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Lane Splitting 101

7695 Views 10 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Starlionblue, 
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Lane Splitting 101

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4
yea for California

when lanesplitting, I always cover the front brake and sometimes drag the rear for extra stability. also, I cover the horn. having just moved to CA from atlanta, it's still pretty hard to trust drivers, but I must say, CA drivers are some of the most aware and courteous I've encountered. even the police are civil.
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5
dragging the rear for extra stability? first time I've ever heard that how does that work exactly?
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pushrod
Isn't "Lane-splitting" what's going on in La Jolla right now?

Although the article is 8 years old, I suppose it remains valid.
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1
all I know is to keep an eye on the heads in the cars in front of you, normally signals some hairbrained stunt when a quick head twitch is noticed. Look for their faces in the mirrors and be prepaired for anything. stay 5 to 10 mph faster than traffic, more than that and you'll likely become a statistic.
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6
Ok, now take that to the street on a 50cc scooter. Did it for 3 years on a Yamaha Zuma. It's hard not to laugh maniacally as you pass all the trapped cages at a backed up traffic light. Until you get stopped by a fat Harley that can't quite make the squeeze between the Expedition and the Escalade. (I'll be glad when this craze for oversized grocery getters is over.) A super narrow bike is necessary if you want to get anywhere in Hollywood. Everytime a movie star farts traffic backs up while the star, proud of their accomplishment, waves to tourists in front of the Chinese Theater.
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Kenneth_Moore
That's a fun article! Allow me to add my technique from Florida, where lane-splitting is both illegal, and highly dangerous (apparently Latin males consider lane-splitting to be a direct insult to their family).

Rather than splitting the lanes directly, I like to do the LTL Feint. Simply proceed along the Left Turn Lane as though you were going to turn left, signal on. As you arrive at the intersection, smack your forehead (or helmet) with your open palm with an "oops" expression. Switch your turnsignal off and cut in front of the first car in the through lanes. If you time it right, you can arrive at the intersection just as the left turn lane signal goes red and the through lanes go green!
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mscuddy
Lane splitting is in my blood, of course it's hard to perform in a Honda Element, but I still think about how it's the only reason (besides the weather) to ride a street bike in L.A. traffic. Once, while on my XS1100Vision (1980 vintage)as a bike messenger I forgot about the big fiberglass and steel saddle bags on the back, and got wedged betwen a plumbers van, and a bread truck. They had me wedged for about 10 blocks down 3rd sreet, with my tires barely skimming the tarmac. Then, as quick as it happened, the bread truck truned right on 3rd, and the plumbers van turned left. I was free! Of course racing other people while lane splitting is scary, and can only lead to ruined side view mirrors and big scratches on the cages that surround you. One of my last rides to LAX from my house in Burbank tuned into death race 2006 as some Ducati rider thought he as going to show me the quick way down a clogged 405 freeway at the Sepulveda pass. He underestimated the powers of a City-X rider with a few slugs of liquid courage under his belt. Ha! Fie and Pox!
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S
I find it more than a bit odd that lane splitting is illegal in the US but legal or at least accepted pretty much anywhere else. I mean what's the point of commuting with a motorbike if you can't beat congestion?

A few minutes in Bangkok traffic watching the motorcycle taxis split lanes is very enlightening. ;)
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seruzawa
Starlionblue said:
I find it more than a bit odd that lane splitting is illegal in the US but legal or at least accepted pretty much anywhere else. I mean what's the point of commuting with a motorbike if you can't beat congestion?

A few minutes in Bangkok traffic watching the motorcycle taxis split lanes is very enlightening. ;)
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American cagers are like crabs in a bucket. They can't stand the idea of anyone getting ahead.
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S
Ah yes good point. I remember driving (a car) on I-95, the Racetrack of the Northeast. Nuts!

People think I'm crazy for wanting to ride a motorbike in HK (license test coming up on Monday!), but traffic here is way less aggressive than in the US or UK. Vindictive acts like slamming a door open are simply not done.
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