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Lane Splitting Motorcycles: Legal Or Illegal?

I think I will have to look that up. I don't think I have ever seen a lane splitting accident in my life. And my only thing about it being annoying to other drivers... They should kind of get over it. If you want to be able to lane split in a place where it is legal get a motorcycle.


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You don't think they happen because you haven't seen one?

Of course they happen - any and all types of accidents happen. I just know they aren't the most common (I found stats saying that they make up 1/5 or less of all motorcycles accidents in California when I did research it before writing that post).
 
I'm fine with in traffic jams moving slower than 10 mph.

I agree with this. Slow traffic only just to speed up traffic. As far as making it an unregulated thing... no.
 
I completely disagree with that. Some motorcycle drivers are for sure. But I am way more scared of the overconfident 20 to 25-year-old texting and driving. I do deal frequently with this and I would say that in that age bracket they are by far the worst.


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Compared to the texters, yes I agree. But unless it's raining or too cold, there are a lot of motorcycles around here. And a good number of them are bonehead young men in their early 20s. They weave in and out of cars and drive way too fast. Pretty stupid behavior when something as minor as a fender bender could kill you.
 
Stereotype much?

Pretty much all the motorcycle riders I see do illegal, dangerous things. Not a stereotype, an observation. Around town they're constantly speeding, weaving in and out of cars and lanes, blowing throw stop signs and red lights, flying down the road on the shoulder, etc. I see some responsible drivers when I'm on the highway, but around town it's complete morons.
 
What do you think? Should a motorcycle be allowed to "lane split" and pass between 2 cars while driving? If you think it should be allowed, what kind of rules or regulations should be on it?

Personally...I think it should be legal at stopped traffic lights. Get the motorcycle out of traffic quickly. And the person performing the maneuver should only be going a certain speed and should only be a certain number of car lengths back (maybe less than 10?).


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I don't care if it is deemed legal or not. Each locality is free to make up their own mind.

However, anybody who does it, in my opinion, is a dumbass.

Let's face it, bike riders are already at a disadvantage when it comes to using the road. Why on earth would a rider put themselves in increased danger?

:roll:


ps...I've been riding motorcycles for over 40 years.
 
Compared to the texters, yes I agree. But unless it's raining or too cold, there are a lot of motorcycles around here. And a good number of them are bonehead young men in their early 20s. They weave in and out of cars and drive way too fast. Pretty stupid behavior when something as minor as a fender bender could kill you.

There are old bikers and there are bold bikers but there are damn few old, bold bikers. ;)
 
What do you think? Should a motorcycle be allowed to "lane split" and pass between 2 cars while driving? If you think it should be allowed, what kind of rules or regulations should be on it?

Personally...I think it should be legal at stopped traffic lights. Get the motorcycle out of traffic quickly. And the person performing the maneuver should only be going a certain speed and should only be a certain number of car lengths back (maybe less than 10?).


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I don't know if lane splitting is legal here or not.

What I do know is that the traffic regulations state that the motorcycle has a right to their own full lane as if they were a car, and that other traffic can't / shouldn't infringe on the motorcycle's lane, and this is exactly what I try to do every time I see them on the road, in fact give them extra room, no telling when one of them is going to hit road debris and dump, best be ready to stop and / or evasive to avoid them. Better a fender than a person.

From my view, if you want your full lane, then that means waiting in traffic at the stop light like all the other traffic, and not lane splitting.
 
Pretty much all the motorcycle riders I see do illegal, dangerous things. Not a stereotype, an observation. Around town they're constantly speeding, weaving in and out of cars and lanes, blowing throw stop signs and red lights, flying down the road on the shoulder, etc. I see some responsible drivers when I'm on the highway, but around town it's complete morons.

I don't know about where you live but motorcycle riders don't have a monopoly on stupidity. I see plenty of idiots in cars.

There are idiots on bikes. Not disputing that at all. Just saying you're painting with a very wide brush.
 
There are old bikers and there are bold bikers but there are damn few old, bold bikers. ;)

True.

Same as the old adage that there are two kind of bikers:
(1) Those who have been hit by a car.
(2) Those who haven't been hit by a car yet.

I rode motorcycles for some 45 years and never split lanes. I just thought it would irritate the other drivers. Kind of like when an outside lane ends and seeing someone in a car raced up past the moving lane to cut in to the line.

My son on the other hand drove down to southern Calif and did some lane splitting and videoed with his helmet camera. What was amazing is that drivers actually moved over for him when they saw him coming.
 
True.

Same as the old adage that there are two kind of bikers:
(1) Those who have been hit by a car.
(2) Those who haven't been hit by a car yet.

I rode motorcycles for some 45 years and never split lanes. I just thought it would irritate the other drivers. Kind of like when an outside lane ends and seeing someone in a car raced up past the moving lane to cut in to the line.

