Lane Sharing survey..

[BillyOmaha]

What is your position on "lane sharing", aka lane splitting, filtering, white lining, etc.?

Please take a moment to review the posts on the subject, maybe even check out this site: www.laneshare.com (http://www.laneshare.com) prior to voting.

This poll is confidential, that is your particular response will not be shown linked to your profile.


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[zippy_gg]

Having grown up in Paris and later moved to California, lane splitting is a second nature to me. I think it makes sense, and I would like to see it implemented in all states, pending an educational campaign targeting cagers as well as riders.

[Bobnoxous]

Hmm, it doesn't appear confidential on the previous post, but that doesn't matter to me. I cannot imagine my position on lane splitting being of interest to the govt spies.

Anyway, yes, it should definately be legal. While I realize it's out of fashion in the US, people should be responsible for their own choices. We should not be trying to force our judgements on others. If someone wants to split lanes, who cares if you think it's a bad idea. You're not doing it?

In a bike versus car battle, the bike loses, so you cannot even argue you're putting others at risk to any significant degree.

[mwnahas]

I'm entitled to my whole lane, keep out! :D

[grifscoots]

I'd love to be able to split lanes in Texas. Another thang I'd like to see is bike's being able to go to the head of the line at construction stops.

[BMWphreak]

I would lane split if I could!

[BillyOmaha]

Hmm, it doesn't appear confidential on the previous post, ......Not sure of what you mean. I can't tell how you replied and so I would consider that confidential. There is a way to survey and know how individuals replied, but that method was not used here.

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[messenger13]

I would lane split if I could!Ditto.... http://techhelpers.net/e4u/drink/trink39.gif

[RiderRay]

Don't like it. Never have and never will.

[UncleRock]

If your not part of the solution your part of the problem. It does not matter what state I'm in,or if said state allows this type of MC operation.
Motorcycles are less taxing on the road, the fuel supply and nature.
By removing myself from the traffic jam more quickly, that means that I am spending less time in a danger zone. :thumb:
Which in consequence also diminishes the chance of putting the first respondents (AKA LEOs, Med personnel) into said danger zone. :cool:
Lets face up to the truth, all the tough guy images aside, you are the smallest thing out there on your motorcycle, it is your mission to survive. :cool:
Don't expect the other, to look out for you, they don't. :mad:
Rock

[cfell]

The way I see it, "problem" with 'lane sharing' (LS) is about revenue. If you LS improperly, how will a LEO Cruiser ticket you? If we think they're interested in our "safety", then where are all the manslaughter charges? I apologize for the disgression.

I am not clear on the Cali or other LS law is written. In Texas, I "think" a law is in committee to allow MC LS when traffic conditions warrant it, such as "less than 5 MPH". In that case, a MC can LS at "walking" speed or no more than 5MPH greater than the traffic if passing on the "improved shoulder"(in this case for Improved shoulder it is allowed for cagers too.)

Then there is the "at fault" aspect when a cage door opens and a MC hits it... who's at fault (blame)?

We could go on and on.... so, let's use our Democracy. Write letters of support/ against to your "reps". Take time off from riding and show up at the Committee Hearings.. YOU and I can make a difference.... let's get our voices heard.

[dshealey]

------------------------------Then there is the "at fault" aspect when a cage door opens and a MC hits it... who's at fault (blame)? -------------------------.

We had a CHP motorcycle training officer speak at one of the San Diego BMW MOA meetings. He stated that if someone opens their door in front of a motorcycle they would be ticketed. He (a sergeant) actually ticketed a CHP Lieutenant who accidently did this on the way to a meeting. He was following on his motorcycle, when a civilian who was lane splitting hit the door the officer opened to empty a coffee cup when stopped. He ticketed the officer, who did not even argue with him, knowing that if it went to court he would lose.

In CA, a lane change into a motorcycle who is lane splitting will likely get you ticketed. The training officer stated that if you hit ANYTHING (car, pedestrian, motorcycle, etc.) when you move left or right you are most likely to be faulted, as you did not check properly for a clear path. It is the responsibility of the one moving over to clear the path first.

[ldbikin]

I commute to phoenix from huntington beach every weekend. Its 400 miles home. If I couldn't lane share it would add hours to my trip, the traffic in socal is unreal on the xways. I have split lanes for 60 miles on some fridays (I leave around noon-1pm) when the traffic just wasn't moving much.

