What?
Seconded. I don’t ride a motorcycle (although my husband has been itching for another one), but I drive on the same roads with plenty of motorcyclists everyday. On an average commute home from work, I’d say about 10 or 15 motorcyclists will split lanes and drive by me. If I see them coming, I pull over as far as I can to allow them more space to pass. And always get a thank you gesture in return. On some parts of the road (Hwy 101) I just drive as far to the left or right as possible since I know I can expect the cyclists and don’t always see them in time to move over.
I do have one incident that could have been terrible, but just ended up with a pissed off rider. My husband was driving and I was a passenger in his truck. When we’d gotten in the truck, I didn’t close my door completely. So I waited until we got to a red light to open it and close it all the way. I didn’t see or hear any motorcycle coming, but just as I opened that door, one came up from behind and rode right into it. (Slowly, since he was coming up to the red light, but still.) The guy just looked at me and shook his head. I was stunned and horrified and didn’t even know what to say. I just apologized and let him back up, then shut the door. It was just unfortunate timing, but I couldn’t help but think that this guy must’ve thought I’d done it on purpose.
Thirded. To best of my recollection I’ve seen lane splitting myself only in stopped/very slow freeway traffic, and my feeling is if they can get themselves in front of such situations, why not? Just one way of helping relieve the jam.
“To beg the question” doesn’t mean “to lead one to ask the question,” that’s all.
Thanks for that. I’ve bookmarked it.
From what I understand there are efforts to reduce some of the traffic congestion in Washington. The problem is that they’re doing it wrong! There are several things the state can do to reduce congestion that won’t cost nearly as much as adding freeway lanes or building light rail across the water. At the risk of hijacking the thread:
[ul][li]Driver education: Create PDAs to remind people to be situationally aware and to move over for faster traffic. (I’ve got a couple of spots in mind, and I’d be glad to shoot them for the state for a nominal fee.) SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT! In addition, get people out of the habit of driving five to ten miles per hour below the speed limit (unless they’re in the far-right lane), and teach them that they don’t have to come to a screeching halt to watch some schlemiel at the side of the road changing a tire – on the other side of the freeway.[/li][li]SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT signs to remind people of the PDAs. Much cheaper than new lanes.[/li][li]Speed enforcement. In California the CHP seem much more forgiving of speeders – as long as the speeders aren’t being jerks. And CHP seem to drive faster than prevailing traffic. Up here the State Patrol are very aggressive at catching speeders, and they seem never to speed themselves. Lighten up, and traffic will move better.[/li][li]Laws to prevent truck drivers from cutting off overtaking traffic and then camping out in the ‘fast lane’ for miles.[/li][li]Allow lane-splitting. First, moving traffic reduces congestion. Second, it reduces fuel consumption and emissions. Third, if people were allowed to get through the traffic then there would be more motorcyclists; resulting, in addition to less congestion, less fuel burned, fewer emissions, a higher awareness of motorcyclists and thus safer roads.[/ul][/li]I’ve thought about writing a letter, but I don’t remember the guy’s name or position in Olympia. (I figured I’d keep it just to driver education though, as the other suggestions would piss people off.)
Yes, I lane split. I’ve had lit cigarettes thrown at me and people swerve to block me. Haven’t had a door opened on me but I’m alert to it.
When I had a motorcycle, my rule was that traffic had to be going so slowly that there literally wasn’t room for someone to dive over for a different lane. This got me through all the bad jams, and I’m sure kept me a lot safer than these organ donor wannabes who dodge through normal traffic, just waiting to get cut off and dumped. This was in CA, also, where I once tailed a Chippie through a jam as we both split lanes.
Hey guys, it’s been a few weeks and I thought I’d post an update with a few new questions…but first, I wanted to thank everyone for the great replies (especially Johnny L.A.)
Anyway, so I went on a trip down to Santa Cruz last weekend and had a blast. But on the way back, I encountered some heavy traffic on highway #1 and decided to lane-split for the first time-- and damn was it nice (and though scary, less so than expected). The following day, I went on the same road trip (except with a buddy) and got even more experience. But I have a few questions about the technicalities of lane-splitting…
First, are the terms “lane-splitting” and “lane-sharing” interchangeable? It seems the latter term is preferred by motorcycle communities as it sounds “nicer.” If not, what are the distinctions?
Scondly, when splitting (or sharing?) do I actually need to be in a lane, or can I ride the line? It seems if you have to be in a lane, it wouldn’t allow for much room to maneuver.
Finally, when group-riding, how is lane-splitting supposed to work at a stop-light? My friend would pull up to the front and wanted me to pull up behind him, which I did…but is this permissible?
De nada. 
I use them interchangeably, though technically I think there’s a difference. From my non-scientific observations, lane-sharing seems to indicate two motorcycles riding abreast. But I like to use the term around car drivers because I feel it makes them aware that we’re not being jerks; we just want to share their lane for a second (or less).
You can ‘ride the line’, but usually they have drunk bumps on them and I prefer a smooth ride. If the line is a segmented white line you can move freely. If it’s a double yellow line, you need to be in one lane or the other. A lot of places there will be two sets of double yellow lines with a wide space between. Obviously it’s safer to ride between the sets of double-yellows; but it’s also illegal. I’ve been called on it once (but not pulled over), and I’ve heard the PA when others have been cautioned to stay in an actual lane. But you can get away with it much of the time. After being cautioned I was careful to remain in the lane when there’s a double-yellow. It’s not so bad.
