Played Pinball Today on the Freeway

[Keits]

You WERE the only one! That post has inspired me to cut the forefinger off of my glove! :rockon:

Thats just funny I don't care who you are

No real opinion on lane splitting. I've ridden the shoulder to butt in line on traffic and I will weave thru traffic but have never lane split. Only seen it done once coming thru D.C northbound on 95 when a group of about 12 bikes were splitting lanes at 100+ mph. That was a couple years b4 I learned to ride but it seemed to me that they had a death wish. Seems to me like there has to be a reasonable way to lane split. Nizmo: if you were going 70mph how fast was traffic moving???

Nizmo...Glad you're ok. I kno for a fact I would have crapped myself then would have had to pull over cause I'd have been almost too shakey to keep riding. I realize I don't kno you from Adam but this is heartfelt and I think all of us will agree Please be safer!!
:Sport:

 

[stevesnj]

so is there a shoulder where u were? Could you ride the shoulder instead of splitting?

 

[bmccrary]

On a side note. A loud horn blast probably would of made things worse. How many times has some one snuck up on your with one of those air horn things, or made a loud noise? What did you do when that sound shocked you... you jerked. A knee jerk at that speed in that situation could have been alot worse!

-bryan

 

[nimzotech]

On a side note. A loud horn blast probably would of made things worse. How many times has some one snuck up on your with one of those air horn things, or made a loud noise? What did you do when that sound shocked you... you jerked. A knee jerk at that speed in that situation could have been alot worse!

-bryan

Agreed! We can't say how the duffus would of reacted hearing a sudden beaming horn on his passenger side.

Thats just funny I don't care who you are
Nizmo: if you were going 70mph how fast was traffic moving???

Nizmo...Glad you're ok. I kno for a fact I would have crapped myself then would have had to pull over cause I'd have been almost too shakey to keep riding. I realize I don't kno you from Adam but this is heartfelt and I think all of us will agree Please be safer!!
:Sport:

The duffus on fast lane and truck on my right were traveling in the 60-65 MPH range, however I had the sensation that the car on my left started gaining speed as I was trying to pass him. Sometimes drivers do that on purpose to give one a hard time. But by judging him (pardon me if I use a stereotype) he was a middle aged Asian male with a female passenger in the front. They say Asians can't drive for Sh/t and my experience today seems to approve the stereotype. I don't think he was the type who would purposefully try to push me off and accellerate while I was trying to pass him. He was not the best driver to say the least! Anyway I always try to stay visible to all drivers before passing them. I do this by riding behind them right in the center of their car. I'm hoping my high beams and rev of engine will let them know I am on their tail. Often enough the normal reaction of a driver is to kindly pull slightly to the side of the lane to create more space for the passing bike. Today it seemed like for a second he had given me enough space and then suddenly started pushing me off the side of the lane. Anyway its good to be alive today

 

[Hellgate]

Hole Lee CRAP!!!! I can't imagine how scared you must have been. As I read your post I had visions of being sucked under the truck, then bumpety, bump. I am so glad you are okay! D@MN!

 

[cv_rider]

I lane split if traffic is 25 mph or less. It does me a bit anxious. Legal here in CA, it's more common to see a motorcycle doing it than not in slow traffic. At that speed, things are too jammed up to create holes for cars to move into the other lane to occupy. Plus, cars can't move that suddenly dart into the other lane as easily. In Proficient Motorcycling, David Hough is pretty positive on lane splitting at low speeds, and he's really the guru of ultra-cautious riding.

 

[ant_mb]

Safety is first I agree! However I don't know how long you would keep your word in L.A. traffic, where most freeways are packed with bumper-bumper vehicles.

Im not sure I consider a 70 MPH lane split bumper to bumper. It's one thing to split parked cars at a light or traffic jam, but a total differant animal when your cruising down the freway at 70 and decide to split cars. The following is my personal opinion, and not dig at you in any way.

I feel that if someone takes it upon themselves to drive in a unsafe manner(IMO), then they lose the right to bitch about stupid cagers. I'm sure he thought just as highly of you as you did of him! I'm not sure what the law in CA is, but i'm sure it has a speed limit too it. What is it, I don't know, but would hope it wasn't 70MPH. True the car was wrong, but were you right? If he were a member of a forum what would his post be labled? "Why are bikers so reckless, and think they can do whatever they want?"

Once again i'm not taking a dig at you, but in my opinion that is just plain stupid. Granted I don't have to deal with CA traffic, but I do deal with Philadelphia traffic on a daily basis, and survive. Have you ever ridden in the North East?

Please stay safe guys!!!!!

 

[ms mrdr]

I need to focus more cause I thought this thread said "paintball" on the highway...hmmm...glad you're ok though!!!

 

[FZ1inNH]

Glad to hear it worked out and you're OK. But, this is why I don't think lane splitting is a good idea at all. ESPECIALLY AT SPEED!

In NH, it's illegal and because it is, when biker's illegally do it, they WILL have many cars pinch them at the last minute. It's a very sore spot for the cagers here. They figure that because THEY are stuck in traffic, you should be too no metter that you've got a vehicle that can squeeze through with.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

As Niz mentioned, I think it was a classic example of a driver not paying attention. Especially, it he was involved in a conversation with another passenger. If he would have hit the bike, I don't think that the driver would be held accountable. Interesting that the state of California uses the term "permissable" rather than "legal" for lane splitting. There was a great post on the actual terminlogy and rules applied to lane splitting in California somewhere here on this forum.

