Lane splitting insanity

[TowJam]

I don't care if it's legal or not -

is a nominee for the Darwin awards.

[smiller]

I don't care if it's legal or not

It's not, at least as practiced in the video. It's hard to count the number of laws that were broken.

[russell_bynum]

Seemed about right to me. Maybe a little on the agressive side, but that's a motorcycle messenger, and those guys do that stuff day in and day out.

 

The video's been sped up a bit. here's the video at normal speed.

[TowJam]

The video's been sped up a bit. here's the video at normal speed.

 

Well hell. I took the bait hook, line and sinker.

[smiller]

The video's been sped up a bit.

Yeah, I thought so, it just didn't look right. But an idiotic performance even at normal speed.

[russell_bynum]

The video's been sped up a bit.

Yeah, I thought so, it just didn't look right. But an idiotic performance even at normal speed.

 

LOL!

 

Count me as an idiot, then.

[smiller]

Oh come on now, I know you know better than to expose yourself to the multiple mistakes he made.

[Peter W]

Interesting. I split lanes at least 15 miles each way on my 35 mile (each way) communte every day. Video, spead up or not distorts actual speed. Amazing how somewhat accurate even the sped up version is vis-a-vis real life. You do move a lot faster at times than traffic, especially when, what I call, weaving (the traffic is moving well for this). What really scares me is that I do this so often I tend to end up daydreaming while splitting/weaving/filtering. I wake up after a few miles of this and realize I could easily have been chopped. Splitting, in my mind, is never fun, but it sure gets the job done.

[TowJam]

This will never fly in Texas. There's too many azzholes here who would make it a game to block you (or worse). Also, it's hard to split lanes when you have a Ford F450 dualy on either side - both equipped with well stocked gun racks and Confederate flag window tinting.

[Dennis Andress]

He, or she, is good. I didn't see anything that would make me shy off if I was following. But I doubt I could keep up for more than a couple of miles, sooner or later the RS becomes too fat and heavy to keep up with a skilled rider on a smaller bike.

 

Those of you who want to legalize lane-splitting in your state would do well to study how traffic responded to him. That's a skill cage drivers will take many years to learn after lane-splitting becomes legal.

[Dennis Andress]

This will never fly in Texas. There's too many azzholes here who would make it a game to block you (or worse). Also, it's hard to split lanes when you have a Ford F450 dualy on either side - both equipped with well stocked gun racks and Confederate flag window tinting.

 

Its those extra wide trailer mirrors that are the real risk, especially at dusk.

[russell_bynum]

He, or she, is good. I didn't see anything that would make me shy off if I was following. But I doubt I could keep up for more than a couple of miles, sooner or later the RS becomes too fat and heavy to keep up with a skilled rider on a smaller bike.

 

Yep.

 

For lane splitting, give me a lightweight bike with quick steering, great brakes, and gobs of "anywhere in the RPM range" torque. You know...something like this:

 

 

Splitting on a big bike is hard work.

[velomoto]

This will never fly in Texas. There's too many azzholes here who would make it a game to block you (or worse). Also, it's hard to split lanes when you have a Ford F450 dualy on either side - both equipped with well stocked gun racks and Confederate flag window tinting.

Yeah I remember some of these drivers in CA, but they never seemed to be a real problem - on a bike I could always see ahead by looking over or around traffic and move to the lane which was moving faster and make a safe pass. There are times now I wish lane splitting was legal in Colorado, but with a five mile commute I seldom face stop-n-go traffic and have learned to cope.

[Dennis Andress]

I know the Ohlins are adjusted right when I bounce down the bots dots, apply the brakes and feel the suspension and ABS work together....

[MotorinLA]

The video's been sped up a bit.

Yeah, I thought so, it just didn't look right. But an idiotic performance even at normal speed.

 

If you turn off the sound (sped up version) you'll find that it doesn't seem as fast (or maybe that's just me...). The only negative comments I would have about this ride was that the rider was traveling mostly between the #3 and #4 lanes, instead of between the #1 and #2 lanes (less lane changing cars), and the rider appeared to do a lot of unnecessary weaving as he split the lanes (unstable platform).

 

For riders that split lanes on SoCal freeways on a regular basis, this probably looked much like their regular commute.

[russell_bynum]

I know the Ohlins are adjusted right when I bounce down the bots dots, apply the brakes and feel the suspension and ABS work together....

 

[OlGeezer]

LOL!

 

Count me as an idiot, then.

 

Me too. Note where all the objections are coming from, a place where they used to measure distance in terms of six packs.

 

[russell_bynum]

LOL!

