Was I wrong?

[Medic Mike]

This evening (08 Feb 2017) on my way into work (I work nights) I was trolling down I-440 in Raleigh. There was an accident just after my exit, so traffic was backed up about three exits. When I was one mile away from my exit, I pulled off to the right side shoulder and continued on my merry way doing about 35mph. I had at least two pickups pull onto the right shoulder plus several unhappy drivers honking in my general direction. I only resort to this when I am a mile or less away from my exit and traffic is at a standstill or slow stop and go. So, here is the question, was I wrong? NC law is not clear on the matter, though lane splitting is allowed when traffic is at a stand still.

[TEWKS]

I pulled off to the right side shoulder and continued on my merry way doing about 35mph. was I wrong? NC law is not clear on the matter, though lane splitting is allowed when traffic is at a stand still. (cleared for takeoff then)

Now, if you're looking for a what would you have done?

 

I'd of put my right directional on and crept along at 20mph. What you did sounds perfectly acceptable to me though. But, if you're feeling a little guilt, it's

two Hail Mary prayers for you!

 

 

Or, just go out tomorrow and save two lives.

 

 

 

Pat

[szurszewski]

Are you saying traffic was stopped? If so, could you have legally lane split? (I didn't realize NC allowed that in stopped traffic.)

 

I'm not in any position to judge your actions, but I wonder at your distance qualifier. Why would you think it to be ok at one mile or less but not ok at greater than one mile?

 

 

[Medic Mike]

Pat:

That is way too much work. It is a lot less paperwork to skip that step.

It's not guilt, that would require me to have a heart. The aggression of the cagers is what sparked this internal inquisition.

 

Szur:

Traffic was a very slow stop and go. I was not technically lane splitting since I was on the right shoulder/turn off berm. The reason for that was my exit off the highway was on the right side of the highway. The distance can be arbitrary in all reality. The rationale for the distances stated is due to available exits and distance to final destination.

 

I guess the main question is such a procedure a safe and logical one when faced with 5-10mph stop and go traffic?

[gordiet]

Pat:

That is way too much work. It is a lot less paperwork to skip that step.

It's not guilt, that would require me to have a heart. The aggression of the cagers is what sparked this internal inquisition.

 

Szur:

Traffic was a very slow stop and go. I was not technically lane splitting since I was on the right shoulder/turn off berm. The reason for that was my exit off the highway was on the right side of the highway. The distance can be arbitrary in all reality. The rationale for the distances stated is due to available exits and distance to final destination.

I wouldn't worry about it. Some people just can't stand it because you're able to keep moving. Scr..w em!

 

I guess the main question is such a procedure a safe and logical one when faced with 5-10mph stop and go traffic?

[szurszewski]

 

I guess the main question is such a procedure a safe and logical one when faced with 5-10mph stop and go traffic?

 

Oh, well that question I can answer The safe one anyway.

 

No.

 

If traffic is going 5-10 and you're doing 35 next to them, in a lane that's not really a lane, that's a high risk driving behavior. You're combining the risk factor of a good disparity between your speed and the speed of adjacent traffic, with the risk factor of being in a location that's hard for other traffic to see AND in a place they won't expect you to be.

 

Similar risk is speeding up an exit lane alongside stopped traffic - even if you can, legally, be going 40 in that exit lane it's not a low risk choice (it's all fine until a frustrated driver decides to exit the stopped traffic and pulls out right in front of you without signalling or checking for you).

 

Oh, and you add in the risk factor of simply pissing off those car/truck drivers that either want to be doing what you're doing and feel like they can't get away with it AND the ones who think they should take over the job of teaching you "the rules" and enforcing them.

 

 

 

Now....logical...? Arguments for it would be it keeps you from being rear ended in the traffic jam, and gets you where you're going without really causing any problems for anyone else....

 

 

edit: if you wanted to reduce your risk, you could do that to an extent by keeping your relative speed closer to that of traffic in the adjacent lane

Edited February 9, 2017 by szurszewski

[Medic Mike]

Szur:

That was one of the things flowing through the emptiness my head after I got to work and degeared. Getting off at another exit was not an option. The things that make me go, hmm.

[lkraus]

I think you were mostly lucky not to get caught.

 

Googling "North Carolina lane splitting", I found several sites (mostly law firms) using basically the same phrasing:

 

North Carolina statutory law specifically allows motorcycles to share a lane and drive two abreast. The law which can be found at N.C.G.S. 20-146.1 specifically states:

 

“All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This section shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.”

 

“Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.”

 

Most experienced motorcylists know the dangers of riding two-abreast. Indeed, the NCDOT Motorcycle Handbook states that motorcyclists should not share lanes. However, while this can sometimes appear more dangerous, riding two abreast can also be safer because other vehicles are more likely to see a both motorcyclists.

