Given what I have seen of SoCal traffic on the many times visiting relatives, you're generally as safe lane splitting as sitting in the stop and go traffic with everyone on their cell phones crooked in their neck while eating a Big Mac with one hand and drinking the soda with the other and reading the news paper draped over the steering wheel as they steer with their knees. It's either risk getting creamed between doors lane splitting or getting creamed between bumpers sitting like everyone else.Sorry guys. I can't get on board with it. It's "totally safe" is what I hear a lot in these discussions. A totally good idea? If so then why the advert?
Those driver's don't give a rip about anyone other than themselves, and care for nothing other than getting home as quickly as possible.
It's just not worth it. It's a lottery where the looser goes to the hospital. The looser will always the person on the motorcycle.
No. Sorry, ya'll. Lane splitting is just asking for a ride in a van with flashing lights.
Agreed, and again its just about using common sense. Is it "safer"? i doubt it, is it more dangerous? if your smart i dont think so.Buzzbomb puts the buzz kill on lane splitting. If we were in the business of being totally safe, we would also be in cages surrounded by air bags. I don't know how things are in Hartsville, but if you were trying to get around on LA freeways, you'd be splitting lanes, too! It's just too much advantage with little increase in risk. You control the level of risk with speed, where, when and circumstance. It's just not that bad. The vast majority of drivers edge over to one side to give you a little extra room.
Amen to all that. I live in the san fernando valley and your right. A lot of people are not paying attention and care only about themselves and think you are lucky they let you on their road. Anyway bottom line IMO is its as safe as riding a motorcycle in general (as stated above if safety was our #1 concern we would not ride at all) and if done smartly not a problem.Given what I have seen of SoCal traffic on the many times visiting relatives, you're generally as safe lane splitting as sitting in the stop and go traffic with everyone on their cell phones crooked in their neck while eating a Big Mac with one hand and drinking the soda with the other and reading the news paper draped over the steering wheel as they steer with their knees. It's either risk getting creamed between doors lane splitting or getting creamed between bumpers sitting like everyone else.
That said, I don't know how you guys do it. I hated the few times I had to drive down there, and I was just around the San Fernando and Semi Valleys at those times. Everyone gets stopped up on the freeway, so they get off on the arterials then clog them up, so they get off on the side-streets and clog those. It's truly a grid lock anywhere within a few blocks of main roadways.
LOL everyone is entitled to their opinion and your viewpoint is certainly shared by others. In fact i used to be one of them. After a while i got tired of seeing guys go buy me while i was waiting with the cars so i decided to try and have learned over time what i personally feel is safe and whats not. I started out doing it at red lights where no one is moving and then eventually to the freeway when its dead stopped.It's just my opinion, ya'll. Yes, a motorcycle is inherently dangerous. It just seems like lane splitting simply increases the inherent danger. I'm down on that. Lots and lots of Youtube videos where the practice ends in woe.
No, traffic is not an issue in Hartsville, SC. Rush hour means you have to wait a couple lights when downtown. There is no comparison.
If I'm not mistaken, Cali is the the only State where it is legal. If not, it's one of very few. Why is that? Is there no traffic in other states? Maybe everyone else in every other State just isn't as smart as the Californians? Maybe Californians are the nicest drivers around and so minimize the danger?
Once again, this is my opinion. But I think it's inherently dangerous to a point that it is asking for trouble. You can of course do as you will. My opinion stands.
I thought that was cheap by California standards...just think, it *only* took 1 year and 2.5mil. to find out more speed = more danger
This has some good numbers in it. Makes me feel actually a little better about it since i do follow the guide lines. I saw a guy today who wasnt going too fast but was on a mega goldwing which are super wide and at low speeds those things are pigs. I like splitting on my fz6r much better than my cruiser which is also pigish at low speeds so i think id draw the line at goldwing lolThe researchers interviewed us for the study at Jay's Shell off ACH. They asked very objective questions and seemed fair. I'm happy that I got to participate in it and hope CA continues allowing us to split. Otherwise we would die from heat exhaustion on hot summer days.
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Except for a trike, there's really not much beyond that line.This has some good numbers in it. Makes me feel actually a little better about it since i do follow the guide lines. I saw a guy today who wasnt going too fast but was on a mega goldwing which are super wide and at low speeds those things are pigs. I like splitting on my fz6r much better than my cruiser which is also pigish at low speeds so i think id draw the line at goldwing lol