 

Count me as an idiot, then.

 

Me too. Note where all the objections are coming from, a place where they used to measure distance in terms of six packs.

 

 

Hey now...don't be messin with Texas. I may live in Cali, but I'm a Native Texan, and dern proud of it.

 

While everyone else is busy doing away with the death penalty, Texas put in an Express Lane.

[stubble!]

I only watched a few minutes, but didn't see anything that seemed overly reckless. The rider must have been on a small bike, there were definitely plenty of gaps that I wouldn't have shot with my bags on. I'd echo the lane choice comment above, splitting 1 & 2 is more common around here, people aren't expecting you as much when you're splitting farther over.

[OlGeezer]

Hey now...don't be messin with Texas. I may live in Cali, but I'm a Native Texan, and dern proud of it.

I am also but I'm proud of being an Ex-Tex. Still a Cowboys fan, though.

[russell_bynum]

For riders that split lanes on SoCal freeways on a regular basis, this probably looked much like their regular commute.

 

A few years ago, I video taped my commute with the intention of posting it here. After I watched the footage, I decided that it wasn't worth posting because everyone would think I'm insane.

 

Every time I post a ride video, the nannies come out of the woodwork to bitch and moan about double-yellow passes and anything else that bugs them. So I decided that from now on, I'd edit out anything like that just to save myself from the usual barrage of finger-wagging.

 

I figured it out, and if I cut everything borderline or illegal out of my hour and ten minute commute video, I'd have about 10 minutes of video...mostly of me sitting at stop lights.

[MotorinLA]

Every time I post a ride video, the nannies come out of the woodwork to bitch and moan about double-yellow passes and anything else that bugs them.

 

Jealousy is sooo ugly...

[bakerzdosen]

A few years ago, I video taped my commute with the intention of posting it here. After I watched the footage, I decided that it wasn't worth posting because everyone would think I'm insane.

Count me in. I'd think you're insane. However, the video would have nothing to do with it.

 

On topic though, I watched most of the 9 minutes of the real-time video, and it looked fine to me... It's not crazy like that NYC messenger video from a few weeks ago... That honestly looked to me (obviously not a regular lane splitter here in Utah) like a normal commute in LA.

 

(And Russell, if you ever get around to posting that video, lemme know. I'd like to see it.)

[Davitt_Potter]

The video's been sped up a bit.

Yeah, I thought so, it just didn't look right. But an idiotic performance even at normal speed.

 

Why idiotic? Seriously, I'd like to know why. I say he's crazy, but that's just because I can't do it. Not that I'd try on my Ultra Classic... That'd be just stupid. But damn interesting.

 

Seriously, is it idiotic because you wouldn't be comfortable doing the same? If he's assessed his risks and is in control, and accepts the potential accident as part of splitting, then who are you to call him idiotic?

[DaveTheAffable]

Seriously, is it idiotic because you wouldn't be comfortable doing the same? If he's assessed his risks and is in control, and accepts the potential accident as part of splitting, then who are you to call him idiotic?

I will. He puts others at risk. He doesn't have my permission to make that assessment for ME or my family. If one of my family members makes a reasonable lane change, and he hits them, does that the fact the he has assessed HIS risk make it ok? What about damage to my car? My family? My children? Does being "in control" mean that if he hits someone, it's automatically the cagers fault?

 

My, we spend alot of time pontificating about our rights and risks. If you are alone, on a track, risk yourself all you want.

 

And for those that want to protect lane spiltting in california (like me), this is an example of someone who will help us lose it.

 

Why are people who are careful and cautious the source of scorn and ridicule? When did moderation and consideration become such a distateful thing amongst us? Kinna sad...

[Mike O]

...

Those of you who want to legalize lane-splitting in your state would do well to study how traffic responded to him. That's a skill cage drivers will take many years to learn after lane-splitting becomes legal.

This is an interesting response to the thread. And one I wholeheartedly agree with. I can picture our state house legislatures debating the merits of legalizing 'lane splitting' in Colorado and

 

a) watching this video (and many others like it)

 

b) being convinced that it requires 'a skill cage drivers will take many years to learn after lane splitting becomes legal'.

 

I'm betting my next tank of gas such legislature would never make it out of legislative committee. These videos while entertaining for our riding community don't help the cause of those wishing to see laws enacted to enable lane splitting in other states. Even if they were sympathetic to the benefits of lane splitting after watching those videos, they would say "Nope, the risk far outweighs the benefits."

 

(But I wish it were legal here!)

 

Mike O

[Ken H.]

