Hooniverse Asks- Motorcycle Lane Splitting, Brah or Blah?

Robert Emslie

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splitting

Some people manage to jump between two and four wheeled conveyances with little trouble. Others choose early in life whether to ensconce themselves in metal and plastic, or to take life one bug to the teeth at a time. No matter which kind of motorist you happen to be, one thing we all can agree upon is that motorcycles are da’ bomb when it comes to rush hour traffic. Not only are they able to accelerate and brake more quickly but in California, they can lane split.

California is the only state in the nation that for years has not had a law specifically prohibiting this practice, and while that’s not changing, the California Highway Patrol – love those guys – have come out with a set of guidelines for motorcyclists to follow in an attempt to make the practice as safe as possible. It’s all reasonable stuff- try and travel no more than 10mph above surrounding traffic at average speeds over 30mph, attempt to stay between the #1 and #2 lanes, etc. It’s all pretty common sense.

So the State, the CHP, and a whole lot of motorcyclists – at least based on my daily commute – all seem to be cool with the idea of bikes straddling the dotted, but what about you? Are you a bike rider that’s had one too many run-ins with unobservant lane changers and now just plan on a longer commute? Or, are you a car driver who either envies or detests the riders who do lane split? What’s your take on the whole practice – is lane splitting, brah! or blah?

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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46 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- Motorcycle Lane Splitting, Brah or Blah?”

  1. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    When they drive at normal speeds, sure, no problem!

    Reply
  2. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Brah as long as they are being responsible, not going excessively fast, and aren't jumping between lanes.
    My understanding is lane splitting is allowed in California because of the excessive traffic and air-cooled motorcycles that don't like to sit still for too long. Is this true or just a story I heard long ago in my youthful naiveté?

    Reply
    1. failboat Avatar
      failboat

      2nd part is true I believe. Overheating is bad. Here in VA lane splitting is illegal but I have seen riders using the shoulder in stop and go traffic several times. Now that I understand why I no longer think to myself "What an asshole."
      I've also seen riders shut their bikes off when stopped in traffic.

      Reply
    2. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      Lane splitting (legally referred to as Lane Sharing, in typical California feel good inclusiveness) is kept on the books largely by the CHP themselves, who refuse to sit in traffic or flout their power by doing something mere mortals are denied the privilege of. That's the lore I've heard.

      Reply
  3. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    Lane splitting could result in head splitting. I think it's dangerous.

    Reply
  4. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    I choose "Meh." If you have to lane-split, you're in probably the least enjoyable environment for riding a motorcycle. Fortunately, I've never lived anywhere with traffic so congested that lane-splitting was regularly done, or needed.

    Reply
  5. lilwillie Avatar
    lilwillie

    I don't ride, can't really, and have seen a lot of friends killed on bikes. All said I think it is a good idea if done responsibly by the rider.
    For the bikers out there, when I see you coming up behind me and I pull tighter to the shoulder/white line so you can see what is ahead of me is that a good thing or bad? My theory is if I am as far to the right as I can go in my lane and you on the bike are far left you can see what is ahead and pass easier if you like.
    /lane splitting is illegal in Wisconsin

    Reply
    1. Hatchtopia Avatar
      Hatchtopia

      I would say to continue to do what you're doing – that is, maintain your position in the lane. I don't like surprises, and while I appreciate the effort, if you're going straight, I know pretty much where you're going to be when I arrive next to you. But that's just me.

      Reply
  6. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    It's illegal in Texas, but if you're stopped for it, it's up to the officer's discretion whether to ticket:
    http://www.texmoto.com/Dynamic/texasmotorcyclelaw…
    I think it's dangerous, but I'm just thinking about the cyclist.

    Reply
  7. quijoteMike Avatar
    quijoteMike

    In Europe not to split the lanes would be odd. Its one of the joys of motrocycling. In London I reckon at least 40% commute by bike or m'cycle and they/we all do it, its an interesting game for all concerned.
    If it were against the law it would be honoured more in the breach than the observance

    Reply
  8. IronBallsMcG Avatar
    IronBallsMcG

    I would love to see it embraced throughout the states.
    While I would probably never do it on the big bike, I would intentionally take the scooter to do it on city streets. And yes, that means one less car in everyone's way.
    We're not in traffic, we are traffic.

