Split the difference

[Tailgate]

Motorcyclists are asking for more respect.To not allow motorcyclists to use a clear path makes about as much sense as say, one day, reducing two regular size lanes to one super wide lane and telling cagers, "okay, now, you cagers must hog up with one car the whole single super wide lane...even though there's safe room for two vehicles." Would this make a lot of sense? Same goes for parking spaces. If one cager motorist wants to take up an entire parking space---fine. If two motorcyclists want to share one regular parking space---fine. Maybe ALL parking spaces ought to be motorcycle size in which case I doubt that many motorcyclists would twist off and complain that cagers should not be permitted to take up two motorcycle size parking spaces, that this is unfair because, sob, wah, motorcyclists only take up one space. Some freeways have so-called "diamond" or car pool lanes; how about incorporating an exclusive 5 foot wide "m/c lane?" Reality is that only one US state, California (and also NJ?) keeps company to many other countries that don't treat motorcyclists as children unable to take on the responsibility of lane splitting. And why shouldn't lane splitting be allowed? Motorcylists don't have up to 10 feet wide berth, don't have A/C, don't have weather protection, safety features such as airbags and seat belts, XX cubic feet loading capacity volume, heating, cell phone conversation, 10 gallon gas tank, etc. They have to be extra careful to survey the roadway or risk sliding on loose gravel, oil spots or other pavement irregularities. Wby then shouldn't they ,on the flip side, have the manueverability advantage? I say if a cager gets rattled because a motorcylist proceeds past, then, "Get a motorcycle yourself!" If one has a one-car garage and the owner elects to park two motorcycles in it instead...why wouldn't one? What's wrong with increased efficiency? You know, in some countries they don't even have designated painted or otherwise designated "lanes." Traffic just flows along. The US (or much of it) seems to be in a state of adolesence when compared with customs, culture norms, traffic laws of many other countries. Take drinking laws in this country. Americans must seem hysterical to those in many other countries where mid+ teenagers exhibit a maturity/intellectual level years ahead of US teens. Same goes for nudity and sexuality. You go over to other countries and nobody(including children) bats an eyelash if a woman appears topless on the foreign version of "Pirate Masters" or some other reality show. USA is, in some ways, still a youngster on the world stage.

 

[Rushiku]

Over-reliance on government and a complete lack of personal responsibility (one in the same?) can be found at the root of every point in your rant.

"I don't like such-and-such thing and/or it makes me feel uncomfortable, there should be a law against it" - the American mantra.

 

[bmccrary]

Why should we get special treatment because the bikes dont have protection, large fuel cap. and comfort features? YOU chose to get a bike, I choose to ride when I want.

Just as everyone makes their own choices of which why should we get special treatment for choosing to ride something that doesnt have the aminities of a car?

-bryan

 

[damnpoor]

I feel soooo much safer when I'm going a speed that allows me stability and safety between cars in traffic than I do when I'm sitting stopped between a bunch of big cars on the five lane freeway. Lane splitting is the better option.

 

[bcityroller]

I love the theory of lane splitting but as relatively new rider doubt I'd have the guts to do it very often at this point. Should that stop others from doing it - short answer no. Long answer is more complicated b/c I know that somebody who's less skilled than I am would be bouncing off cages while trying it since it's allowed. Why - same reason as a large amount of the general US traffic issues - we just hand out licenses like recess milk. I know why we do it - no good public transit, large distances b/w places, etc , etc but it doesn't make it the safest place to drive/ride. So until we actually train drivers and riders better before sticking them out there together I don't think the general population is ready for splitting (safely). My .02 (fire suit on).

 

[ecurb]

Lane splitting is idiotic. One thing you don't expect when you're in a car stuck on the freeway, is some idiot to zip by within a foot of your mirror at 30 mph. I hope they are watching out for me to open my door and spit on the ground, cause I'm not watching out for them to zip by me.

When we choose to ride a bike, we take responsibility to not only driving safely, but also watching out for other drivers becasue we are NOT as easy to see cars. When you split lanes, you ignore that responsibility.

 

[Rushiku]

Lane splitting is idiotic. One thing you don't expect when you're in a car stuck on the freeway, is some idiot to zip by within a foot of your mirror at 30 mph. I hope they are watching out for me to open my door and spit on the ground, cause I'm not watching out for them to zip by me.

