I had an odd lane experience this morning. As I was sitting in downtown traffic, in the right side tire track of my lane (avoiding oil on road) a car pulled up next to me in my lane.

I duck-paddled backwards, gestured for the guy in the passenger seat to lower his window, and when he did, asked "Don't you think I deserve a lane myself?" He nodded and spoke to the woman driving. When traffic moved forward, she waited well until I was gone to begin pulling forward.

Lane-splitting is generally perceived as "cheating" by drivers. Why bother pi$$ing somebody off who can "accidently" bump you to death while you're doing something illegal?

 

I don't see the problem with lane splitting as long as your not flying while your doing it. Some people just seemed to get annoyed that anyone is getting anywhere faster than they are.

In my commute to my last job, there was a section between two lights that was usually bumper to bumper when I was on my way to work. My turn was inbetween the two lights so I would get on the shoulder and cruise my way up to my turn. I had multiple people see me coming and pull off the road just to block me from passing them. I had two people follow me into my job to yell at me but lucky for me my parking lot was gated... I'm never suprised at how petty people are and how willing they are to go out of their ways to tell you that they don't like what your doing.

 

Being in CA where splitting is legal I dont get any of these issues. I wouldnt split if it wasnt legal. Seems like it would be even more dangerous. People already arent expecting it around here where you can do it, somewhere that it isnt legal people probably have even less awareness.

 

You should have pulled ove and stopped..... Playing chicken with a madman in a 5000lb piece of metal is not a good idea.....

 

i usually wait a little bit, maybe 20-25 cars back when the light is red, then accelerate through the middle when it turns green.

This isn't a great way to split lanes. Split up to the front while at the red when all the cars are stopped. You can do it at a slower speed, and none of the cars are moving. When at the front, either pull in front of one of the lead vehicles if there's room, or just wait and accelerate out from between when the light goes green. Doing it this way is safer, startles drivers less, and doesn't seem to be as annoying to people.

You're really putting yourself in significantly more danger doing it that way, especially for someone who's new on a bike.

 

Eh, you should've just pulled him out of his car and slugged him in the face.

 

people are at their worst/most stressed while commuting and get very angry at anyone who has it any easier than they do. i see this all the time and it leads to all sorts of road rage.

 

Granted it's legal here in CA, but I haven't had a negative reaction from anybody while filtering through stopped or slow moving traffic. I've actually been pleasantly surprised by how many people pull over a bit to give a bit more room.

 

if it is illegal don't do it. If you do something illegal be prepared to deal with people getting mad as stupid as they get. Just wake up early enough to deal with traffic and avoid the situation.

 

Whats the point of having a bike in the city or a congested area if you cant get through traffic?

This is my bonus for taking the risk of riding ... and not adding another car to the already overcrowded highway.

This is one instance where I say F-um. I'm splittin lanes ...

 

Whats the point of having a bike in the city or a congested area if you cant get through traffic?

This is my bonus for taking the risk of riding ... and not adding another car to the already overcrowded highway.

This is one instance where I say F-um. I'm splittin lanes ...

In complete agreement. If some douchebag on a powertrip decides that he is going to play police and stop me by opening a door or swerving in to cup me off then we'll have problems.

 

You should've gotten his plate and written a complaint for attempted murder since it was obvious he was trying to run you off the road.

 

Believe it or not, some drivers think it is their "duty" to stop motorcyclists from violating traffic laws, by killing them. We've all heard of drivers blocking in motorcyclists, or even opening their doors, to stop someone from lane-splitting, even when it was perfectly safe to lane-split.

I've used this story before, but here's an example. I met a guy who was healing some nasty road rash, and asked him what happened. He told me he was riding a bit above the speed limit on a main road near us, when a driver in the next lane suddenly cut him off and applied his brakes. The rider braked hard and went down. When the police came, the driver told the cops: "I was trying to slow him down." !!!

 

I hope your buddy owns everything that mofo has and ever will have.

 

You should of told him to go eat a d*ck, and drive off!
F*ck him!

Me and that mother f*cker would of had some problems!
"motherf*cker I ain't slapped a b*tch in weeks!"

 

Note to self: Do NOT p/ss off Reaper!

 

seriously wtf.

Honestly, I lane split all the time here in NY and in NJ when I go through it. I never do it when traffic is moving, but if the LIE is backed up for 15 miles, you can bet your ass I'm not gonna just sit there.

In the city, I split when traffic is stopped to get up to the red light. Your way of doing it is dangerous, don't wait till it turns green.

 

seriously wtf.

Honestly, I lane split all the time here in NY and in NJ when I go through it. I never do it when traffic is moving, but if the LIE is backed up for 15 miles, you can bet your ass I'm not gonna just sit there.

In the city, I split when traffic is stopped to get up to the red light. Your way of doing it is dangerous, don't wait till it turns green.

Unless you can wheelie the distance there. ;D

 

I would have pulled over and beat the phuck out of that idiot. :angry5:

 

That sucks.....


