Lane Filtering ...

[Gone in 60]

The ability to lane split and filter and use carpool lanes in California is literally why I started riding years ago. Sitting and fuming in commuter traffic, watching bikes blissfully whiz by in the carpool lane. It’s part of the culture here, and when I get on the freeway in the morning, it’s almost like the parting of the seas as cars move over to make room. I pass the same cars each morning, they are all used to bikes passing them in the same places each day. Sometimes I find myself riding with traffic in the carpool lane at say, 60 mph, with a safe lengthy distance behind the car in front of me, making no indication that I want to pass, yet the driver moves half way onto the shoulder for me. Now he’s kicking up shoulder debris, and I’ll sped up to pass to make him feel better (here’s your thank you wave), and to keep rocks from hitting me.

That’s on my daily commute on the 55 freeway in Orange County. For my weekend gig in downtown LA, it’s quite different. There are more variations in traffic conditions and speeds, more combinations of freeway and surface riding and different lane widths. I’m a lot more focused.

But either way it’s a huge time saver. My 11 mile OC commute is 35 minutes in a car, 18 minutes on a bike. The Hollywood freeway on a Saturday night? Forget about it in a car altogether.

I also am keenly aware that drivers from out of state need a wide berth as they may not be comfortable with a motorcycle six inches from their mirror. My weekday commute takes me past John Wayne airport, and weekends past LAX. I’m careful to spot rental cars - people who are jet lagged and just got on a scary California freeway for the first time. I don’t need to freak them out further. I have been crowded in by guys in rentals who must have thought I was breaking the law. One one occasion, another driver yelled at the offending tourist - “leave him alone, that’s legal here!”

Of course, all of this should be done with common sense, and a ton of situational awareness. Plus, I do everything I can to increase my visibility- multiple lights up front, brake flasher, hi viz gear, and I still ride like I’m invisible. And I respect my fellow commuters. Give me room? You get a wave. You’ll happily look for me in your mirror tomorrow to get that wave again. And the next guy will see you do it and he’ll want that wave.

Plus, studies have shown that you’re less likely to be seriously injured by a glancing blow from a car changing lanes into your side than by being rear ended.

And I’m the only one on my commute on a CB! I was about to buy an FZ09, but heck, everyone else on the 55 has one.

Edit : just watched that video - if you’re riding through stopped or very slow traffic going as fast as those guys are going, yeah, you’re going to end up on a compilation video.

[2017EX_imp]

Like many, I have mixed emotions about the lane splitting thing. It is not as yet specifically legal here in Texas, but I have never seen anyone ticketed for it either. Shortly after I got my CB1100EX, I was sitting stopped at a red light, and was first in line. All of a sudden I felt a bump from behind. A woman in a mini van ( probably texting because she had phone in hand when I looked back ) had rolled into me. Rear fender was bent, and tail light mount was cracked. I was without my bike for several months dealing with insurance and the snails pace of the Honda shop I had the misfortune of taking my bike to for repair. Fortunately the woman had insurance, and I was not injured. Now EVERY time I ride I wear a bright orange Hi Viz vest, in hopes more visibility will make this scenario less likely to happen again.

The incident did make me acutely aware of how vulnerable a motorcyclist is to being hit from behind at a stoplight, stop sign, or in bumper to bumper traffic. Even if I had seen the woman coming in one of my mirrors, I dont really know where I would have been able to go safely to get out of the way. I have never done the lane splitting thing, and probably never will because I only ride in low traffic areas. If I were to be in a situation where it was absolutely necessary to lane split for some reason, I would be doing it very slowly and carefully. Absent some urgent reason to lane split, I think I would be tempted to pull off to the shoulder in the shade under an overpass, shut the bike off, get off the bike, and play games on my cell phone until the traffic jam was over. Being retired, I am just not in any big hurry to get anywhere 98% of the time, and the times I am in a hurry, I want to get where I am going in one piece.

[Gone in 60]

Something else that I always found interesting. Before it was formally legalized in California, lane splitting was allowed (as explained to me by law enforcement friends) because it technically wasn’t illegal: the law did not state that two vehicles could not occupy a lane at the same time.

A number of years ago, a study concluded that there was a small but substantial percentage of California drivers who were not aware that lane splitting was not illegal. In an effort to spread awareness and as a public safety measure, the California Highway Patrol issued and publicized their guidelines for lane splitting. If I recall, they included, and I could be off on the numbers:
- only split if traffic is traveling at 35 mph or below
- only pass a car at 15 mph or less than their speed
- don’t hover next to a car - pass them
- it is illegal to cross a double yellow line to split (crossing a car pool lane)

Good advice!

The CHP did seminars at motorcycle dealers near me, and had booths at some of the bike shows to spread awareness, had brochures, etc.

Then, after they started promoting their campaign, they were forced to stop the program. As my CHP friends told me, the California legislature told the CHP that they were a law enforcement agency, and issuing something that looked like rules was overstepping their authority. They’re not a legislative agency.

Imagine being forced to stop promoting a safety awareness program. When splitting was finally legalized, it followed the CHP guidelines for the most part.

I’ve been told by multiple law enforcement officers that enforcement of lane splitting laws is quite subjective. Basically if you look like you’re doing it safely, great. Too fast, crossing double yellows? Yup, you’ll get pulled over.

If they’re on a bike too, I guess. Would kind of have to be...

[the Ferret]

Someone posted a video on this forum not too long ago and the motorcyclists were lane splitting at 60 mph.

This is n't it, but these guys seem to be running pretty fast (In Georgia no less)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz4ZGqfwNEM

[GoldOxide_imp]

Someone posted a video on this forum not too long ago and the motorcyclists were lane splitting at 60 mph.

This is n't it, but these guys seem to be running pretty fast (In Georgia no less)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz4ZGqfwNEM

Mae-bee udda vidio from Rusha, ... da.

[Gone in 60]

Whoa, did the second rider run over the first one and keep going?
When my wife and I are in the car in traffic and a squid rider passes us going that fast, she says “promise me you don’t ride like that!” I reply that I don’t have the same death wish as the guy who just passed us.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Almost never seems to fail during m/c accidents that the footwear flies off, which also happens in the video. How many m/c aftermath images have you seen with a shoe off on the shoulder?

I don't know about everyone, but my m/c foot gear would not fly off - tough enough getting them off with two hands. If I were riding like that, you'd think extra or proper gear would be a thought. But, I know, I used the assumption "thought".

[offroadfx4_imp]

The main reason I would consider doing it would be because of heat.

For the sake of the motorcycle and the rider, setting still in 80+, 90+ heat has to be a health hazard.

I would probably stay in first gear, but I'd have to be moving.

Not having to clutch constantly would be another major benefit too (both on the hand and the clutch)

[pekingduck]

Someone posted a video on this forum not too long ago and the motorcyclists were lane splitting at 60 mph.

This is n't it, but these guys seem to be running pretty fast (In Georgia no less)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz4ZGqfwNEM

The rider in that video made no effort to stop, brake light never went on. He had time to at least slow down and lessen the effects, if not avoid the collision altogether.
When the car first started to pull into his lane, he had at least 5 car lengths to react.

[Haggard Rider_imp]

We can filter in the UK but I choose not to.

When I'm on the bike it's because I WANT to be on the bike, not because I'm in a rush to get somewhere, so I'll just enjoy my time on it, even if it's pi**ing down - all part of life's lustre!