Lane Filtering ...

[GoldOxide_imp]

Urban California is likely the most eligible locations in North America for year-round two-wheeled transportation. Yes it gets hot, but that is more useful than bitter cold and profuse humidity. Also, a total mind shift would have to occur to leave the cage at home. I also think CA has the greatest potential to lead in such a challenge, should that wish ever materialize.

[Gone in 60]

Got my digital version of Motorcycle Consumer News yesterday, and glanced at what looks like a comprehensive article on lane splitting, so that will be a good read.

Here's a weird little twist to the lane splitting conversation. It's generally agreed that the safest place to split is between the left-most hand lane and the one to its right. In many cases on California freeways, this puts the rider between a car pool lane and the standard left lane of traffic, and unless there is a double yellow line restricting the rider to one lane or another, there's usually a larger gap between lanes.

As I mentioned, many drivers on the left move further to the left when they see me coming up in their mirrors, and I give them a wave of thanks. However, in tight quarters, sometimes cars to the right move over to the right as well.

During the morning conversation here at the office today, one of my coworkers who uses the same freeway I do said "You guys are rude. I always see you waving to the cars on your left, but whenever I move over to the right for you bikers, I never get a wave!"

I had to explain to her how a motorcycle works. "I'd love to wave at you too, but my right hand is on the gas pedal. I can't let go or I wouldn't be passing you."

[Frulk_imp]

Interesting to read the comments section.

https://www.ksl.com/article/46575849/uhp...-education

[Gone in 60]

Interesting to read the comments section.

https://www.ksl.com/article/46575849/uhp...-education

Uh boy. Lots of confusion. This is what these states are going to see until a concerted effort is made to educate the public. Even after that, if a coherent public education program is attempted, it will still take years for the culture to change.

I can see this from the point of view of drivers in the states where filtering and splitting were never legal before: "You guys have dutifully sat in traffic like the rest of us for my whole life, now you think you're better than us and can go around us in traffic? That can't be right."

Even in California, splitting and filtering were just recently formally legalized (remember, we've been doing it for years because technically it wasn't illegal).
When the practice became legal, I was expecting to see at least a decent effort to let the motoring public know. I think I recall seeing an article in the AAA magazine, but that's about it.

Going back to one of my earlier statements, the CHP had tried to launch an education program for California drivers, before they were swatted down by the CA legislature. Their program was initiated because of a study conducted in California, where we have done this for years, that said that there was still an alarmingly large percentage of CA drivers who didn't know it was OK to split or filter.

I think we're going to be reading a lot of stories like this one for years to come.

[the Ferret]

I think it's clear that quite a number of motorcyclists are not in agreement with the practice...even where legal. Splitting and filtering although different seem to mean the same thing to motorcyclists. I think more would be in agreement if it were practiced responsibly/according to the law by all motorcyclists, but that is never going to happen. I find it funny that the Utah law says no more than 15 mph and traffic must be stopped. When I rode out to Cali, traffic was rolling between 45 and 55 and they were still splitting the traffic then. Motorcyclists used to splitting in CA will never abide by the Utah law as written, and once Utah motorcyclists get the hang of it, they will be splitting at will as well. Then again I have seen motorcyclists here split and filter and neither is legal in Ohio.

Someone in the comments section that Frulk posted mentioned something I would have never thought of. A dozen guys or more out riding together come up to a light with a long back up and start filtering as a group towards the front. Before the first bike gets to the front of the line the light changes. Now a dozen guys are in limbo with no where to go, stuck between lines of moving cars.

Here in the midwest, people are pretty protective of "their space" (since we don't have/never had a lane sharing law, "their space" is "their lane" from paint stripe to their left to paint stripe to their right, and it would take 20 years before people would become accustomed to sharing it with anyone else.

[emptysea]

Semi-rhetorical question: How many motorcyclists do you see on an average 20-mile weekday motorcycle ride? If the number is less than 10, it's going to be hard to get drivers to remember to watch out for lane splitters.

[Gone in 60]

As it pertains to California, splitting is riding between cars in active, moving traffic. Filtering is the practice of coming to a stop light and making your way up to the front of the intersection and stopping between the two cars on either side of you.

To your point, Ferret, when I come to an intersection and see that someone on a bike has already made their way to the front of the line, I hang back, and don't want to be the second bike back when the light turns green. The bike in front may not move out quickly, leaving me stuck going the same speed as two cars close in on my sides, and that pretty much just confuses everyone. If the rider in front of me notices me in his mirror, he may get nervous trying to speed away and stall his bike (been there, been stuck behind that).

Personally, I don't filter as much as I split. I'll filter when I come to an intersection with several cars stopped, I know it's a long light, and I can easily get ahead of a herd of cars once the light changes and have a nice space cushion. You get more personal with the drivers around you, as you're now mirror-to-mirror with them for a few minutes. A few weeks ago, I watched a Goldwing waddle his way to the front of an intersection. His wide bike wouldn't fit between the two mirrors at the front of the intersection. He leaned forward, and folded the right side mirror in on the car at the front of the line to his right, so he could sit next to it.

That was a little crass if you ask me...

[the Ferret]

lol First day .. Illegal right off the bat...passing moving cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBEsYIZxJG4

Illegal right off the bat @ :33 (and actually throughout the video)...running more than 15 mph between the cars lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fs84oc2Eg4

illegal before the bat...bill hadn't taken effect yet (video made in March..Law went into effect in May lol)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBDgy18Y_g4

[peterbaron]

Thanks, but no thanks

[GoldOxide_imp]

As it pertains to California, splitting is riding between cars in active, moving traffic. Filtering is the practice of coming to a stop light and making your way up to the front of the intersection and stopping between the two cars on either side of you.

To your point, Ferret, when I come to an intersection and see that someone on a bike has already made their way to the front of the line, I hang back, and don't want to be the second bike back when the light turns green. The bike in front may not move out quickly, leaving me stuck going the same speed as two cars close in on my sides, and that pretty much just confuses everyone. If the rider in front of me notices me in his mirror, he may get nervous trying to speed away and stall his bike (been there, been stuck behind that).

Personally, I don't filter as much as I split. I'll filter when I come to an intersection with several cars stopped, I know it's a long light, and I can easily get ahead of a herd of cars once the light changes and have a nice space cushion. You get more personal with the drivers around you, as you're now mirror-to-mirror with them for a few minutes. A few weeks ago, I watched a Goldwing waddle his way to the front of an intersection. His wide bike wouldn't fit between the two mirrors at the front of the intersection. He leaned forward, and folded the right side mirror in on the car at the front of the line to his right, so he could sit next to it.

That was a little crass if you ask me...

Yes, balsy for sure. (jeez)