To me its a survival thing. I ain't no spring chicken. In the heat, how do we stay alive when stuck in miles of traffic thats not moving, like I did in shitcago one year waiting to pay a .30 toll!!!! I was sooo pissed I said something to the lady in the booth, like, how stooopid this was and almost killed me. I mean, it was HOT. What insanity.

In AZ, I hear rumors about allowing lane sharing. It needs to happen just because of the heat in the summer. I understand they allow no-helmets due to the heat, had a helmet law previously and people were dropping dead in the heat (relatively new to the state, didn't check snopes on that one).

I don't want a car and see no reason to own one just because it has A/C for those months. We can survive the heat with the right gear, if we keep moving, even slowly and with a helmet on, much safer than sitting in the heat without one IMHO.

Some of these bikers pass me like I'm standing still while lanesplitting, I keep it at a decent pace and try to be respectful. And I'm not really in a hurry, just need to keep moving.

I ride a bike constantly but when in a cage, I even have a hard time seeing bikes. So I keep that in mind. I've found most socal drivers are very accomodating, when they see me splitting I can see an opening a mile ahead where cars have moved over for the bikers.

If done properly, which I equate to staying in one piece :D , I like it and think is should be legal in every state, even if conditional based on high-temps in the doo-gooder states.

regards...geo

[amarider]

I'd love to be able to split lanes in Texas. Another thang I'd like to see is bike's being able to go to the head of the line at construction stops.


Always have moved up at construction stops and have never had anyone confront me about it. In fact if there's an LEO around I usally start a conservation with them, they tend to look board out of thier minds when pulling construction duty.....

[grifscoots]

Always have moved up at construction stops and have never had anyone confront me about it. In fact if there's an LEO around I usally start a conservation with them, they tend to look board out of thier minds when pulling construction duty.....

Try it in Texas on some small, backroad Farm to Market Road. No LEO's around, usually a construction worker with a stop sign and a walkie talkie. You're on your own.

[Bobnoxous]

My mistake. I didn't see the actual survey when I first posted. I thought my posting was the survey, which isn't confidential. But my vote, yes, that is.

[Bobnoxous]

I especially like the "no opinion" vote. I have no opinion, but I'm going to vote anyway. Hey, at least you're counted. :)

[sebjones906]

For years I didn't split traffic on the freeway. And then in one two-week period the same thing happened. Traffic was heavy, it stopped, I stopped, the car behind me stopped but the car behind him didn't, hitting the car right behind me and pushing him into my space. In both cases I heard the squealing of tires and dodged to the left shoulder. And in both cases this little fenderbender would have made me the meat in the sandwich.

From that time on I do split traffic. I don't suggest it for everyone. It is an acquired skill with lots of do's and don't's.

But one thing a motorcycle has going for it is it's maneuverability. When you stop in heavy freeway traffic you are indeed the meat in the sandwich.

[calikid]

I split when ever I get the chance. On the freeway or in town. I drive for a living all over the west coast. There isnt a day go by where I dont see a rearend collision. Most of them involve 3 or more cages. I figure as long as I am moving and not stop and go like the cages theres not as much chance at being involved. Another plus to it is that I tend to be able to see much further down the road for any hazards. That would be hidden with that SUV that just cut me off because I was keeping enough following distance to be safe. In timewise the main drag in our town when busy will take about 45 mins to get from one end to the other. On the bike it takes me about 8 mins.
I find it safe as long as you use your head and think about what your doing and how safe or risky it is.

[hschisler]

Interesting poll.

We could use another option: I would lane-share if I could but my state doesn't allow it.

[STEBS]

Before I read a single post on this subject I voted that I lane share, lane sharing and lane splitting is two different things, sharing a lane here with another bike is permissable as long as both riders consent to it, where splitting lanes is illegal in Michigan. I would also lane split if it was allowed here but I think it would take a long time for the car drivers to accept it here, I could see quite a few accidents if any new States made lane splitting legal. The first few posts here dealt with splitting lanes and not lane sharing as the poll asked, so now I'll go back and read the link with the first post.

