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great commercial for lane filtering.

No Thanks!

Lawyers say it's better so it must be so. :teeter:

Seriously to put yourself between two drivers with questionable skill who are probably texting, I don't think so.

Sure looks great in the tiny animation where all the drivers have the skill and precision of robots. In Calgary a large percentage drive pick-up trucks or Mini vans (not so mini) and they take up far more of the lane than that perfect scenario in the video depicts. I have yet to ever see that kind of lane control on any of my countless commutes either. I just won't trust my life or limbs to any of the surrounding herd even if it is made legal here. First things first, make the training and testing of ALL motorists a lot more involved, more like what Norway has. Until then you can have it!

I position myself in traffic so if the vehicle approaching from the rear doesn't slow down I can shoot ahead between the stopped cars. I never sit in neutral at lights or in stopped traffic either. It is no guarantee but I'm stacking the odds in my favour as much as I can.
 
Oldschool said:
I just won't trust my life or limbs to any of the surrounding herd even if it is made legal here.
Click to expand...

I think it is the right thing and should be legal everywhere. It is legal in most of the world. You said it, just because it's made legal doesn't mean you have to do it. I know there are situations where I would not do it. I like having the power and choice to do what looks the safest to me at the time.

I'd like to see motorcyclists band together and work to make this legal in North America and then those who want to can, and those that don't, simply don't. I will fight for no helmet laws anywhere I can, but I will ATGAT. I'm so tired of "Nanny states", but that boarders on politics, so I will step down now.
 
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BDazzler said:
I think it is the right thing and should be legal everywhere. It is legal in most of the world. You said it, just because it's made legal doesn't mean you have to do it. I know there are situations where I would not do it. I like having the power and choice to do what looks the safest to me at the time.
Click to expand...
I like having the option to lane share and get out the way of someone who may injure me.
 
Lane sharing is a choice... you don't have to do it. Preventing it is worse than allowing it. If it is done prudently then it is much safer. Old school, you would be surprised how many more drivers look for motorcyclist during commute hours. Other times you have unaware, uncaring drivers just like any other time. If lane share just like I ride, I have the mindset that everyone is out to kill me and I don't want to die.
 
mabbott said:
Lane sharing is a choice... you don't have to do it. Preventing it is worse than allowing it. If it is done prudently then it is much safer. Old school, you would be surprised how many more drivers look for motorcyclist during commute hours. Other times you have unaware, uncaring drivers just like any other time. If lane share just like I ride, I have the mindset that everyone is out to kill me and I don't want to die.
Click to expand...

I already feel like your avatar in traffic some days.

Oh I agree, but we are not comparing apples to apples when we talk about U.S. roads and Canadian roads, at least not in this part of Canada. The lanes here are too narrow on most roads to safely lane share. Unfortunately I know what would happen. Hell some motorists think they can lane share right now and it is incredibly dangerous. Twice now I have been in my lane, keeping a safe distance with the vehicle ahead of me and cars have pulled in right beside me in my lane. The last one would have killed me if I had not had another lane to bail off into (the driver was oblivious). Another pulled up beside me while stopped in traffic (for a red light), in that case I had a conversation with the driver and explained how that sort of behavior would get someone killed and was against the law, which states a motorcycle is entitled to the same space as a car. Imagine the ensuing chaos and confusion if those rules were thrown out.

I understand the desire to be able to have special privileges due to the smaller size, and better maneuverability of a bike , but like so many other groups that get special consideration, it always leads to hatred by the others that don't get those privileges. When we are already so vulnerable in traffic do you really want that? All studies aside, consider human nature, before asking for special consideration, you might get more than you bargained for.
 
Oldschool said:
I already feel like your avatar in traffic some days.

Oh I agree, but we are not comparing apples to apples when we talk about U.S. roads and Canadian roads, at least not in this part of Canada. The lanes here are too narrow on most roads to safely lane share. Unfortunately I know what would happen. Hell some motorists think they can lane share right now and it is incredibly dangerous. Twice now I have been in my lane, keeping a safe distance with the vehicle ahead of me and cars have pulled in right beside me in my lane. The last one would have killed me if I had not had another lane to bail off into (the driver was oblivious). Another pulled up beside me while stopped in traffic (for a red light), in that case I had a conversation with the driver and explained how that sort of behavior would get someone killed and was against the law, which states a motorcycle is entitled to the same space as a car. Imagine the ensuing chaos and confusion if those rules were thrown out.

I understand the desire to be able to have special privileges due to the smaller size, and better maneuverability of a bike , but like so many other groups that get special consideration, it always leads to hatred by the others that don't get those privileges. When we are already so vulnerable in traffic do you really want that? All studies aside, consider human nature, before asking for special consideration, you might get more than you bargained for.
Click to expand...

