05-06-2015, 05:54 AM
Fortunately, to date, I have yet to clip a mirror (or anything else) while lane splitting. And lane splitting is something I do often. There are times when I'm content to sit behind a car and wait it out like everyone else but then there are times, especially in the after work rush hour, that I take advantage of the ability to split lanes to get out in front or, at a minimum, keep moving forward while others are stuck in gridlock.
I've read articles on how lane splitting, if done properly, is actually safer than waiting behind another vehicle. Having been rear-ended twice in my car while at a stop, there's a certain logic to that point of view. I've determined the most dangerous times are in heavy traffic where a gap has opened up in an adjacent lane. It's at those moments when cars in the lane moving slower are tempted to make a sudden change into the faster moving lane. Despite the frequency with which motorcyclists lane split in California, many drivers aren't expecting to see a motorcycle between the lanes of traffic and in their rush to change lanes, tragedy can result. When traffic is bumper to bumper, however, as is pretty common in Southern California, the cars are secure in their lanes and splitting them becomes much safer. The only real hazard that comes from that with any regularity are the knuckleheads who intentionally move over to block your path, feeling that we're somehow cheating by lane splitting. I stay calm and slow down until they eventually move over or an opportunity to pass presents itself. And it always does.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of motorcyclists who unsafely lane split, flying by cars way too quickly, weaving in and out of traffic in what appears to be a reckless manner, often times rev'ing their engines and making everyone around them nervous and upset. Those guys aren't winning us any fans out on the road. I'll continue to lane split in a responsible way when conditions warrant it. I hope I don't clip any mirrors along the way!
I've read articles on how lane splitting, if done properly, is actually safer than waiting behind another vehicle. Having been rear-ended twice in my car while at a stop, there's a certain logic to that point of view. I've determined the most dangerous times are in heavy traffic where a gap has opened up in an adjacent lane. It's at those moments when cars in the lane moving slower are tempted to make a sudden change into the faster moving lane. Despite the frequency with which motorcyclists lane split in California, many drivers aren't expecting to see a motorcycle between the lanes of traffic and in their rush to change lanes, tragedy can result. When traffic is bumper to bumper, however, as is pretty common in Southern California, the cars are secure in their lanes and splitting them becomes much safer. The only real hazard that comes from that with any regularity are the knuckleheads who intentionally move over to block your path, feeling that we're somehow cheating by lane splitting. I stay calm and slow down until they eventually move over or an opportunity to pass presents itself. And it always does.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of motorcyclists who unsafely lane split, flying by cars way too quickly, weaving in and out of traffic in what appears to be a reckless manner, often times rev'ing their engines and making everyone around them nervous and upset. Those guys aren't winning us any fans out on the road. I'll continue to lane split in a responsible way when conditions warrant it. I hope I don't clip any mirrors along the way!