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(07-12-2016, 08:56 AM)Rebel73_imp Wrote: LaRider,
You just pretty much confirmed my personal lane-splitting strategy - no lane splitting if traffic is moving 30+mph. Below that speed, I will split but with no more than 15mph differential while covering my brakes. It just seems like common sense to me.
Similar riding survival skills! The CHP/LAPD are among the best road riders I've ever seen so I figure they must be doing something right. Especially considering that they ride 8 hours a day all year.
I was riding on the 10 and 110 last night and as usual, I saw more than one bike going 40+ between the cars.... seems like Darwin working overtime to me.
(07-13-2016, 02:55 PM)pdedse_imp Wrote: I just returned from a trip to LA and San Diego where I spent 4 days in each city. I was in a car and had the opportunity to feel mc lane-splitters whizz by me for the first time. Very first time, caught me completely off guard. I had forgotten that it was even legal in CA. Fortunately, I was able to plan my daily trips so that I could avoid the worst of traffic, and any slow downs were just that, and for a few minutes. If I had to deal with LA traffic on a daily basis during heavy commute time, I think eventually I would take up lane-splitting, but my limit would probably be 10mph over other traffic. One thing about the officer from the video earlier in the thread--he commented negatively about other drivers who are not aware of a lane-splitter coming from behind because the car drivers are likely texting, facebooking, or otherwise just not paying attention. I would say they might just be focusing on what's ahead, paying attention to the car braking in front of them, thinking about where they have to go--they might be new to town like I was...in short, it doesn't seem to me that it's my responsibility to know what's coming up from behind me in the mini-lane between me and the car next to me--unless I'm switching lanes and then I always check blind spot and mirrors. But if I'm constantly checking mirrors for lane splitters, am I doing so at the expense of seeing that car brake in front of me suddenly?
His concern is that many people do not check their mirrors before they change lanes. They see an opening and abruptly shift lanes without signaling. I see this several times a day.
I'm not concerned with them seeing me split as much as I am concerned with them driving without being aware of what's around them. If they are looking ahead and concentrating on driving, then I'm just going to go right past them without any problem.
My main solution, along with not riding like a knucklehead, is to ride with the high-beam on during the day. That seems to announce my presence effectively to the people who aren't looking down at their phones. The people on the phones checking Instagram are another story.
I also LOVE the passing light switch on the CB. I use that feature..... a lot.
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(07-15-2016, 03:28 AM)LARIDER_imp Wrote: (07-12-2016, 08:56 AM)Rebel73_imp Wrote: LaRider,
You just pretty much confirmed my personal lane-splitting strategy - no lane splitting if traffic is moving 30+mph. Below that speed, I will split but with no more than 15mph differential while covering my brakes. It just seems like common sense to me.
Similar riding survival skills! The CHP/LAPD are among the best road riders I've ever seen so I figure they must be doing something right. Especially considering that they ride 8 hours a day all year.
I was riding on the 10 and 110 last night and as usual, I saw more than one bike going 40+ between the cars.... seems like Darwin working overtime to me.
(07-13-2016, 02:55 PM)pdedse_imp Wrote: I just returned from a trip to LA and San Diego where I spent 4 days in each city. I was in a car and had the opportunity to feel mc lane-splitters whizz by me for the first time. Very first time, caught me completely off guard. I had forgotten that it was even legal in CA. Fortunately, I was able to plan my daily trips so that I could avoid the worst of traffic, and any slow downs were just that, and for a few minutes. If I had to deal with LA traffic on a daily basis during heavy commute time, I think eventually I would take up lane-splitting, but my limit would probably be 10mph over other traffic. One thing about the officer from the video earlier in the thread--he commented negatively about other drivers who are not aware of a lane-splitter coming from behind because the car drivers are likely texting, facebooking, or otherwise just not paying attention. I would say they might just be focusing on what's ahead, paying attention to the car braking in front of them, thinking about where they have to go--they might be new to town like I was...in short, it doesn't seem to me that it's my responsibility to know what's coming up from behind me in the mini-lane between me and the car next to me--unless I'm switching lanes and then I always check blind spot and mirrors. But if I'm constantly checking mirrors for lane splitters, am I doing so at the expense of seeing that car brake in front of me suddenly?
His concern is that many people do not check their mirrors before they change lanes. They see an opening and abruptly shift lanes without signaling. I see this several times a day.
I'm not concerned with them seeing me split as much as I am concerned with them driving without being aware of what's around them. If they are looking ahead and concentrating on driving, then I'm just going to go right past them without any problem.
My main solution, along with not riding like a knucklehead, is to ride with the high-beam on during the day. That seems to announce my presence effectively to the people who aren't looking down at their phones. The people on the phones checking Instagram are another story.
I also LOVE the passing light switch on the CB. I use that feature..... a lot.
