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Post by scootdoggydog on Dec 10, 2014 15:56:10 GMT -5
petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-motorcycle-lane-sharing-all-public-roads/qP86QbjN we petition the obama administration to: Allow motorcycle lane sharing on all public roads Lane splitting is something the rest of the world allows. In areas with congested traffic, it allows motorcycle riders to use the space in between 2 lanes of cars traveling in the same direction to advance through traffic. This act reduces car traffic because of the space a motorcycle takes up behind a car. Currently the State of California is the only place where such action is legal. We petition to make lane splitting a nationally recognized act, and to follow similar guide lines that the State of California has set forth www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/advice/a24410/motorcycle-lane-splitting-will-change-your-life-not-end-it/ Allow me to talk you into a thing: I think it's a great idea to ride a motorcycle between moving cars on a highway. Should you live east of California, this will sound nuts, but it only feels that way the first couple times you try it. Then you become an addict. On a good track day I might pass a couple guys and be damned proud I did. Lane-splitting at rush hour, I might pass 10,000 cars. Maybe more. I have no idea, and I'm not going to slow down to count.
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Post by ricardoguitars on Dec 10, 2014 16:43:37 GMT -5
scootdoggydog It is legal here (Costa Rica) as long as the cars are stopped (typically in a traffic jam or stop light) and the bike is not going faster than 25km/h. You have to do it very carefully, cagers are likely to open the door without checking the rear view mirror first, specially if it is on the right side, cagers never, ever use the right rear view mirror if not to change lanes (the ones that actually use it, of course).
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Post by scooter on Dec 10, 2014 18:16:38 GMT -5
Allow me to talk you into a thing: I think it's a great idea to ride a motorcycle between moving cars on a highway. Should you live east of California, this will sound nuts... It looks nuts too. This guy is training to be an acrobat. This guy is training to be mashed potatoes. I'm not sure how I feel about it, knowing how people are, at least here anyway. |
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Post by ricardoguitars on Dec 10, 2014 19:34:10 GMT -5
Allow me to talk you into a thing: I think it's a great idea to ride a motorcycle between moving cars on a highway. Should you live east of California, this will sound nuts... It looks nuts too. This guy is training to be an acrobat. This guy is training to be mashed potatoes. I'm not sure how I feel about it, knowing how people are, at least here anyway. Both the biker's fault, first one was speeding, second one was just plain dumb! you don't lane split on a big bike, forget about splitting next to a truck! that's suicide, that's a blind spot for a trucker, the mirrors are too high to catch a bike right next to it |
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Post by scooter on Dec 10, 2014 19:58:08 GMT -5
Both the biker's fault, first one was speeding, second one was just plain dumb! you don't lane split on a big bike, forget about splitting next to a truck! that's suicide, that's a blind spot for a trucker, the mirrors are too high to catch a bike right next to it What "you don't" do and what people do, do, are two different things.  |
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Post by JerryScript on Dec 10, 2014 20:22:53 GMT -5
Legal lane splitting is the government's attempt at allowing darwinism to take it's natural course.
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Post by jarednh81 on Dec 10, 2014 20:41:54 GMT -5
The one video is from atlanta on I285 i had to drive it every day and it is the reason i sold my old shadow 750 was way to dangerous to ride there. I came up on a wreak were the motorcyclist lost his head when he smashed into the back of a semi changing lanes.
Lane splitting is illegal because it is stupied and dangerous and it needs to stay illegal.
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Post by ricardoguitars on Dec 10, 2014 21:34:46 GMT -5
Legal lane splitting is the government's attempt at allowing darwinism to take it's natural course. lol, good point; there's way too much stupid people out there  |
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Post by urbanmadness on Dec 10, 2014 22:06:55 GMT -5
The one video is from atlanta on I285 i had to drive it every day and it is the reason i sold my old shadow 750 was way to dangerous to ride there. I came up on a wreak were the motorcyclist lost his head when he smashed into the back of a semi changing lanes. Lane splitting is illegal because it is stupied and dangerous and it needs to stay illegal. In California, the way they were riding in the first Video is highly illegal. Just because it's legal to split lanes here, that doesn't mean you can split, recklessly. I also won't follow a bike splitting lanes or leave more following room. In the second Vid, the guy just panicked and tried to abort at the last minute. You can't do that if you are lane splitting you're committed. Would I've split lanes at that point? No.... wait until you have more room, if it doesn't feel comfortable. Lane splitting is not the time for "I think I can, I think I can".... There is no problem lane splitting on a big bike (I do it with my goldwing), but you have to be careful. I don't split or filter on surface streets (lanes on the highway are way wider) with the goldwing and the traffic has to be almost standing still before I'll do it and Never faster then 10mph over what traffic is doing (that's the law btw). AND if I'm having a day where my riding just doesn't seem up to snuff, I don't do it. For example, I haven't been on my bike for about 3weeks due to weather and illness so when I get back on it, the first couple of rides, I'll take it easy and I diffently won't be lane splitting (I usually ride everyday). The reasoning behind lane splitting and filtering, especially in stop and go traffic is to lower the motorcyclist risk of rear end collisions and getting crushed between two cars. I'll take my chances splitting lanes and going down at 15 mph rather then being crushed between two cars. It's a personal choice, of course. (one of the few we have here in california). |
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Post by bandito2 on Dec 11, 2014 0:16:40 GMT -5
Filtering (moving up through SLOW or STOPPED traffic) should be reasonably safe to do at a low speed of 30 mph or less because there is low energy at play. Lane splitting above 55 mph I feel is a bit more dangerous because of energy speed and close proximity. There is very little maneuvering space & because of that, reaction time is in all practicality nonexistent.
