Almost took out a lanesplitter today.

Made a early morning run to the lumberyard in the cage at about 7 am. Returning home on 80 west bound between Berkeley/Emeryville and commute traffic already heavy, bumper to bumper but moving at 50-55 mph. Signaled to change lanes and checked to see if clear; as I was changing, there he was beside me already flipping me off.
Damn! I never saw the guy even though I checked carefully. Dude, if another rider who routinely splits can't see you if you are splitting at 60 mph+, then how in the hell do you hope to survive with all of the inattentive drivers out there?

Daytime: I think you can't see splitters if they are not as close as two cars behind you. They are hidden behind other cars because of the angle. That's also because som many of the cars are actually trucks or minibusses (big) and many have tinted glass.

I still see motos enough in advance when they show up two cars back, but simply put---the center mirror cannot show to the side behind me (2-3 cars back), and the side mirrors do not extend one foot away so that they show the "splitting space" far behind....

You've always got to keep your closing speed in mind when splitting

It can't be repeated often enough: The most serious danger a lane-splitter faces is The Gap, where a hole in one lane permits traffic from the other lane to cross his path. When a vehicle does cross the gap in front of a splitter, it isn't always due to driver negligence. In both close calls related in recent BARF threads from a cager point of view, the driver took reasonable precautions, including signaling and checking his mirrors.

But mirrors cover only a limited space, and the time a rider spends in that space decreases as speed increases. The faster a splitter's speed relative to traffic the less likely it is he'll be spotted by a driver trying to cross into a gap.

When approaching a gap, slow down to keep speed differential low. Enter the gap when traffic in the opposite lane is "out of phase"--either behind or ahead of the gap. As you enter it, move quickly to put lateral space between you and the other lane.

DataDan said:

It can't be repeated often enough: The most serious danger a lane-splitter faces is The Gap, where a hole in one lane permits traffic from the other lane to cross his path. When a vehicle does cross the gap in front of a splitter, it isn't always due to driver negligence. In both close calls related in recent BARF threads from a cager point of view, the driver took reasonable precautions, including signaling and checking his mirrors.

But mirrors cover only a limited space, and the time a rider spends in that space decreases as speed increases. The faster a splitter's speed relative to traffic the less likely it is he'll be spotted by a driver trying to cross into a gap.

When approaching a gap, slow down to keep speed differential low. Enter the gap when traffic in the opposite lane is "out of phase"--either behind or ahead of the gap. As you enter it, move quickly to put lateral space between you and the other lane.

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true about the fast splitting. some learn the hard way (me included).

Here's a tip to help with the blind spot nearly all cages have:

While sitting in the driver’s seat, lean over to your left and position your head against the driver’s side window while keeping your eyes at roughly the same height they would be when seated normally. (Just lean over and put your ear against the window)

Now adjust your driver’s side mirror to the position that you would normally find useable. (Drivers typically adjust outside mirrors to see a small portion of the rear of their car along with the road in order to gain some perspective.)

Next lean over to your right and position your head between the two front seats over the center console and adjust the passenger side mirror in the same manner.

Now when you are seated normally you shouldn’t be able to see the side of your car.

This may seem awkward at first because the lack of perspective tends to make you think you’re missing an area behind your car. However, when you watch someone coming up from behind you’ll notice that as soon as they start disappearing from your interior rear-view mirror, they’ll immediately appear in you side mirror. Thus, no blind spot.

Of course you’ll still need to do a quick head-check to see who’s beside you.

Missed a blind spot...bend over, stick your head up your arse...
But, really, use those dinky little mirrors-they do work!

I should probably clarify that different cars will vary so you'll need to adjust a bit, but you get the basic concept.

this is how i take the situation...

cars the ONLY thing I ask of you is to use your fucking turn signals.. if you use them then I think it's the riders fault if they still get hit or something happens.

Turn signals are so easy to use and already signify to a biker that you are trying to change lanes so look out.. also to all bikers if there is a gap between cars just think to yourself that they are probably going to shuffle back and forth between lanes if there is space.. it's a safe bet and if i'm wrong then you lost 10 seconds out of your commute, but if i'm right you could be dead.

Drivers need to look in the rear and side mirrors, use their f'n blinkers AND look over their shoulders.

Just because you have your signal on does not give you the right to change lanes. Your a ass. And next time I am going to kick your door in.

























































J.k. I don't even have a bike any more.

dude.....you gotta be careful........

Variable said:

Drivers need to look in the rear and side mirrors, use their f'n blinkers AND look over their shoulders.

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If you don't ride as if they don't when lane splitting you'll end up as a bumper or door ornament sooner or later.

My 17 recommendations for sharing lanes. (I said recommendations, not rules!)

1. If traffic is moving at or near the limit, don't share.

2. Keep your speed in line with the traffic you moving through, not too fast.

3. Stay in one lane, don't weave in and out. (that is not sharing)

4. If you have flashers, use them, or flick your high beams occasionally to alert drivers you're there. In the daytime I sometimes keep my high beam on.

