cali lanesplitting article

[mad8vskillz]

interesting...http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...le+Feedfetcher

53 percent of drivers unaware of lane splitting, 7 percent try to block motorcycles


According to a survey conducted by the California Office of Traffic Safety, the majority of car drivers are unaware that lane splitting is a legal practice. A small minority, seven percent, admitted to researchers that they’d actively tried to prevent lane splitting. Despite that, the vast majority, 84.4 percent of riders, have never had an incident while splitting.
A lot of what’s in this report is statistical confirmation of common sense and what you and I observe every day:

- The vast majority of riders are male (93.4 percent) and middle aged (30.4 percent are 45-54).
- Most riders use motorcycles only for leisure (45.9 percent), but plenty use them for both commuting and leisure riding (30.8 percent).
- More riders lane split on freeways (77.6 percent) than on surface streets (63.9 percent)
- You’re more likely to be hit by a car while lane splitting on the freeway (11.7 percent) than on surface streets (8.3 percent
- Only 1.7 percent of riders admit to splitting while traffic is traveling at 70mph or faster.
- 10mph above the speed of traffic is the most popular splitting pace (42.1 percent).
- Distracted drivers (30.0 percent) and drivers not bothering to check mirrors before changing lanes (32.5 percent) are seen as the biggest dangers.
- You’re more likely to lane split the more often you ride.

The study is timed to coincide with the launch of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, in which the state will pay lip service to driver awareness, but the drivers will be too busy texting to notice.

“OMG, did u watch Idol????”

“Totez. Just hit a bike. LOL”

It’ll be ignored, but the OTS issues the following advice to motorists on how to avoid hitting a biker while texting:

- Perform a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering
or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections.
- Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
- Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals are often not
self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is
going to turn before you proceed.
- Allow more following distance – three or four seconds – when behind a motorcycle so the
motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
- Never tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.
Never drive while distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Helpfully, there’s also advice for keeping yourself alive:

- Avoiding riding in poor weather conditions;
- Wearing brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet;
- Using turn signals for every turn or lane change, even if the rider thinks no one will see it;
- Combining hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to themselves;
- Using reflective tape and stickers to increase conspicuity;
- Positioning themselves in the lane where they will be most visible to other drivers; and
Never driving while impaired.

Hand signals and reflective tape? Yeah, some bureaucrat is still convinced it’s 1962. For better advice, check out our comprehensive guide to lane splitting. And watch out for all those intercept surveyors out there.

[MrSelfdestruct]

that 7 someodd % that tries to block motorcycles from lane splitting... yeah
I never understood this practice/attitude at all and it happens to me almost every day. All the driver (of the car) has to do is NOTHING, and I will be gone and out of sight before he probably even realizes I'm there. No skin off his/her back.

[ANSAracingb]

^Yup.
I once had a guy in the #1 lane actually move to his left when he saw me coming up the road, thus giving me more space. This was in heavy traffic. Juuuuuust when I reached the rear of his pickup he quickly swerved to the right, either trying to prevent me from passing or maybe just trying to hit me.
Really? If you don't like the fact that I can lane split and you can't, buy a motorcycle and do it yourself to save some commute time.

That was the closest near-miss I've had on the highway so far. That guy really pissed me off and even though he was not on a cell phone, yet obviously paying attention, he shouldn't be allowed to be behind the wheel.

[soldierguy]

When I lived in Seoul, I'd lane-split constantly, but usually only when traffic was moving slowly or stopped. Traffic is very heavy there, it is a very widely used practice, and car drivers expect motorcycles/scooters to do it. Also, there's very little of the "hey that bike is cutting ahead of me so I must stop him" attitude.

In the US, I don't do it. Yeah it's legal in CA, but because its not a nationwide law, and because it's not well-socialized that it's legal, you run the risk of some d-bag opening a door or otherwise blocking a spot just to prevent someone from getting ahead of him. If I rode a lot in heavy-traffic areas in the US, I'd probably risk it sometimes, but even then I'd be very selective about when to do it.

[VWCoop]

When I lived in Seoul, I'd lane-split constantly, but usually only when traffic was moving slowly or stopped. Traffic is very heavy there, it is a very widely used practice, and car drivers expect motorcycles/scooters to do it. Also, there's very little of the "hey that bike is cutting ahead of me so I must stop him" attitude.

In the US, I don't do it. Yeah it's legal in CA, but because its not a nationwide law, and because it's not well-socialized that it's legal, you run the risk of some d-bag opening a door or otherwise blocking a spot just to prevent someone from getting ahead of him. If I rode a lot in heavy-traffic areas in the US, I'd probably risk it sometimes, but even then I'd be very selective about when to do it.

