Proper lane splitting etiquette? (California)

[Fizz]

All the resources I've found on the net seem to be focused on the legality and risk of lane splitting, so I thought I'd ask you guys who'd know first hand.

Anyway, when is it appropriate and safe(est) to lane split?

Am I allowed to pretty much slip in between cars at whim?

The reason I ask is because last week I was on my way to a friends house, I came to a point where traffic was piled up pretty far back from the stoplight. Below is a satellite image of the street in question:




The orange line indicates my path of travel
Red line indicates start point of stopped traffic
Blue lines indicate stopped cars at time of lane split start
Green line indicates the position I was in when the signaled turned green and cars started moving forward, while I was still lane splitting.

The part where I cut across into the left turn lane is where traffic beyond was far enough ahead that I could cut in front of the vehicle behind me. (I was prepared to continue straight and do a U-turn later if I needed to).

Anyway, I got a parade of angry honks and 'rude gestures' from motorists when I was stopped and signaling my left turn. Are they just pissed of workers annoyed at ride home traffic? Or did I do something to piss them off that I was at fault for? There was one point where two cars were close enough together that I had a hair on either side and had to squeeze through, but no contact was made.

[prodigalbiker]

Can't speak for California rules, but here in West Australia it would probably have been alright, although the cutting across the cars to turn left may have caused a little consternation to the cagers and this is always a little open to interpretation by the police. Of course that is your outside lane on the left (our left lane is the inside lane). I would only do that if there was plenty of room. If this is the case then it's probably frustrated drivers cross at an upstart biker getting a head start on them (that's their attitude anyway). So tough luck on them.

[derstuka]

Hey VFR,

The law is ambiguous. It is a matter that there is no law, not one saying that lane-splitting is legal, and on the other hand, not one law saying that lane-splitting is illegal. It is a loophole, or grey area, and the cops in CA tolerate it if done by some of these guidelines by them:

1. Traffic is either stopped, or very congested and moving very slowly.
2. You travel between cars NO MORE than 10 MPH over the speed of traffic you are passing.
3. You do not ride on the shoulder (yes, some cops may tolerate this, however, I have seen plenty of tickets for this). For the most part, they want you inbetween cars.
4. You do not lane-split once traffic starts moving fast again. Basically, look at rule 1. Yes, you see other bikes do this (it annoys me, because I believe that is it VERY unsafe to do this at fast speeds because cars are moving around a lot more and looking around a lot less, I am sure this will start a flame fest on here though...oh well) and even cops do this, but I have seen them ticket for it as well. One of my friends got busted for just that.
5. Split lanes between the number 1 and 2 lanes. This is more of a preference that they have, not a rule in stone, but they prefer it.

Ok, I think that you took a pretty good route. To be honest, I don't split lanes much on the freeway, unless it is stopped, and 99% of the lane splitting that I do is at traffic lights. I split past everybody, and take off before anybody even hits the gas.

One thing that really annoys me is when a biker splits to the front and then pulls on a diagonal blocking the car in front. That just p*sses me off. I think of it like this. If you split lanes staying in between the lanes, and take off before they hit the gas, you staying out of their way. Kinda like you are not there, but when you cut in front of people in the front like that, blocking them, that is bad manners I believe. Probably illegal as well.

Main thing is, keep your speed at a safe/respectful manner, don't cut other people off (like I mentioned above) and don't pass at fast moving traffic speeds (like once traffic starts moving again) don't ride on the shoulder (or do so knowing that some cops ticket for this), and the cops should leave you alone. Oh, and if you are riding a full dress tourer, and are 4 feet wide, just about scratching people's cars....use your head and stay in line.

Just remember, that it scares the bejesus out of some people to see a bike fly by between them, and some people are not aware that this is tolerated, they think that you might be breaking the law. Lane-splitting with some consideration goes a long way in making a motorcyclist looking like less of an *ss.

[reg71]

I have talked with CHP officers I know and a couple local cycle officers about lane splitting and they basically said the same as Derstuka. Do it safely and they are okay with it. I have seen them slip through traffic at a stop light. I usually come up to the light, pause to look around and then proceed slowly between the cars if it looks to be a long time. Most times at the light, I just wait in line, though, as traffic isn't bad here. Now, down on the freeway in LA, I split quite a bit, but I don't go much faster than traffic cause it's scary. I do split on the highway here when people are blocking the fast lane, though. That irks me.