That's the main reason they're so good.
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(07-15-2016, 05:20 AM)Cormanus_imp Wrote: (07-15-2016, 03:28 AM)LARIDER_imp Wrote: (07-12-2016, 08:56 AM)Rebel73_imp Wrote: LaRider,
You just pretty much confirmed my personal lane-splitting strategy - no lane splitting if traffic is moving 30+mph. Below that speed, I will split but with no more than 15mph differential while covering my brakes. It just seems like common sense to me.
Similar riding survival skills! The CHP/LAPD are among the best road riders I've ever seen so I figure they must be doing something right. Especially considering that they ride 8 hours a day all year.
I was riding on the 10 and 110 last night and as usual, I saw more than one bike going 40+ between the cars.... seems like Darwin working overtime to me.
(07-13-2016, 02:55 PM)pdedse_imp Wrote: I just returned from a trip to LA and San Diego where I spent 4 days in each city. I was in a car and had the opportunity to feel mc lane-splitters whizz by me for the first time. Very first time, caught me completely off guard. I had forgotten that it was even legal in CA. Fortunately, I was able to plan my daily trips so that I could avoid the worst of traffic, and any slow downs were just that, and for a few minutes. If I had to deal with LA traffic on a daily basis during heavy commute time, I think eventually I would take up lane-splitting, but my limit would probably be 10mph over other traffic. One thing about the officer from the video earlier in the thread--he commented negatively about other drivers who are not aware of a lane-splitter coming from behind because the car drivers are likely texting, facebooking, or otherwise just not paying attention. I would say they might just be focusing on what's ahead, paying attention to the car braking in front of them, thinking about where they have to go--they might be new to town like I was...in short, it doesn't seem to me that it's my responsibility to know what's coming up from behind me in the mini-lane between me and the car next to me--unless I'm switching lanes and then I always check blind spot and mirrors. But if I'm constantly checking mirrors for lane splitters, am I doing so at the expense of seeing that car brake in front of me suddenly?
His concern is that many people do not check their mirrors before they change lanes. They see an opening and abruptly shift lanes without signaling. I see this several times a day.
I'm not concerned with them seeing me split as much as I am concerned with them driving without being aware of what's around them. If they are looking ahead and concentrating on driving, then I'm just going to go right past them without any problem.
My main solution, along with not riding like a knucklehead, is to ride with the high-beam on during the day. That seems to announce my presence effectively to the people who aren't looking down at their phones. The people on the phones checking Instagram are another story.
I also LOVE the passing light switch on the CB. I use that feature..... a lot.
That's the main reason they're so good.
That's the main reason they're so good.
The CHP has a pretty intense 27 week training. Not all pass. I have been pretty impressed with the tight turns I've witnessed them do on touring sized BMWs in heavy traffic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12JkVHkyFkg
That being said, I also saw a video of an LAPD cop drop a bike while sitting on it not moving. 
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To expand a little: they're good because they're well trained and also because they spend so much time in the saddle in traffic. Gradually, imperceptibly, perhaps, their knowledge and judgment improves till they can ride through gaps less experienced riders wouldn't see.
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Good report. Be interesting to see what they come up with and how many po'd lane splitters there will be if they are not happy with the recommendations
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(08-20-2016, 05:47 AM)Randy B_imp Wrote: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/on-air/as-seen...80011.html
You are a star! Good work.
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(08-20-2016, 06:15 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Good report. Be interesting to see what they come up with and how many po'd lane splitters there will be if they are not happy with the recommendations
They won't be any worse than they were before. The CHP put up "guidelines" on their website a few years ago but one man in Sacramento went on a personal rampage because he claimed the the CHP was making law, when in fact all they were trying to do was to better inform the public and try and get riders to be a bit more responsible with how they split, and the CHP had to take them down because of that. There are a few that can get a bit dangerous, but for the most part riders don't go crazy with it.
Honestly this report was not what I was expecting and seemed to be biased more towards the not allowing it side of things.
Also that man that was killed in Sacramento made a REALLY bad mistake by splitting between two semi's. Next to one is a big no-no, but between two? I hate to say it, but his death was on him. You NEVER split like that.
I feel for his family, but that was his fault.
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Interesting. Thanks for posting Randy. It's inconceivable to me that CHP wouldn't collect as much data as possible on the circumstances surrounding any accident.
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I hope the CHP and/or DMV puts out rider safety "minimum guidelines" while lane sharing. The new law seems sorely lacking without some sort of safety guidelines.
I think a speed limit of 10 to 15 over surrounding traffic should be recommended and a maximum speed of a lane splitter no higher than 25 mph.
Surely, the relative difference in speed (i.e. 10 to 15 mph) has a crucial affect on rider safety's reaction time with respect to defensive driving and "AVOIDING" would-be collisions.
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