AFAIK it is permissible. The problem with a line of riders at a light is that while the leader and the guy behind him can get in front of the traffic, motorcycles are subject to the same ‘Slinky effect’ that cars are. So you might spend more time between two cars than you’d like. Often, riding on PCH, the cars were too close together for me to get through at a light anyway. If you’re on a narrow bikes I don’t see much problem lining up at a light. If you’re on a slower, wider bike (like a cruiser) it might be better to just come abreast in your own lane and chat until the light changes and the cars spread out.
Thanks again Johnny L.A. – though you now gave me a few more questions I’m curious about
You mention if it’s a “double yellow line” that you have to stay in one lane or the other. Maybe I’m just brain-dead right now, but wouldn’t that situation only arise if you’re on a two-way road, sharing the inside of the lane bordering traffic going in the opposite direction? Or did I completely mis-understand.
Also, so far I’ve only split between two lanes going in the same direction, but is it permissible to do such between two lanes going in different directions (say between a left-only lane and another going straight)? If so, can you still go in either direction?
Finally, do you have to be on the inside of a lane to split? For instance, in the above left-turn lane example, could I ride up on the outside of that lane (to the car’s left)?
Carpool lanes are also relevant here. About the only place I feel truly comfortable lane splitting/sharing is on the 10 Freeway between downtown and El Monte. Here, motorcycles can very comfortably split in the carpool lane because you have a situation like this (all traffic in this “diagram” is heading in the same direction):
_______________________________________
Carpool Lane
_______________________________________
Motorcycle "Lane"
***************************************
***************************************
_______________________________________
Regular Traffic Lane #4
---------------------------------------
Regular Traffic Lane #3
---------------------------------------
Regular Traffic Lane #2
---------------------------------------
Regular Traffic Lane #1
_______________________________________
The solid lines represent solid whites. The asterisks represent solid yellow, and the dashes represent white dashes. So there’s a comfortable space between the defined carpool lane and the double-yellow where motorcycles can travel freely. I hope that addresses what you were asking, and apologies if it doesn’t.
Disregard this response – I misread your question. This strikes me as being really dangerous. Not sure if you’d get pulled over for it.
Again, just my opinion here. I see motorcyclist all the time go from the inside of one lane to the outside of the other. Whatever works best for visibility and general safety. The exceptions, of course, are being on the outside of a car in the farthest left lane or the inside of a car in the farthest right lane.
(Apologies for the truly poor attempt at illustration.)
Thanks for the diagram…hmm, I didn’t realize there were two yellow lines bordering the carpool lane. Maybe I just haven’t noticed them, but are they everywhere in this state? What purpose do they serve?
Agreed, I only asked because I witness another ride do it. He rode up at a stop-light between a left-turning lane and one going straight, and then he took off on the green light and made a left turn before the cars in the left lane could get going.
[/quote]
As Asimovian illustrated, carpool lanes (in SoCal, at any rate) will have double-yellow lines separating them from the regular lanes. This is what I meant.
Do not split lanes on a two-lane road where both the oncoming traffic and your own lane are stopped. Not only is it dangerous to ride in the lane of oncoming traffic, but it’s the same as crossing a double yellow line in a car if you and the cop are the only people on the road. It’s illegal.
In California (at least in the SoCal) carpool lanes have limited access points. You’re only allowed enter or exit where there is no double yellow line. Access areas should be marked with dashed lines similar to the regular lane dividers, only wider.
Nitpick: Lanes are numbered left-to-right, so the illustration should be Carpool, #1, #2, #3, #4. (Unless the carpool lane is #1. I’ve never heard a difinitive answer.)
Right, I have no plans to. I’m just trying to understand as much as I can about lane-splitting/sharing.
Speaking of which, I have one final Q – how about lane-sharing alongside the shoulder (but not in the shoulder) when traffic is stopped? Such as on a a two-lane road; if traffic is stopped and there’s room on the right side of the lane, by the shoulder, is it okay to ride up that?
(thanks for the responses byw)
I always get that wrong, no matter how many times I try to remember it correctly. I specifically thought of that before I posted and went, “No, I’ve got that wrong; it’s the other way around.” :smack:
Again, only an opinion here due to the lack of clear legislation, but this seems more likely to get you pulled over. The exception might be if you’re heading towards a right-turn only lane that branches off to the right closer to the intersection, but even then, you’re just as likely to have a car that doesn’t see you jump out to do the same thing, and then you’ve got nowhere to go. Unnecessary risk.
I don’t have a cite for this, but I did call CHP and asked them this question years ago. I was told that motorcyclists may ride between two lanes of traffic – not on the shoulder. So ISTM that passing on the right in the rightmost lane is the same as riding on the shoulder. Of course if a car is making a left turn and there’s room to pass on the right without riding on the shoulder this should be OK.
I should point out that anything regarding the laws are from the CHP FAQ, conversations with CHP (either face to face, or on the phone), and personal observation. (For example, the California Driver’s Handbook says it’s illegal to cross double yellow lines and I’ve seen people reminded – and have been reminded myself – by CHP not to cross the double-yellows. I don’t have a cite I can link to.)