Commuters: Do you ever lane split/filter even if it's not legal where you live?

[Squibb]

I know this thread is really about lane splitting, but am I right in thinking Bikes cannot use the HOV lane, even if 2 up? I seem to remember that was the case when I was riding in CA a few years back.

I think HOV lanes are mainly seen in the US, Aus & NZ. Here in the UK we have Bus Lanes, a similar idea, but for urban areas, not Motorways. These can also be used by Taxis usually. Sometimes Motorcycles too, but we have to read the signs carefully as the rules vary city to city (yes, I know it sounds ridiculous not to have joined up thinking across such a small country). They need to be treated with caution, particularly in the wet, as the bus stops/junctions are usually smeared with oil/diesel.

We did run an experiment with an M4 Motorway (Freeway west of London) Bus/Taxi Lane, that became something of a National joke, until it was abolished - it created more jams, but proved lucrative financially, as those in a hurry breached the rules & paid the fine (or was it tax - the US Embassy has disputed this issue for years, along with the London Congestion Charge, as they dislike wasting dollars on road traffic fines that are just seen as a form of taxation via the back-door).

Ride Safe, particularly if you fancy lane splitting ......... KEN

 

[Dogdaze]

If traffic is slow I will filter (not legal here in Switzerland), at lights you can go to the front, but not between two lanes of cars going same direction and cannot do it on a solid white line, duh?
I normally ride for fun, so unless there is a huge line of traffic sitting at lights I'm happy to wait. And sometimes, when Swiss drivers, who btw are absolute shit drivers, as in cannot drive to save their lives, not drive erratically as in the UK, start to daydream , I will start weaving at high speed through autobahn traffic. In France nearly every driver will let you pass, could be that the French motorcyclist have been known to get aggressive with non-compliant drivers......

 

[AVGeek]

I know this thread is really about lane splitting, but am I right in thinking Bikes cannot use the HOV lane, even if 2 up? I seem to remember that was the case when I was riding in CA a few years back.

Ride Safe, particularly if you fancy lane splitting ......... KEN

It's actually the other way around in the US. While I don't know the number, I do know a federal statute covers motorcycle use of HOV lanes, which makes it legal to use them when riding, even solo, in every state. I once passed a person on the left shoulder who had been stopped and was being cited for solo use of the carpool lane during restricted hours (this was in Las Vegas, on 95 at the Rainbow Curve) and I could see him pointing me out to the cop. I got a good chuckle out of that one!

 

[greg the pole]

we can't do it here.
I had to tell myself not to split when we got back into Oregon. Apparently they just passed the bill.

here's us having some fun in San Fran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dekire1rsDI

 

[Grumpy]

Going on from Squibb's post, in London each borough has it's own rules about bus lane use, so you can be legally in a bus one minute and then cross a line without reading the sign and it's "kerching" :'(

 

[cliffo]

I love lane splitting!! Saves so much time and have only had one close call. Thank goodness for the hand guards!!!

::021::

 

[Andylaser]

Pretty much every day when commuting. If a car driver makes an effort to move out of my way, I always give a wave back.

 

[Harry Dresden PI]

Viewpoint from and Old and no longer Bold motorcycle rider ....

I lived in California for many of my motorcycle years, (Bay Area). I was raised with a Father who before I was born used to split lanes on his HD in Los Angles.

Splitting lanes is dangerous and after 30+ years of riding, many of my close calls are due to car/truck driver's rude / lack of seeing me, during lane splitting.

My father told me that lane splitting was a must in LA during the 1950's as air cooled motorcycles (HDs) often would over heat and breakdown in the
bumper to bumper LA summer traffic.

Modern motorcycles are less a worry regarding overheating and many of the modern technologies (Smart Phones, Massive Sound Systems, Car/Rv TVs) makes today's drivers less focused on the traffic. So the reason to split lanes has less hard value (Still can save time and be fun) and is also is now more dangerous to do.

While when commuting I like splitting lanes and the feeling of making time while the cages are parked in traffic ... I only split lanes when the need is high and never for sport.

When I split lanes I most often do it when traffic is stopped of moving under 10 MPH.

 

[AVGeek]

Viewpoint from and Old and no longer Bold motorcycle rider ....

I lived in California for many of my motorcycle years, (Bay Area). I was raised with a Father who before I was born used to split lanes on his HD in Los Angles.

Splitting lanes is dangerous and after 30+ years of riding, many of my close calls are due to car/truck driver's rude / lack of seeing me, during lane splitting.

My father told me that lane splitting was a must in LA during the 1950's as air cooled motorcycles (HDs) often would over heat and breakdown in the
bumper to bumper LA summer traffic.

Modern motorcycles are less a worry regarding overheating and many of the modern technologies (Smart Phones, Massive Sound Systems, Car/Rv TVs) makes today's drivers less focused on the traffic. So the reason to split lanes has less hard value (Still can save time and be fun) and is also is now more dangerous to do.

While when commuting I like splitting lanes and the feeling of making time while the cages are parked in traffic ... I only split lanes when the need is high and never for sport.

When I split lanes I most often do it when traffic is stopped of moving under 10 MPH.

I'd argue the opposing viewpoint, that with the increase in distracted driving, lane splitting is more crucial to rider safety. A recent studies suggest that lane splitting results in a 40% reduction in the risk of being rear ended while on a bike (in my estimate, the most probable collision scenario in heavy traffic with distracted drivers). I too used to live in SoCal, and covered nearly all of the southern half of the state as part of my region (Orange, LA, Ventura and SB counties). I also had a threshold where I would stop splitting and stay with the flow of traffic; depending on the highway conditions it was usually between 30-40mph. I moved out of Cali in 2007, living in both Las Vegas and Phoenix since then. While the traffic isn't nearly as dense as LA, there have been occasions where I have wished for the legal ability to split...

 

[Chuck B]

There are four states who have pending legislation to allow lane sharing/splitting. All based on recent studies showing a marked reduction in collisions/injury's as well as reduced traffic conditions. Europe and the rest of the world figured that out decades ago...