Lane splitting

[DGXSER]

This is one of the reasons I live in Ohio. May not get as nice or long a riding season, but I have never had to worry about the bike overheating from sitting in traffic. There is always an exit close by or the emergency lane to get there slow and no problems.

[cywelchjr]

1st - your not sorry or you wouldn't have posted it
2nd - It "could" be illegal if a cop doesn't like what your doing.."allowed as long as speed and circumstance is prudent" - basically thats a catch all, if a cop sees you splitting and doesn't like the color of your bike, he can write you saying its wasn't "prudent".
3rd - I've ridden in CA quite a bit actually, I've even split lanes there - and I wish it was legal everywhere but its not.
4th - Asking a cop if something is legal doesn't mean it is, I'll bet you I could find a cop in CA that would say splitting isn't legal. I've even seen posts from people who were written tickets by a PO that claimed it was illegal no matter what.
5th - Don't assume you know what someones screen name means.
Last I will not post to this thread again.

Sorry, I don't care what the individual cops say, but what the CVC says, and the CVC says that what is not stated to be illegal is legal. That means that lane sharing, because it is NOT stated in the CVC (California Vehicle Code) as not being allowed, it is allowed. The only way the officer can cite you for it, and have it hold up in court (and remember, it must be able to hold up in front of a judge, who is GOING either ask the officer to state the section of the CVC under which you have been cited, or allow you to ask that) it must either be an offense under the CVC, local ordinance (if allowed under state law) or be done in an unsafe manner. As a matter of fact. The either the CHP or DMV has a section on their website about this specific question (I believe it's DMV and it's in the handbook for MC's as well) and is specifically mentioned. This is in large part because the CHP for many many years used air cooled bikes for motor officers and in LA traffic they would overheat, so lane "sharing" (this is the term used, not splitting BTW, and it applies not just to motorcycles but to any vehicles that can safely share a lane) was/is allowed for that purpose. It's also been found statistically to decrease traffic and accidents in more than one study over the years, contrary to what many who appose the practice would like to believe. I believe it's now also legal under certain conditions in Texas, below certain speeds (at least it was supposed to go into law a year or so ago).

This is just like the nice officer who gave me a ticket for running a stop sign because I "didn't put my foot down", even though he admitted that I had come to a complete stop. Fortunately for him he didn't show up at court, cause he would have been embarrassed when he was unable to show the section of the CVC that stated this requirement that he added to the law that day. But I guess the school district didn't want to let him go to court for a ticket he issued a long way off district property (school district cop). He had the authority technically, but from what I've learned since, district policy was that he wasn't supposed to issue tickets except adjacent to school property. It was still a pain in the butt to have to go to court twice, once to go in and plead not guilty and get a court date in front of a judge and another to see the judge and have the cop not show and have the case dismissed for lack of evidence.

[cywelchjr]

This is one of the reasons I live in Ohio. May not get as nice or long a riding season, but I have never had to worry about the bike overheating from sitting in traffic. There is always an exit close by or the emergency lane to get there slow and no problems.

I don't really have that problem too much around here either. And most of the time if I do, I can hit the surface streets and get where I'm going. But when it's nice is when traffic is bad for an unexpected reason and I can't jump around it, I can go right through it. It can save a LOT of time and gas.

[g15usmc]

I don't really have that problem too much around here either. And most of the time if I do, I can hit the surface streets and get where I'm going. But when it's nice is when traffic is bad for an unexpected reason and I can't jump around it, I can go right through it. It can save a LOT of time and gas.

Another good reason to not sit in traffic...GAS...One of my bikes doesn't have a petcock to switch to reserve...if i sit in traffic i got know way of knowing when my bike is going to cut out on me and leave me stranded for gas...but if i go through i have a relatively good idea when im getting close to running out...

[cywelchjr]

Another good reason to not sit in traffic...GAS...One of my bikes doesn't have a petcock to switch to reserve...if i sit in traffic i got know way of knowing when my bike is going to cut out on me and leave me stranded for gas...but if i go through i have a relatively good idea when im getting close to running out...

Good reason to have petcocks.

[trdriver71]

to forexbob: from what i have found lane sharing (lane splitting is not allowed in alberta. here is the link that shows this.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/1328.htm

[Shacknasty]

Lane splitting is often the safest way to travel. Trust me, sitting in one place in L.A. traffic makes you a target. Sometimes car drivers see what appears to be an empty space and dive into the space I'm sitting. It happened once to me (I got punted into the gravel on the shoulder. Ouch!) and I try to make certain that it doesn't happen again.

The cops around here lane split like crazy and they are some of the safest and most skilled riders around. Ya gotta be just a little bit aggressive when it is necessary. I am a lane splitter and proud of it!

[windjammergump]

lane splitting

i understand ppl want to go...but as a member of the CBA here in NC and all we do for the education of the teen drivers in the schools and trying to fight the laws they are trying to place on bikers we dont need to stir anything up in the laws favor so i would suggest just be patient...and join your local cba thats how we ban together to fight for biker rights ...like helment laws and motorcycle only check points....these are paid for by the government and GA got 70,000 dollars to make motorcycles go thru closed down truck weigh stations to be checked....its pin pointing motorcycles only and thats way to the left field i appreciate all the drs. and lawyers who make bikers life easier because we use to be trash in the laws eyes..everywhere(except sturgis...lol)

[Cobia]

Another fact to remember when stuck in traffic is that motorcycles can legally use the HOV lanes. I'd rather do that than lane sharing if the HOV lane traffic is moving.

[Pat Kelly]

I can see the point of lane-sl=plitting on the freeway when traffic is slow.
What bugs me is the riders that do it in town no matter how light the traffic may be, just so they can leave the red light before the cars.

I live in CA and have no need to lane-split.

[Shacknasty]

I don't lane split "just" so I can leave the light first. Being at the front of the pack allows you to position yourself in the empty space caused by the traffic light. That alone is enough reason to make my way to the front of a line of cars.

Also, sitting there at a light, you are a target for unaware drivers that only see the car in front of you stopped. They don't see the skinny motorcycle, only the car in front, and BLAMMMO! When I lived in Oregon, where lane splitting is illegal, this scenario happened twice to me. Here in Cali for twenty years...never! Because I split my way to the front of the pack at every stop light.

[planedick]

Just jealous

All you people who live in states that don't allow lane splitting are just jealous. Living in Ohio can get really hot sometimes too and lane splitting is not illegal there either, nor is it illegal in West Vaginia, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, just to name those I checked because I'm gonna go through them. I do it all the time with fairing and bags and never hit anyone or their vehicle. Yes, following a CHP between the lanes does require you be really good and fast too.

[Pat Kelly]

When a vehicle is comming-up behind me and I'm sitting at a light, I tap my hand or foot brake to flash the brake light (flash, flash, flash, pause... repeat).
I'm new to riding, just got my MC license in 1977. Never had an accident. Just lucky I guess.

[g15usmc]

When a vehicle is comming-up behind me and I'm sitting at a light, I tap my hand or foot brake to flash the brake light (flash, flash, flash, pause... repeat).
I'm new to riding, just got my MC license in 1977. Never had an accident. Just lucky I guess.

Ill knock on wood for you!