Who else lane splits and is it legal?

[bigjnsa]

Since changing jobs, distance wise my commute to work is much shorter. However, morning traffic to the college campus is a nightmare and if I didn't lane split, it would take me 30 minutes instead of 10 minutes.

I live right near the access road of 1604, and the left median is quite wide. Once I get to the access road, I quickly get to the left median and stay under 30 mph for about 4 miles. Yes, for 4 miles the access road looks like a Walmart parking lot. I have to go through 2 lights, so I check for holes as I'm riding by and squeeze in. Pass the light and back to the left I go.

The Texas Law states lane splitting is riding between lanes, however what I'm doing is riding on the median. Is this still legal?

[John Dirt]

That is exactly what I want to do for my commute home. I have never done it because I don't want to get a huge fine, except I have no idea what the fine is or what the violation would be. I am confident it is illegal and the ticket is not worth it. My co-worker does it in his jeep and I have heard people honk at him and so on.

I could easily get on the left hand side median, that has no curb, and cruise slowly to the light and easily get back in and save 15 minutes in one of the longest bottlenecks in the Houston area.

Someday I am going to have had enough and I will ride the median at this one spot and I will probably get a ticket.

I hope you never get a ticket.

[bigjnsa]

If it is illegal I may as well just walk to work because the amount of traffic is crawling at a snails pace.

[poser]

When I was commuting I did so very frequently. Not so much while traffic was miving, but more just filtering to the front at traffic lights. When a light is backed up for a mile and it's 100* outside, I was getting cooked wearing full gear.

It's not legal, but note specifically illegal I believe. I did get pulled over once for it. The LEO lectured me for a bit and let me go.

[frijole_tex]

It might help if you were riding a BMW RT/ P with full khakis, black boots (pants tucked into boots), and white 3/4 open face helmet.....or live in California. See exceptions below in (c) or be sure to remember these words: " I was attempting to avoid a collision."

§ 545.058. DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER. (a) An operator
may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled
portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done
safely, but only:
(1) to stop, stand, or park;
(2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled
lane of traffic;
(3) to decelerate before making a right turn;
(4) to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped
on the main traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing
to make a left turn;
(5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;
(6) as permitted or required by an official
traffic-control device; or
(7) to avoid a collision.
(b) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the
left of the main traveled portion of a divided or limited-access or
controlled-access highway if that operation may be done safely, but
only:
(1) to slow or stop when the vehicle is disabled and
traffic or other circumstances prohibit the safe movement of the
vehicle to the shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of
the roadway;
(2) as permitted or required by an official
traffic-control device; or
(3) to avoid a collision.
(c) A limitation in this section on driving on an improved
shoulder does not apply to:
(1) an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a
call;
(2) a police patrol; or
(3) a bicycle.

[YoDoc]

I know it's specifically illegal in cali, which I thought was the only state that allowed splitting.

[bigjnsa]

I've done this only since the semester started which has been 2 weeks. I have even tried changing the times I leave and this is the ONLY way I can make it in time.

[sharkey]

Just FYI, you could be ticketed for that. The charge might be -fail to drive in a single marked lane.

I wish it was legal. I'd be worried of meeting a road rager that way.

[cheez]

It's not specifically legal nor illegal, but they can cite you for 'improper lane usage' or 'following too closely' if they want to. I don't do it because of Texas drivers, who seem to believe ego is more important than safety in their driving habits. I've split a couple of times and had them close gaps ahead of me, not seeming to comprehend that I just change lanes behind them and split into the nice, wide gap they just made on the other side. In CA the drivers are used to lane splitting and filtering, so it seems a lot safer there- cars even move over to give you more room.

I can't say I wouldn't like to see it legalized though, particularly filtering- nothing sucks more than being stuck stopped behind an inattentive cell phone user at a green light in the 110degF heat.

[Drumboy]

I do it pretty often to get to the front at a light when I want to turn right or to get to a street to turn onto when traffic is stopped. If I fit, I go, just like cars will turn right at lights next to me if there's enough room.

[SilverBullet]

Definitely illegal in Texas, both splitting/filtering and riding the shoulder or median.

Have I done it? Yes but reluctantly and sparingly in severe circumstances. Prefer instead to schedule times and routes so I don't get stuck in traffic. I've been known to turn around the bike and do a 1-2 hour joy ride just to avoid traffic.

