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Motorcycles going between cars

Started by OCGuy81, September 01, 2015, 01:51:42 PM

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OCGuy81

Had some out of state visitors recently, and they were a little surprised when, at a red light, a few motorcyclists were weaving through the traffic, and one biker was sitting between my car and the car in the lane next to me.

They were visiting from Oregon, and said they never see people on motorcycles do that up there.  Not sure if that's because it's not legal in Oregon, or if people up there just don't feel the need to do it as much because their traffic probably isn't as bad as LA/OC.

In your state, are motorcyclists allowed to ride between cars?  Is this just a California thing, for I think it's really the only place I've observed it, though maybe I've seen it elsewhere, but just haven't paid it much attention until now.


Brandon

It is just a California thing.  Lane splitting is illegal here in Illinois and much, if not all the Midwest.  It's a very dangerous thing to do, IMHO.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton, "Game of Thrones"

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg, "Monty Python's Life of Brian"

jakeroot

Quote from: Brandon on September 01, 2015, 01:55:01 PM
It's a very dangerous thing to do, IMHO.

Beats getting rear-ended by an inattentive motorist, IMHO.

I don't see motorcyclists lane split very often up here near Seattle (because it's illegal) but cyclists do it a lot.

Brandon

Quote from: jakeroot on September 01, 2015, 03:22:15 PM
Quote from: Brandon on September 01, 2015, 01:55:01 PM
It's a very dangerous thing to do, IMHO.

Beats getting rear-ended by an inattentive motorist, IMHO.

And it winds up with the motorcyclist being sideswiped and becoming a road pancake.  Stay in your fricking lane, not between them.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton, "Game of Thrones"

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg, "Monty Python's Life of Brian"

jakeroot

Quote from: Brandon on September 01, 2015, 03:23:30 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on September 01, 2015, 03:22:15 PM
Quote from: Brandon on September 01, 2015, 01:55:01 PM
It's a very dangerous thing to do, IMHO.

Beats getting rear-ended by an inattentive motorist, IMHO.

And it winds up with the motorcyclist being sideswiped and becoming a road pancake.  Stay in your fricking lane, not between them.

At least in the US, lane-splitting is only allowed at slower speeds, giving most motorcyclists time to react to a vehicle changing or about to change lanes. On the other hand, you can't prepare to be rear-ended...it just sort of happens, and there's no minor fender-bender for a motorcyclist.

OCGuy81

Guess I'm just used to it, as being at a red light and having a motorcycle come up between myself and another car just seems normal.

Usually the cycles I see are the smaller "crotch rocket" kind of bikes.  I don't see larger Harley type motorcycles weaving between as much.

Sykotyk

It's an LA/CA thing. When I was out in LA, I saw it during heavy traffic jams. Almost as an enticement for someone to get a motorcycle and ditch the car. Like having the HOV lane open to hybrids, etc.

As for anywhere else: no. I haven't even seen anyone do it in another state, let alone know if it's legal or not.

hbelkins

I saw two crotch rockets passing a truck on the paved shoulder in a curve on northbound KY 15 between Hazard and Jackson today. Too bad there wasn't a disabled vehicle parked there for them to slam into.

Lane-splitting is stupid and dangerous and should be illegal everywhere.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

jeffandnicole

I just happened to see someone doing it today on 295 in Jersey.  He was going quite slow.  I never even heard him until he was going past me.  Sure enough, just a few cars ahead a car switched lanes just in front of the bike.

realjd

Lane splitting is only legal and common in CA. It really is unnerving for people from out of state.

Technically the law in CA is that two vehicles can share a lane, which lets motorcycles drive between lanes by sharing one lane or the other and changing lanes repeatedly.

Rothman

I've seen lane-splitting a couple of times up here in NY -- even on Central Ave in Albany.  Not sure if it's legal here or not (I thought it actually may be, but it looks like it isn't).
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

jakeroot

#11
Quote from: hbelkins on September 01, 2015, 09:02:44 PM
I saw two crotch rockets passing a truck on the paved shoulder in a curve on northbound KY 15 between Hazard and Jackson today.