 

Lane splitting refers to a motorcycle, bicycle or moped riding between two lanes of slow moving or stopped traffic. This practice is not specifically illegal in North Carolina but there are several passing laws that could be interpreted to mean that the practice is illegal. For instance, it is illegal to pass a vehicle on the right except under very limited circumstances such as when the overtaken vehicle is in a lane designated for left hand turns.

 

It would be hard to say you were not passing on the right. I did not look to see what the NC law was for driving on the shoulder, but we cannot do that here in Ohio (with a few limited exceptions for city buses during rush hours).

Edited February 9, 2017 by lkraus

[tallman]

Wrong, legal, ethical, moral, all have their parameters.

 

Wrong?

Depends.

Legal?

No

Ethical?

No

Moral?

Probably. You didn't intentionally hurt/injure/or take something from another person.

 

If a LEO saw you, they almost certainly would have lit you up, and most likely ticketed you, IMO, for a number of offenses in NC.

Passing on right, too fast for conditions, illegal lane use, and any other reg they were of a mind to.

Unless it was a moto, and then maybe a lecture? Or make an example of you?

We've all been there.

It depends on your risk taking/aversion mode at that time knowing there are consequences.

The reactions of drivers should have told you the answer to right/wrong as that is often a Societal norm. They asessed your behaviour and returned a judgement, not in favor.

Plus, it caused a negative reaction to a motorcycle.

That is never a good outcome, so another in the wrong column.

Getting to work is not usually an emergency, things happen. Other drivers were trying to get to work, home, someplace, all with their mental baggage.

When you separate from them, do the pass on the shoulder, you risk an encounter with someone having a much worse day/night than you are and these consequences are less optimum than being late to work.

.02

Best wishes.

[Sonor]

Hey Medic, I see people doing it all the time. I ride and drive I-40 from Raleigh daily and when an accident happens, you are not alone in the "ride the rails" mentality. I have done it, but is it smart to do it? That is really up to each situation and how you handle it. I have seen people do it in cars for miles just to get to the next exit. I have also seen some stopped cars pull over 1/2 in the lane 1/2 in the break down lane just to stop these cars. Is that legal as well?

All I can say is, I probably would have done the same thing. Maybe slower with my signal on the entire way or I might have gotten closer to the exit then done it. Hard to say what you should have done, but you lived through it and did not purposefully piss anyone off so I think you are okay.

[Rougarou]

Searching, I've found several cases where LEOs pulled drivers over for driving on the shoulder......so, do if you'd like, just be prepared to pay the fine.

 

I cannot find the actual statute but have found that buses are allowed on shoulders in NC during certain times and locations.

[Indy Dave]

Medic - I think you've had great feedback. Reading your original statement, my biggest safety concern was your speed relative to to traffic. I've seen what szurszewski was concerned about - actually in NC I believe. In that case, there had been a car FLYING up the shoulder. In about a quarter mile, we had to maneuver around a 3 car accident when the flying car hit the front qtr panel of a car that decided to get out of line and onto the shoulder, knocking it into the car ahead of it. No one seemed to be hurt, and I admit at the time to a sense of Schadenfreude.

 

A few summers ago, heading to FART, there was a significant back up on I-65. It was a hot day and my bike began overheating. I ended up doing what you did, but at a very slow pace with the 4-ways on. I didn't get a single honk. At one point, I could see down the road that a truck started to move into the shoulder, but he pulled back in line before I got there. I'd like *to think* that my slow pace played a role in not angering fellow travelers, and I felt comfortable enough that I could avoid an accident if a car suddenly pulled into the shoulder.

 

In reality, it was probably my stunning good looks and slender build that avoided honks.

 

Edited February 9, 2017 by workin' them angels

[Medic Mike]

Well, I think I was in the wrong here for the most part. If this kind of event occurs again, my bike is fire truck red I will just flip open my shield and make siren and Q noises and see how that goes.

Thanks everyone

Mike

[scout6]

I will admit to doing this when my engine temp climbs into the red, however, I know that it is probably illegal. On that note, I did read an AMA bulletin that was about a law being passed to allow motorcyclists to do this (just to the next exit). I do not remember where. Interestingly enough, in NC, buses are allowed to use the shoulder when traffic slows??? https://www.ncdot.gov/nctransit/boss/

[TEWKS]

Pat:

That is way too much work. It is a lot less paperwork to skip that step.

 

With PC run amuck, I assume you're talking about the prayers...

 

Pat

[Dave McReynolds]

In CA, where lane splitting is definitely legal, it is illegal to ride on the shoulder, as that is supposed to be reserved for emergency vehicles and breakdowns. Don't know how that applies to NC.

[Green RT]

In CA, where lane splitting is definitely legal, it is illegal to ride on the shoulder, as that is supposed to be reserved for emergency vehicles and breakdowns. Don't know how that applies to NC.

 

Agreed. I got stopped once on a bike for just that: riding on the shoulder to the next exit when traffic was at a standstill. Luckily, they let me off with a warning. In California it is perfectly legal to split lanes up to the exit, but not the shoulder.