Arizona to Legalize Lane-Splitting, France to Ban it?

motorcycledaily.com ^ | March 30, 2010 | Gabe Ets-Hokin

[Osage Orange]

Used to live in SoCal....

Used to ride a M.C. too....

I split lanes now and again....Only when traffic was near grid-locked.

And you better be on your toes...because I had people see me coming and "squeeze me" on purpose..and crack their doors open like they were going to open them.

Those were exceptions....but it happened.

Riding a M.C. made me a much better defensive driver....that's for sure.

FRegards,

[DRey]

a pissed off cau-boi wannabe stalk me for 7 miles

Don't mess with Texas.

[clamper1797]

EXACTLY ... who is more dangerous ... the biker who is splitting lanes at 5-10 mph faster than stopped or near stopped trafiic. Or the guy/lady who is texting, cell phoning, farbing (putting on make-up) fiddling with the radio driving a SUV . Biker don't text, cell phone, put on make up, eat burgers, fiddle very much with the radio when they ride. You get the occational idiot on a bike just like you do in a car.

As far as being elitist ... yeah I would rather be seen pushing my Harley than be seen riding a Honda ... :<)

[HereInTheHeartland]

The nation needs more organ donors; I am in favor of this going nationwide.

[BlueDragon]

When their bikes comply with noise regulations, I’ll consider some sympathy for granting them added privileges.

My 25 year old, 16 valve V-4 shaft drive Honda motorcycle is probably as quiet as any car you drive (and much quicker & nimbler too) but I don't want your sympathy.

When are you going to start wearing a helmet? You car drivers with your head injuries, are causing my insurance rates to be higher than they should!

[that's a joke, folks, simply the bankrupt argument used to force helmet compliance turned around and logically applied. how's it feel?]

If you don't ride, or never have, maybe your opinions on the subject ain't worth squat? Since you really don't know [squat].

[clamper1797]

am very sceptical of anything that increases the number or type of hazards the ordinary driver must watch for.

I agree with you there ... but once the drivers understand that it is legal and to expect it then they become more aware to it. In Ca a lot of drivers actually make room for the upcoming bike. In about 10 years of lane splitting I've only have had one or two near misses. Those were avoided by my greater awaremness and ability to get out of the way. If I had been in a car .... they would have hit me. BTW it's a felony to open a door in front of a lane splitting bike. Remember that that upcoming bike could easily be and very often is a CHP motorcycle cop. We actually get behind the CHP motorcycle and use him as an escort.. Usually at higher speed than we normally would split lanes

[ctdonath2]

When driving, it’s important that EVERYONE play by the same rules. Don’t surprise us “cage drivers” by doing something we have no reason to expect or know about. If cars can’t split lanes, don’t expect us to expect someone else to.

[Atlas Sneezed]

My 25 year old, 16 valve V-4 shaft drive Honda motorcycle is probably as quiet as any car you drive.

---

No doubt. I wasn’t talking about you or anyone like you. I’m talking about the infantile boomers who ride noisy (and otherwise crappy but fashionable in some circles) bikes that are designed for their infantile tastes, and especially those who modify them to be even louder.

Sort of an obsession with making fart noises that can be heard miles away.

I don’t claim to know squat about riding, but I do know a public nuisance when I hear one. All those Hondas and BMWs prove what crap the Harley riders are full of.

[clamper1797]

You can call me, and my fellow automobilers, any name you want. I find it funny, actually.

You call us biker ... we call you cagers ... sounds better than car'ers doesn't it? In any case ... it's not meant as a derogatory name.

As far as being elitist ... I guess you drive 55MPH on roads where the truckers have to ..right?. And you stay in the trucker lane when they have to ... right? After all using that "special priviledge" that is afforded cars to go 65 MPH and use the left lane when the truckers have to stay in the right lane would be "elitist"

[HamiltonJay]

I saw more accidents in my year in Cali than I have seen total in the other 21 years of driving.

Cali is so full of people who should not have a license its rediculous.

I didn’t even commute on the interstates there, I lived less than 3 miles from where I worked, so most of my commuting was along city streets, and el camino real, and I can tell you, I saw more accidents in that 1 year than anywhere else... At least every other day there was one. Most were minor, but still, the sheer stupidity of many drivers out there is amazing.

[clamper1797]

Then put your helmet on

[ctdonath2]

I remember fondly plying the German Autobahn

There's the catch. We're talking American roads, where it takes little more than parallel parking right once to get a driver's license. In Germany, it takes about $2500 in formal training, plus a five-part all-season all-weather driving test to get a license; in addition, the culture there adheres to a very precise, orderly, mechanical driving style. Driven there myself, and was struck by how it resembled a well-oiled machine: people would merge so long as there was an inch to spare, EVERYONE _stayed_right_ if they weren't passing, and nobody got sloppy or obnoxious or stupid. Germans know how to DRIVE. "Lane splitting" makes sense there, where all drivers are fast but not stupid; here, 99% of drivers don't even know what it is, think it's illegal when they find out, and otherwise make it dangerous to do.

[ctdonath2]

I do. My whole dang body fits in it.

[clamper1797]

Well then by your metaphor my awareness and mobility is my “helmet”

[Osage Orange]

All drivers are required to know the law.

It's legal to "split-lanes" in CA.

[rahbert]

he takes his changes who does that.

[clamper1797]

BTW CA drivers are required by law to be aware of lane splitting being that it is legal and it is even mentioned in the DMV drivers instruction handbook. So you have PLENTY of reason to expect it .. and not just for bikes ... blows that “special priviledge” argument all to hell ... but for cars as well if there is room. On wide residential streets you can make your own lane IN A CAR in Calif.

[TSgt]

You should put this on your profile page next to the picture of you and your bicycle.

[SoConPubbie]

I wish more states would get behind this. I remember fondly plying the German Autobahn on my ZX-11 years ago; the traffic was rapid but orderly, and on the rare occasion we encountered a "Stau" we could split lanes and get through.

Stupid idea! And one of the reasons motorcycle riding is so dangerous.

Frankly, I would not care, but if some dumb motorcycle rider splits the lane with me and we get into an accident, I get at least partially blamed, even if I was not responsible.

I am speechless that you would think lane-splitting is a good idea.

[SoConPubbie]

The only trouble I've ever had are assholes in cars who open their doors to intentionally block you.

You're not too smart, are you?

I live in the LA Metroplex. Bike riders, on almost a daily basis, are injured or killed doing just that, lane-splitting.

Someone needs to straighten you out before you kill yourself, or God forbid, someone else.