That's not lane splitting.

Quote from: hbelkins on September 01, 2015, 09:02:44 PM
Lane-splitting is stupid and dangerous and should be illegal everywhere.

Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinions Mr Elkins, but the studies don't show lane splitting to be dangerous. There is a perception that it's dangerous, of course, but that doesn't mean that it is dangerous.

Quote from: realjd on September 01, 2015, 09:42:48 PM
Lane splitting is only legal and common in CA. It really is unnerving for people from out of state.

Bingo. People are scared by bikes riding by them. It's unnerving, therefore most people oppose it, without a shred of evidence to backup their opposition, other than "it's scary!"

Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 01, 2015, 09:05:42 PM
Sure enough, just a few cars ahead a car switched lanes just in front of the bike.

Did they collide?




Because I haven't made it clear so far, I don't advocate lane splitting at speeds above about 30 miles an hour, give or take.

r-dub

Ryan "r-dub"
Roadgeekin' Colorado Style

jakeroot


1995hoo

It's illegal here. About the only times I see it done are (a) motorcyclists slowly proceeding between lines of stopped traffic or (b) aggressive motorcyclists who are ignoring multiple other laws as well and often doing things like popping wheelies on the Interstate.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
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sdmichael

Quote from: r-dub on September 02, 2015, 12:10:34 AM
Colorado has its fair share of lane squeezers. Usually it ends poorly. This happened today:

http://gazette.com/motorcyclist-killed-trying-to-squeeze-between-trucks-on-i-25/article/1558469

Does it "usually end poorly"? I would say otherwise.


Brandon

Quote from: sdmichael on September 02, 2015, 10:24:45 AM
Quote from: r-dub on September 02, 2015, 12:10:34 AM
Colorado has its fair share of lane squeezers. Usually it ends poorly. This happened today:

http://gazette.com/motorcyclist-killed-trying-to-squeeze-between-trucks-on-i-25/article/1558469

Does it "usually end poorly"? I would say otherwise.

It's still rude and dangerous.  I'm very glad it's illegal here.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton, "Game of Thrones"

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg, "Monty Python's Life of Brian"

DaBigE

Quote from: Brandon on September 02, 2015, 11:30:58 AM
Quote from: sdmichael on September 02, 2015, 10:24:45 AM
Quote from: r-dub on September 02, 2015, 12:10:34 AM
Colorado has its fair share of lane squeezers. Usually it ends poorly. This happened today:

http://gazette.com/motorcyclist-killed-trying-to-squeeze-between-trucks-on-i-25/article/1558469

Does it "usually end poorly"? I would say otherwise.

It's still rude and dangerous.  I'm very glad it's illegal here.

Agreed. Although, I'm more concerned about one of them putting a nice long scratch in the side of my car or taking out my side mirror if/when they misjudge the size of the gap vs. the width of their handlebars. Admittedly, it's more of a concern with bicyclists rather than motorcyclists, as the former seem to have poorer judgment in their abilities and try to squeeze in tighter spots. Bicyclists also seem to be less aware of vehicle's blind spots and thus seem to hide there. Motorcyclists you at least can hear.
"We gotta find this road, it's like Bob's road!" - Rabbit, Twister

vdeane

Lane splitting seems like a way of making it difficult to pass slowpoke motorcyclists on roads with traffic lights.  I also wonder what happens if a motorist needs to swerve for some reason (perhaps the car in front having engine trouble, for example) and is stuck with a motor cycle next to them.  And what if they scratch your paint by misjudging the space?  Plus, I like driving because it gives me privacy, not to have a biker sandwiched right next to my window.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

empirestate

Whatever one's opinion on lane splitting, I have to believe that CA's permission of lane-splitting does not extend to the space between the carpool lane and the regular lanes, which I've frequently seen. As I recall, the wording of CA's law refers to lane striping, such that the carpool lane is out of bounds.


iPhone

jakeroot

Quote from: empirestate on September 02, 2015, 01:51:03 PM
Whatever one's opinion on lane splitting, I have to believe that CA's permission of lane-splitting does not extend to the space between the carpool lane and the regular lanes, which I've frequently seen. As I recall, the wording of CA's law refers to lane striping, such that the carpool lane is out of bounds.