A big problem is when the speed differential becomes excessive. (difference in speed between the lane splitting bike and the traffic the bike is moving through) The higher the speed of the general traffic, the lower that difference in speed should be. It is just crazy stupid to try riding 50 or 60 mph through stopped or creeping traffic, but might seem more reasonable if going 50 mph through traffic that is already moving generally steadily around 40/45 mph or going 60 mph through traffic that is already moving 50/55 mph for example.
Watching the videos it seemed apparent that often the speed differential was excessive.
At the very least, allowing filtering at low speed through stopped or creeping traffic would be beneficial in reducing congestion. And if followed as I described, >should< be reasonably safe. Convincing the powers that be to allow lane splitting at speed through traffic in motion might be a different matter though.
Not sure of the practicality of a petition to the Federal Govt. though... traffic laws are made and applied by the states. (though there are federal guidelines and standards for things relating to vehicle safety like lighting, tires, seat belts, vehicle types, trailers, speed limits, etc.) That is why Calif. allows lane splitting and most other places in the US don't.
Just my 2 (common sense)
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Post by urbanmadness on Dec 11, 2014 0:52:10 GMT -5
With Lane splitting in traffic in california, you are only allowed to go 10mph faster then the traffic.
splitting lanes at anything over 20mph is just plain crazy.
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Post by SylvreKat on Dec 12, 2014 0:22:05 GMT -5
h Allow me to talk you into a thing: I think it's a great idea to ride a motorcycle between moving cars on a highway. And I think it's bloody insane. Now filtering, that I agree would be reasonable and "a great idea". But splitting lanes on a highway? Why? Cars going 65+ aren't going fast enough? You really feel the need to split lanes to get around/ahead of them? Sorry, but you'll never talk me into that. Especially considering I'm not brave enough to just drive my scoot like a normal regular driver on the highways here--too much semi traffic with too many folks thinking 65 is the minimum speed limit. Sometimes those semis pull my 1.6-ton wagon towards them; I never want to know what would happen with my 360-pound scoot. You want to ride between cars on a highway? Power to you. Just please don't involve innocent drivers in anything they didn't cause. >'Kat |
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Post by scootdoggydog on Dec 12, 2014 1:46:43 GMT -5
The article was talking about rush hour when cars are slowed to a crawl or stopped
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Post by wheelbender6 on Dec 12, 2014 21:44:13 GMT -5
Why address the white lining petition to the President? You think we may have a shot at an executive order?
I think the President would definitely support legislation allowing electric scooters to white line.
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Post by urbanmadness on Dec 13, 2014 4:33:54 GMT -5
Why address the white lining petition to the President? You think we may have a shot at an executive order? I think the President would definitely support legislation allowing electric scooters to white line. It's more of a state by state thing. I don't think you could even do this at the federal level. Lane splitting really does get a bad rap, mostly because you have knuckle heads that ride like maniacs, the Video's above are good examples of idiots. The law here in California was meant for stop and go traffic and only at 10mph above the speed of traffic. The law was never meant for splitting lanes at speed. Once you do it a few times, it's a heck of a lot less tiring then riding your bike at 2mph or 3mph, especially if you are dealing with a clutch. My usual friday run is from Sacramento to Roseville and that is in rush hour traffic. There is a 8 mile stretch that I've seen take 40 minutes to get thru, and that's on a bike with a clutch. Splitting lanes is a very good option in that case. I can putt along in 1st or 2nd and get thru it with less fatigue which translates into safer riding. You generally have 4 to 6 feet between cars on the interstate here, so there is usually lots of room. It also helps keep the bike from overheating. |
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