhere on a motorcycle in the Los Angeles basin, avoiding lane-sharing is not an option. The practice of lane-sharing has been allowed for decades. Yet, contrary to popular belief, there is no California statute permitting the practice. On the other hand, there’s no law stating you can’t lane-share. In other words, lane-sharing is not legal, but rather not illegal in the Golden State.


Perhaps a matter of semantics for some, this is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows some flexibility in the use of lane-sharing. On the other hand, it leaves it up to the discretion of the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) and his/her opinion whether your brand of lane-sharing is “reasonable and prudent“.


The generally “understood” guidelines seem to be:
-Travel no faster than 10 mph faster than the vehicles you’re lane-sharing with.
-Merge back in with the traffic when they reach 30-35 mph.
-Never exceed the speed limit.
-Lane-sharing between lanes #1 and #2 is preferred. (#1 being the “fast” or “inside” lane)
-Stay, more or less, in one lane or the other. Excessive meandering might get you cited. (CA code 21658)

Add to this a few other pointers:
-Be a competent rider before attempting the practice.
-Be prepared to adjust your speed as necessary.
-Cover your brake and clutch to reduce reaction time.
-Avoid lane-sharing between two large trucks.
-Be wary of open spaces inviting a vehicle to change lanes.
-Be vigilant of other vehicle operator’s head movements indicative of an impending lane change.
-Check your mirrors and be prepared to move over for overtaking motorcycles behind you.
-When in doubt, wait for a CHP motor patrol officer and follow him/her.
(You might have to travel a bit faster than 10mph to keep up.)


When an incident occurs between the lane-sharing motorcyclist and another vehicle, it’s not always the motorcyclist who gets cited. It’s up to the LEO to decide who was at fault (back to the double-edged sword). For instance, if the lane-changing vehicle didn’t signal the change properly, that operator could be cited for violating CA code 22107. On the other hand, if the motorcyclist was deemed to be traveling at too great a speed for the situation, CA code 22350 would be used to cite the rider.



California laws used to govern lane-sharing:

California code 22350
No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.

California code 21658
Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, the following rules apply:
(a) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
(b) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to use a designated lane or allocating specified lanes to traffic moving in the same direction, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of the traffic device.

California code 22107
No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.

[39800]

I know, it is kind of odd verbage.

I always called it lane splitting as I routinely hoped back and forth over the bots dots between the number one and two lanes.

The CHP says on their web site:
"Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?

Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner."

I think the California Vehicle Code refers to it as lane sharring.

I don't do it much now, but used to do it all the time while communting to LA.

I wonder if it is legal in AZ? Probably not, so I broke the law recently in Pheonix.

Jeepers, 8, you must have been typing that just as I was. You beat me to the point.

[8-Ball]

I do it every time traffic backs up... but find it stressful...