    Reply
  9. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    My commute isn't terrible, usually only 45 minutes. But I go through a number of choke points where there's clogged traffic (pretty much any way I could possibly go). I would embrace the possibility of lane splitting, even if it's to save 15 minutes, the six months of the year motorcycling is a viable proposition.

    Reply
    1. dculberson Avatar
      dculberson

      Good god, 45 minutes is "not terrible?" Is that each way? I get ticked off if my commute takes more than 15. I'm spoiled.

      Reply
      1. Sky_Render Avatar
        Sky_Render

        You obviously don't work near any major metropolitan area.

        Reply
      2. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        Toronto area – no one really gets anywhere quickly. That 45 minutes gets me 25km from home to most of my dealers. And, compared to the 64km/1 hour commute I had for three years of college, it's mostly better. Mostly.
        I still want a position in my company's head office though. Had to go in yesterday, went from wearing no pants at 9AM to finding a parking spot at 9:20.

        Reply
    2. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      I've been using the Waze app for about 18 months. On the way home from work yesterday the TxDOT sign said there was a pileup and 2 lanes closed ahead. Waze must have seen it and directed me to take another route I'd never taken. 10 minutes later the traffic report on the radio said the highway had been closed.
      I made it home in about the same time had I taken my usual route. Thanks Waze!

      Reply
      1. engineerd Avatar
        engineerd

        I love me some Waze.

        Reply
      2. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        As a BB user (I'm going with some vague notion of supporting the Canadian company, especially when they have a slightly cheaper product), I've generally given up on BB Traffic, as it's completely incapable of keeping me away from the local toll highway, and I never really trust the directions it gives me (which almost always seem to take 5-10 minutes longer than estimated). Got assigned an iPhone for work yesterday though, so I'll definitely be giving Waze a try.

        Reply
        1. JayP2112 Avatar
          JayP2112

          Waze redirected me away from some traffic again today. I swear it's getting better and better.

          Reply
  10. Irishzombieman Avatar
    Irishzombieman

    It is dangerous.
    But so is stop-and-go traffic for a motocyclist. What would be a very minor rear-end fender bender in a car is a broken leg or worse for a cyclist.
    <img src="http://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/Phoenix_Dump_Truck_Crash.jpg&quot; width=350>
    I don't mind the thought of hitting someone from behind while on my bike any more than I do in a car. Nor am I scared of being hit from behind. But I'm frickin' terrified of being crushed between two cars.
    Also, take two hundred lane-splitting cyclists and put them back into already-congested columns of traffic and what do you get? Worse congestion. Lane splitting is dangerous, but would be less so if car drivers realized how much it was helping them personally.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Motorcyclists_lane_splitting_in_Bangkok,_Thailand.jpg/350px-Motorcyclists_lane_splitting_in_Bangkok,_Thailand.jpg&quot; width=350>
    Brah, bro.

    Reply
  11. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Like stated above, I think that the motorcyclist should use good judgement when splitting, and do it at safe speeds when traffic is at a crawl or stopped.
    That said, there needs to be much better information out there to non-motorcyclist. When HFL posted about lane splitting, it was amazing the comments people would leave about wanted to "get even" and threaten to open doors and shit when they see a bike lane splitting.
    There needs to be better education first, on both sides, then lane splitting would really take off, I think.
    <img src="http://hellforleathermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/freeway_at_night_2.jpg&quot; width=550>

    Reply
  12. wisc47 Avatar
    wisc47

    Yeah, basically what I wanted to say has been said; be cool about it and I'm cool with it. I don't want to have to worry about some guy on a Ducati flying into my door if a spot in the next lane opens up and I try to get over.

