California officially Recognizes lane splitting

[hank43]

Article on page 12 of the December American Motorcyclist magazine
AMA position statement at: www.americanmotorcyclist.com
Governor Brown signs AB51 Aug. 19 after it passes Assembly 74-0 on Aug. 3



hank43

[Highway Rider]

Now if we can get more states to follow suit

[hank43]

Lane splitting is something I have been aware of since at least 1959, when I first started riding (A Cushman Eagle!) and something I participated in up until I got a trike. The trike is 55 inches wide in the rear, so that won't work anymore!

I just hope that they write some guidelines and INFORCE them, if nothing else just to stop the younger kids from passing on the right (Sometimes in the bicycle lane) then cutting in front of cars. These people just don't seem to realize that most drivers in cars DON'T watch their right side, because everyone knows there are laws against passing on the right. Kids today think this is just lane splitting. Passing between cars on the freeway at 65-70 MPH is just lane splitting.

I see this every day, I hope that with some guidelines (Like lane splitting when traffic is stopped, or at least, when traffic is moving at max of 15 MPH) this kind of behavior will stop.....

It's interesting to see that the AMA article states that there is no significant "increase in injuries until traffic speed exceeded 50 mph" but I wonder how many more car wrecks, ....i.e. cars hitting other cars avoiding the clown on the bike .....

I'm all for getting the bikes out front and out of the traffic, I have always thought it safer for the bikers to keep away from the cars in traffic.

We'll see what happens.

hank43

[trikebldr]

I remember California allowing lane splitting more than 15 years ago. Not sure if it was by official legislation, but it was a big news story and the CHP was told to slack off on those who did.

[Tonyvdb]

Lane splitting just seems to be an excuse for the crazy riders on crotch rockets to drive even more dangerously. I live in a city where every third vehicle is an SUV or truck and that does not leave a lot of room for a bike to squeez in between.
Personally I can't see it being a smart move.

[the2knights]

I rode for years out in So Cal. All of those years on large motorcycles including my first xii. I never really felt uncomfortable lane splitting, even between those large vehicles. Of course you had to be very aware, and watch for people not paying attention, but it is not only crotch rockets splitting lanes. Plenty of police motorcycles were splitting lanes as well. I wish more states would allow it. I know CA just now made it official, but I had friends out there that were splitting in the early 60's. Just part of the culture out there.

[cranky]

... and not to forget the original reason for splitting lanes....
air cooled scoots.... Yup, we don't have a problem but lotsa
folks do! FWIW

[krasmu]

I was in California for the first time 2 years ago. It blew me away the first few times a bike came past me between cars. I was not used to looking bikes approaching between lanes and it made me very nervous. By the end of the week I was ok with it but still had reservations as if it was a good thing or not. I like the idea that they could ride up to the front of the lines at stop lights but not so sure I like it while rolling down the highways at speed. I don't know the rules of what is and isn't allowed, only going by what I seen while there. I think those who live in the area and are used to it would stay close to the center of the lane in anticipation of a bike wanting to scoot through but us out of town guests find it nerve wracking. We are already trying to watch street signs and traffic that we are not used to and now we have be that much more aware of those behind us as well. Seems to an accident waiting to happen. and who would be at fault if a bike trying to split ends up running into a car who is not aware that he is coming?

Just my 2 cents.

[hank43]

As I said before, I lived most of my life in So Cal, about the only times I ever split lanes was at a traffic light, with the traffic stopped. Today, it's a free for all with bikes passing on the right, between lanes, and even in the bus and bike (bicycle) lanes. It's crazy, and when enough bikers get squashed, all of the sudden it will all stop. Who in their right mind wants to pitt a 500-900 pound MC up against a 2500 pound car with an already traffic angry driver in it?

At 16yrs of age, and on my Cushman I was driving in traffic down Colorado Blvd., and decided to split lanes between two busses. Neither bus saw me as I was leaving hand grip residue from my beach-bars down the sides of the busses.... It was scary!
The only way this can work is if the law reads SPLITTING LANES ONLY AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRAFFIC IS STOPPED. This gets the bikers out of everyone's way........and, it makes sense!

hank43

BTW, my all time new saying:
"Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape"

[Mr Jensee]

Lane splitting just seems to be an excuse for the crazy riders on crotch rockets to drive even more dangerously. I live in a city where every third vehicle is an SUV or truck and that does not leave a lot of room for a bike to squeez in between.
Personally I can't see it being a smart move.

...and if you don't believe him check out YouTube. The lane splitting they do scares the hell out of me.

[sheiserman]

As I said before, I lived most of my life in So Cal, about the only times I ever split lanes was at a traffic light, with the traffic stopped. Today, it's a free for all with bikes passing on the right, between lanes, and even in the bus and bike (bicycle) lanes. It's crazy, and when enough bikers get squashed, all of the sudden it will all stop. Who in their right mind wants to pitt a 500-900 pound MC up against a 2500 pound car with an already traffic angry driver in it?

At 16yrs of age, and on my Cushman I was driving in traffic down Colorado Blvd., and decided to split lanes between two busses. Neither bus saw me as I was leaving hand grip residue from my beach-bars down the sides of the busses.... It was scary!
The only way this can work is if the law reads SPLITTING LANES ONLY AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRAFFIC IS STOPPED. This gets the bikers out of everyone's way........and, it makes sense!

hank43

BTW, my all time new saying:
"Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape"

I was out there for a spell in the early '90s. The way I remember it, splitting was legal if traffic was 25mph or less. Everybody was doing it at all speeds anyway. Had to be careful at stop lights as the CHP was right there with you.

I'd still be sitting in the "Orange Crush" if I didn't white line at every opportunity.