While doing it I've been honked at and had the shoulder blocked off. Good thing I was riding the dual sport so I just went over further into the grass to get around. That really pissed them off, haha. Texas cagers don't won't no stinking 2 wheeler getting ahead of them in line.

_

[TwoSmokeDS]

Originally Posted by bigjnsa

If it is illegal I may as well just walk to work because the amount of traffic is crawling at a snails pace.

You should ride a bicycle to work. Then, everything would be legal.

[bigjnsa]

Originally Posted by TwoSmokeDS

You should ride a bicycle to work. Then, everything would be legal.

My wife won't let me ride my bike. She seems to think riding a motorcycle is safer than a bicycle

[poser]

I've had just as many (if not more) make more room for me, as have try to close the gap. Only one or two have said something, and only one or two showed a little aggression

[kirbykajin_Sr]

Based on the actual letter of the law, you can do as I did today on 114 west bound in Las Colinas.
Pulled over on the left shoulder and stopped. Moved my cell phone from my hip pocket to my shirt pocket. Started back up on the shoulder and accelerated to the head of the traffic. I used the improved shoulder to accelerate to an opening in the traffic that was moving near highway speed. Can I help it that the point I reached a safe entry point was ahead of all of the other traffic?

[gixxerjasen]

Originally Posted by bigjnsa

I've done this only since the semester started which has been 2 weeks. I have even tried changing the times I leave and this is the ONLY way I can make it in time.

You mean you can't make it on time by leaving earlier?

[hizzo3]

Originally Posted by TwoSmokeDS

You should ride a bicycle to work. Then, everything would be legal.

Actually this is not true. I've even seen bicycles pulled over for running stop signs. They must follow the same rules as a motorize vehicle.

In regards to the thread. Shoulder use, if you make a case that your bike was overheating and you had no other choice, most cops will give you a go ahead. They don't want to compound the issue, and you have to do it reasonable speeds. Outside of that, you don't have much argument.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Tattoogunman]

Speaking from 16 years of law enforcement experience (admittedly not in Texas though), it's illegal unless you can find something in the traffic code that says otherwise. You're essentially operating a motor vehicle outside of the regular/improved roadway. Even though I ride (well, when I have a motorcycle), this crap pisses me off when I see people do this (sorry OP). Why should you be any more exempt from sitting in the crappy traffic than everyone else? Using that logic, I may as well go around on the shoulder/median in my car too - same difference. Just because you’re on a smaller vehicle doesn’t mean you’re exempt. This is also the kind of stuff that gives motorcyclists a bad name.

Even when I lived in D.C., I sat in traffic like everyone else while I would watch others go buzzing by on the shoulders, etc. Oh I was tempted, but I always resisted. It pisses people off and, like someone else already said, I wouldn't trust these people out here not to suddenly veer over to block, open doors, etc. My .02 – take it or leave it.

[poser]

Originally Posted by Tattoogunman

Speaking from 16 years of law enforcement experience (admittedly not in Texas though), it's illegal unless you can find something in the traffic code that says otherwise. You're essentially operating a motor vehicle outside of the regular/improved roadway. Even though I ride (well, when I have a motorcycle), this crap pisses me off when I see people do this (sorry OP). Why should you be any more exempt from sitting in the crappy traffic than everyone else? Using that logic, I may as well go around on the shoulder/median in my car too - same difference. Just because you’re on a smaller vehicle doesn’t mean you’re exempt. This is also the kind of stuff that gives motorcyclists a bad name.

Even when I lived in D.C., I sat in traffic like everyone else while I would watch others go buzzing by on the shoulders, etc. Oh I was tempted, but I always resisted. It pisses people off and, like someone else already said, I wouldn't trust these people out here not to suddenly veer over to block, open doors, etc. My .02 – take it or leave it.

I say its just a calculated risk. And that cager can be pissed off all they want, but until, they've sat in traffic in something other than their air conditioned box, let them get mad.
Following that logic, do you follow ALL traffic laws to a tee?
IMO its no different than speeding, changing lanes w/o signaling, etc...

[bigjnsa]

Based on these replies, I'll just have to find another route to work. I don't mind riding the median, but ya'll are right, some idiot cager will probably block me. Its not all bad.. My 5 mile commute will now turn into 30 miles