[UncleRock]

Picture two lanes going through a very long valley. Beautiful farms, woods and streams.
Now add 80,000 partying Penn State Fans, on their way to the game same road.
As a BOD member for ABATE of PA, I had to make this trip. Working the shoulder I covered ground in about 15 minutes, that cars needed 2-3 hrs.
There were always LEO's and VFD personnel working the traffic. They would see you coming step in front of the traffic and give you the hand sweep through.
Rock
PS Only part of the fans were coming the same way, the rest were coming the opposing way and they had to alternate them at the one and only Red light in Port Matilda

[BillyOmaha]

I'm entitled to my whole lane, keep out! :DIt's funny you mention that. I find that I am most hesitent to lane split past motorcycles.

Not because to of the space they occupy, but because of, what might be termed, etiquette. When a m/c is at a dead stop I'll lane split right on by, but if he's rolling slowly, I'll slow down until we make visual contact and he let's me know it's okay to pass. Usually by shifting deliberately to the right and, or, a wave to pass.

I think it's empathy with them regarding riding a m/c. Understanding how disconcerting it is for something to appear unexpectedly out of nowhere right next to you.

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[brianbeemer]

Used to be the case that if a biker who was lane splitting was hit by another vehicle pulling out (usually a car) then fault was apportioned equally - the rider for doing something considered dangerous and the driver for not looking before moving out. However this has just been challenged and the law lords (our equivalent of the Supreme Court) have ruled in favour of the biker, thus setting a precedent. The actual case involved a stationary line of traffic and a biker riding past at 40-45 mph. A driver decided to do a U-turn instead of waiting and he pulled out without looking. Young driver, apparently...

Their opinion was essentially that in stationary traffic motorists should nowadays EXPECT bikers to be coming through and thus owe an extra duty of care before moving out of line. The expectation was set through decades of bikers lane splitting - finally.

Most drivers will pull over for bikers in slow moving traffic, but you do get the odd one who will deliberately block the way through - probably resentful that we can keep going when they're going nowhere slowly. We went to the coast a few days back - 90 miles in 90 minutes. The traffic queues were estimated by the traffic police at taking 2 to 2.5 hours to cover the last 20 miles in any other vehicle. Almost quicker to abandon the tin box and walk!

[ldbikin]

Thats just a little too fast in stationary traffic in my opinion. Not that I'd like to be doing it and keeping up with the bikes that split on past me, but I'm never in THAT much of a hurry, I just want to keep moving. My choice I know, but I'm of the opinion, even of myself, that bikes are just hard to see sometimes, hell, I hardly see the ones coming up on me when they are splitting faster than I am. I even had a hardley coming up fast on me splitting last week :histerica

Typically I see about 35 MPH when traffic is doing about 0-20 MPH, not that I'm always looking at the speedo!!...

[omurphy]

i would lane share if it was legal. that is an option that might have revealed more in the survey as well as i would not lane share if it was legal. by the way, i would lane share if it was legal in ga and i will lane share where it is legal. omurphy

[grifscoots]

Now, if lane sharing is not in a State's Motor Code and there is no law against it, does that make it illegal?

[kdog]

Now, if lane sharing is not in a State's Motor Code and there is no law against it, does that make it illegal?

No doubt they'd find some code you supposedly violated, whether it's bogus or not. Like since you're riding between lanes, they could get you on excessive lane changes. I'm pretty sure I've heard of that one being used before. Sure, you could probably get out of the ticket if you spent enough money on lawyer fees. Of course that's true even for murder.

-joel

[painlessbob]

I have been rear ended at a red light by an SUV who interpreted releasing my break[light] as a sign that the light had changed. It wasn't a bad accident, but it still cost (the other guy) $1,000 to fix my bike. If I'd been beside the car in front of me, it would not have happened. Which is exactly what my friendly CHP neighbor told me. He splits lanes all the time and considers it safer, AS LONG AS YOU PAY ATTENTION, which is a given for him. (I saw a motorcyclist get doored in Japan years ago and frankly the rider was 100% at fault. Way too fast for the situation.)

To the best of my research, splitting is not illegal only in California. Anyone disagree? I use the "not illegal" phrase because California law doesn't address the subject, which makes it "not illegal". My CHP contact does admit that he knows several peers in cars that dislike the practice and might invoke the generic "hazardous driving" clause if thae can.

This is just one more instance where we can do something that cars cannot, and we're tagged with acting smug 'cause of it. It lanes were thirty feet wide, they'd do it do!