For those who disagree with the idea that lane splitting shouldn't be allowed......the reason why it was put in place is to keep the bikes moving in a safe manner rather than being sandwiched in between a bunch of metal, in addition to keep the bike from overheating. During stop n go traffic, a rear end involving vehicles will result in a fender bender, a rear end into a motorcylist will most likely result in a trip to the emergency room. We don't have any crumple zones. Remember we actually are more difficult to be seen in a stop n go type of movement.

 

[FazerCat]

Thank goodness you're okay. What will you do differently when faced with the same scenario again?

 

[ant_mb]

As Niz mentioned, I think it was a classic example of a driver not paying attention. Especially, it he was involved in a conversation with another passenger. If he would have hit the bike, I don't think that the driver would be held accountable. Interesting that the state of California uses the term "permissable" rather than "legal" for lane splitting. There was a great post on the actual terminlogy and rules applied to lane splitting in California somewhere here on this forum.

For those who disagree with the idea that lane splitting shouldn't be allowed......the reason why it was put in place is to keep the bikes moving in a safe manner rather than being sandwiched in between a bunch of metal, in addition to keep the bike from overheating. During stop n go traffic, a rear end involving vehicles will result in a fender bender, a rear end into a motorcylist will most likely result in a trip to the emergency room. We don't have any crumple zones. Remember we actually are more difficult to be seen in a stop n go type of movement.

I agree 100% with the splitting in stopped traffic. That is not the case here, not even close!! It's kinda hard to get pinched betweened two parked cars.

 

[bmccrary]

Nope. Not even in stopped or slow traffic. Because that same person can decided he was to open his door and see whats going on! If the bike gets hot shut it off. Also heres a tip. Plan ahead. Charlotte traffic is a pain on hwy 49 outside of university. If I am ready to leave at five. I fide something else to do for another 30 mins or so and let the traffic clear out. Avoid certain roads. IMHO, lane splitting should not be legal anywhere. It is a disaster waiting to happen.... and happening.

-bryan

 

[Wavex]

I totally disagree.

This is an extract from "12 MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS", From the February 2006 issue of Motorcycle Cruiser magazine -- by Art Friedman.


Myth 10: It's Better to Stay in Your Lane than Split Lanes

"In most parts of the world, motorcycles split lanes all the time, everywhere traffic is heavy. Here in the U.S., people often act as if lane-splitting is insane. But when someone actually studied it in the only place in the U.S. where it's legal (California), they discovered it's actually slightly safer than staying in the lane in heavy, slow-moving traffic. Still many motorcyclists berate others who do it, when they should in fact be endorsing it."

^^ coming from Europe where splitting lanes is comon, I can only agree with this. I split lanes everyday and cannot imagine not doing it... it would defeat part of the purpose of motorcycles imho.

 

[FZ1inNH]

Our best practice is to avoid stop and go traffic. Most of the commuters (on bikes) here simply DON'T use the highway and know the other routes to safely get you to your destination without any snarls. If traffic is that bad and your bike is overheating, you should just pull off the next chance and either wait it out or find another route. Traffic laws in all but California apply to all motor vehicles regardless of the number of wheels on the asphalt.

I remember reading about the CA permissable clause and I believe lane splitting is reserved for stopped traffic, not a highway, as started by the OP with "fast" truck on one side and slow-po on the other.

We're supposed to ride like we're invisible, not put ourselves in places that a cager doesn't expect us to appear from. In New England/New York, that's pretty much a suicide maneuver. Good freakin' luck with that!

 

[cv_rider]

CA law doesn't explicitly condone or ban lane splitting, and there's definitely no speed threshold for legality. It's up to police to determine if they think you are "riding in a safe manner for the conditions" or something like that.

 

[fz6nick]

Cant say I want to wipe a booger on a window, but one day I was riding and I saw a pickup with his gas door open, I thought about closing it for him, but he exited to soon

Nick

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Our best practice is to avoid stop and go traffic. Most of the commuters (on bikes) here simply DON'T use the highway and know the other routes to safely get you to your destination without any snarls.


We're supposed to ride like we're invisible, not put ourselves in places that a cager doesn't expect us to appear from.

That thinking is in every commuter's head. Avoiding stop n go traffic. However, there comes a time that you have no alternatives but to take that particular route.

Very good point on the last part too.....but I still do it here in Vegas when I need to. Here's a video clip about lane splitting that was posted a while back ago.

MySpaceTV Videos: Lane Splitting Is Legal, Cause The News Says So by Your Name

 

[Doorag]

I find the US cagers' attitude towards motorcycles alarming. To me, it sounded like the slo-po was intentionally trying to squeeze him out. I feel pretty safe in saying that wouldn't really happen in the UK or Europe. People over here would do that not paying attention, but I don't really ever see anyone trying to run motorcycles off the road over here.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

I find the US cagers' attitude towards motorcycles alarming. To me, it sounded like the slo-po was intentionally trying to squeeze him out. I feel pretty safe in saying that wouldn't really happen in the UK or Europe. People over here would do that not paying attention, but I don't really ever see anyone trying to run motorcycles off the road over here.

We have "Road Rage" here in the states. It's a term used when a driver loses his or her cool and seeks somekind of revenge on the other driver by use of violence. Here in america , it usually is with some type of firearm and they usually die.