Lane Splitting in NYC

I've ridden up to NYC a few times from west of Philly, and when I get over the Verrazano Bridge and hit the Belt Parkway on the way out to the Rockaways, it's always a parking lot. I lane split through the stopped or barely moving cars, and use the ramps and shoulders when blocked. Someone just told me that if caught by a LEO, they will impound my bike on the spot. Anyone from NYC that can confirm or deny this? What is the penalty?

http://www.magpie.co....html#lanesplit

I have absolutely no desire to visit NYC, and especially never on a motorcycle. Hate big cities, hate traffic, NYC is the biggest woopper of them all. Then to have to worry about the bike getting stolen - naw. Get a rat bike if your gonna commute in NYC!

Rule # 1 when riding in NYC: Have all documents in perfect order. Insurance and registration up to date, etc... If they stop you and the docs aren't perfect, they will impound your bike.

They will not impound the bike for lane splitting or most other offenses.

I ride in The City every day and used to lane split constantly.
Some rules that I use:

• Always be on the lookout for cops.
• Do not pass them while lane splitting. They tend to take it as a personal insult. Ask me how I know... :dry:
• If you see them, stop lane splitting immediately
• If they saw you, stop lane splitting immediately and be prepared to be stopped. if they see that you saw that they saw and did the right thing, they may not stop you. 50/50 there
• Don't run. Not that you would. Just sayin. There are lots of cops in NYC and chances are they'll box you in. Among other reasons.

As far as Belt parkway goes, I ride the same stretch of it almost every day from Verrazano to Sheepshead Bay. Usually there are no cops there. However, there is a special unit of highway patrol assigned to Belt and those guys are real ballbusters. If they stop you, they will write you up for every little thing they can find including any mods that make your bike less then legal in NY. So be careful.

Penalty for lane splitting is anything from moving between lanes to reckless driving. This may also include failure to signal and anything that will come to the cop's mind.
NYC does not allow to plead down to a lesser violation either and there is no way to win in the monkey court here.

[image: View Post]Rice, on 26 October 2010 - 09:40 PM, said:

Rule # 1 when riding in NYC: Have all documents in perfect order. Insurance and registration up to date, etc... If they stop you and the docs aren't perfect, they will impound your bike.

They will not impound the bike for lane splitting or most other offenses.

I ride in The City every day and used to lane split constantly.
Some rules that I use:
/snip


Just what I thought. I've driven there several times, and saw all kinds of shenanigans from the locals on 2 wheels, but never when a cop was around. And I always thought, I'd do the same, I'd simply have to filter, not just to take advantage of 2 wheels, but to avoid being hit from behind.

No matter where I ride, if I'm in traffic that's my #1 concern, and I will act on it the second anyone in my mirrors acts aggressively.

PS; My son Miguel is filming a project there for a month. it'd be sweet if he captured you on film on these streets :fing02:

Thanks to all, and especially Rice. Maybe I'm whacked, but I enjoy riding in (moving) traffic. And I especially enjoy lane splitting and working my way through the morass of barely moving vehicles any way I can. I'll be more careful next time I'm up there, though, which may not be until the January New York International Motorcycle Show at the Javits Center, or the next street bike event in Brooklyn (the last one was cool, with free beer and barbecue, but ironically $1.00 for water!).

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 26 October 2010 - 06:43 PM, said:

I have absolutely no desire to visit NYC, and especially never on a motorcycle. Hate big cities, hate traffic, NYC is the biggest woopper of them all. Then to have to worry about the bike getting stolen - naw. Get a rat bike if your gonna commute in NYC!