Russell, based on your observation of that (real time) video, what you you guess the speed of the cages around him/her was, and the delta between the cages and the bike? In the first couple of minutes of the video.

[TyTass]

Zactly!

 

I've moto'd in Califonia only 2 times in my life, so I have no experience lane-splitting. However, I have driven a cage in CA hundreds of times as well as almost every state (to include HI & AK). I can say I have found CA drivers about the most skilled.

 

Cagers in CA actually seem able to "function" at higher speeds as there seems to me to be more of a "come on - go with the flow" mentality there than I've seen elsewhere. I've seen bumper-to-bumper traffic moving along at 45 regularly and even up to 60+. While not necesarily safe, at least traffic does move when it can. And as some noted, other places have what some refer to as "the traffic cop mentality", people who cut off and block others who are doing something they wouldn't do (I have no statistics at all but believe that causes more wrecks than flowing with traffic at a high rate of speed).

 

This is just a broad brush representation of my experiences. I actually found the majority of drivers in the western plain states more courteous but it's been about 13 years since I've driven there (it may have changed).

 

I would like to have lane splitting but doubt it could work back east. It would have to needed to be put into effect 20 years ago or so, before the traffic got quite so dense and people so aggressive. (All of the IMHO.)

[smiller]

Note where all the objections are coming from, a place where they used to measure distance in terms of six packs.

Just for the record, and I hate to disturb a cherished stereotype, but I was born and raised in California, have spent many years commuting on motorcycles in both LA and SF (perhaps more than many commenting in this thread), and strongly believe that properly-conducted lane splitting is much safer than driving a motorcycle in stop-and-go traffic.

 

And for those that want to protect lane splitting in california (like me), this is an example of someone who will help us lose it.

Exactly.

 

We're not talking about someone carfully splitting traffic in the #1 lane and who might be in a fun mood and maybe pushing it a bit (been there many times), we're talking about someone who is weaving in and out of traffic across all four lanes, committing just about every lane splitting 'don't' in the book, and breaking multiple laws as well. Defend that as OK if you want, but geez...

[John in VA]

I don't care if it's legal or not -

is a nominee for the Darwin awards.

 

Watching this is like watching a video game. I kept waiting for a car to make a sudden lane change in front of him and then a red wash over the screen: "G A M E O V E R!" with accompanying videogame death tune "dyoodyoodyoodyoooo".

 

Reckless idiot. I almost hope he gets nailed.

[Albert]

For riders that split lanes on SoCal freeways on a regular basis, this probably looked much like their regular commute.

 

A few years ago, I video taped my commute with the intention of posting it here. After I watched the footage, I decided that it wasn't worth posting because everyone would think I'm insane.

 

Every time I post a ride video, the nannies come out of the woodwork to bitch and moan about double-yellow passes and anything else that bugs them. So I decided that from now on, I'd edit out anything like that just to save myself from the usual barrage of finger-wagging.

 

I figured it out, and if I cut everything borderline or illegal out of my hour and ten minute commute video, I'd have about 10 minutes of video...mostly of me sitting at stop lights.

 

Yes but if you had sound at least we could listen to your loud pipes saving lives.

[TF1200RT]

I've lived and ridden in both California and New York, so I've seen both styles. In California, the rule I've always used when lane splitting is split between the #1 and #2 lanes and ride no faster than 10mph over the speed of traffic. In New York, it's every man for himself!

[beemerman2k]

Note where all the objections are coming from, a place where they used to measure distance in terms of six packs.

Just for the record, and I hate to disturb a cherished stereotype, but I was born and raised in California, have spent many years commuting on motorcycles in both LA and SF (perhaps more than many commenting in this thread), and strongly believe that properly-conducted lane splitting is much safer than driving a motorcycle in stop-and-go traffic.

 

And for those that want to protect lane splitting in california (like me), this is an example of someone who will help us lose it.

Exactly.

 

We're not talking about someone carfully splitting traffic in the #1 lane and who might be in a fun mood and maybe pushing it a bit (been there many times), we're talking about someone who is weaving in and out of traffic across all four lanes, committing just about every lane splitting 'don't' in the book, and breaking multiple laws as well. Defend that as OK if you want, but geez...

 

ditto. +1. Whatever.

 

There are stupid riders out there and they'll find a way to die in any traffic context. What are we going to do? -- use the laws to prevent these idiots from killing themselves? Lane splitting is very safe; if you're smart enough to ride safely, you're smart enough to lane split safely.

[Tim Yip]

People from the parts of the world where lane-splitting is LEGAL will view the North American discussion of pros and cons as only mildly amusing.

