Who else lane splits and is it legal?

[El Fenix]

But they are motorcycle lanes

Sent using my telepathic powers.

[hizzo3]

Reminds me... I've been lane split by cars before while on my bike... happens frequently when I turn. That makes me: one day I am gonna be a fruit farie and put the sucker on a curb by swerving back.

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[RxZ]

All I can say about the issue is to read this website, and the study contained within in its entirety, not just the abstract and final report:

http://www.tmleuven.be/project/motor...uting/home.htm

I did, and it has a lot of good information.

Originally Posted by khager

I am sure Californians went thru a learning phase too. I don't know how long ago, when I lived there back in the late 80's it was already widely accepted. The more congested the big cities get, more riders will start doing it, law or no law, and the cagers will eventually get used to it. They may not like it, but they will give in and go back to their iphone.

The highlighted part is exactly what has/or at least is happening in NYC and Washington DC. Over on ADVrider, it seems like most who commute in those cities filter up to lights and otherwise lane share. I am sure only the ones doing it are speaking up, but they say that they rarely have issues with other motorists. (I know, not enough info for a detailed analysis, but its a start.)

That said, the majority of the WORLD allows filtering at lights and in slow moving traffic (yes, there are those who take advantage), why not the US?

The only thing I can think is that we are the third largest country in the world, and our destinations have always been more spread out than most countries, especially European. Couple that with the fact that America essentially started the auto industry and immediately fell in love with cars vs motorcycles and we have this mentality. However, so many people say "I have to wait in line, so you should too!" This is pure BS to me. Think of it this way: if all those people filtering to the front were in cars and instead of getting out of the way they stayed in line, then YOU would have to wait longer because now you have to wait for the extra cars to go through the light as well.

Like the study I linked to above says, if 10% of cars switched to motorcycles, traffic wait times would be reduced by an estimated 40%, at least on this particular stretch of highway between Brussels and a neighboring city (this is also allowing filtering and lane sharing, not just a switch to motorcycles).

That Belgium study is the most complete I can find on the matter of motorcycles and their effect on traffic. If someone else knows of others, then please post them up, I would enjoy reading them.

[El Fenix]

My "friend" just did a bunch of lane splitting on the parking lot that is 75 northbound out of downtown Dallas. Only 1 person honked, and roughly 3-4 moved over to let him by.

[DFW_Warrior]

Originally Posted by El Fenix

My "friend" just did a bunch of lane splitting on the parking lot that is 75 northbound out of downtown Dallas. Only 1 person honked, and roughly 3-4 moved over to let him by.

Same here, but on 20 this afternoon. Traffic was at a standstill because of a wreck blocking zero lanes, but everyone just had to look and see. So my "friend" would filter towards the front when speeds dropped below 20mph.

No one honked, no one pulled into his lane, and everyone was much too busy texting to really even notice.

So to the "bloodbath in the streets" folks, why aren't they already killing people left and right when they are splitting or filtering?

[BexarWolf]

Originally Posted by DFW_Warrior

........So to the "bloodbath in the streets" folks, why aren't they already killing people left and right when they are splitting or filtering?

If it only happens once and it's to me.....I'll be extremely angry.

[DFW_Warrior]

Originally Posted by BexarWolf

If it only happens once and it's to me.....I'll be extremely angry.

I'm not debating that.... I would be in the same boat. I really am trying to understand why some people think that the aggressiveness of TX drivers would cause so many fatalities out of rage if it were to be legal, but currently it isn't legal and somehow people are dying.

I'm not trying to be a smart butt, but I just really want to know where the justification for those thoughts comes from. I've also been told that "Cooper St. here in Arlington is where motorcycle riders go only if they have a death wish and people drive with no regard to others, and its scary, and I don't ever ride there ever ever ever". But I ride on it twice a day and it's pretty much just like any other street I've ridden on through the years.

[BexarWolf]

Bill, for me it's more paranoia than truth. Fact of the matter, I could probably split lanes or filter all day long and nothing would happen because right now, I work night shift and traffic isn't a factor in my commute. But during the day, in my car, I witness random acts of recklessness that would take out a bike in the wrong place at the wrong time. Simply riding in Austin traffic is tough enough on a bike and for me, splitting or filtering doesn't hold enough benefit to outweigh the potential loss. I live by a cost/benefit mindset.

Sure, a car pinching me off while filtering wouldn't be a bid deal or having someone honk at me or throw something out the window.......I just don't want to add one more "fun factor" to my commute. There was a time not too long ago that I was <-> this close to giving up riding on the streets because of too many close calls.

[YoDoc]

I ride cooper a lot too. I like it better than 157.

