Los Angeles Drivers, Boo

[tommymck]

My reaction was the same as KE's. Yeah, I know that there are arguments for and against... and I'm not aware of any data that say's that it's more dangerous than if you avoid lane splitting.... It just isn't comfortable for me. I just expect that pretty much every car is going to want to change lanes in stop and go traffic and I can't wrap my head around it. For MMC, I get to LA once a month or so, and keep an SR400 there. Talk about the perfect lane splitter. I've tried it many times, just because I know that in CA, it's what you're "supposed to do". Always looks and feels crazy to me though and I think better of it. It's probably just a result of the fact that I exclusively rode in states that don't allow it since I was 16, and starting out lane splitting my 50's, the sight picture just doesn't work for me.

Ironically, the part of the video that had the car cut across to hit the exit didn't give me the heebegeebies at all (though the driver of course was a jerk...) I'm used to, and expect, that behavior every day that I ride.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I wouldn't mind the option to lane split in the Toronto region. It would be an option - use at your peril.

For now, we will get what we can. That is free Toronto parking for motorcycles.

[Bazbro_imp]

Here in the UK, "lane splitting" is legal and pretty universal.
The potential dangers are obvious and it's not normally done at any great speed, apart from the idiots (but I suspect that's just the "Darwin Effect" at work!).
It's most often done in stationary or near-stationary/slow moving traffic and greatly speeds the flow of two-wheelers going home after work!
Every motorcyclist is well aware of what could happen and most assess each overtake properly. Car drivers, for their part, often move over or keep across to allow the motorcyclists to pass. There isn't often aggression or bloody-mindedness.

[562loosenoodle_imp]

Yeah, in LA the drivers are pretty cool about lane splitting. I will say I think it is safe, but if you are prone to day dreaming then don’t do it. (I have to always keep focused. And my ADD has tried to kill me.). If lane splitting wasn’t legal I wouldn’t ride in Los Angeles.


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[GoldOxide_imp]

We may soon get there (fingers crossed):

[url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/motorcyclists-may-soon-be-allowed-to-drive-between-lanes-of-traffic-in-toronto-1.4744336]Motorcyclists may soon be allowed to drive between lanes of traffic in Toronto

For clarity, they seem to refer to low speed lane splitting as "filtering".

[Django]

Ouh, that will be fun, when I'll arrive in L.A. after 15 hours travelling and 9 hours jet lag, just get the bike thru custom and be part of the action.

[JLEECB]

I learned to ride while leaving abroad. I forgot how much i love lane splitting. Of course, I would share the road with tons of mopeds, cars, trucks, tuk-tuks (google if you don't know, awesome), bicycles, pedestrians, food carts, ox carts, you name it. You learn how to share and split lanes with all of that traffic, and driving in North America is way too easy.

[rotor]

I learned to ride while leaving abroad. I forgot how much i love lane splitting. Of course, I would share the road with tons of mopeds, cars, trucks, tuk-tuks (google if you don't know, awesome), bicycles, pedestrians, food carts, ox carts, you name it. You learn how to share and split lanes with all of that traffic, and driving in North America is way too easy.

Unsurprisingly, as is the life itself... (too easy).

That is the good part; that most of the local prctitioners (motorcyclists included) are not aware of the fact is a bit problematic Live and let live can either be a part of the life's phylosophy, or the harsh necessity. If it is not the former, it soon becomes the latter.

[gone2vegas_imp]

Growing up in SoCal and having lived in a handful of different states now, I can say it's not just Los Angeles drivers.

[misterprofessionality]

I do not understand why people can't just own their mistakes. When you miss an exit, go to the next one! Don't risk everyone's lives.

this reminds me of my favorite, and very true, stand up comedy bit on traffic and drivers:

Quote: you should act in a way that if everybody acted that way things would work out. You should, because it would be mayhem if everybody (wasn't) like that. And most people kind of don’t care. Most people are very selfish. Most people don’t give a **** what happens as long as they get to do their favorite thing. People don’t even want to back off from their favorite thing. They won’t even do their second favorite thing. You ever seen somebody in trouble, like they’re at an intersection and they want to make a left, but they’re in the right– the all the way right lane because they messed up. So, here’s the guy. He’s in the right lane. And there’s a lot cars, like 6th avenue. A lot of cars. And he wants to make that left. So what does he do? He just does it anyway. He just goes at it. He just shoves his car through everybody’s life without any– And everybody’s honking and outraged and you always see they guy go, “I have to. I have to.” “There’s no other possible thing I could do.” “What else could I do, except go up one more block and then go left and take four seconds.” “That’s not my favorite way, though!” “That only meets 99% of my criteria.”