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Post by earlwb on Mar 10, 2008 21:30:35 GMT -5
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Post by jennymrose on Mar 11, 2008 0:35:36 GMT -5
"Myth 10: It's Better to Stay in Your Lane than Split Lanes In most parts of the world, motorcycles split lanes all the time, everywhere traffic is heavy. Here in the U.S., people often act as if lane-splitting is insane. But when someone actually studied it in the only place in the U.S. where it's legal (California), they discovered it's actually slightly safer than staying in the lane in heavy, slow-moving traffic. Still many motorcyclists berate others who do it, when they should in fact be endorsing it." Even though that makes sense, I still don't know if I'd want to do it (and I am in California so apparently its legal). Luckily where I live there isn't much traffic!  |
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Post by earlwb on Mar 12, 2008 6:13:46 GMT -5
I have mixed feelings about lane splitting. Out here it is very dangerous to do it as the motorists are terribly undisciplined and tend to be staggered all over the lanes in a traffic jam. Most everyone wants to look so they move a little to the left to get a look farther ahead. Then you have others that like to pull over more to the right. Then there are those who like to block the obnoxious lane cutters by pulling over left or right farther to block them off.
So I guess California freeway drivers must be better at staying in nice straight lines making lane splitting easier and safer to do.
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Post by lancecharming on Mar 12, 2008 20:12:16 GMT -5
Great safety tips,earlwb. I lived in L.A. for fifteen years until I moved here 5 yrs ago, and motorcycles FLY through the stopped cars on the freeways. When I first saw it I was sure it had to be illegal but was told it wasn`t. The cars on the freeways all sit in a straight line stopped dead for maybe 10-15 minutes at a time without moving and nobody really drifts left or right to see what`s happening up ahead because you just know that there is a mile or two of stopped cars ahead of you and some retard at the front stopped to look at an accident in the oncoming laness or maybe at a guy changing a tire on the right shoulder. I was always amazed that somebody didn`t open their door or stick their arm out and accidentally t-bone the guy on the motorcycle doing 50 through the parked cars...
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Post by einism on Mar 17, 2008 11:20:09 GMT -5
ive done it before, but with so many close calls with people on cell phones. I have my doubts about others paying attention. so i stay in my lane.
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Post by Jacine on Mar 17, 2008 13:44:55 GMT -5
I won't lane split. Too many cars trying to push out or in or whatever. No one looks. Almost got wedged in once.
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Post by magnaman on Mar 17, 2008 18:23:41 GMT -5
Splitting lanes is not allowed in NY, but, I have seen folks on cycles drive down the right shoulder in traffic back ups. Not the best idea. A number of years ago there was a backup and several bikes drove down the shoulder of the road passing cars. Well some joker in a cage pulled over to the right just as the group approached and he hit one and forced the others off the road. Some people are just dense, I guess he figured he show them! People in cars feel invincible and they forget how easily we can die from their stupid acts.
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Post by slowscootin07 on Mar 17, 2008 20:14:59 GMT -5
Here's a perfect example of a cager not paying attention. Yep... It was me, but wait... It wasn't my fault or was it? Should I have been paying more attention? I'm going forward, not backwards and I'm stopped. Why should I want to know what's going on behind me? I guess when I was in the front of the intersection with my right turn signal on waiting for a clearing to turn on red, I should have been more aware of a "lane-sharer" going by me to do the same thing. I saw my clearing and as I always do is to look both ways then go. Well, needless to say, I didn't see him and started to go and stopped real damn quick, barely missing him. If I didn't turn my head to the right and just went, he'd be squashed between me, the curb and the streetlight and this would be a whole different story. I guess to sum it up; Was I paying enough attention? He could've been ticketed with at least 3, but I have a feeling it would've gone south and you can't ticket a dead person. Moral of the true story is that I honestly consider my lane where I'm in to be my space. I may be beside yours', in front of yours', behind your's, but never will I be sharing your space. Sharing lanes is illegal here and not exactly the most smartester things to do  |
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Post by magnaman on Mar 17, 2008 21:24:36 GMT -5
You could of plead the law of Darwinism. |
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Post by earlwb on Mar 19, 2008 11:16:28 GMT -5
What I really hate are the drivers who just have to squeeze by you and do a left or right turn, knowing full well you are trying to do it, but they block you off and you can't do anything about it short of pulling out a 357 and popping a couple caps at them.