My son on the other hand drove down to southern Calif and did some lane splitting and videoed with his helmet camera. What was amazing is that drivers actually moved over for him when they saw him coming.

Some cagers may decide that being stopped in traffic is the perfect time to open the door to check on a possible low tire. ;)
 
But like anything that *can* be done safely there are aholes who screw it up for everyone else. I have been in traffic moving at 30-40 mph and been passed by a motorcyclist that was going at least 50 mph.

A lot of it is perception too....

I have had one drone drive up beside me and scream that I passed him "doing 80".

The bike I was on was a junker and hadn't seen 80 in a long time. Many people can't judge speed...
 
True.

Same as the old adage that there are two kind of bikers:
(1) Those who have been hit by a car.
(2) Those who haven't been hit by a car yet.

I rode motorcycles for some 45 years and never split lanes. I just thought it would irritate the other drivers. Kind of like when an outside lane ends and seeing someone in a car raced up past the moving lane to cut in to the line.

My son on the other hand drove down to southern Calif and did some lane splitting and videoed with his helmet camera. What was amazing is that drivers actually moved over for him when they saw him coming.

One bike I owned was painted CHP style. Black and white..

Red Sea moment when cars saw me.
 
What do you think? Should a motorcycle be allowed to "lane split" and pass between 2 cars while driving? If you think it should be allowed, what kind of rules or regulations should be on it?

Personally...I think it should be legal at stopped traffic lights. Get the motorcycle out of traffic quickly. And the person performing the maneuver should only be going a certain speed and should only be a certain number of car lengths back (maybe less than 10?).


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I have ridden motorcycles since I was 14. That is roughly 47 years of riding. I think splitting lanes is a good way to kill yourself.
 
The vehicle code is very clear in most laces that all motor vehicles must follow the same laws.

California:

Lane splitting is legal.

Intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm to the rider is illegal (CVC 22400).
Opening a vehicle door to impede a motorcycle is illegal (CVC 22517).
 
I have ridden motorcycles since I was 14. That is roughly 47 years of riding. I think splitting lanes is a good way to kill yourself.

Motorcycles attract a wide range of people with a wide range of opinions.

My opinion is that (if done correctly) lane splitting is no more of a threat than any other riding...

Riding motorcycles, whether splitting or not, is a good way to kill one's self. I accept that risk.
 
Motorcycles attract a wide range of people with a wide range of opinions.

My opinion is that (if done correctly) lane splitting is no more of a threat than any other riding...

Riding motorcycles, whether splitting or not, is a good way to kill one's self. I accept that risk.

I don't trust sled drivers. They do goofy **** when least expected. You can do it. I don't disagree with that. I expect the worst from people. You never know when some jerk is going to open a door just for giggles.
 
I don't trust sled drivers. They do goofy **** when least expected. You can do it. I don't disagree with that. I expect the worst from people. You never know when some jerk is going to open a door just for giggles.

There is always that threat. It is a risk I accept.

Spent 20+ years working with high explosives. I need a little excitement.
 
Dangerous and stupid. Every time I hear or read something about watching for motorcycles I get annoyed. Motorcycle riders are the most dangerous drivers I've ever seen.

I used to ride, and I was one of those invincible assholes. Then I got married, had kids, and learned that I would be missed if I killed myself for a cheap adrenalin high.
 
I rode bikes for years and now I'm in a car. I don't mind the lane-splitting at all if I'm stopped. If I'm driving and suddenly a bike roars up from behind on my left, I don't like it at all.

I live in Mexico and making a third, center lane, on the highway is acceptable and I don't mind that, either, but then I expect it.
 
I have been riding motorcycles for over forty years, and have never wrecked one on the road.
(I did race motocross in the early 1970's, and pretty much everybody who rides motocross has had a crash or lay-down in the middle of competition, so...)

Here is my opinion, for what it's worth:

* Lane-splitting a#%holes who do so for thrills, at high speed, and in normal high-speed highway traffic, deserve to suffer the painful (and even deadly) consequences for their idiotic behaviors.
They are fools, and they hurt the reputation of all responsible motorcycle riders across the world.

* Lane-splitting motorcyclists who ease their bikes forward in between stalled automobiles in a traffic jam are merely rude and impatient.
If California allows this sort of thing at 25 mph and below, then their lawmakers are all also fools.
If that State wants to allow slow-traffic lane splitting, then 10 mph and below is much more appropriate, and a lot safer.


All that said, I will never lane-split.
I have been known to ride my street trail (enduro-style) motorcycles off the road entirely, and avoid traffic jams by going across farm fields and pastures.