    Reply
  13. CABEZAGRANDE Avatar
    CABEZAGRANDE

    It's good in theory, but extremely hard to implement safely in practice. Drivers just plain aren't observant enough. It should work well, but you have WAY too many people that simply don't look well enough when changing lanes. Around here people run into cars regularly when changing lanes, so I shudder to think what would happen to bike riders who were trying to lane split. So much as I am a proponent of enabling as much freedom of operation as possible, this is one I don't think should be widely enacted for the safety of riders.

    Reply
    1. Hopman Avatar
      Hopman

      You must drive in metro Boston alot.

      Reply
  14. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    It scares the hell out of me when I see it, and I'd like to think I'm a fairly observant driver. (Of course we'd all like to think that.)

    Reply
  15. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    http://youtu.be/sjMPWrYO1E4 (Embedding video doen´t seem to work)
    Lane splitting is ok but has to be done with prudence, never go at high speeds, always be sure you´ve been seen by the car drivers and always be able to stop quicker than any manouvre of any car in front of you.
    Certainly do not behave like the jerk on the video.
    São Paulo traffic is like this, too many bikers die every month
    <img src="http://motordomundo.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lento-no-corredor-nc3a3o-pode.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  16. Number_Six Avatar
    Number_Six

    I'm against it and it's illegal where I live, but I've done it in places like Bangkok and Tokyo because the alternative was to sit baking in a helmet for hours.

    Reply
  17. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    It's not usually an issue here, but we do have lot of idiot bikers on crotch rockets who like to speed.
    Now cyclists, on the other hand . . . don't get me started on cyclists.

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman Avatar
      Irishzombieman

      Wah wah wah cars wah wah wah share the road wah wah wah I pay taxes too wah wah wah I should be able to ride 15 miles per hour side by side with my three buddies wah wah wah. . .
      Nothing against the responsible ones. But I hate the whiners.

      Reply
      1. MVEilenstein Avatar
        MVEilenstein

        Around here we have bicycle gangs, especially in the summer. They're usually training for some race, so 5-100 of them, all in Spandex sponsor uniforms, crowding the lane, even where a bike lane exists. With the hills and lights and traffic, one minute you're being passed by a bunch bikes doing 40 down a hill, and the next you're stuck behind a pack of them doing 10 going up a slope.
        On Sunday, while approaching a red light at a 3-way intersection (we had the thru lane), I watched the other cars begin to make their green light left turn when I saw some cyclists coming up behind me. I bet my wife that they would blow through the intersection, even though the other traffic had the green. Sure enough.

        Reply
        1. Vavon Avatar
          Vavon

          Have a little laugh!
          [youtube X975EVV3Egg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X975EVV3Egg youtube]

          Reply
          1. MVEilenstein Avatar
            MVEilenstein

            I did! hahahah

  18. danleym Avatar
    danleym

    I'm all for it in heavy, slowed down congested traffic. I'm not for it when I'm doing ten over, passing a guy doing the speed limit, and a motorcycle comes flying inbetween us like we're both standing still.

    Reply
  19. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    I'm not against it, but considering that the roads contain both the species Angrius Douchebagius – who exhibit behaviors such as sudden lane changes and door opening for the sole purpose of getting even with people who might be commuting faster – and the Oblivious Moronicus – typified by somehow not knowing where they are or what surrounds them – I'm not entirely sure why you'd want to.

    Reply
  20. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    They have the right to operate at whatever level of risk they feel comfortable with, as long as it does not affect me. Which it really doesn't.
    Also, this:
    [youtube JNGD9AAIfFU&list=PL061D914B66D2A0AF&index=3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNGD9AAIfFU&amp;
    list=PL061D914B66D2A0AF&index=3 youtube]

    Reply
  21. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Too many people drive exclusively by habit and feel, hardly using their eyes at all. That makes lane splitting quite dangerous.
    I know of three women in their 50s who have laid down men in their 20s and 30s in this way. None of them is remotely cougarish.

