Lane Sharing

[Cafe Rider]

[size=14pt][size=12pt]Hey everyone,

I was riding my bike to work the other day and realized that commuting with a motorcycle is, at times, not worth the frustration. Apart from the fact that the time it takes me to find parking is cut in half the time it takes me to get to work doesn't really change weather i'm on a bike or in a car. I think it is because lane sharing is prohibited in Canada.

Everyone does it once in a while to get themselves out of a tig[size=14pt]ht jam but the bottom line is IT'S ILLEGAL . Although now that I think about it I don't think it would be a good idea anyways, have you seen the drivers in Montrreal?? lol.

Seriously tho, I've been doing some research on the topic and found out that countries and states that allow lane sharing have far less motorcycle accidents than those that prohibit it. It's because the car drivers are aware that a bike might come flying by in their lane at any time so they are more careful when driving. Also the peak traffic times are significantly reduced, for car drivers as well as nike riders, and pollution is reduced as well, all because of lane sharing.

So before I go writing letters to the premier of Quebec lol I wanna hear some of your opinions. Is it illegal where you live and what do you think about it?[/size][/size][/size]

 

[damarble]

Not legal here but I wish it was. Have ridden in California where it is legal and I did it a little there but it didn't save a lot of time.

If it was legal everywhere smaller commuting bikes might gain some more popularity.

 

[biker_reject]

I love lane splitting! Pisses off the cagers, though.

 

[AgentX]

states that allow lane sharing have far less motorcycle accidents than those that prohibit it. It's because the car drivers are aware that a bike might come flying by in their lane at any time so they are more careful when driving.

I sincerely doubt that's the cause. Most drivers have no inkling of motorcycle regulations and don't take pro-active measures to accomodate motorcycles in any way. Not out of maliciousness, just that motorcycles aren't generally part of the everyday world on the road for most drivers in North America. And those who witness lane-splitting typically get irritated by it regardless of its legal standing.

One contributor to those stats, though, is that where lane-splitting is legal, motorcycles are not obligated to remain in the most hazardous (for the bike) position on the road, which is behind one car with another following closely behind, right in the pinch-point. When between lanes, they maintain a position with some clear space to the front and no car following directly aft.

In traffic, cars rear-end motorcycles frequently. Even if lane-sharing is illegal, it's probably still smart for motorcyclists to use the extremes of the lanes at times when offers the best protection from larger vehicles.

 

[Tim]

Straight up I detest lane splitters in Canada.

That being said, I've driven a car all over Ireland, including in Dublin. Lane splitting doesn't begin to describe the way motorcycles are ridden there. If there's only 1 lane in each direction, they will ride in the oncoming lane along the dividing line. Oncoming cars simply move out of the way.

And I'm totally fine with that, in Ireland. The reason is, it's part of the vehicle culture and it's expected. There are more motorcycles on the road, smaller cars, and people respect each other. Motorcycles are viewed as legitimate transport, and good for the environment/traffic congestion etc.

Here, motorcycles are viewed as toys, luxury vehicles, and drivers are completely intolerant of a motorcycle taking liberties on the road simply because they are physically capable of it.

Until that changes, which will be never in North America, lane splitting will remain a seriously risky bit of business that only serves to keep motorcycles in the 'bad' books of the driving public's mind and keep our insurance rates high.

I have a friend in Spain who has a number of vintage and new bikes, including a sweet pristine Ducati 750 GT. His insurance rate for it is $75 a YEAR. For full coverage on his brand new Ducati, it's $600. This isn't just because the insurance companies are friendly, and it's certainly not because they have tons of customers. I can only presume it's in no small part to the fact that vehicle culture is respectful of motorcycles and their riders, and people are actually encouraged to ride vs drive.

Always have an exit plan when you're riding in traffic - an escape route. Never be too close to the car in front of you to swerve out of it's way when it slams on its brakes, and remember you can stop twice as fast as the car behind you.

I don't know where lane splitting is legal, but would love to know and understand how the laws work. Here it's patently illegal and people who do it are regarded in the same light as people who pull wheelies on the highway wearing flip flops and t-shirts.

 

[Frog]

Not sure what lane splitting is, in England filtering is allowed which means you can ride between the two lanes as long as traffic is stationary, although most bikers will filter through slow moving traffic, I found that most drivers in London were very good and would often pull in a little to give you more room. Back in my home town in the north the drivers would pull across to block your progress, the childish attitude of I'm not moving so your not moving seems to be the norm outside of the cities, when taking riding lessons in London my wife was instructed in how to filter safely. Filtering in London made a one hour journey into a ten minute ride.