 

On a trip to Brazil a couple of years ago where lane-splitting is legal, done regularly, and expected by cage drivers, even splitting lanes at 60-70 mph is easy and relatively safe.

 

On multi-lane expressways, drivers watch their mirrors and when they see you coming, they move over in their lane and give you extra room. If they don't see you, a simple 'meep meep' of the horn and they ease over. EVERYBODY does. There's no flippin' the bird, no anger.

 

It's so much more civilized - a 'go with the flow', Taoist mentality. I wish drivers were that civil here.

[bakerzdosen]

It's so much more civilized - a 'go with the flow', Taoist mentality. I wish drivers were that civil here.

And that's the problem here. People don't view it as "civilized". Because people here view horns as inherently rude, driving in Latin America has GOT to be rude. It seems hard to understand that honking at someone is the equivalent of saying "I'm here", not "get the *@^%#&^%! out of my way". And yet to them, road rage is hard to understand.

[John in VA]

... splitting lanes at 60-70 mph is easy and relatively safe.

...It's so much more civilized - a 'go with the flow', Taoist mentality. I wish drivers were that civil here.

 

Splitting lanes at 10mph in crawling traffic is one thing; splitting lanes at 60-70 mph isn't "going with the flow" or "Taoist", IMO. I prefer the "uncivilized" USA, thanks.

[David]

I prefer the "uncivilized" USA, thanks.

 

Not me. And I wonder how informed your comment really is, or just a knee jerk reaction. How much of the world have you really driven?

 

I've driven in dozens of countries and enjoy Mexico City more than most the US.

[Mike O]

... even splitting lanes at 60-70 mph is easy and relatively safe.

Relative to what? Chewing on razor blades and not getting cut? Come on, I'm for safe lane splitting, but you can't honestly tell me that squeezing between 2 trucks at 70 mph with less than 3ft on either side of a motorcyclist is 'relatively' safe. Even checking one's rear view mirror, just how fast do you think a semi-tractor trailer rig can react if you 'all of the sudden' appear in between lanes .... at 70MPH?

 

Why is it even necessary to lane split at 70 MPH (are the vehicles traveling at 50+ mph not going fast enough)?

 

Mike O

[russell_bynum]

I don't care if it's legal or not -

is a nominee for the Darwin awards.

 

Watching this is like watching a video game. I kept waiting for a car to make a sudden lane change in front of him and then a red wash over the screen: "G A M E O V E R!" with accompanying videogame death tune "dyoodyoodyoodyoooo".

 

Reckless idiot. I almost hope he gets nailed.

 

Wrong.

 

I gaurantee you that guy knows when the cagers are going to change lanes even before THEY know when they're going to change lanes. A good splitter can predict, with amazing accuracy, what's going on around them. Then you leave some extra margin to deal with those few times when you're wrong. But I'll tell you this...when I was commuting by bike every day, often 80 miles of splitting every day...I would often go a week or more without ever being suprised by a cager's action. And I was just a commuter. This guy's a messenger, so this is all he does, all day, every day.

[russell_bynum]

we're talking about someone who is weaving in and out of traffic across all four lanes, committing just about every lane splitting 'don't' in the book, and breaking multiple laws as well. Defend that as OK if you want, but geez...

 

Weaving across all four lanes of traffic...

 

Now, why do you suppose he did that?

 

Could it be because he was moving around to put himself in the best possible place on the road at any given time?

 

 

 

Nah....those must have been random moves. In fact, I'll bet every lane change was a deliberate suicide attempt.

 

 

Give me 4 lanes, and I'll use 4 lanes.

 

 

As for multiple laws being broken: Yawn.

[Marty Hill]

I prefer the "uncivilized" USA, thanks.

 

Not me. And I wonder how informed your comment really is, or just a knee jerk reaction. How much of the world have you really driven?

 

I've driven in dozens of countries and enjoy Mexico City more than most the US.

 

I'm now waiting to hear from someone who has never been on a plane/or even better/never been out of the good old home town.

[russell_bynum]

... even splitting lanes at 60-70 mph is easy and relatively safe.

Relative to what? Chewing on razor blades and not getting cut? Come on, I'm for safe lane splitting, but you can't honestly tell me that squeezing between 2 trucks at 70 mph with less than 3ft on either side of a motorcyclist is 'relatively' safe.

 

At 70mph, traffic is more spread out than at 10mph. You've got much more room to work. Generally, there are small pockets of empty space, and you basically just move from pocket to pocket.

 

Even checking one's rear view mirror, just how fast do you think a semi-tractor trailer rig can react if you 'all of the sudden' appear in between lanes .... at 70MPH?

