splitting traffic
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 8
RE: splitting traffic
Are we talking about the same thing here? Beer bottles being chucked at you??? That's just criminal! I know there are a lot of weirdos out there, and people do the god awfulest things out of frustration, road rage, etc. But, really now...Are you telling me this deliberate act of violence was the direct result from innocently sharing a lane? Does this kind of thing happen often? If so, then why take the chance? THIS IS THE EXACT DEFINITION OF PLAYING CHICKEN!!
Not to mention, spraying oil on some smuck's windshield or throwing marbles. Have you not considered the other inocent people on the road that this idiot might impact with, cause now can't see through his windsheild or dodging foreign object being thrown at him???
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS THINKING??? You can't tell me you can justify this as right. You're putting others in danger to satisfy your own road rage...and are as guilty of endangerment as much as the idiot who tried to squeeze you out.
I am appauled!
MY 2 cents
Not to mention, spraying oil on some smuck's windshield or throwing marbles. Have you not considered the other inocent people on the road that this idiot might impact with, cause now can't see through his windsheild or dodging foreign object being thrown at him???
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS THINKING??? You can't tell me you can justify this as right. You're putting others in danger to satisfy your own road rage...and are as guilty of endangerment as much as the idiot who tried to squeeze you out.
I am appauled!
MY 2 cents
Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: San Leandro,ca
RE: splitting traffic
I don't use marbles I use quarters and only when some a$$hole pulls up behind me at a stop light for the third time after I've told them they were too close I've never had a beer bottle thrown at me but more than a few cups of coffee and soda road rage comes in all packages people get frustrated quickly in gridlock when it takes 2 hours to drive 30 miles home after a rough day at work when I ride home I see the same riders do the same thing every day some politely split lanes mostly h-d riders and the ones that fly down the split mostly metrics although there are exceptions on both sides generally the h-d riders are older than the metric riders
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,341
Likes: 0
From: Dover, Oh
RE: splitting traffic
ORIGINAL: bikergirl40
Are we talking about the same thing here? Beer bottles being chucked at you??? That's just criminal! I know there are a lot of weirdos out there, and people do the god awfulest things out of frustration, road rage, etc. But, really now...Are you telling me this deliberate act of violence was the direct result from innocently sharing a lane? Does this kind of thing happen often? If so, then why take the chance? THIS IS THE EXACT DEFINITION OF PLAYING CHICKEN!!
Not to mention, spraying oil on some smuck's windshield or throwing marbles. Have you not considered the other inocent people on the road that this idiot might impact with, cause now can't see through his windsheild or dodging foreign object being thrown at him???
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS THINKING??? You can't tell me you can justify this as right. You're putting others in danger to satisfy your own road rage...and are as guilty of endangerment as much as the idiot who tried to squeeze you out.
I am appauled!
MY 2 cents
Are we talking about the same thing here? Beer bottles being chucked at you??? That's just criminal! I know there are a lot of weirdos out there, and people do the god awfulest things out of frustration, road rage, etc. But, really now...Are you telling me this deliberate act of violence was the direct result from innocently sharing a lane? Does this kind of thing happen often? If so, then why take the chance? THIS IS THE EXACT DEFINITION OF PLAYING CHICKEN!!
Not to mention, spraying oil on some smuck's windshield or throwing marbles. Have you not considered the other inocent people on the road that this idiot might impact with, cause now can't see through his windsheild or dodging foreign object being thrown at him???
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS THINKING??? You can't tell me you can justify this as right. You're putting others in danger to satisfy your own road rage...and are as guilty of endangerment as much as the idiot who tried to squeeze you out.
I am appauled!
MY 2 cents
SO if someone was swerving to hit you on your bike you would sit back and do nothing? I doubt it, you need to experience the gridlock of a big city.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 568
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
RE: splitting traffic
It just became legal in Texas, but you have to drive 20 MPH under the posted speed limit.
Saw a Harley rider do it a few weeks ago, but he wasn't on a bagger - I'd think twice about it if I was riding a bike with a fairing and bags. Not enough clearance.