I guess I should have said that I lived in California, where lane sharing is legal, for 14 years. I had a 156 mile round-trip daily commute on my motorcycle into the Bay Area. I would consider myself as having a fairly decent base of lane sharing experience to go from. I did it safely every day that I rode. California has safety campaigns every spring that say "share the road" and "watch out for motorcyclists" etc. I have dealt with road rage in cars and bikes from other drivers that have had their issues. I cannot control other people and I don't let the lack of control bother me. If they are jealous of me lane sharing, then they can buy a scooter and do it too.

I have seen accidents where motorcyclists were hit lane sharing and every time it happened the rider was lane sharing at above the rate of speed recommended. I have also seen several accidents where the motorcyclist was sitting in traffic inside a lane and was hit by a car coming into their lane without "seeing" them.

All cases of lane sharing need to be done with a cautious mindset. For me, it reduces stress and allows me to reduce air pollution and keep the temperature of my bike down.
 
Oldschool said:
I understand the desire to be able to have special privileges due to the smaller size, and better maneuverability of a bike , but like so many other groups that get special consideration, it always leads to hatred by the others that don't get those privileges. When we are already so vulnerable in traffic do you really want that? All studies aside, consider human nature, before asking for special consideration, you might get more than you bargained for.
Click to expand...

I'm not looking at it as special privileges as much as the option to stay safe and keep traffic moving. I don't think the lane sharing extends to cars crowing into a lane with a motorcycle. That is a crazy thought. :fencers:

There would be a transition period for cagers to get used to the idea and accept it. There is always the chance some idiot :wilynily: will run into you knowing it or not. I think advertising pointing out the benefits to both motorcyclist and cager alike would go far to taming the road rage. :shoot:
 
mabbott said:
I guess I should have said that I lived in California, where lane sharing is legal, for 14 years. I had a 156 mile round-trip daily commute on my motorcycle into the Bay Area. I would consider myself as having a fairly decent base of lane sharing experience to go from. I did it safely every day that I rode. California has safety campaigns every spring that say "share the road" and "watch out for motorcyclists" etc. I have dealt with road rage in cars and bikes from other drivers that have had their issues. I cannot control other people and I don't let the lack of control bother me. If they are jealous of me lane sharing, then they can buy a scooter and do it too.

I have seen accidents where motorcyclists were hit lane sharing and every time it happened the rider was lane sharing at above the rate of speed recommended. I have also seen several accidents where the motorcyclist was sitting in traffic inside a lane and was hit by a car coming into their lane without "seeing" them.

All cases of lane sharing need to be done with a cautious mindset. For me, it reduces stress and allows me to reduce air pollution and keep the temperature of my bike down.
Click to expand...

BDazzler said:
I'm not looking at it as special privileges as much as the option to stay safe and keep traffic moving. I don't think the lane sharing extends to cars crowing into a lane with a motorcycle. That is a crazy thought. :fencers:

There would be a transition period for cagers to get used to the idea and accept it. There is always the chance some idiot :wilynily: will run into you knowing it or not. I think advertising pointing out the benefits to both motorcyclist and cager alike would go far to taming the road rage. :shoot:
Click to expand...

This is the best part of this forum. Good, intelligent discourse. Maybe we should be running government, we don't have to agree to actually discuss something.
 
Oldschool said:
Seriously to put yourself between two drivers with questionable skill who are probably texting, I don't think so.
Click to expand...

I think you need to clarify this statement, because I agree, putting a distracted driver in front and behind me with no safe out option to drive between them if they choose to rear end one another and squish me to death sounds horrid.


You mentioned that Canadian lanes are narrow, how narrow exactly, does your country have regulations on exactly how wide a lane should be? Here in California the Lanes on the Freeway are 12 feet wide.... That is enough to lane share when one lane has a bus in it.

As others stated, you don't have to do it, and many riders in California do not, they are a very small minority, but they exist and I have no problem with it.

It is decidedly safer to get bumped on the side by a vehicle traveling the same direction as you are as opposed to getting rear ended.

I am not sure what the numbers are in Canada, but in the US bumper to bumper rear end collisions are the most common of any kind, they happen every day multiple times a day on most roads.

Once cars are used to motorcycles lane sharing they do the right thing and give room when they can. I wear a GoPro and record my commute everyday and can show you some video of what it looks like from my bike.
 
The Canadian Federal lane width is 3.5m (11.48 feet) from what I can see on Google.

In my experience, many of our highways here in BC are unsuitable for lane sharing. The brand new highways being built or upgraded do seem to provide enough room, though.

