Excluding California where it is legal, how do you feel about lane splitting at stoplights in the other 49 states. The laws seem a little vague.
I have recently started commuting to a new job that is in downtown traffic, so at a light I sometimes take the middle road. This really pisses off the SUVs... but watch-a my smoke, 'cause I am gone before they can get me!
I am not talking about the crazy Interstate-speed type.
il Duce, Oct 12 2006, 09:28 AM Excluding California where it is legal, how do you feel about lane splitting at stoplights in the other 49 states. The laws seem a little vague.
I haven't SEEN lane splitting anywhere else except California. It always seems strange to me when I see it there ! biggrin.gif
In Georgia, we wait in line (most of us, anyway?).
Except when the wait is more than 5 minutes then the delay is because someone @#$%^& up and its everyone for themselves. Oh, remember to go slow the risk of a door "wave" as you ride past increases with speed. Even at a walking pace you will cover the distance needed quickly if Traffic is that bad.
I always filter to the front, why else use a bike, if i wanted to wait like all the cagers Id take the car!!! i always lane split at all speeds, its one of my fav parts of biking!!!! (or does that make me a nutter, splitting lanes at 90+ is always good, as long as you give the cagers ample warning to move over if they want)
Seems odd that its not allowed in some places, in the UK its legal and what everyone does!!!!! If they changed it so you couldn't filter to the front I'd change my bike for a GSXR1000 or similar as would only use it for the odd blast!!!
rjstaaf, Oct 12 2006, 08:47 AM To be honest I just can't think of anywhere I need to get to in that much of a hurry that I would need to split lanes blink.gif
But does lane splitting at stoplights actually help in relieving gridlock and traffic problems in highly congested areas?
New York City see it all the time. I do on occasion where I might be sitting in traffic for several light chages. Last week though, some jerk in an SUV decied I was not going to sneak by and tryed to cut me off from getting around her. Too quick for that! laugh.gif
Luckily, I live/ride in California. Lane splitting is the norm, and I do believe it helps reduce traffic/congestion. For safety reasons, I never do it over 45 MPH or on one wheel.
Despite being excluded sad.gif , Californian checking in:
I don't usually split at stop lights, unless I'm in a real hurry or the line is very long (actually if the line is too long, I often don't bother if I don't think I can get to the front before the light changes). Sitting in line, once I get a cage behind me stopped, I fell pretty safe and often leave the bike in neutral with feet on the ground and look around and enjoy the day. Splitting to the front puts a lot of pressure on you to watch the cross lights, and get away quick, lest being swallowed up by cagers. Also being quick/first thru the intersection leads to greater chance of being T-Boned by red light runner.
In slow freeway traffic (not what you asked, but what the hell), I always split.
Fear the Turtle, Oct 12 2006, 08:25 AM Despite being excluded sad.gif , Californian checking in:
I don't usually split at stop lights, unless I'm in a real hurry or the line is very long (actually if the line is too long, I often don't bother if I don't think I can get to the front before the light changes). Sitting in line, once I get a cage behind me stopped, I fell pretty safe and often leave the bike in neutral with feet on the ground and look around and enjoy the day. Splitting to the front puts a lot of pressure on you to watch the cross lights, and get away quick, lest being swallowed up by cagers. Also being quick/first thru the intersection leads to greater chance of being T-Boned by red light runner.
In slow freeway traffic (not what you asked, but what the hell), I always split.
Not splitting is a personal choice of course, but I wouldn't recommend sitting there in neutral just enjoying the day. Too many motorcyclist get hit from behind at lights because people aren't expecting a bike and therefore don't see it. PLEASE watch your rear mirrors at least so that you can try to jump out of the way.
il Duce, Oct 12 2006, 07:28 AM Excluding California where it is legal, how do you feel about lane splitting at stoplights in the other 49 states. The laws seem a little vague.
I have recently started commuting to a new job that is in downtown traffic, so at a light I sometimes take the middle road. This really pisses off the SUVs... but watch-a my smoke, 'cause I am gone before they can get me!
I am not talking about the crazy Interstate-speed type.
I wait in line like everybody else, but I've seen occasional lane-splitters here in NM. When I lived in NC it happened once in a very, very blue moon.