 

Why would the semi driver need to react at all?

 

That's the #1 misconception from people who don't split lanes...they say things like "what if a car doesn't see you" and such. You don't get it....I don't need, expect, or WANT the cars to see me. They do their thing, I do mine. I don't require them to yield to me and I'm not expecting them to.

 

 

Why is it even necessary to lane split at 70 MPH (are the vehicles traveling at 50+ mph not going fast enough)?

 

Mike O

 

I like to always be going slightly faster than traffic because it is much easier to keep track of things that are ahead of you than things that are behind you. I've split 100mph traffic before. That's not common because usually traffic is pretty spaced out at 100mph, but in this case, it was a bunch of cars all clumped together (it looked like the start of a NASCAR race), so I just zipped between them and got to the nice open space ahead of them.

[Quinn]

I just don't have enough faith in myself or my fellow man.

[russell_bynum]

I just don't have enough faith in myself or my fellow man.

 

 

You don't need faith in your fellow man.

 

You do need faith in yourself and in your skills, though. If you are not 100% confident, and if you can't operate the bike without any conscious thought, then you're not ready to split.

[TowJam]

I just don't have enough faith in myself or my fellow man.

For the most part, I have faith in my fellow man - but not when they're drinking a Starbucks, talking on the cellphone or looking through their CD collection for their drive-time entertainment. Splitting at 70mph doesn't leave you much room for error if a driver makes a boneheaded move.

 

Frankly, I'm impressed that the cagers in the video seem to be behaving well. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I seriously don't see that happening here in D/FW (and I agree that drivers would need to be "trained").

[jaytee]

 

No offense Mike, but you clearly don't understand lane splitting on the freeway. First of all, 3 feet to either side??? sheesh thats a CANYON. Most of the time I have less than 1 foot between my mirrors and whatever hard parts of the vehicles I go by. but measurements aside...

 

splitting at 70mph is MUCH MUCH MUCH safer than splitting stop and go traffic at 10 over. Wy? simple... cars at 70mph are mroe spread out and do not move quickly. They have too much inertia. Cars at 20 mph can change lanes in a fraction of a second. Also, cars traveling at faster speeds have much less cause to change lanes at all, while those at 10-15mph get impatient and jockey around all the time.

 

I am perfectly ok with people being scared $#!tless with lane splitting - its pretty scary to the uninitiated, I admit. But why would all of you otherwise freedom loving people want to claim that since you are scared of it we shouldnt be allowed to do it???

 

I dont try and take away your guns/porn/whatever, dont try and act like the government should take away my lane-splitting, please.

 

JT

[smiller]

But why would all of you otherwise freedom loving people want to claim that since you are scared of it we shouldnt be allowed to do it???

No one said that as far as I can tell. They were only commenting that this particular individual wasn't acting very responsibly. And we're not going to take away your lane-splitting rights, more likely the guy in the video will.

[John in VA]

I prefer the "uncivilized" USA, thanks.

 

Not me. And I wonder how informed your comment really is, or just a knee jerk reaction. How much of the world have you really driven?

 

I've driven in dozens of countries and enjoy Mexico City more than most the US.

 

This uninformed knee-jerker has driven (and I don't mean vacation rental cars) in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morrocco, Algeria, Cairo, Rome and environs, much of France, Spain, Great Britain, Germany (West and East), Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Georgia, Moscow, and St Petersburg. And most of Canada.

 

Of all of them, I prefer the USA for driving, but we all have our own opinions about civilization.

 

I've never driven south of the Rio Grande. Maybe I should try it to see what motoring heaven truly can be!

[John in VA]

[if you can't operate the bike without any conscious thought, then you're not ready to split.

 

Sighhh, then I guess I'll never be ready.

[MotorinLA]

No offense Mike, but you clearly don't understand lane splitting on the freeway. First of all, 3 feet to either side??? sheesh thats a CANYON. Most of the time I have less than 1 foot between my mirrors and whatever hard parts of the vehicles I go by. but measurements aside...

 

Clearance of 4-6 inches on both sides and going under the mirrors of raised trucks are a day to day occurrence if you're trying to split on the 405 Fwy...

 

splitting at 70mph is MUCH MUCH MUCH safer than splitting stop and go traffic at 10 over. Wy? simple... cars at 70mph are mroe spread out and do not move quickly. They have too much inertia. Cars at 20 mph can change lanes in a fraction of a second. Also, cars traveling at faster speeds have much less cause to change lanes at all, while those at 10-15mph get impatient and jockey around all the time.

 

I think it just doesn't make sense until you've tried it...