 

[Cafe Rider]

I've been to Italy last summer and I don't know exactly what the laws are concerning lane sharing but people; lane share, lane split, filter, talk on the phone while riding, talk to their girlfriends on the back seat, ride with flip flops, and I've even seen several women wearing dresses that were riding their Vespas side satle.

It made me nervous to even rent a car but when I got on the road I realized that somehow it works. The drivers have complete respect for riders. What seemed like a disaster when I got there, seemed like a brilliant system by the time I had to come back home.

 

[cyclefreak]

Re: Re: Lane Sharing

I've been to Italy last summer and I don't know exactly what the laws are concerning lane sharing but people; lane share, lane split, filter, talk on the phone while riding, talk to their girlfriends on the back seat, ride with flip flops, and I've even seen several women wearing dresses that were riding their Vespas side satle.

It made me nervous to even rent a car but when I got on the road I realized that somehow it works. The drivers have complete respect for riders. What seemed like a disaster when I got there, seemed like a brilliant system by the time I had to come back home.

I've been to Italy a few times. Most places over there I would be fine jumping on a bike. The exception would be Naples. Absolute madness on the roads there. Between unbelievable congestion and seemingly chaotic driving I would be scared to death

 

[SONICJK]

I hear you on Italy those f***ers are crazy. I winced every time s scooter cut off the cab at 40 or drove on the sidewalk.
But for 10 days I watched all the chaos and not a single accident. It actually works really well.
They just don't drive like we do, they just jockey for the front all the time so everyone is used to it an has to pay attention.

 

[JiveTalkinRobot]

Lane sharing doesn't save A LOT of time, but it relieves a lot of stress. Nothing worse than not moving in traffic. At least with lane splitting, you are constantly in motion.

 

[alexmac]

Straight up I detest lane splitters in Canada.

That being said, I've driven a car all over Ireland, including in Dublin. Lane splitting doesn't begin to describe the way motorcycles are ridden there. If there's only 1 lane in each direction, they will ride in the oncoming lane along the dividing line. Oncoming cars simply move out of the way.

And I'm totally fine with that, in Ireland. The reason is, it's part of the vehicle culture and it's expected. There are more motorcycles on the road, smaller cars, and people respect each other. Motorcycles are viewed as legitimate transport, and good for the environment/traffic congestion etc.

Here, motorcycles are viewed as toys, luxury vehicles, and drivers are completely intolerant of a motorcycle taking liberties on the road simply because they are physically capable of it.

Until that changes, which will be never in North America, lane splitting will remain a seriously risky bit of business that only serves to keep motorcycles in the 'bad' books of the driving public's mind and keep our insurance rates high.

I have a friend in Spain who has a number of vintage and new bikes, including a sweet pristine Ducati 750 GT. His insurance rate for it is $75 a YEAR. For full coverage on his brand new Ducati, it's $600. This isn't just because the insurance companies are friendly, and it's certainly not because they have tons of customers. I can only presume it's in no small part to the fact that vehicle culture is respectful of motorcycles and their riders, and people are actually encouraged to ride vs drive.

Always have an exit plan when you're riding in traffic - an escape route. Never be too close to the car in front of you to swerve out of it's way when it slams on its brakes, and remember you can stop twice as fast as the car behind you.

I don't know where lane splitting is legal, but would love to know and understand how the laws work. Here it's patently illegal and people who do it are regarded in the same light as people who pull wheelies on the highway wearing flip flops and t-shirts.

I'm with you. If you are a vehicle on the road... you follow the rules of the road just like everyone else. It drives me crazy how these people who ride those electric scooters do whatever the f*ck they want in traffic because they have no license or license plates. I don't care what it is powered by... it's a vehicle on the road.

Saving a couple of minutes isn't worth the risk of getting run over by some raging cager.

 

[tron97]

You should see it in Vietnam..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JNWucQJGVI&feature=related/

They dont have lanes to split, its every man for himself. Picture this, then a tourbus roaring through the block..


Organized chaos, and it works. You can walk across the road in traffic like that and get through without issues. They will just move slightly out of the way for you.

Here, if you try and "J-walk", I swear drivers speed up, verses slow down.