When we choose to ride a bike, we take responsibility to not only driving safely, but also watching out for other drivers becasue we are NOT as easy to see cars. When you split lanes, you ignore that responsibility.

Strange that people in California and most other places in the world can handle it...do you really feel that Americans, in general, are so stupid that they wouldn't be able to deal with lane splitting?

I believe the idea is to do no more than 15 mph more than traffic, also, I don't see how making yourself scarce is irresponsible. I feel much safer when I don't have a car bearing down on me from behind, lane splitting would allow me to get out of the way.

I, for one, would love to lane split or at the very last, filter up to the front at any one of the abundance of stop lights we have, I see all that space and think "man, I just just slip through there and get past all these pancake makers".

side note: do you really open your door to spit? Do you pull over too? (j/k)

 

[Tailgate]

Lane splitting is idiotic. One thing you don't expect when you're in a car stuck on the freeway, is some idiot to zip by within a foot of your mirror at 30 mph. I hope they are watching out for me to open my door and spit on the ground, cause I'm not watching out for them to zip by me.

When we choose to ride a bike, we take responsibility to not only driving safely, but also watching out for other drivers becasue we are NOT as easy to see cars. When you split lanes, you ignore that responsibility.

Lane splitting is considered improper (and should be) at speeds over 10-15 MPH. 30 MPH lane splititing is irresponsible. Tip: when you open your door to spit (this should be considered unuusal and not particularly safe) in traffic it is incumbent on driver (or passenger) to check first, just as when you open your door after parking on the side of a street; there may be a bicyclist coming up on your side. You are at fault if you open your door and cause a bicyclist to crash into your open door because you didn't bother to check. In fact, even if you don't open your door but spit out your window you really should check to be sure that you don't risk affecting somebody behind you.

 

[mdr]

Tailgate: Haven't been in Cali for years so please forgive dumb question.

I get the impression it's legal there to pass cars stopped at an intersection so the MC goes to the front of the line? Do you actually go in front of the first car or keep off to the side? Have any road rage issues there? I can see doing that here in Virginia and the cage pushing my a$$ out into oncoming traffic.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

there may be a bicyclist coming up on your side. You are at fault if you open your door and cause a bicyclist to crash into your open door because you didn't bother to check.

Ah I saw that happened in Denmark. They have dedicated bike lanes, so when the taxi pull over to let you out, it does not impede the bike lanes. So when one of our guys on the crew opened the taxi door to get out, Wham! Well, I was just glad it wasn't me opening up that door. Of course the taxi driver as well as the bicyclist probably said, damn stupid americans. They take their bicycling seriously in Copenhagen.

As far as lane splitting, this has been discussed over and over again. Everyone has their own opinion whether or not it should be permissable or not and we all should respect whatever the decison on the matter is. However, I would like to emphasize for the members who disagree and post their opinion about the matter, that they first spend the time to educate themselves about the pro's and cons of lane splitting. As several negative posts by certain members on this forum appears to have no basic understanding of what the overall purpose was intended for. You have to wonder to yourself why it's legal in most of Europe, and permissable in California, with several states such as New Jersey and Washington studying the benefits as well.

 

[Tailgate]

Tailgate: Haven't been in Cali for years so please forgive dumb question.

I get the impression it's legal there to pass cars stopped at an intersection so the MC goes to the front of the line? Do you actually go in front of the first car or keep off to the side? Have any road rage issues there? I can see doing that here in Virginia and the cage pushing my a$$ out into oncoming traffic.

mdr: Yes, this is more common than not (to proceed up between lanes to the front of traffic waiting for green). Note: I'll opt out of this manuever (proceeding up to the front) if I estimate there is not enough time---or path clearance--- to make it to the front before the light turns green. While waiting at the front between the two rows, it is not unusual see a motorcyclist on the opposite side who has similarily postioned himself. (perhaps I'll---or somebody else?---post a photo shot of this sometime) When the light turns, the rider is off (but not before checking for red light runners!) before many of the cagers can even get their foot off the brake pedal. You know, I haven't experienced any road rage issues here over this. One time, however, it did appear that a motorist was manuevering as to not give me enough room to proceed through.