AMA has this webpage that has motorcycle laws. CA, NC and NM all say "Not referenced in Administrative Code or Statutes" under the Lane Splitting section.
It depends on the situation. Normally I don't split and just wait like everyone else, but there are a few times when I'll say "#!@$ THIS!" and split. These are the situations:
1) Massive traffic jam and everyone is moving between 0-10 mphs. I'll split by people doing about 20 mph. That way, I don't scare anyone (because OR drivers suck). And if I do scare them, they can only do some much when they're doing not moving.
2) It's raining hard and I'm trying to get home. I really try to avoid lane spliting right up the middle of traffic at red lights, so I'll usually hop into the shoulder and "laneshare" to the front.
3) Construction zones with a flagger stopping traffic. Heck yes I'll run up to the front! It's always quick plus you don't have traffic in front of you kicking up dirt and dust as you proceed through the construction.
FiGGaH - he says he only plops into neutral once a car pulls up behind him, protecting him from another oncoming car. I think this is safe enough.
FiGGaH, Oct 12 2006, 03:34 PM Not splitting is a personal choice of course, but I wouldn't recommend sitting there in neutral just enjoying the day. Too many motorcyclist get hit from behind at lights because people aren't expecting a bike and therefore don't see it. PLEASE watch your rear mirrors at least so that you can try to jump out of the way.
i normally don't. i plan my commute such that i avoid most cage traffic (it's a little longer route, but a lot more fun and way less congestion).
there is one spot i do slip by on the right on most of the time... there's always a long line of cars looking to go straight through a light near my work (it's a shopping plaza with access to the expressway) - it's only one lane, but it's kind of wide, so i slip by and turn right.
Yes, lane splitting only during rush hour traffic if I am heading to work and need to make up some time rather than wait for 2-3 light changes. All the while keeping my eyes open for the LEOs!
BUT, I do not head to the front of the line! I try not to piss off other commuters. Usually look for a gap about 10 cars from the front, but close enough to make it through the next green light. I know some people honk while others try to make room. Haven't had anyone try to cut me off or push me and the bike over, yet. Hopefully that doesn't happen!
And always at a slow pace in stopped traffic. fing02.gif
Missouri LOEs refer to it as illegal use of lane and will be more than happy to provide you with an invitation to the local court house. More often than not though it goes unnoticed except for the cagers sitting there fuming....
I think they get jealous and angry because a) you can get past them and cool.gif you are getting 40 + MPG while they are getting 15 although the rich ones don't care I guess.
I usually only do it on right turns do the anger worry.
il Duce, Oct 12 2006, 08:28 AM This really pisses off the SUVs... but watch-a my smoke, 'cause I am gone before they can get me!
I came up on a right turn with a turn lane a couple of weeks ago. Someone was pulling out of a gas station and going straight and had munged up all the cagers turning right. There was plenty of room for a bike to slip around and turn right... so I did. As I did, the light turned green and the guy messing it up for the right turners got out of the way. An F150 actually came around me (tires barking and all) in the one lane right turn lane... I couldn't believe it. He was pretty mad and calling me some choice names that I couldn't make out. I eased off and let him pass... then dusted his a$$ at the first chance I got biggrin.gif
Anyway, I wait in line and then make my way in front of the cagers now
I have split lanes less than ten times in 20 years of riding, but I'm getting old and while that should mean wiser, it's beginning to mean less patient. I've never rolled to the front at an intersection. I wait my turn. Once the light turns green I expect everyone to move along at a reasonable pace. The times I lose my mind are when you get the rolling roadblock at 45 mph in a 55+ zone. The ten times I mentioned? They were all in the last year. See what I mean about old and intolerant?....Don't get me going about passing slow cars on a double yellow because that rule doesn't apply to federal employees.......at least thats what I've heard/believe.
) Construction zones with a flagger stopping traffic. Heck yes I'll run up to the front! It's always quick plus you don't have traffic in front of you kicking up dirt and dust as you proceed through the construction.
I did that in OR once, and the flag woman made me go to the back of the line. pissed.gif
Here in LA, I almost always split to the front. Unless it looks too narrow. cool.gif