FL has a very nice conceal carry law.

 

Just so you know, lane splitting IS legal in Texas, as of a few years ago (looks like you're in SA).

Unless there was a repeal that I am unaware of.

 

People feel a need to police others especially when they feel helpless. Stuck in traffic you are helpless, you can't move you can't do anything but sit and wait. They become very upset when someone is moving and they can't do anything.

I've had a conversation with a coworker about this kind of thing but with bicycles. With a bicycle it's easy to skirt the law and get there faster. He says "yeah but it's illegal" What do you care if it's illegal, is it affecting you in any way? Your just PO'd because he's getting there faster than you. I often wonder how many people write down my license plate because I can get through traffic faster than they can. I also agree that if he's going to be doing that kind of cr*p, it's not worth your life to get to work 2 minutes faster. Note his plate and report him for aggressive driving.

 

Or print this out and wave it in his face:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT
relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles during
periods of traffic congestion.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 545.060, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(a) An operator on a roadway divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for traffic:
(1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within
a single lane, except as provided by Subsection (e); and
(2) may not move from the lane unless that movement can
be made safely.
(e) The operator of a motorcycle may operate the motorcycle
for a safe distance between lanes of traffic moving in the same
direction during periods of traffic congestion if the operator:
(1) is at least 21 years old;
(2) has successfully completed a motorcycle operator
training and safety course under Chapter 662;
(3) is covered by a health insurance plan providing
the operator with at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries
incurred as a result of an accident while operating a motorcycle;
and
(4) operates the motorcycle:
(A) at a speed not more than five miles per hour
over the speed of the other traffic;
(B) in traffic that is moving at a speed of 20
miles per hour or less; and
(C) in a location other than a school crossing
zone or other than a location where the posted speed limit is 20
miles per hour or less.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.

 

I don't think it ever passed. Where did you copy/paste that from? Looking here I don't see that: http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/TN/content/htm/tn.007.00.000545.00.htm

And exhibit B: http://motorcyclebloggers.com/2006/01/07/texas-lane-splitting-revisited/

A while back I wrote about the State of Texas passing a law allowing for lane-splitting. It appears that there was a helluva lot of misinformation spread around regarding this. Texas did NOT pass the Bill previous cited into Law. The best I can do to show that this is true in English (as opposed to the legal crap that no one can understand), is to post some test from the Cycle World Forum

The original explanation (heh-referring to the same Bill I cited) in the CW “UPS & DOWNS”:

“UP: To the state of Texas, for recognizing motorcycles as an aid to relieving traffic congestion. A bill passed by the legislature makes legal the practice of lanesplitting, or as it is defined in the bill, “(operation) of the motorcycle for a safe distance between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction during periods of traffic congestion.” Not only does this naturally benefit motorcycle riders, it also benefits overall traffic flow. Hopefully, more states will follow suit.”

The soon to be retraction:

Yes, it will be a DOWN to us! Lane-splitting is NOT legal in Texas. The bill didn’t make it. We have since been in touch with AMA regarding this, and, as David says, will correct it in an upcoming issue. Apologies for the mistake.

Thanks for the heads up from some of those who commented on the original article stating its inaccuracy.

 

That's the sh-t.

 

NC also has a wonderful carry to conceal law.

I think i would have just shot him.

after all, It always works for Indiana Jones.

 

Part of the problem is, the general public knows very little about motorcycling, and what they do know, is wrong. They think it's "unfair" if someone gets ahead of them, even if it's on a bike.

People get all upset about motorcyclists riding "aggressively," but the fact is, among the few advantages we have in traffic are quickness and manuverability. It shouldn't pi$$ people off when we use these, but it does.

Personally, I think it's "unfair" that I'm invisible to drivers and can be crushed dead by a car at any moment. Why is it unfair for me to use my few advantages to survive? It's not a race out there; if I'm trying to get ahead of and away from moving traffic, it's to keep myself alive, nothing more.

I also think it's "unfair" that when we're in a traffic jam, the cagers are sitting on rich corinthian leather, basking in the A/C, grooving to their awesome stereos, and sipping from insulated mugs, while I'm out in the elements, sitting on a brick of a seat, atop a heat-spewing, vibrating gasoline engine. Again, why is it unfair for me to use my few advantages to get out of that situation?

 

If just half the people that were sitting there pissing and moaning about our ability to cut through traffic got on bikes themselves, there would be much less congestion.

Problem solved.

 

Here in CA people actually make room for you. It's nice ;D

 

meh meh meh blah blah blah make room for you awe shuddup.

 

That is one law that the rental car companies should tell motorists from out of state. Lane splitters scared the poo outta me the first time I was driving in LA.

 

+1. I landed in LA I got indroduced by many lanes of stopped cars. completly forgot it was legal when i saw one zip right by me almost looking like they would take out my mirror. More guts than I would have!