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[gixxerjasen]

Here's what you really should think about. Do you want to put yourself in a position where someone can legally kill you? All it takes is one....not hundreds, not thousands, but one angry idiot. As you zip by he can close it off, squeeze you or whatever.

If you wreck, then what recourse do you have? He didn't see you coming. He didn't know a motorcycle would be zooming up between cars, he just made an accident and it was unfortunate that you were where you weren't supposed to be.

Sure you or your family could take him to court but this isn't California and you have no legal precedence that says the motorcyclist was in the right. In the end, one angry idiot can hurt or kill you and very very very likely get away with it.

And then there's the ones who truly didn't see you because they weren't looking for you and did something stupid. You'll still be the one liable in the accident because you were splitting.

[msnyder755]

Originally Posted by gixxerjasen

Here's what you really should think about. Do you want to put yourself in a position where someone can legally kill you? All it takes is one....not hundreds, not thousands, but one angry idiot. As you zip by he can close it off, squeeze you or whatever.

If you wreck, then what recourse do you have? He didn't see you coming. He didn't know a motorcycle would be zooming up between cars, he just made an accident and it was unfortunate that you were where you weren't supposed to be.

Sure you or your family could take him to court but this isn't California and you have no legal precedence that says the motorcyclist was in the right. In the end, one angry idiot can hurt or kill you and very very very likely get away with it.

And then there's the ones who truly didn't see you because they weren't looking for you and did something stupid. You'll still be the one liable in the accident because you were splitting.

these are valid points and we are not talking about riding 80 mph between cars we are talking maybe 5 to 10 while everyone is stopped. I do understand and accept your logic but then again it only takes one deer, one patch of oil, one corner with gravel, one truck over the line and on and on. As someone said riding is inherently dangerous and if I dont have to sit in a line of cars hoping noone rearends me or the car behind me or the one behind them; and I am willing to accept the risk of filtering to the front then why not. we are not advocating anyone be forced to do it but for those that accept the risk and is comfortable I say go for it. I only do it in extreme cases but I know and accept the risk over other risk present

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[khager]

Originally Posted by RxZ

All I can say about the issue is to read this website, and the study contained within in its entirety, not just the abstract and final report:

http://www.tmleuven.be/project/motor...uting/home.htm

I did, and it has a lot of good information.

Great link, I haven't seen any others quite like it. I think the Europeans, Asians, Californians and others have it figured out. They have ways to encourage commuting by motorcycles, free parking on sidewalks in cities, exemption from the London congestion charge, use of empty bus lanes that cages cannot use, and of course lane-splitting. The more people commute by M/C the more it helps congestion. As they say a pic is worth a 1000 words, put each of these bikers in a cage and see how bad it gets.

[george-1]

I ran across an article about a study in France about this subject.

The introduction:

"Researcher at the French public institute IFSTTAR, Samuel Aupetit studied the behaviour of motorcyclists filtering through traffic, as part of a project commissioned by the French road safety authority. His conclusions are clear: while experienced riders can map the risks around them, novice riders face real dangers."

While riding in California, I lane split. It can be done safely, but requires concentration and skill. It's not for everyone, but I see no one calling for it to be mandatory.

[DFW_Warrior]

Originally Posted by BexarWolf

Bill, for me it's more paranoia than truth. Fact of the matter, I could probably split lanes or filter all day long and nothing would happen because right now, I work night shift and traffic isn't a factor in my commute. But during the day, in my car, I witness random acts of recklessness that would take out a bike in the wrong place at the wrong time. Simply riding in Austin traffic is tough enough on a bike and for me, splitting or filtering doesn't hold enough benefit to outweigh the potential loss. I live by a cost/benefit mindset.

Sure, a car pinching me off while filtering wouldn't be a bid deal or having someone honk at me or throw something out the window.......I just don't want to add one more "fun factor" to my commute. There was a time not too long ago that I was <-> this close to giving up riding on the streets because of too many close calls.

100% understandable. I wouldn't even think of doing it if I didn't already know my surroundings like the back of my hand. And I don't even think about it until traffic is literally stopped with no light at the end of the tunnel. Where are all those cars and trucks going to go when they are stopped right up against the bumpers of the people in front of them? Truth be told, they really aren't going to go anywhere. And that is what I am seeing from my own personal experiences as well as reading what others have added on here.

I just think that there are some on here (not you per say) that hear the term lane splitting and the first thing they think of is some guy on the back wheel doing 90 between cars that are already doing 70. When in reality, it is a guy on a KLR doing 7 while the cars around him are doing 0.

And the thing that I always try to add to any lane splitting debate is this: Even if you don't think you will ever do it, why not support it to the fullest so as to allow everyone the choice to do it if they so choose to? I won't even ride with someone that isn't wearing a helmet, but I am 100% against a mandated helmet law because I want everyone to be able to make up their own mind on what is right for them. I would think that everyone would want to make it legal just so that those that choose to do it would be allowed to do so.