Several of us, scooter and drivers are at this one intersection waiting for a clear space to make a left turn from the left turn lane, and this obnoxious lady driver, in a big hurry to go nowhere fast, drives down the road on the wrong side to go around all of us, slips out the nose of the car to block traffic, then proceeds on across almost getting hit by a car and truck, as she completes here left turn. Sheesh.
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Post by boldastard on Mar 19, 2008 13:30:13 GMT -5
Aggravation? Try puttering around the highways and byways of the People's Republic of New Jersey for a while (State motto: Yeah, we got a regulation for that).
Aside from the state pastime (tailgating), the most popular form of entertainment occurs at mall and store driveways that feed onto two-way roads when you're all poised to make a right and some putz in an SUV pulls up next to you in order to make a left.
Even though they're sitting about three feet higher than you and have a virtually unimpeded line of sight in all directions, they feel it absolutely critical to pull far enough forward to insure that they've blocked your ability to see any oncoming traffic on your left. So, you pull up a little, then they pull up a little and eventually you both find yourselves in Pennsylvania.
Guess I'm just turning into a cranky old dinosaur, but I think all drivers should be subjected to the method of instruction my Dad used when he taught me how to drive way back when in the wilds of Brooklyn:
1. First smart-ass maneuver: Verbal warning.
2. Second smart-ass maneuver: Enhanced (expletive-laden) verbal warning.
3. Third smart-ass maneuver: Enhanced verbal warning with important points emphasized via the simultaneous application of left palm to back of head; confiscation of keys.
Regards,
BA
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Post by newc77 on Mar 21, 2008 13:17:10 GMT -5
Interesting article. Well written and i agree with most of it. I do not and would not lane split, however. I don't pass or cruise by on the far right either.
Tom
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Post by rontopia on Mar 26, 2008 18:24:27 GMT -5
when I lived in cali, I split lanes. usually only when the traffic was not moving at all which is often. when I got to an area that the traffic was moving again I just merged back in to a lane. no bid deal at all. there are somethings I learned to watch for..
1) to me this is the biggest watch peoples heads.. people always at least look at a mirror before changing lanes.. thats what I watched for anyway. trucks and large trucks are much harder to see in the cab so I usually just made sure traffic was stopped before trying split that lane. also believe it or not.. you can make eye contact with a auto driver in their mirror, once you know they see you, theres no problem.
2) people in cali expect it. so when they see you coming up the lane you would be suprised how many people actually scoot over to give you more room.
3) when some egg head does try to move over closer so you cant get by.. dont force it. actually dont force anything.. ever!! i would stop and merge to a lane that he was not in and then split that lane.. go around him.
I did have some close calls at first but after I learned what to look for I really did feel safer when traffic was stopped and I was splitting a lane. I actually wish it was aloud in more states.. texas would be a good place to start:)
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Post by griff10 on Apr 14, 2008 10:54:44 GMT -5
Mostly disagree with myth #7, you can and must avoid anything that comes in your path which happens way too often. You have to constantly scan ahead looking for any situation that "could" turn into a situation that you might not be able to avoid, then find a way to avoid it, usually by slowing down and giving way even when you have the right of way.
Yes there will be situations that you can't get out of, specially impaired drivers and that's when dressing for the job pays off.
Bill H.
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Post by GAZZOO on May 18, 2008 15:35:02 GMT -5
Aggravation? Try puttering around the highways and byways of the People's Republic of New Jersey for a while (State motto: Yeah, we got a regulation for that). Regards, BA YO! JERSEY REPRESENTING! No lie there brother! We have a law for EVERYTHING. Jersey is a Republican state but loves government control, go figure. Not being a fan of either, I can't figure out why I still live here. LOL! PS: Any word on NJ scooter clubs in Southern or Central NJ? Neal |
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Post by griff10 on May 21, 2008 1:22:50 GMT -5
>>I can't figure out why I still live here.<< Maybe cause south Jersey is a really pretty place to live and ride. Mountains arn't very far away either and you're right on the coast. NYC is just up the road too along with Philly. Wish I could live there (cept for the taxes <g>). Have friends in Toms River, out there usually a couple times a year Bill H. |
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