    Reply
  22. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    I wouldn't do it when I rode in Boston, even after 5 years of "Lane Sharing" (as it's properly called) in San Francisco. Not because it's illegal, but because Boston drivers aren't used to having MCs around them (short riding season), are unpredictable at best and petty and vindictive at worst.
    It's now a part of CA road culture, there's always a motorcycle on the road with you in CA, and the drivers in the bay area at least seem to be pathologically averse to lane changing.

    Reply
    1. topdeadcentre Avatar
      topdeadcentre

      I motorcycle around Boston and eastern Massachusetts, and I won't lane-split for just this reason.

      Reply
      1. 1slowvw Avatar
        1slowvw

        I won't say which eastern Canadian City I once followed a rider driving a full dressed Harley (sporting Mass plates) though, I will say though that he seemed very comfortable, kept reasonable speed between the lanes of traffic, and didn't seem to mind the "kid" on the CB900F following him through.
        I actually though afterwards that it was very possible that this guy was a bike cop, He just seemed so very sure of the width and size of his bike, and never hesitated for a minute when moving up through the lanes.
        I will say though that I am a very cautious person on a bike, we have an even shorter riding season up (have lived in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick here then in Massachusetts and I think you guys a probably right. Most people on the road just aren't comfortable with having bikes go by them while stopped, even if it's only at 10mph.

        Reply
  23. mappo Avatar
    mappo

    I do it every day on my commute at two choke points where traffic backs up for a mile behind a red light. But I only do it in *stopped* traffic – when things get moving I say with traffic. If you split lanes in moving traffic, it's only a matter of time until someone changes lanes right into you.

    Reply
  24. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    Lane splitting? You mean filtering! The entire UK biking population would tell you that filtering is the entire point of riding on two wheels. I say Brah, but blah when the speed differential exceeds 15mph, then it becomes Taking The Piss.

    Reply
  25. Marto Avatar
    Marto

    …still only in Saigon…
    [youtube oetF3UTIwbc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oetF3UTIwbc youtube]

    Reply
  26. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    I've ridden a LOT…mostly in BFE at way extra-legal speeds…however, no matter how hot it is, and how bad the traffic, I'd not lane split for a million dollars.
    Too many out there to kill you, and why give them an easy shot.

    Reply
  27. Brad Avatar
    Brad

    Having been hit by someone splitting lanes who left a nasty dent in my fender and then ended up on the hood of my car. Oh yeah, then left the scene. I call that hit and run. I call lane splitting BS.

    Reply
  28. mikltaz Avatar
    mikltaz

    Lane splitting in CA is not exactly legal, but not illegal either. It used to be on the books allowing it, but has been remove. There is nothing that forbids it.
    Around the world lane splitting is allowed just not here in the good ole USA. I think it should be. I could get to my destination so much quicker with it. But no, people think it is wrong, just like they hate traffic circles.

    Reply
  29. sporty88au Avatar
    sporty88au

    I'm a reasonably experienced rider, having spent most of my 20's riding on a daily basis – a motorcycle was my only transport to and from work for much of this period – and I still try to go for a ride at least once a week.
    I'm completely in favor of lane-splitting/filtering/sharing (whatever you choose to call it) – when traffic is stopped – mainly because I don't trust the driver behind me to be able to stop in time to avoid hitting me. I've been hit from behind once while stopped on a bike – thankfully it was a low speed impact, and there was nothing in front of me at the time.
    For the same reason, while riding in traffic, I will be continually scanning the traffic ahead, firstly for any potential hazards, and secondly to ensure I have a gap to enter when the traffic ahead of me inevitably stops. Most, if not all, motorcyclists who are experienced in city riding will do the same, either consciously or unconsciously – it's a matter of self-preservation.
    I agree with Tanshanomi's comment above that it is not the most enjoyable environment for riding, however, for many motorcyclists it is a necessity, if only to get the more enjoyable places.
    There's no way I'd lane-split if the traffic is moving, regardless of speed – that's just asking for trouble. I don't trust a lot of other drivers to be able to maintain their lane position either, but that's another story.

    Reply