Ssky0078
Wizard
CHP releases Lane Splitting Guidelines. Note that it is illegal for a car to make it difficult for motorcycles to lane split and to open their doors into the motorcyclist.
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View attachment 13144
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It's time for other states to allow this too. Making it legal doesn't make it mandatory. If you don't feel safe doing it, don't. I was very anti lane-splitting for a long time due to IL laws and growing up that way. I'm convinced it's safer (when done properly) and cars are used to it.
Those seem like reasonable guidelines. I'm glad there are some laws down against cars impeding splitting.
Many people share lanes too fast and it makes others look badly; however, I don't judge a group by a few exceptions.
It's weird, because I've always been in California. So it's just so common to me, I can't imagine it NOT being allowed. It only took me a couple weeks of riding to do it. And sure, there's still the people that like to move as CLOSE to me as possible in their lane to block me from splitting. But, those are the same people that usually get their doors kicked in, or mirrors broken off from more aggressive riders.
It's weird, because I've always been in California. So it's just so common to me, I can't imagine it NOT being allowed. It only took me a couple weeks of riding to do it. And sure, there's still the people that like to move as CLOSE to me as possible in their lane to block me from splitting. But, those are the same people that usually get their doors kicked in, or mirrors broken off from more aggressive riders.
I would absolutely LOVE to see someone block a lane splitter in a car and then get their mirror booted off. hahaha!
It's even more fun to live where lane splitting is not needed. I only have to lane split when I am anywhere Sacramento / Bay Area south.
Norcal rocks!
I would absolutely LOVE to see someone block a lane splitter in a car and then get their mirror booted off. hahaha!
(How do you find ALL your own posts or replies?)
I saw a guy in a huge HD that was pushing peoples passenger side mirrors forward when they blocked him or rode to far in the right side of the lane. While it was hilarious, it is also kinda dumb, cause now these drivers cannot use that mirror to look back and see me coming as well.
I have been lane Sharing for a year and a half now in Socal, and I love it. There are some guys who split slower than me, and for the most part they move over and let the faster bikes by, and there are some who split faster than I do, and I do my best to let them by. It is amazing how Motorcyclist are so much nicer to each-other than drivers are.
I find this diagram to be interesting, however this info needs to be updates in the Drivers handbook:
California Driver Handbook - Sharing the Road
It looks like the Motorcycle guide book has been updated, at least the online version:
Motorcycle Handbook
I have a few questions for those of you who live in California and who are comfortable lane sharing.
1> How do you determine what is 10mph faster than the flow of traffic.
2> Do you feel unsafe passing faster than 10mph faster? For me personally when traffic is fully stopped I feel safe traveling about 30mph, which can vary from being 10-30mph faster than traffic depending on the exact speed. I think it is more dangerous to be constantly worrying about my exact speed while splitting, I prefer to keep my eyes on the road and the traffic patterns. Things like gaps opening up in one lane and watching for cars from the next lane possibly changing lanes without indicating to get into the said gap are more of concern for me than whether or not i am 10mph faster than traffic.
3> Thoughts about splitting above 30mph?
This is the first time i have seen this in writing, when I took my test nearly 2 years ago there was nothing about speeds at which to split at in the motorcycle handbook. I actually feel safer splitting at speeds above 30mph, and here is my reason why. When cars are traveling at a steady speed above 30mph they are less likely to suddenly change lanes, at least that has been my personal experience.