[NeverlosT]

people here never signal to turn, and I believe outside of CA it is illegal to lane split, so I dont do it a lot.

I have done it when there was an accident miles ahead and traffic was stopped. It was BOILING out. No way I was just gonna sit there. Most drivers understood.

The harley guys do it through traffic here all the time. Then again, there are way more harley guys up here than sportbikers (at least that Ive seen)

[RGonVFR]

From what I understand, lane splitting is when a cager has wheels on either side of the line, therefore in two lanes. What we do, being next to a car in the same lane is lane sharing. Not that that makes it any more legal, because from what I was told, any good cop can ticket you for just about anything nobody drives perfectly. Anyway...
Old friend of mine was CHP until he retired and what he said was this...
You can split lanes up to 10-15 miles faster than traffic up to 35mph. That means you, the biker, going 35, not traffic going 35 and you going 45. CHP usually prefers that splitting goes on between the left two lanes (carpool/fast lane and the one next to it).
Personally, I do it whenever I feel comfortable, or pissed that the cagers sit right next to each other and I can't get past. This may not inspire confidence, but, the four (4) times I've been hit by cars I was:
1. doing 35 with traffic in a lane like normal and a cager changed lanes into me - wrecked my first Duc.
2. sitting at a stop light when car behind me decided she had waited long enough and hit the gas - knocked me right off my YZF.
3. driving down a side street, broad daylight, cager coming right at me (other side of road) just turned directly in front of me - if I hadn't locked up the rear, she would have t-boned me, wrecked my second Duc.
4. in a right hand turn lane, cage decided it needed to make the right turn more than me - tested the frame sliders on my FZR.
Basically, when I was a little younger and rode much faster, paid no attention to the actual rules of the road, I got hit less often. Maybe it was just luck, maybe it was that a moving target is harder to hit. Either way, I think this VFR is my favorite bike yet so I'm going to do what I think is necessary to avoid getting hit by those #%$*ing cagers, within reason of course and I recommend that you do the same.

[Taz]

You were OK,

Derstuka gives a good safe layout, although he is wrong on one thing
Yes there is a law on the books for lane splitting, actually 2 of them.
can't quote the laws & the code verbatim, because my law book is @ my CA house.

1st law was signed into law back B-4 most of you were born by then Gov. Jerry (the beginning of the end Commie) Brown.

The law was put into place for "AIR COOLED" M/C's" to keep moving in traffic to avoid break downs from over heating.
Although no speed limit was established for doing this with the exception of not going over the posted speed limit.

W/O going over the posted speed limit you technically can't get a speeding ticket splitting lanes if you don't exceed the posted speed limit

Where you can get into trouble w/o going over the posted speed limit is that you can be cited legally for exhibition of speed, reckless driving, & or any other endangerment to you or others citations on a officers call ( I know I fought & won several speeding tickets based solely on the written law because that's all he wrote me up for speeding, not EOS or WD, & not exceeding the posted speed limit ).

The general rule with law enforcement on splitting lanes is if your not exceeding 5 mph over traffic w/o exceeding the posted speed in city driving, & driving in a safe matter, they will not give you any crap.

freeway is the same but most allow 10 mph over the speed of slow or stopped traffic.


2nd law is that it is a ticketable offence to pass in the Diamond (HOV) lane, many do it (including me sometimes) but it's illegal.
I've seen it enforced a few times in SoCal, but enforced a lot in central & NoCal.
Another words OK to split lanes in any lane "BUT" the Diamond (HOV) lane !

Hope all helps


p.s. being polite & waving to people (& a verbal thank you if slow enough & there window is down) if they move over for you goes a long way for Good M/C publicity & helps out other riders (kinda makes the cagers feel good also ).
Squeezing between 2 cars with less than a inch between each bar ends is kinda rude (legal but rude) & puts a bad taste towards you & other M/C riders & would avoid doing this when possible.

