53 percent of drivers unaware of lane splitting, 7 percent try to block motorcycles | Hell for Leather
Here you go... interesting study, take it or leave it
Here you go... interesting study, take it or leave it
I live in the east bay, for all you non-californians, my house is about 30 minutes north east of SF... I was hit while splitting 11/3/16 and have to say this woman didnt look worth a DAMN! i was at her right front fender and she came over all kamikaze stlye and took me out at 50mph.... been back on the bike since then.. (same bike i might add... love being mechanically inclined... frame sliders saved my ARSE!)That's why I've always thought they need to teach the motorcycle rules to kids getting their regular class C license. You should know ALL the rules of the road if you're going to share it with different types of vehicles.
I really wish I could find the article I read that compared the stats between people getting sideswiped or hit splitting compared to bikes being rear ended in stop and go traffic. It was staggering how many more bikes get hit from behind in traffic compared to lane splitters. I can't remember what magazine it was in (waiting room at a Jiffy Lube getting the oil changed on my company car at the time) but it was a study in California where MOST riders split lanes, and there were still FAR more accidents in stop and go traffic with riders being rear ended. If I remember right, it was something crazy like 4 times as many bikes got hit from behind when sitting in stop and go traffic compared to accidents with bikes splitting, yet something like 10 times as many riders split than don't. I've had cars try and block me. I slow down, wait until I can get by and pass them. When I'm in the cage I'm constantly checking the mirrors to make room from bikes. And I did that long before I rode. In SD, especially this time of year, there are tons of bikes during rush hour because our traffic is so bad. Splitting is almost a must do. I probably got passed by 20 or more bikes splitting lanes today on the way home. I'm not saying it's an ideal place to put yourself. But when I read that article that showed the huge number of bikes who get clobbered from behind compared to splitting, I decided to start doing it. Now it's second nature. I just don't commute on the bike that often anymore... solves that issue.
if all the cages would comply, yeah... afaik, it is still only legal in Cali, and they just released guidelines which should help, maybeI can still truthfully say I'd rather split than sit in traffic....
Agree, but I'm in PA. Bikes do it here, but it's not allowed and if you're in an accident I'm sure you're f'd.I wish we could at least filter at stop lights here in VA
USA - Oregon proposed a bill in 2015 but it didn't pass. It apllied to interstate only and only if traffic is 20 mph or less.
Ever since then, many do it just the same taking the chance. The lanes here are so narrow in the inner city its a test to pick and choose where you fit. Thus, many have taken to riding the right shoulder through all the debris. I'm guessing that would be nice fine if caught? Its very high risk compared to splitting as people never check their mirrors for a look ahead on the shoulder...
+10 ^^^^^Around here people are so distracted by phones they dont even go at the green lights.... i hate living in the city, I can't wait to get back out of here.
TRUTHHHH. In situations in which i cannot split i go mad...I didn't realize it was illegal everywhere else but Cali. I couldn't imagine not being able to split lanes in certain traffic out here although I try to avoid it as much as possible