Hey too bad you do not like big cities - you will never know what you are missing, but to each thier own and enjoy what you like. I have lived in and also ride in big cities, small cities, small towns and towns that are the County Seat - I do not limit myself and small towns have smalls roads and traffic jams too. I have actually had more problems in small towns because the cops knew everybody there except me. Also in small towns if . Having out of State plates in a small town makes you a cop magnet.and if you have no family or friendsin the small town the cops will have you for lunch. I still love small towns and my favorites are Paris, TX and Denton, TX - I have mad love for Texas. I commute to work in NYC and I am a field tech so I go all over the tri-State area everyday - been doing this for over 10 years with a motorcycle and have had no problems with my bike being stolen or anything like that. Bikes get stolen everywhere and I have no problems with parking or my bike getting stolen or damaged - I do not use any locks either (on more than one occasion I have accidently left the keys in my bike when I parked - no problem, even had someone take the keys and left me a note that the keys are with the store manager where my bike was parked - yes true story and this was in Manhattan on 47th Street!!!!). A lot of guys on bikes do not respect cars (park too close in between cars), and will park anywhere (on sidewalks and in front of stores - which pisses people off and people call and complain to the police which causes a problem for anyone on a bike). Also as mentioned you should always have your license and papers with with you wherever you are on your bike - big city or small city it does not matter. I whiteline and do a lot of stuff and have generally have no serious problems. I have been stopped by the cops quite frequently the last two seasons for what they call safety check of the motorcycle. Yeah bogus crap that can be done in any State (small or big City) as the money for that program comes from the Federal Govt so it is not a big City thing. Most of the time if you have a license with a motorcycle endorsement the cops will either let you go or write a BS ticket. The real problem you will have in NYC on a bike is not having a motorcycle endorsement or insurance and nowdays a loud exhaust will get you in the mix with the cops. Those are the three big offences here and other places I have been. I have four bikes and keep them nice and pristine looking and running that I ride in NYC all over everyday year round (with the exception of the icy days - I am not macho man and cannot do ice lol). No need for a crappy rat bikes in NYC - this is the Showplace so get it poppin or leave. Just another example, I came from New Hampshire last Sat and when I got back to NYC I headed to the Throgs Neck Bridge and whitelined to the front of the toll line. Cop yelled at me and asked for my license _ I told him the truth - I gotta take a piss and need to move - he checked my license for a motorcycle endorsement and took my money for the bridge toll and let me go - oh yeah I made to the next exit and found a restroom lol.

[image: View Post]Knife, on 26 October 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

I've ridden up to NYC a few times from west of Philly, and when I get over the Verrazano Bridge and hit the Belt Parkway on the way out to the Rockaways, it's always a parking lot. I lane split through the stopped or barely moving cars, and use the ramps and shoulders when blocked. Someone just told me that if caught by a LEO, they will impound my bike on the spot. Anyone from NYC that can confirm or deny this? What is the penalty?


If you come to NYC makre sure you take an early morning or late night ride on the Jackie Robinson, and check out the riding in Long Island. Also, head north of the Bronx on the Taconic and Sprain Pkwy. Feel free to PM me if you want. Have your papers with you and if a cop stops you, pull over turn the bike off and take the keys out of the bike and put them on top of the tanks, take you helmet off and stay on the bike. Be ready to give the cop your papers and when he sees you have papers in correct order the cops here will usually tell you why they stopped you. Main thing is relax if you are not riding dirty. Weekday business hours are crowded in the City and during rush hours you have people who commute to NYC from NJ, Pa and Ct so it is a lot of traffice from out of State not just NYC traffic. This is what you would generally find in Manhattan. NYC is made up fo five boroughs and Manhattan is where most tourist are and populate with the rest of the NYC population - yep gets crowded so stay away from there lol. Personally I find a lot of people may have a bad or negative view of NYC because they do not know the place and do not get the proper information. If someone asked me where is the best place to stay in NYC I would tell them Manhattan is the last place you wanna stay and that is where most people go - really sad.

[image: View Post]emon07, on 27 October 2010 - 01:07 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Knife, on 26 October 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

I've ridden up to NYC a few times from west of Philly, and when I get over the Verrazano Bridge and hit the Belt Parkway on the way out to the Rockaways, it's always a parking lot. I lane split through the stopped or barely moving cars, and use the ramps and shoulders when blocked. Someone just told me that if caught by a LEO, they will impound my bike on the spot. Anyone from NYC that can confirm or deny this? What is the penalty?