I'm all for lane sharing, having utilised it in California. It's great for the rider and also benefits everyone else by reducing congestion. Win-win. I never once found it unsafe but they have over a decade of exposure to it.

mabbott's comment on most lane sharing incidents occurring when the rider exceeds the legal sharing speed is quite interesting. Makes sense.

Our own Ssky0078 is an admitted 'sharing speeder' :looseit:
 
BDazzler said:
I think it is the right thing and should be legal everywhere. It is legal in most of the world. You said it, just because it's made legal doesn't mean you have to do it. I know there are situations where I would not do it. I like having the power and choice to do what looks the safest to me at the time.

I'd like to see motorcyclists band together and work to make this legal in North America and then those who want to can, and those that don't, simply don't. I will fight for no helmet laws anywhere I can, but I will ATGAT. I'm so tired of "Nanny states", but that boarders on politics, so I will step down now.
Click to expand...
..... Ditto!
 
Dustin said:
The Canadian Federal lane width is 3.5m (11.48 feet) from what I can see on Google.

In my experience, many of our highways here in BC are unsuitable for lane sharing. The brand new highways being built or upgraded do seem to provide enough room, though.

I'm all for lane sharing, having utilised it in California. It's great for the rider and also benefits everyone else by reducing congestion. Win-win. I never once found it unsafe but they have over a decade of exposure to it.

mabbott's comment on most lane sharing incidents occurring when the rider exceeds the legal sharing speed is quite interesting. Makes sense.

Our own Ssky0078 is an admitted 'sharing speeder' :looseit:
Click to expand...

3.5 meters is plenty of room considering most cars are not wider than 6-7 feet. But as you say, each road can vary, and not all roads are built to the same standards. Lane Sharing on the 101 Freeway through downtown LA is very difficult because those lanes are very narrow, but it can still be done if you go slow.

The speed differential can certainly make a big difference. passing a stopped car at 10-30 mph is safe enough in my opinion, doing it at any speed over 40 is suicide.
 
BDazzler said:
I'd like to see motorcyclists band together and work to make this legal in North America and then those who want to can, and those that don't, simply don't. I will fight for no helmet laws anywhere I can, but I will ATGAT. I'm so tired of "Nanny states", but that boarders on politics, so I will step down now.
Click to expand...

Easier said than done. You'll have to pass this through 50 state legislatures since we don't have federal traffic laws. And then you may have some jurisdictions that won't allow it for whatever reason, just like some places don't allow a right turn on red, or require the use of helmets. I'm not saying it might not be worthwhile in some cases, but there are always pluses and minuses to these sorts of laws, as long as everybody lays their cards on the table and everybody understands what they are getting let's have the debate.
 
I have just decided that I will never move out of California to a State that does not allow it if I had to live in/near or commute into larger metro areas that have traffic.

If I moved somewhere more rural it might not be an issue.
 
Change comes slowly

Klurejr said:
3.5 meters is plenty of room considering most cars are not wider than 6-7 feet. But as you say, each road can vary, and not all roads are built to the same standards. Lane Sharing on the 101 Freeway through downtown LA is very difficult because those lanes are very narrow, but it can still be done if you go slow.

The speed differential can certainly make a big difference. passing a stopped car at 10-30 mph is safe enough in my opinion, doing it at any speed over 40 is suicide.
Click to expand...

If you think I'm a hard sell, you should meet the powers that be around here. Believe me not all roads are created equal. I can think of a few new roads that would allow this, but sadly I don't use any of them between work and home.

Evitzee said:
Easier said than done. You'll have to pass this through 50 state legislatures since we don't have federal traffic laws. And then you may have some jurisdictions that won't allow it for whatever reason, just like some places don't allow a right turn on red, or require the use of helmets. I'm not saying it might not be worthwhile in some cases, but there are always pluses and minuses to these sorts of laws, as long as everybody lays their cards on the table and everybody understands what they are getting let's have the debate.
Click to expand...

Change comes so slowly, even if this was an issue around here I doubt if I will still be riding by the time that change took place. Old age will get me first.

Klurejr said:
I have just decided that I will never move out of California to a State that does not allow it if I had to live in/near or commute into larger metro areas that have traffic.

If I moved somewhere more rural it might not be an issue.
Click to expand...

I am lucky to live close to work with about a 6 (mile) trip to work each way. Traffic only rarely slows me down for very long, and only if I leave early. Mornings take me less than 10 minutes if I catch a few lights, and homeward maybe twice that on a bad day.

I am not totally closed to the idea, but like I said earlier I just don't see this coming to be any time soon around here. Should I make it to California I will watch and learn. Do post those videos, I would honestly like to see live action rather than a perfect scenario animation.
 
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