Lane splitting (sharing) interview

[the Ferret]

No mate, that is a freeway and if you look at my speedo in the other pics I was running 70 mph (112 kmph) there.

What we are dealing with in this thread is 2 very different scenarios neither of which I am accustomed to or have dealt with.

1) The Aussie " filtering" version between stopped or slow moving cars at legal maximum 30 kph (18 mph)

2) The California" lane splitting" version between perceived slow moving traffic (Ulve says he starts looking to lane split when traffic slows down to 45 mph (72 kmph) which someone here said "lane splitting" is legal in California up to the legal speed limit (65 mph or 105 kmph) ..although most say they don't filter that fast (some do), it IS legal to do so apparently. If Ulve starts splitting at 45 (72 KMPH) in order to move faster than the traffic he has to be doing more than 45 mph right? 50-60 mph or 80-100 KMPH)?

look, don't get your panties in a wad over this, I was going for a ride, which included back roads and freeways and was just playing around with riding and thinking about this thread and different scenarios. 18 mph seemed slow to me, 45 mph seemed fast to me and 25-30 mph seemed doable to me.
Not a scientific test, just mobile pondering while enjoying some saddle time on the CB.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Mate, I don't wear panties.

[Randy B]

Mate, I don't wear panties.

TMI.


Today at 2:30 I head to the station for a sit down and then some video of me riding.

[the Ferret]

Good deal Randy, take a deep breath and relax. Just speak from the heart. Hope we get to hear (read) it. Are they going to video you splitting?

[Randy B]

Good deal Randy, take a deep breath and relax. Just speak from the heart. Hope we get to hear (read) it. Are they going to video you splitting?

Yup. Just some go-pro video on the bike.

[emptysea]

We probably shouldn't say "Break a leg" when someone is going on TV to discuss motorcycling. So, good luck with the interview and with your lane-splitting video. Can't wait to see both. Mention Al's Beef and I'll send you $10.00.

[Randy B]

We probably shouldn't say "Break a leg" when someone is going on TV to discuss motorcycling. So, good luck with the interview and with your lane-splitting video. Can't wait to see both. Mention Al's Beef and I'll send you $10.00.

That would be great if they were still open here.

[emptysea]

Just say something like "When I would ride down to Taylor Street in Chicago to get Al's Beef, I would never dared to lane-split" or something like that.

[LARIDER_imp]

No mate, that is a freeway and if you look at my speedo in the other pics I was running 70 mph (112 kmph) there.

What we are dealing with in this thread is 2 very different scenarios neither of which I am accustomed to or have dealt with.

1) The Aussie " filtering" version between stopped or slow moving cars at legal maximum 30 kph (18 mph)

2) The California" lane splitting" version between perceived slow moving traffic (Ulve says he starts looking to lane split when traffic slows down to 45 mph (72 kmph) which someone here said "lane splitting" is legal in California up to the legal speed limit (65 mph or 105 kmph) ..although most say they don't filter that fast (some do), it IS legal to do so apparently. If Ulve starts splitting at 45 (72 KMPH) in order to move faster than the traffic he has to be doing more than 45 mph right? 50-60 mph or 80-100 KMPH)?

look, don't get your panties in a wad over this, I was going for a ride, which included back roads and freeways and was just playing around with riding and thinking about this thread and different scenarios. 18 mph seemed slow to me, 45 mph seemed fast to me and 25-30 mph seemed doable to me.
Not a scientific test, just mobile pondering while enjoying some saddle time on the CB.

Very good points.

Having learned to ride on the east coast, I learned how to lane split by imitating the LAPD & CHP bike officers after I moved out here. If I saw one on the freeway, I would follow at a safe distance and observe and imitate what I saw them doing. I figured if they were riding 7+ hours a day with very few accidents, then they must know what they were doing.

What I observed was that most of them split lanes not much faster than the general traffic speed. Usually within 10-15 mph of the other vehicles. They don't abuse it. They are also riding very large touring sized BMWs & Hondas which take a bit more skill to split with. I've seen those guys pull off some pretty amazing moves in heavy traffic with little space for maneuvering.

I've also seen regular riders going 50+ between cars doing 5mph and common sense dictated to me that no human on the planet can react fast enough to avoid a car making a sudden lane change at those speeds.... and the laws of physics are pretty much the same for everyone.... no one can stop a bike in 5 feet at that speed.

After having followed many officers, I learned to split lanes when the traffic is under 30mph and keep my speed relative to the surrounding traffic. Anything over that seems excessive and dangerous to me. The only time I split at higher speeds to avoid something; debris, drunk driver, sudden accident, etc. The other thing I do when I split lanes is to look for other bikes also splitting. (I learned that some years back from a CHP cop chirping his siren at me as he was coming up behind me to pass)

Here's an interesting video showing CHP bike training. (I'm impressed with anyone that can get a touring sized bike through narrow spaces)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBA7iTV3Jiw

I just wish other riders didn't abuse the privilege with overly risky riding. (which I see daily in Los Angeles)

[dsinned_imp]

Good luck with the interview Randy! Please be sure to post again as to how it goes.