[khager]

Agreed, I don't do it till all traffic is stopped, and then I am doing only about 10 mph, picking my way thru the cars. Also some bikes certainly make it easier, like the KLR as you mentioned, I wouldn't want to try it on an electra-glide, not that I haven't seen big baggers split-lanes. The only problem with the Wee-Strom is the mirrors and bar ends match the height of pickup mirrors, which there are too many of in Texas, and when you get two pickups perfectly aligned, you have to be careful, so you don't clip Bubba's mirror..

On being hit from the rear, I have been rear-ended twice in my truck, once while sitting at a red light. The guy that hit me, didn't see me because the sun was in his eyes, (early morning) never touched his brakes, and knocked me into next week. It was hard enough to buckle the bed and push it into the cab, had I been on the bike, it would have been ugly, I would have been at least a paraplegic.

The second time I was on the Fwy (I820) going 50 mph right hand lane, across an ICY bridge, which is why everybody was doing 50 except for the contractor cowboy weaving thru traffic like he was Dale Earnhardt, in his F350 while hauling a very big backhoe on a 40' trailer, He probably hit me doing 70, me doing 50, luckily I was almost to the end of the bridge and back on ice-free pavement so it jolted me forward, a little sideways, but i straightened it out and soon pulled over. Again the bed was pushed into the cab, not a little tap on the bumper. Here I would have been dead for sure, on the bike, because he would have ran me over, after I went down, no way he could slow that truck and trailer, going way to fast for road conditions and too much weight.

Both times I seen it coming in my rearview mirror, but nowhere to go. I guess my habits of checking my mirrors a lot carry over to my cage. I have also done an emergency lane split a few times.

When I lived in Keller and commuted to FW, I cannot tell you how many wrecks on I35W I split past where people got rear-ended on the FWY, I remember two of them were Motorcycles, but mostly cars rear-ending other cars.

I realize the chances of me getting sideswiped while splitting are probably higher (hasn't happened yet though) than getting rear-ended sitting in traffic, but the consequences are less severe, and the more you do it the better you get at predicting the movement of others, the trick is to not get overconfident and increase your speed too much. It takes a lot of focus and concentration and is certainly not for everyone. Ok enough of my rambling on and on. .

[Texas T]

How about some actual current stats from the CA Office Of Traffic Safety?

Rider Survey

Driver Survey


Discuss...

[RxZ]

Originally Posted by Texas T

How about some actual current stats from the CA Office Of Traffic Safety?

Rider Survey

Driver Survey


Discuss...

That is good data. It seems to be a fairly well thought out questionnaire that was asked.

However, even in California where lane-sharing is quasi legal roughly 50% of car drivers thought it was illegal. Fortunately, only 7% stated they ever tried to prevent a motorcyclist. Also, of the accidents that do occur most where mirror-mirror contact.

Overall, to me it seems like the data supports the continued practice. Hopefully this is a good sign for not only California, but the rest of the nation as well if they eventually get something on the books allowing the continued practice. (Although if the wrong people are in control of this, the stats can be made to say it is an evil, dangerous practice that should be held in the same regards as dog fighting. Stats can be manipulated to no end.)

[gixxerjasen]

Same stuff, just condensed and taken from numbers to words.

http://www.ots.ca.gov/Media_and_Rese...fety_Month.pdf

I snagged it from this entertaining article.

4 Insane Things Nobody Tells You About Riding a Motorcycle

[BexarWolf]

Originally Posted by DFW_Warrior

......And the thing that I always try to add to any lane splitting debate is this: Even if you don't think you will ever do it, why not support it to the fullest so as to allow everyone the choice to do it if they so choose to? I won't even ride with someone that isn't wearing a helmet, but I am 100% against a mandated helmet law because I want everyone to be able to make up their own mind on what is right for them. I would think that everyone would want to make it legal just so that those that choose to do it would be allowed to do so.

Well said. Just to be clear, the only reason I'd be viewed as "against" lane splitting at this time is simply because in my interpretation of Texas Traffic Laws, it's illegal. Personally, if it were put to a vote, I'd vote in favor of it. Doesn't mean I'd do it, but I'd favor it being made legal. Anything that gives us the upper hand in safety is a good thing to me.

[ItchyBob]

Originally Posted by RxZ

However, even in California where lane-sharing is quasi legal roughly 50% of car drivers thought it was illegal.

I didn't see that info. On the driver survey, table7, question 3: "Do you think it is legal for motorcycles to lane split on freeways?", Yes-52.9% No-36.7%.

Seems roughly 40% and not 50% of drivers thought it was legal. Which gives the majority the lead in favor of lane splitting.