If you come to NYC makre sure you take an early morning or late night ride on the Jackie Robinson, and check out the riding in Long Island. Also, head north of the Bronx on the Taconic and Sprain Pkwy. Feel free to PM me if you want. Have your papers with you and if a cop stops you, pull over turn the bike off and take the keys out of the bike and put them on top of the tanks, take you helmet off and stay on the bike. Be ready to give the cop your papers and when he sees you have papers in correct order the cops here will usually tell you why they stopped you. Main thing is relax if you are not riding dirty. Weekday business hours are crowded in the City and during rush hours you have people who commute to NYC from NJ, Pa and Ct so it is a lot of traffice from out of State not just NYC traffic. This is what you would generally find in Manhattan. NYC is made up fo five boroughs and Manhattan is where most tourist are and populate with the rest of the NYC population - yep gets crowded so stay away from there lol. Personally I find a lot of people may have a bad or negative view of NYC because they do not know the place and do not get the proper information. If someone asked me where is the best place to stay in NYC I would tell them Manhattan is the last place you wanna stay and that is where most people go - really sad.

I lived in Manhattan for five years on the upper west side between Broadway and Central Park West, right across from Lincoln Center. It was quite a while ago, but I loved it. Didn't ride then, but I've been back since on my bike. Manhattan isn't much fun to ride in. Brooklyn, Queens, and LI are fun, and I look forward to doing more of it when I visit. Thanks for the advice! I'll take it!

By the way, I ride everywhere. Big cities, small cities, towns, villages, hamlets, mountains, valleys, canyons, interstates, highways, and byways, etc., etc. Variety is the spice of life. Too much of any one environment can be dull.

I lived in Manhattan for five years on the upper west side between Broadway and Central Park West, right across from Lincoln Center. It was quite a while ago, but I loved it. Didn't ride then, but I've been back since on my bike. Manhattan isn't much fun to ride in. Brooklyn, Queens, and LI are fun, and I look forward to doing more of it when I visit. Thanks for the advice! I'll take it!

By the way, I ride everywhere. Big cities, small cities, towns, villages, hamlets, mountains, valleys, canyons, interstates, highways, and byways, etc., etc. Variety is the spice of life. Too much of any one environment can be dull.
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Aight you sound like a seasoned traveller and you know what to expect in the different NYC boroughs. Feel free to hit me up when you are in the NYC area. Myself and a few others ride during the winter and do some out of State stuff. I am trying to get time off from work to do a run to Virgina/N Carolina or Florida before Xmas. Now that I have done the VFR upgrade from 5th gen to 6th gen, I am ready to do some touring and check some rallies next season.

Ya It's funny how people say they hate New York who have never been there.Almost religiously people who come here have told me how much they love it! How do you know you hate something without trying it first?It's the greatest city in the world and this is from someone who revels in the silence of a wilderness hike.
Been riding in NYC for 17 years, all year round.I had been ticketed twice while splitting lanes going into the Lincoln Tunnel on the Jersey side.Just a ticket,but I always have proper up to date paperwork with me.Talked both down to non-moving violations.Just always assume they can't see you or care when in the danger zone and get out of it ASAP.

[image: View Post]mznyc, on 24 November 2010 - 05:59 PM, said:

Ya It's funny how people say they hate New York who have never been there.Almost religiously people who come here have told me how much they love it! How do you know you hate something without trying it first?It's the greatest city in the world and this is from someone who revels in the silence of a wilderness hike.
Been riding in NYC for 17 years, all year round.I had been ticketed twice while splitting lanes going into the Lincoln Tunnel on the Jersey side.Just a ticket,but I always have proper up to date paperwork with me.Talked both down to non-moving violations.Just always assume they can't see you or care when in the danger zone and get out of it ASAP.



Hey I have a great idea, lets get everyone to move to Newyork, So can have free RIDING reign on the rest of the country, Are ya with me? LOL

NYC is not for everyone. That's for sure.
The lifestyle is fast, competitive and in general more demanding than in other parts of the country.
Being a city dweller for my entire life, I had no trouble adopting. However, I can certainly see how someone who isn't used to this may have a difficult time adjusting.
And it certainly isn't a good place for riding.
Granted, that there are a few nice roads to be found in the outer boroughs, but 99% of it isn't bike or biker friendly IMHO.

As for the perceptions, I've spoken to some folks who have never been to NYC and think that they're just going to die a horrible death if they ever come to visit. These people are definitely missing out. But to each is own.