05-24-2019, 10:48 PM
I don't know...I go back and forth on this. I understand the benefit to those who ride--avoid rear end collisions, more efficient traffic flow and saves time for riders...but:
While I've seen filtering or splitting a bit in CA, I just don't ride much in rush hour type traffic to appreciate the advantages. I know the first few times a motorcycle whizzed by me in CA--seemingly inches from my mirrors / doors--while I was in a car it scared the begeezers out of me. I wonder how long it would take for the car culture to learn to accept the idea of it in other states. U.S. drivers have the most territorial attitudes I've seen (based on my experiences in Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Central America). If lane filtering were passed as a nation-wide law, I'd wager there would be numerous accidents (or road rage incidents) involving cars that would "defend" their territory so MCs couldn't "take their spots". People here think "don't butt in line" and are quick to retaliate if their sensibilities are offended. They think "if I have to wait in traffic, why shouldn't you?"
If legal, I'd probably wait a few years before attempting it for the idea to register with drivers. But then again, I don't have to face much traffic on a daily basis.
Edit: I would say that 95% of the time I do leave bike in first gear at a stop, I'm watching cars approach in my mirror, ready to pull foward into space left or right of me. But I also wonder if I would react quick enough...honestly, I think probably I would be a bit slow on the draw.
While I've seen filtering or splitting a bit in CA, I just don't ride much in rush hour type traffic to appreciate the advantages. I know the first few times a motorcycle whizzed by me in CA--seemingly inches from my mirrors / doors--while I was in a car it scared the begeezers out of me. I wonder how long it would take for the car culture to learn to accept the idea of it in other states. U.S. drivers have the most territorial attitudes I've seen (based on my experiences in Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Central America). If lane filtering were passed as a nation-wide law, I'd wager there would be numerous accidents (or road rage incidents) involving cars that would "defend" their territory so MCs couldn't "take their spots". People here think "don't butt in line" and are quick to retaliate if their sensibilities are offended. They think "if I have to wait in traffic, why shouldn't you?"
If legal, I'd probably wait a few years before attempting it for the idea to register with drivers. But then again, I don't have to face much traffic on a daily basis.
Edit: I would say that 95% of the time I do leave bike in first gear at a stop, I'm watching cars approach in my mirror, ready to pull foward into space left or right of me. But I also wonder if I would react quick enough...honestly, I think probably I would be a bit slow on the draw.