[PMitchell]

I'd love to be able to split lanes in Texas. Another thang I'd like to see is bike's being able to go to the head of the line at construction stops.


On my Tuscany tour last Fall, we went to the head of the line at all stops. It's cool and no one minds! Seems that the scooters can squeeze into the smallest void as well. Lane splitting was always accepted. Pretty close to a free-for-all in most of Europe.

[messenger13]

As I recently visited the fine state of California, I lane-split just about every chance I got. I was taught by one of the best...Gilles, aka 'zippy_gg'.

In fact, I did it while in Texas just to prepare myself (ask Steve, aka 'katnapinn').

Lane-Splitting ROCKS!!! :yeah: PERIOD!!!

[lucky26]

Not in Canada pity.
Better to lobby the gov. and get all HOV lanes to accept motorcycles.

[355pilot]

In the UK Lane splitting or filtering as we call it is legal and an everyday occurence. Why would you want to sit in a line of stationary or slow moving cars when you can pass down the outside of them to the front of the line or clear of the blockage. When stopped at traffic lights either permanent or at a roadworks all bikes over here will pass to the front of the line.

It is up to you to watch out for the cages pulling out on you and is taught for the advance test. Part of the advance skill is to "make progress" safely. If you did not pass the cars but sat in the line with them like a car yourself this is in fact a failure and you will have to do it all again. Of course if nothing is comming the other way we just use the opposite lane and pass the cars on the "wrong" side of the road leaving lots of room between the doors and us.

Passing down the middle of lanes on the freeway is also expected and legal. Amazing really that we actually have a sensible road rule amongst all the other rubish on the statute books.

[meese]

Not in Canada pity.
Better to lobby the gov. and get all HOV lanes to accept motorcycles.I knew that lane splitting wouldn't fly up there, but hadn't thought about HOV lanes. I'm used to it being a Federal statute here in the States, which means allowed in any state. Heck, we now even let hybrid cars into the HOV lanes with special stickers (not that I agree with that, but I'm not surprised that they pushed it through).

Thanks for the warning, as I'll keep it in mind for my upcoming Canadian trip.

[bmw_bob2001]

It's hard enough watching out for cage drivers in fla, not just the Q-Tips (old folks who can't see over the dash) but younger drivers & tourists too, seems they are all talking on cell phone or putting on make-up or reading maps or watching DVDs. The only time you may have a chance here is when bumper-to-bumper traffic is at a dead stop. During tourist season, lane sharing in stopped traffic would cut 25 mins of my commute.

[Steve_R]

i would lane share if it was legal. that is an option that might have revealed more in the survey as well as i would not lane share if it was legal. by the way, i would lane share if it was legal in ga and i will lane share where it is legal. omurphyDitto!!! And that option was NOT in the poll. Bad Billy. ;)

[Jentine]

Originally, I was opposed to lane sharing because of the morons that share lanes at high speeds to the detriment of others, but I have changed my mind. After a recent tour of England, where lane sharing is not only legal but accepted, I have become used to lane sharing on blocked highways and clogged city streets. The British drivers I experienced made room for motorcycles to weave through stopped traffic on interstates and city streets. It seems to reduce the number of vehicles wasting gas on the road.

[c00k1e]

Although I lane share (filter as we call it here) in the UK, I would be dubious of doing it in the US.
Here we are only alowed to overtake on one side. You must stay on the inside lane on a motorway only using the other lanes to overtake.
You are not allowed to undertake.
So when filtering, you know what the traffic is up to.
filtering on a road where people choose lanes as you guys do, seems a but more complicated

[meese]

filtering on a road where people choose lanes as you guys do, seems a but more complicatedBut that's the fun of it. Think of it as a huge, 3D video game. :D

[bflemingor]

Lane sharing is not legal here, so the point is really moot.

[batbyk]

The survey does not have an option for I am for the legalization of lane splitting, that those that do not follow the law as to the motorcyclists speed in relation to the traffic be ticketed, and that those who choose to should be able to, and those that do not choose to, don't have to.

OK, sort of a long option, but it's how I feel about it.

What is your position on "lane sharing", aka lane splitting, filtering, white lining, etc.?

Please take a moment to review the posts on the subject, maybe even check out this site: www.laneshare.com (http://www.laneshare.com) prior to voting.

This poll is confidential, that is your particular response will not be shown linked to your profile.


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