I am living over in Osan at the moment and if you don't lane split the drivers get aggravated with you. They expect you to make your way to the front and be out of their hair as quick as possible. They almost always leave you the shoulder to go ahead at any point which is nice. Seoul is crazy though. I have only seen one accident but every cab trip I ever take there I have at least 3 close calls.

[atomicalex]

I am living over in Osan at the moment and if you don't lane split the drivers get aggravated with you. They expect you to make your way to the front and be out of their hair as quick as possible.

Europe is going this way. It's very nice.

[turbinepowered]

I think the nail was hit squarely on the head with "Hey, that guy is getting in front of me." Everything is a competition in America, and we get mad if someone is "beating" us.

My dad is one of those opposed to lane splitting. It isn't legal here so I don't do it, but if it were I would.

[windi]

Europe is going this way. It's very nice.

Really? Is lane splitting actually legal anywhere in Europe?

I know that here in Switzerland it is illegal. And while people do it, of course, the fines can be pretty high.

[Mk1Racer]

53 percent of drivers unaware of lane splitting, 7 percent try to block motorcycles

There's the major issue right there, lack of education. Over half of the licensed drivers don't know that lane splitting is legal. And I would imagine the majority of the 7% that try and block lane splitters don't know that it's legal.

[drumonay]

Honestly I am new to riding (currently in the process of getting my first bike and taking the class) and I didnt know that it was even legal. I always thought it was a perk of being on a bike or something like that... just goes to show you the lack of education on everyday drivers is rediculous

[mad8vskillz]

Honestly I am new to riding (currently in the process of getting my first bike and taking the class) and I didnt know that it was even legal. I always thought it was a perk of being on a bike or something like that... just goes to show you the lack of education on everyday drivers is rediculous

i don't think it's legal in NH. as far as I know, it's only legal in California....

[PlatinumGLS]

This story reminds me of the California radio personality that went on an anti-lanesplitting rant and said it would be great if people would open doors when seeing a motorcycle coming.

I know lane-splitting is not legal in Michigan but when traffic is stopped and backed up, I will slowly filter to the front rather than sitting in the same half-mile for 15-30 minutes.

[Twistedsix]

Had my bike in San Francisco and would lane split nearly every day. Traffic sucks and for the most part everyone expected the people on bikes to move to the front and get out of the way...

Now that I am in texas, I wont. To many jacka$$'s out here that would try to run you over with their trucks for you getting infront of them.

[Mr Niceguy]

so for those of you not in cali, do you sit in rush hour traffic with everyone in their cars? Creeping along 15 ft at a time? I grew up in colorado where lane splitting isn't legal but I can't remember ever seeing a bike stuck in traffic???

The reason I ask is I'm most likely moving to Seattle in July and my understanding is that they are very strict there enforcing no lane splitting and I can't for the life of me imagine being stuck with the cars creeping along in stop and go traffic. Just suck it up and deal with it? It is mind boggling that people would prefer to have more vehicles stuck acting like cars and creating more congestion when you could have the motorcycles using available space and getting out of the way. Not to mention how nerve wracking it must be being stuck in a line of cars in stop and go, not exactly a small deal when the person behind you rear ends you like in a car

[atomicalex]

Really? Is lane splitting actually legal anywhere in Europe?

Spain, France, and Italy enforce filtering, and splitting is encouraged. In Germany, filtering is not a good idea, but splitting is largely ignored and even encouraged, regardless of its legality.

[mad8vskillz]

Spain, France, and Italy enforce filtering, and splitting is encouraged. In Germany, filtering is not a good idea, but splitting is largely ignored and even encouraged, regardless of its legality.

wait, what? filtering and splitting aren't the same thing?

[turbinepowered]

wait, what? filtering and splitting aren't the same thing?

I think I understand this. Filtering happens when traffic is stopped, splitting when traffic is moving?

[atomicalex]

I think I understand this. Filtering happens when traffic is stopped, splitting when traffic is moving?

Yes. Exactly.

[NashGTI]

It's a rediculous commentary on America that the number of people who actively admit to something that lies somewhere between reckless endangerment and attempted murder is so high. As has been said, people view traffic as some sort of simple minded competition and it's sad.

That being said, I filtered up through a stop light for the first time just last week, but even then only because I knew everyone in front of me was going left at the light and I was headed right. Usually this is a non issue for me because I refuse to go 20 over the speed limit everywhere so even if I filtered to the front, people would just have to get back by.

As for asking if you just sit in traffic, I usually try to plan a route out that won't get me stuck in traffic, and honestly can't remember in 7 years having a situation arise where I was just stuck through several lights, but I commute against the rush hours, not with them.