lane splitting techniques

[Jahx]

Originally Posted by CBROldMan

Hello,

Any experiences/suggestions/tips on lane splitting in 'moving' traffic( where it's legal or where it's not if you split anyway)?

Want to learn from others experiences to get additional tips if anyone else has any.

( talking about lane splitting in moving traffic)
What I use to do( just starting out splitting lanes) was just go up the middle in a stack of moving cars like 3 to 4 cars deep; but stopped when someone near the end of the stack decided to move over an block me at 70-75mph.

He missed me, but I was in complete disbelief that someone would do this.
Have a buddy that commutes 70 miles each way to work riding a liter bike and he says this happens all the time o.O?

Anyway, since then, I'll only split traffic like 2 cars deep just enough time to make sure I'm past the cars 'before' they have time to react.

Seems like the cars have a natural inclination to drift towards the center if they see you coming?

Step 1. Don't lane split at 70-75 mph.

Lane splitting is intended to allow you to move through stopped/slow traffic. It is a great way to work through congested traffic/traffic jams.

Lane splitting at highway speeds is a bad idea.

[CBROldMan]

Originally Posted by I-Jo

What the fuck were you doing lane splitting at 70 mph?

There's your problem.

Yeh, you're right.

I should not split lanes if the traffic is going 70( the posted speed limit is 65).

When you get several cars( who normally go 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit) backed up because a few slow drivers feel they have to force those behind them to follow within a 5 mph range of the correct speed limit; I can't force myself to sit behind them riding at 70 on two southbound lanes for the next 5 miles.

Sorry, it drives me insane to be held back by slow drivers driving side by side...who go the exact speed limit, or a little above.

Yes, I'm wrong. Although I don't think I'm completely alone here as I see people in cars/motorcycles going faster than the posted by more than 5mph all the time.

I'll also admit that the situation can apply in slower speed too so that any advice I can get will also help at speeds slower than 70mph...30, 40, 50, etc.

Note: Am starting to re-think my driving habits though, and no longer feel comfortable to spilt cars 4 or 5 cars deep in moving traffic as it's just too long in the middle. If I can't get in an out of the middle of two rows in just a few secs, I'll wait until I can.

[UltimateOG]

Originally Posted by CBROldMan

Yeh, you're right.

I should not split lanes if the traffic is going 70( the posted speed limit is 65).

When you get several cars( who normally go 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit) backed up because a few slow drivers feel they have to force those behind them to follow within a 5 mph range of the correct speed limit; I can't force myself to sit behind them riding at 70 on two southbound lanes for the next 5 miles.

Sorry, it drives me insane to be held back by slow drivers driving side by side...who go the exact speed limit, or a little above.

Yes, I'm wrong. Although I don't think I'm completely alone here as I see people in cars/motorcycles going faster than the posted by more than 5mph all the time.

I'll also admit that the situation can apply in slower speed too so that any advice I can get will also help at speeds slower than 70mph...30, 40, 50, etc.

You know you can do speeds up to but not limited to 135 mph on the I-10 for a few miles and rarely is there a cop to do anything about it? Found that out when i first moved to SoCal and I would go on weekly trips to my aunt in Palm Springs.

With that in mind, people normally are flying through there especially at night. During the daytime I am always finding folks doing the speed limit or within 5 mph of it. It isn't a problem when everyone is doing it but when >80% of traffic is going faster than that there is a problem.

[CBROldMan]

Yeh, don't wanna drive/ride that fast on the road...remember( from 20 years ago) a story from a local CHP about a coworker who worked with my dad:

This coworker was upset about the prince of gas, got in his Porsche, and zoomed up the hill at Pacific Park( Oso pkwy) lost control, went air borne up an embankment and hit a telephone pole roof first directly on top of his head...pushed his spinal cord out his rectum. The CHP officer said he was going around 130mph.

[UltimateOG]

I wanted to respond sarcastically so bad, but that is a horrible scenario. I have only gone over 100 mph once on my current bike, when i first got it and that was to get it out of my system. I don't want to go through a situation like that. I am lucky to get this far and I don't want to risk my luck running out on me.

[I-Jo]

Originally Posted by CBROldMan

I can't force myself to sit behind them riding at 70 on two southbound lanes for the next 5 miles.

So when you see a super hot woman you can't help yourself- you jump on her and ravished her... Because you simply "cannot" help yourself.

Seriously? That's your excuse for endangering other people and yourself? Please. That's pathetic. The reality is your impatient and have no self discipline.