[derstuka]

Originally Posted by Taz

You were OK,

Derstuka gives a good safe layout, although he is wrong on one thing
Yes there is a law on the books for lane splitting, actually 2 of them.
can't quote the laws & the code verbatim, because my law book is @ my CA house.

Good points Mr. Taz, however, I challenge you to find a law on the books (not a CHP guideline, or preference, but a actual "law") which specifically states that a "motorcyclist" has a "right" to lane split. I believe the law that you were thinking about/referring to, might be the legislation proposal way back where they tried to "outlaw" lanesplitting/sharing/hugging, or whatnot. The CHP and AMA, and others with aircooled bikes protested, and the law was not passed.

http://www.laneshare.org/index.html

"What is Lanesharing?
Often called lane-splitting, white-lining, or filtering, lanesharing is the practice by motorcyclists of moving between stopped or slow moving traffic during times of congestion and between lanes of vehicles, traveling in the same direction. There’s a certain protocol to the practice which you’ll discover on this website on our California page. Lanesharing is not legal in the US, but it is allowed or tolerated in parts of the country, notably California. The practice is also utilized in other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia.

Misconceptions are rampant about lanesharing, and we address this on our Misconceptions page. While there are many individuals including motorcyclists who oppose this practice, ironically an overwhelming majority of motorcycle safety professionals are in favor of legalizing lane-sharing. Our Why Laneshare? page will explore what these professionals and other motorcyclists are saying about lanesharing.

There have been attempts to legalize lanesharing in Texas and Washington State. Although we are more familiar with the effort in Washington, we are also looking for related information in other states and countries. "

[RGonVFR]

So, basically... be safe, use common sense and courtesy, but above all... don't get caught, right?

[Taz]

damn you, now your making me take the time to look it up

I just called my cuz (retired LA Sheriff) that specialized in & instructed officers on traffic laws & driving.

he said off the top of his head said I was correct, & will look it up for me.
he also said the 2nd law I quoted is a Federal law not a CA state one & is looking that up for me as well.

Snopes didn't have anything :(


So -


I'LL BE BAAAAAACK !

p.s.
I owned a M/C messenger Co. in SoCal & ran a interstate trucking Co.
Anotherwords I was in court alot ,& got to learn the laws & get around them quite well

[Fizz]

Hmmm, I looked at that lane-sharing site and it says that motorcycles are allowed to use the HOV lanes by federal mandate. Is there some stipulation that HOV and normal lanes are not allowed to be lane split between?

[Taz]

Originally Posted by VeryFunRide

Hmmm, I looked at that lane-sharing site and it says that motorcycles are allowed to use the HOV lanes by federal mandate. Is there some stipulation that HOV and normal lanes are not allowed to be lane split between?

There allowed in them to use, but "NOT" to lane splt in them.

Example from most HOV lanes in Cali is seperated from the fast lane by simple double yellow lines or Double-double yellow lines & you will see bikes splitting lanes on top of these lines in between cars. that is illegal everywhere because those lines are considered a barrier (invisable wall/armco) & you cannot ride on a barrier.

other lane splitting sharing in the HOV lane that is illegal is, unless noted or a sign allowing it, you cannot pass another vehicle in the same lane.

Thats why theres breaks to exit/enter, or pass.

[derstuka]

The "proof" is in the puddin' Tazman!

[Taz]

Originally Posted by derstuka

The "proof" is in the puddin' Tazman!

Shuuush,

I'm on my 2nd hr with Sacramento & my 12th transfer

My Dad is looking for my CA DOT book in Cali, so I can show you the pudding !


You know that kind of sounds gross

[derstuka]

I used to think the same thing Taz, but I honestly came up with nothing. I came up with the reason that it is tolerated is "because of the air-cooled" bikes and such, and that it helps move traffic along better, but that is it. All places that I looked, just said that it was a grey area, and there was no law written for or against it. So it was neither legal, or illegal. Only CHP guidelines, which are not technically laws. However, I do stand ready to be corrected if I am misinformed.

Did you hear that Texas is close to passing some kind of lane-splitting law? I know it got stalled awhile back, but I was reading something last year that said it might pass.