 

[damarble]

[quote author=alexmac]

I'm with you. If you are a vehicle on the road... you follow the rules of the road just like everyone else. It drives me crazy how these people who ride those electric scooters do whatever the f*ck they want in traffic because they have no license or license plates. I don't care what it is powered by... it's a vehicle on the road.

[/quote]

This.

The worst offenders here are the bicyclists. They use the roads and sidewalks in any combination that's convenient and do not give a rat's ass about laws and signs. Dodging in and out of people and cars.

I understand they have a right to use the road. But I still don't agree with it, they are not paying for it like licensed drivers are. And they're such royal dicks about how they use it.

 

[Frog]

From the comments, it seems that lane splitting is dangerous in North America mainly because it's not recognised as a legitimate action, but the brunt of the problem is that drivers there obviously don't pay attention to what's going on. In Europe drivers generally keep an eye out for bikes, your more likely to be hit by a car pulling out of a junction, than someone hitting you while filtering. On a foot note filtering/lane splitting is more environmentally friendly because you are always moving, rather than going nowhere pumping out fumes, sitting in traffic is also not good for your health are the health of your bike, especially if it's air cooled.

 

[hillsy]

I used to "lane filter" all the time on the fighter and the XT - not so much now on the cruiser. I find it far safer to be at the front of the lights when everyone is taking off.


In fact, I avoided a rear-end collision some years back by moving between the line of cars and going to the front. People back in stopped traffic have a tendency to pull out the mobile phone, start texting and forget about the brake pedal - and this particular lady did just that and pushed into the car in front of her right through where I was sitting only seconds before.....


As for "lane splitting", well I rarely do that - unless the traffic is at walking pace or slower. BTW - both practices are considered illegal here, but lane filtering is sort of "tolerated" whilst lane splitting is not.


Anyway, I've been riding in heavy traffic every day for the past 10 years or so without incident. You can say all you like about how dangerous the practice is, but I know if it's done properly, it isn't. And I for one am not prepared to sit back in the gridlock and wait to get crushed by some ignorant cager.


It's my life and I take the steps necessary to ensure I make it home to my wife and kids in one piece.

 

[alexmac]

I don't know where you are but up here in Canada, there have been a few cases of cagers taking offensive action against people filtering. Some have run them off the road with
their car or actually hit them with their vehicle on purpose.

I used to "lane filter" all the time on the fighter and the XT - not so much now on the cruiser. I find it far safer to be at the front of the lights when everyone is taking off.


In fact, I avoided a rear-end collision some years back by moving between the line of cars and going to the front. People back in stopped traffic have a tendency to pull out the mobile phone, start texting and forget about the brake pedal - and this particular lady did just that and pushed into the car in front of her right through where I was sitting only seconds before.....


As for "lane splitting", well I rarely do that - unless the traffic is at walking pace or slower. BTW - both practices are considered illegal here, but lane filtering is sort of "tolerated" whilst lane splitting is not.


Anyway, I've been riding in heavy traffic every day for the past 10 years or so without incident. You can say all you like about how dangerous the practice is, but I know if it's done properly, it isn't. And I for one am not prepared to sit back in the gridlock and wait to get crushed by some ignorant cager.


It's my life and I take the steps necessary to ensure I make it home to my wife and kids in one piece.

 

[hillsy]

I don't know where you are but up here in Canada, there have been a few cases of cagers taking offensive action against people filtering. Some have run them off the road with
their car or actually hit them with their vehicle on purpose.

I'm in Australia. What you're describing is road rage.

If I was riding in Canada and that was the "risk", then I probably wouldn't do it.

Again, it goes back to doing what you need to do to get home in one piece.

 

[biker_reject]

Yep, we call it brake checking here in the states. Bastards. Both men and women use their cages offensively.

 

[alexmac]

I'm in Australia. What you're describing is road rage.

If I was riding in Canada and that was the "risk", then I probably wouldn't do it.

Again, it goes back to doing what you need to do to get home in one piece.

From what I have seen, people in Oz are much more accepting of motorcycles.

 

[hillsy]

From what I have seen, people in Oz are much more accepting of motorcycles.

You're probably right. Our sub-tropical weather means we ride all year round, so there's no motorcycle "season" like there is in Canada and some of the US - maybe that has a bit to do with motorcycles being more accepted here (being on the road all year round = less unexpected??).