(My last bike was a 2006 Kawasaki KLR650, and my latest bike is a 2016 Suzuki DR200S. Both are/were nimble enough to leave the paved road and proceed cross-country, whenever the occasion demanded that sort of escape.)

:2razz:
 
Here its called filtering and it's legal, so long as you're sensible. The UK has a "Highway Code" which is a set of rules, most of which have legal weight. This summary from a lawyer's website, who specialises in motorcycle personal injury claims.

" Filtering through traffic is one of the many advantages of riding a motorcycle, a scooter, or a moped. The downside is that it is one of the most dangerous things you can do. Drivers fail to see bikes at the best of times, let alone when you are approaching in a way they do not expect. Drivers who ride motorcycles understand, but drivers who only drive are constantly surprised by what riders can do, and they fail to take that into account. They do not think bike, or bicycle for that matter.Image shows motorcycle filtering through traffic

The Highway Code gives this advice to motorcyclists:

“Manoeuvring. You should be aware of what is behind and to the sides before manoeuvring. Look behind you; use mirrors if they are fitted. When in traffic queues look out for pedestrians crossing between vehicles and vehicles emerging from junctions or changing lanes. Position yourself so that drivers in front can see you in their mirrors. Additionally, when filtering in slow-moving traffic, take care and keep your speed low.” ..."

Motorcycle filtering through traffic | Mark Thompson Law

Basically, it's have your wits about you whether driving a car or a bike. I've never had an accident filtering, though I have occasionally had drivers see me coming in their mirror and move to block the lane. More often than not the alert drivers in the lanes I'm splitting each give a little space. Win win. I get home sooner, and don't occupy a car space in the queues, so they do too.

The Brits and Europeans are way ahead of the US on this. I have a friend who has ridden in Europe somewhere on a summer trip with his wife, and they were briefed that under certain conditions where traffic is stopped, bike riders are expected to move to the front of the line. Most practical.

Some American drivers become angry when it's done here, but Americans get angry over almost anything at all.

Here in Florida, I practice it at open bridges and other places where traffic is stopped for 10 minutes or so. On the interstate, not so much.
 
What do you think? Should a motorcycle be allowed to "lane split" and pass between 2 cars while driving? If you think it should be allowed, what kind of rules or regulations should be on it?

Personally...I think it should be legal at stopped traffic lights. Get the motorcycle out of traffic quickly. And the person performing the maneuver should only be going a certain speed and should only be a certain number of car lengths back (maybe less than 10?).


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As a van driver I have absolutely no problem with it. In fact, I love it when they do. Get a good Harley passing me and hearing that rumble...gives me tingles up and down my arms. Love it! :)
 
I have been riding motorcycles for over forty years, and have never wrecked one on the road.
(I did race motocross in the early 1970's, and pretty much everybody who rides motocross has had a crash or lay-down in the middle of competition, so...)

Here is my opinion, for what it's worth:

* Lane-splitting a#%holes who do so for thrills, at high speed, and in normal high-speed highway traffic, deserve to suffer the painful (and even deadly) consequences for their idiotic behaviors.
They are fools, and they hurt the reputation of all responsible motorcycle riders across the world.

* Lane-splitting motorcyclists who ease their bikes forward in between stalled automobiles in a traffic jam are merely rude and impatient.
If California allows this sort of thing at 25 mph and below, then their lawmakers are all also fools.
If that State wants to allow slow-traffic lane splitting, then 10 mph and below is much more appropriate, and a lot safer.


All that said, I will never lane-split.
I have been known to ride my street trail (enduro-style) motorcycles off the road entirely, and avoid traffic jams by going across farm fields and pastures.

(My last bike was a 2006 Kawasaki KLR650, and my latest bike is a 2016 Suzuki DR200S. Both are/were nimble enough to leave the paved road and proceed cross-country, whenever the occasion demanded that sort of escape.)

:2razz:

Just shy of 40 years of riding.

Lane splitting is just another riding option. If done correctly it is minimally more of a risk. Scan ahead. Avoid pinch points and semis. Hand on brake. DO NOT ogle the young lady in the convertible.....

If one is so fearful of risk why does one ride a motorcycle?
 
Just shy of 40 years of riding.
Lane splitting is just another riding option. If done correctly it is minimally more of a risk. Scan ahead. Avoid pinch points and semis. Hand on brake. DO NOT ogle the young lady in the convertible.....
If one is so fearful of risk why does one ride a motorcycle?

It's not a question of fear, it's a question of politeness and risk mitigation.

It's a rude behavior, plain and simple.
And the very notion that some jerk cager (who takes umbrage at that rudeness) will fling a door open in retaliation is more than enough to tell me that it's not for me.

No judging you, mind you.
You ride right on up the middle, and more power to you.

Me, I'm going off road if I have to.
 
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