5. make sure you can see the rear view mirrors of the vehicles as you approach them. If you can see their mirrors, they have a bettter chance of seeing you.

6. Be VERY cautious when passing gaps in traffic, many drivers are "hole divers" and just move over without warning or necessity.

7. Watch the inside front wheels/tires of the vehicles as you move through traffic. When you see a tire turn in towards you, that's a sign they are changing lanes.

8. Don't assume that cars will use turn indicators, most don't care.

9. Toot your horn politely if someone is blocking your way. Be nice and wave them a little "thank you"after they let you pass.

10. If safe, make a polite thankyou wave after passing people. Even if it pisses them off that your sharing, they'll think it was their idea of you thank them. It is also good diplomacy for all of us.

11. Do not encourage or engage in any competitive road behavior while commuting, it only makes it harder for the rest of us who share lanes daily.

12 At night, be EXTRA cautious if you share, headlights all look the same in a rear view mirror. If you can avoid sharing at night, then don't risk it.

13. Driver's body language can tip off a lane change as well. Watch for head checking, or nervous head stuff(looking around quickly etc.)

14. Be mindful of your "6", behind you could be another rider or something else you need to be aware of.

15. Stay alert, if you get tired from too much alertness, take a break off the highway or fall back into traffic.

16. Use your signals! When you begin to share or when you get back in to a full lane. The more noticeable you are the better.
People appreciate knowing what are intentions are, as much as we appreciate knowing theirs.

17. Remember the basics of the CA Rider's Handbook and try to stay within the guidelines. Sharing is not allowed in most places (other states) and many of us depend on sharing to get places before we are 106 years old. If there is ever a law passed to ban sharing, the rest of us will lay the blame on the assholes who ruined it for everyone else. We will hunt you down and fart in your faces, or worse.

I think it is important to practice courtesy when sharing, eventually drivers will be de-sensitized and maybe even just accept that it's a fact of driving in California. They might even get to like it , knowing we will get to work or wherever way before them.....(ok, that's a lie)

#4 and #13 are really useful.

People need to use their brains...it doesn't matter HOW much right of way you had if a car hits you - you will LOSE.

When I split I do so with full paranoia. Cars shouldn't, but DO change lanes unexpectedly, without signalling, when you're SURE they saw you and just for shit and giggles it seems.

When you start assuming the worst, surprises come much less often. I've had riders surprise the crap out of me too - and like other riders when we drive, we look for bikes and can miss them. Imagine the 99% of cagers that never consider bikes.

Ride like you're invisible, because to many cars you are.

The biggest thing I have to watch while splitting is my speed relative to the cars. You've got to figure that if you're going 30 mph faster than the cars that even attentive drivers will simply never hope to see you before you are in front of them.

My rule of thumb is to keep my speed relative to the cars around 10mph and no more than 15. I'll fudge that up a bit in truly STOPPED traffic since cars are like boats and they can't steer if they aren't moving. The most difficult situation I find is when the lane to my right and the lane to my left are moving at significantly different speeds. I HATE that because it becomes impossible to keep my relative speeds low and it also makes it hard to safely find a spot and pull in.

That's just me, and it doesn mean that I don't make progress in traffic like a bike courier, but I think my ego can handle that.

Im surprised no one has chimed in on those little blind spot stick on mirrors. I put those on my cages as additional help in spotting splitters.

Ohh I don't mean the huge 3+ inch ones, the small ones that fit in the corners of your mirrors work best IMO.

-Ashby

BTW Splitting at 60 is called wreckless driving, theres a reason you arent supposed to do it over 35 mph, i split a nissan in '90 after being bumped from behind, had to be intentional, but my Seca 550 went through the trunk, halfway to the rear window, i flew over the car, as i'm laying in the #1 lane of the 405, a mile from the LAX ramp, i watched all cars involved drive away...........
Give it LOTS of room, and always have the ability to stop.

All I ask is for cagers to turn their fuckin heads. DO NOT rely on your mirrors which I know most cagers do. I'm surprised most even notice they have mirrors. It doesn't take much to look over your shoulder to make sure the coast is clear.

As for splitters, their are signs of a cager wanting to change lanes, regardless if they have their blinkers on or not. It's all a part of paying attention. Whether you split 5mph or 60mph, look for signs (slowing down, turning heads, look at the wheels, looking ahead of you, paying attention to open spots, etc.) But most of the time, I blame cagers for not practicing looking over their shoulders. You had to do it when you took the driving test, it should be habitual. I even turn my head while on my bike...I don't see it as being any different from being in a car. I learned my lesson a few months ago when some asshole truck decided to pass me on my left, while I'm in the left hand lane trying to make a left handed turn (he/she passed me in my lane). I was real close to being road kill, but God had me wait before I made my turn. I said to myself after that, all it takes is one head check to make sure the coast is clear no matter if I am in the right. Not only should you check your mirrors constantly, but turn your head right after. You never know what might apear outta no where.

Would also like to add that I do weave often, but have found that in the city it has very much saved my ass. If you do weave, use the blinkers. You could flame me but, oh well just my experience.