Lane Splitting. Do you? Would you?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16,271
Likes: 15,108
From: Somewhere SW
In California it's called "Lane Sharing". Don't know how many other states allow it but I'd like to share something. A couple of weeks ago I had my wife and young grandson in my truck and was running in the fast lane in Sacto area at about 70+ mph. The speed limit is 65 mph. I noticed a guy on a "Sons of Anarchy" style Dyna coming up fast from the slow lane or another on-ramp and heading towards me. He had a small bubble windscreen with some sort of laughing Devil decal on it. There was another truck in the lane next to me I was overtaking but the other lanes were pretty much clear for a good ways all around. The guy on the Dyna squeezed between my truck and the other one with only inches to spare. I then noticed he had a small boy maybe 9 yrs old behind him wearing a full face helmet and hanging on for life. The Dyna rider was wearing a small beanie and may have been wearing club colors. As soon as he cleared us he sped off across all lanes to the next exit.
So, was he showing off? It really wasn't necessary since all the other lanes were open. I'm thinking "What a Jerk!" No concern for the kid on the back at all! I wonder how he would feel if he had crashed and been responsible for the death of this kid?
So, do you? Do you do it safely? Would you if you could? I do, and I always do it safely, and I've even taught my wife to follow me if I start. But the reason it's allowed is to keep your bike from melting down. It's not meant so you can get somewhere faster. I've also seen some kid on a sport bike try it and wind up stuck in some car's tail light! Let's hear some experiences and/or thoughts.
So, was he showing off? It really wasn't necessary since all the other lanes were open. I'm thinking "What a Jerk!" No concern for the kid on the back at all! I wonder how he would feel if he had crashed and been responsible for the death of this kid?
So, do you? Do you do it safely? Would you if you could? I do, and I always do it safely, and I've even taught my wife to follow me if I start. But the reason it's allowed is to keep your bike from melting down. It's not meant so you can get somewhere faster. I've also seen some kid on a sport bike try it and wind up stuck in some car's tail light! Let's hear some experiences and/or thoughts.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 40
From: sacramento, CA
Living in Sacramento, I do it but never at a high rate of speed, especially related to the movement of traffic. If traffic is stopped, I'll split slowly and cautiously. If traffic is moving @ 35-40 MPH, then I see no need for it. On the freeway, when it's really backed up (going @ 10-15mph) I'll move up almost 1 car at a time....I make sure the cars/trucks I'm sharing the lane with know I'm there. I've seen too many metric rockets fly by....and it's bad for the motorcycle community at large.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 538
Likes: 18
From: Lexington, Ky
Nope. Haveva hard enough time getting between the cars parked in both lanes of my driveway.
Now when I was in my 20's riding a much narrower bike I did it a few times, though it wasn't legal.
I'm not above riding the shoulder a bit at low speed when planning to exit but road is dead stopped. Seems less risky than getting rear ended by someone who believes stop and go traffic is texting time.
Now when I was in my 20's riding a much narrower bike I did it a few times, though it wasn't legal.
I'm not above riding the shoulder a bit at low speed when planning to exit but road is dead stopped. Seems less risky than getting rear ended by someone who believes stop and go traffic is texting time.
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