Lane Splitting in California

[metallyguitarded_imp]

Anyone who doesn't live in CA do lane splitting when traffic is just so atrocious it's near necessary? Hope I don't get too much flak when saying this, but I've been in situations where traffic's at a dead stop (particularly 290) and with our spacious highways, there's more than enough room to budge between lanes.

On a side note, do a lot of you guys take the right hand lane (way right hand) when approaching a red light as to bypass all the other cars and jack rabbit start once light turns green to get ahead of the traffic?

Keep in mind I'm riding in purely urban traffic scenarios most of the time.

Nope. Here in California, we can turn right on a red light. The car in the far right lane would not be all that pleased if his/her ability to turn right was delayed as a result of a motorcyclist blocking their path just to get a jump on traffic when the bike could have been positioned to the left of the car. I'd think that even in states where you can't turn right on the red, as fast as you think you can take off won't be fast enough for the person who's been waiting to turn.

[emptysea]

If I were filtering to the head of the line and there were 2 lanes in each direction, I would not split between the curb and the car, but rather between the 2 lanes. That way there's still room for the right turners (if you're careful). Otherwise, not only do you run the risk of upsetting them, you also run the risk of being pinched between the car and the curb if he does decide to turn on red.

Related...I have been known to pop into the right lane when I know that it merges back left after the intersection. I stopped doing that in cars (for the most part LOL), but I have made myself believe that the cagers don't get too mad when a bike does this.

I have not lane split through slow-moving traffic on the highway. Then again, I'm not riding in those conditions very often.