Like many states, California allows motorcycles to use HOV lanes, so such is permitted. Also, do consider how helpful that particular buffer is: cars cannot cross it (legally), and it's wide. Though, not all HOV lanes are marked like this.






Quote from: Brandon on September 02, 2015, 11:30:58 AM
It's still rude and dangerous.

It's actually safer, but how exactly is it rude?

jeffandnicole

Quote from: jakeroot on September 02, 2015, 03:05:18 PM
It's actually safer, but how exactly is it rude?

How is it safer?  Are motorcyclists getting hit while sitting in normal traffic, but never having issues while line skipping?

I'll only consider it rude if done in a state or a location where it's illegal. 

Rudeness can be in the eye of the beholder.  Remember, pertaining to another discussion, some people think it's rude if they're not waved out, even though it's illegal to actually do so.

DaBigE

Quote from: jakeroot on September 02, 2015, 03:05:18 PM
Quote from: Brandon on September 02, 2015, 11:30:58 AM
It's still rude and dangerous.

It's actually safer, but how exactly is it rude?

Because it could be considered to be like someone skipping ahead of you in line at worst, sloppy passing procedure at best.

Example: Riding the line is illegal in Wisconsin. While waiting for the Merrimac Ferry, I've seen motorcyclists ride the line and skip ahead of the cars queued for the ferry (a line that can be upwards of 25 minutes long during tourist season). This usually happens while the ferry is en-route (the operator is the only one in the vicinity with any kind of authority).
"We gotta find this road, it's like Bob's road!" - Rabbit, Twister

noelbotevera

This subject sounds like if you played GTA 4, found a motorcycle, and dodged the tolls and 1 star on the East Borough Bridge.
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jakeroot

Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 02, 2015, 03:12:33 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on September 02, 2015, 03:05:18 PM
It's actually safer, but how exactly is it rude?

How is it safer?  Are motorcyclists getting hit while sitting in normal traffic, but never having issues while line skipping?

Not necessarily (though I would imagine, yes, though not "never"). But, motorcyclists are more likely to be able to see a car changing lanes than a car about to rear-end them. And if a motorcyclist is riding between lanes, the only thing that could potentially hit them from the rear are other motorcyclists. Beyond that, it should be obvious that, if/when a car hits a motorcyclist, the motorcyclist is more likely to suffer severe injuries.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 02, 2015, 03:12:33 PM
Rudeness can be in the eye of the beholder.

My assumption was that Brandon considers lane splitting to be rude because he is jealous of them.

Quote from: DaBigE on September 02, 2015, 03:47:25 PM
Because it could be considered to be like someone skipping ahead of you in line at worst, sloppy passing procedure at best.

Completely reasonable, and I can see where you're coming from. But...

Quote from: DaBigE on September 02, 2015, 03:47:25 PM
Example: Riding the line is illegal in Wisconsin. While waiting for the Merrimac Ferry, I've seen motorcyclists ride the line and skip ahead of the cars queued for the ferry (a line that can be upwards of 25 minutes long during tourist season). This usually happens while the ferry is en-route (the operator is the only one in the vicinity with any kind of authority).

Less cars and more bikes = shorter wait time. I don't agree with them skipping ahead, but for everyone else behind them, one less car to load is one less car in their way (unless the ferry operator loads them into the same space as a car, which would be silly and should be re-thought). As jeffandnicole said, rudeness can be in the eye of the beholder, but as far as I'm concerned, they're doing us a favor by not adding to the congestion.



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