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Theres been a big debate on HFL over Lane splitting. Where I am in the UK its legal in stationary traffic and tolerated in slow moving traffic. I do it all the time, takes a great deal of concentration and teaches you how to read what other road users are likely to do and which ones are paying attention, just by their body language and their positioning of the vehicle.
Its definitely a skill that develops over time and something you never become complacent about.
Its only legal in California where the HFL journalists are based and not in any of the other 49 states. Would you welcome it in your state and would you do it?
Same for some European countries Germany for one its illegal there but I do so bikers doing it. Do you wish it was legal?
Sure anything to "cull the herd". What we need is reasons for higher insurance rates for motorcycles, and further excuses for society to take a dimmer view of motorcyclists in general. Hell, lets convince Hasbro Inc. to develop and market a game called Russian Roulette with a real glock and live ammo! :
Sure anything to "cull the herd". What we need is reasons for higher insurance rates for motorcycles, and further excuses for society to take a dimmer view of motorcyclists in general. Hell, lets convince Hasbro Inc. to develop and market a game called Russian Roulette with a real glock and live ammo! :
I respect you opinion and maybe mine would be different if I lived on your side of the pond. But most of the arguments put forward I've heard are really a sad indictment of the standard of American drivers.
I've added the links to the original video and subsequent follow ups.
I wouldn't say it's so much as poor american driving and if you don't know for yourself, then honestly don't spout what others have said. Not trying to sound like an ass mate, but some people might read that the wrong way.
Now as for lane splitting not being legal in the majority of the US, there is a reason, the ratio of motorcycles to cars is much smaller so the awareness of drivers to cyclist is not as keen as it would be in other places throughout the world. Hence this reason is the fact that lane splitting is illegal in most states, it's just to dangerous in most areas. Drivers being less observant of cyclist would cause never ending problems of pulling out unexpectedly and what not. Not to mention California (please correct me if I'm wrong) has some the highest motorcycle mortality rates in the US. By the way i work in insurance so what I'm saying isn't just all second hand knowledge, i get to see the results first hand quite often.
Appreciate your comments Haplo. What I'm trying to ascertain is that it may be a cultural thing. Its always been done here in the UK so other road users are aware of it and it doesn't come as surprise.
lets not forget I'm on about lane splitting in stationary or near to stationary traffic or under the speed limit at the least. Not ragging along the freeway dodging in and out of lanes and between cars.
Many arguments were put forward for lane splitting in the video and many arguments against in the follow up.
I want to why you dont or do do it and for it not to descend into a slanging match but a reasonable debate.
I didn't spout what others have been saying.
I put forward my opinion based on what I had heard others state in their reasons for not lane splitting. ie drivers turning into you path or changing lanes unexpectedly without indication, drivers deliberately blocking your progress. Would lead me to that assumption.
Not to mention California (please correct me if I'm wrong) has some the highest motorcycle mortality rates in the US. By the way i work in insurance so what I'm saying isn't just all second hand knowledge, i get to see the results first hand quite often.
This came up in the debate subsequent to the initial video. Put forward was the argument that California has the lowest accident rate of rear ending motorcycles, which is one of the most common accidents country wide and that allowing lane splitting has put those motorcyclists out of that area of danger.
Now you may be in a position due to your first hand knowledge or industry statistics to counter that argument. I cant so stand to be corrected. I can only counter with opinions put forward by others on your side of the pond, not having first hand experience and knowledge of local laws.
It would be interesting to hear from expats who now reside in the US and what their opinions are.
I personally won't do it because way too many people here aren't paying attention to their driving. In my area, everyone feels that they are more important than any one else on the road. It just makes it too dangerous. In places where it has always been done people know to look for it. It would be difficult to instate lane splitting in a new area where no one is used to seeing it.
Well motorcycle related fatality and motorcycle related rear ending would be part of fatality. so i guess going by fatality rate wouldn't be accurate. To be honest a true break down of the type of incident by state and incident with fatality would give better answers.
But like lingo stated it's lack of awareness that would be the real and present danger with trying to institute it into new areas. People just don't look out for motorcycles here.
Edit: I wasn't trying to be an ass or bite your head off in my previous comment, i was more trying to caution. I think using the word spout may have made it come off as rude.
Now being able to make a left hand turn at a red light after a complete stop would be great. Unfortunately it did not pass the state legislature last year.
Cell phones have made lane splitting and just motorcycle driving in general, much more dangerous. Every morning when I get cut off the person is usually on their phone.
I wish I could lane split but only at a really low speed in traffic.
This isn't something I do, especially on the highways around here sometimes 4 and 5 lanes and if there not on the cell phone there watching Netflix with it. I can see it being a good thing at stop lights so as not to be rear ended and stuck in traffic when lights do turn green...I have a feeling if I started lane splitting tomorrow My M/C license would be taken away but here is a little video advocating the practice
I wish I could do it at times, but usually im content to let it go. When I drove all round the EU a couple years ago I was amazed by people just flying past us splitting the lanes on just about every majoy highway. The paris ring road or whatever that fucking thing is called was especially bad for that. Wasnt all just squids either. Lots of older folks on touring bikes just hauling ass between lanes.
Now being able to treat a red light as a stop sign while on a bike would be nice, I feel like a idiot sometimes at red lights in the midlle of the night waiting for them to turn. I used to get off, walk over to the sidewalk, and press the cross walk button to change the light. Now I look around for cops and go.
Filtering in Canada / US is largely considered a hooligan move as it's not part of the accepted driving culture as it is in many other places.
I spent a couple weeks in Ireland, and rented a car. I drove probably over 1,000KM on that trip all over the bottom 1/2 of the country, including city driving in Dublin. Watching motorcycles ride along the center line in city traffic, having the oncoming cars gently move out of the way for them was amazing. Lane splitting between two opposing lanes of traffic - that's what I've seen.
But the deal is motorcycles are essentially respected, or at least expected to do those sorts of things. The drivers of cars accommodate it. Whereas in North America, in our perpetual gridlock and competitive culture, good luck to anyone taking advantage of their vehicle's size and capabilities to short-cut slow traffic.
Maybe 100 years from now here, but not in my lifetime.
Oh, the other difference is everyone in Europe rides nice skinny small cc bikes vs. the 3 foot wide 1800cc bikes with 4 foot wide handlebars in North America
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