Saw a Harley rider do it a few weeks ago, but he wasn't on a bagger - I'd think twice about it if I was riding a bike with a fairing and bags. Not enough clearance.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From:
RE: splitting traffic
There are "old riders" and " bold drivers" but very few "old, bold drivers" if you get my drift ! Splitting lanes is pretty BOLD especially how some go about it . In my younger days I would if traffic was too slow , but then I had much smaller , maneuverable motorcycles and only went maybe 10 mph faster than the cagers . Now , even my Deuce , slim in comparision to an Ultra is way too wide to pull this kind of stunt . If traffic is that bad I get the hell off the road and get dinner or a beer and wait it out . Been times when I'm bumper to bumper in my truck or my car and some AH comes blasting by at 30-40 mph and scares the hell out of me , don't even know he's there until he's gone . At times I can really understand the caggers getting upset ! Never a cop around when you need one !
Dan
Dan
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 107
From: Santa Clarita, So. Cal. & Bullhead City, Az.
RE: splitting traffic
I've lived in Cal my whole life (60 years) and have been on motorcycles about 42 of them. Lane splitting is done mostly on the freeways during traffic jams when cars are creeping along at 10 to 20 mph. Most freeway lanes are 10 or 12 feet wide, cars are less than 6 feet wide. Motorhomes and large trucks are 8 feet. Two motorhomes side by side in 10 foot lanes will only leave about 2 feet between them, can't split, motorcycle handle bars (mine) are almost 3 feet wide. Two cars in 10 foot lanes would leave 4 feet if they were both centered in their lane. 12 foot wide lanes would leave you 6 feet. It isn't really as dangerous as it sounds. Usually LEOs leave you alone if you are going 5 to 10 mph faster than the cars. If you are blasting, you are going to get a ticket...if they can catch you. If people see me coming and squeeze over, I usually wait, or pass on their other side. I've had a few cigarette butts come out the window, but that usually costs them a mirror or radio antenna. Hasn't happened very often, once or twice.
About opening doors....all you do is get a very unhappy biker sitting in your lap with his motorcycle, and it is the car drivers fault. The car driver will go to jail, end up liable for everything, and he will screw up his car to boot.
About opening doors....all you do is get a very unhappy biker sitting in your lap with his motorcycle, and it is the car drivers fault. The car driver will go to jail, end up liable for everything, and he will screw up his car to boot.
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: San Leandro,ca
RE: splitting traffic
its plain stupid to ride more than 5 or 10 mph faster than the traffic I don't split unless traffic is going less than 35 mph and I try to keep my pipes as quiet as possible .for the most part commute traffic is usually on the road in the same place at the same time every week day so you know what is going to happen most of these people are seasoned commute drivers and are just trying to have an uneventful commute and the riders that split slowly and quietly generally get the respect they give like I said in a previous post its not for everyone
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,204
Likes: 1,192
From: Anywhere we stop
RE: splitting traffic
I've lived in cali since 68 and YES I split lanes on my Ultra. I do it if traffic is going under 35 mph, and I try to stay 5 - 10 mph faster than traffics moving. Most people will move to the outside of the lane if they see you coming, some people are a$$'s. Yes I've been pushed into a car by one of the A$$'S. It is still safer than taking your chances with the idiot behind you with the cell phone and no brain!
I've never been tagged for it, its common place here.
When I was a "younger" man I rode with a 2' bar clipped to the side of my pans frame for the a$$holes in the cage, but that was a different time. Pa*****o ***** work pretty good too.
I've never been tagged for it, its common place here.
I don't use marbles I use quarters and only when some a$$hole pulls up behind me at a stop light for the third time after I've told them they were too close I've never had a beer bottle thrown at me but more than a few cups of coffee and soda road rage comes in all packages people get frustrated quickly in gridlock when it takes 2 hours to drive 30 miles home after a rough day at work when I ride home I see the same riders do the same thing every day some politely split lanes mostly h-d riders and the ones that fly down the split mostly metrics although there are exceptions on both sides generally the h-d riders are older than the metric riders