Originally Posted by CBROldMan

Yes, I'm wrong. Although I don't think I'm completely alone here as I see people in cars/motorcycles going faster than the posted by more than 5mph all the time.

and because other people do it... It makes it alllllllllllll okay


And no. I don't split when two knuckle heads do 70 and 71 right next to each other. I either safely navigate around them in the right lane or wait till they painstakingly over take the other driver.

[CBROldMan]

Well, not sure that the woman ravishing example is exactly the same, but I get your point. Yes, I do not have self dicipline to stay behind these people, sry.

Like I've already said, I know what is the right thing, just do not have the patience to wait behind people like that when I know I can get past them in a few secs. Passing them the normal way on the left (/edit) is not even possible as these are two south bound lanes with a median several yards wide which seperates the north and south bound lanes( /end edit)on Laguna Canyon( the 4 lane part).

Gonna try and get a GoPro Hero 3 bike cam for Xmas so I'll try and post what it looks like. Doesn't actually appear as dangerous as it sounds when riding it though.

[I-Jo]

Justify all you want but splitting 2 vehicles at 70+ mpg is dangerous. Period.

A go pro isn't going to help you prove your point.- just land your ass in jail sooner for reckless driving.

[The Predator]

and the white knight has arrived.

[UltimateOG]

Originally Posted by I-Jo

Justify all you want but splitting 2 vehicles at 70+ mpg is dangerous. Period.

A go pro isn't going to help you prove your point.- just land your ass in jail sooner for reckless driving.

So your more concerned with him going with the flow of traffic than you are with two vehicles impeding the flow of traffic? That isn't reckless driving, no matter how much in black and white it seems when you are there it is a different story. You and whoever can talk about how reckless it is for us all you want, but last I checked I have seem more automobiles crash doing their own shit and impeding the flow of traffic than those who try to get out of that situation.

Makes me laugh that the flow of traffic could be 80 mph and I can be ok with just dropping down to 65 and making everyone in my one lane follow my course and its ok but as soon as someone tries to get around me and continue with the flow of traffic then it is a problem.

You may call it impatient driving/riding, but there are a ton of impatient drivers out there a whole lot more than patient drivers and when depending on how the flow of traffic is dictated I am going to go with the flow. It's safer in my book and experience out here and that is what I stick with. Haven't gotten into one car accident in my life so far so my mindset seems to be pretty decent so far.

[danny500r]

Originally Posted by I-Jo

And no. I don't split when two knuckle heads do 70 and 71 right next to each other. I either safely navigate around them in the right lane or wait till they painstakingly over take the other driver.

Fuck that. I was riding home from Vegas back in March and got stuck between behind a Semi and a car that was afraid to go past him, both doing about 65. I jammed it between the two at about 75 and went on my merry way.

[CBROldMan]

Yeh, it's hard to drive in one area and have the same tactics apply in another completely different area( county, state, country, etc.)

I've driven( almost all cars of course) on SoCal roads for 40 years, and I'm guessing the people here drive more aggressively unlike almost any other place( only lived in Utah for a few years at age 22). I guess it's cause they are so wound up with whatever goals they have, the agro behavior carries over to their vehicles.

I'd almost guess that driving the way I do in a rural area, would piss a lot of people off as it's not needed as everyone is laid back...if it doesn't get done today, there's always tomorrow.

[PhilB]

Originally Posted by CBROldMan

Yeh, it's hard to drive in one area and have the same tactics apply in another completely different area( county, state, country, etc.)

I've driven( almost all cars of course) on SoCal roads for 40 years, and I'm guessing the people here drive more aggressively unlike almost any other place( only lived in Utah for a few years at age 22). I guess it's cause they are so wound up with whatever goals they have, the agro behavior carries over to their vehicles.

I'd almost guess that driving the way I do in a rural area, would piss a lot of people off as it's not needed as everyone is laid back...if it doesn't get done today, there's always tomorrow.

Exactly. The most aggressive driving environments in America are consistently cited as being Los Angeles and Boston. Meanwhile, having moved to New Hampshire a few months ago, I'm having to learn to dial it back a fair bit. Everything here happens at a more relaxed pace.

PhilB

[ZorroX]

Miami is the worst.

[steingar]

I have to admit, if cars were sedately moving next to each other causing me to bunch up with a bunch of cagers, I probably would punch it and go right through. I get nervous as hell when cagers are nearby, and seek to keep them as far away as possible (advice I'd pass onto the younger set if I may). Too damn many eating their burritos and texting on their fucking hemroids. I guess a half second of high danger getting past the slow ones beats an hour of danger having distracted cages nearby.

Fuck, where I live I've no choice in the matter. I have to sit with them in stop and go traffic, and remain behind the pokies as they block all of creation. The only good thing is I live in such a one-horse town that it usually isn't an issue.