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CHP Lane Splitting Tips issued

CHP reissuess Lane Splitting Guidelines

Did I miss the thread?

https://www.chp.ca.gov/Programs-Services/Programs/California-Motorcyclist-Safety

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-lane-splitting-20180927-story.html

Lane%20Splitting%20Safety%20tips%20-%20Side%20one.jpg


Lane%20Splitting%20Safety%20Tips%20-%20Side%20two.jpg
 
Messages For Other Vehicles - Lane Sharing for Drivers - 1) Lane splitting by motorcycles is not illegal in California when done in a safe and prudent manner.

I don't agree with this at all! This is dangerous to motorcycles. Most especially if it's a new / beginner rider. Besides, I have never seen room for a car to lane share beside a motorcycle, within a lane. Crazy that is is even suggested, let alone a approved.

Someone please explain how this is acceptable?
 
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You’re misreading it.

Rephrased: Hey car drivers, motorcyclists are allowed to split lanes.
 
Enchanter said:
You’re misreading it.

Rephrased: Hey car drivers, motorcyclists are allowed to split lanes.
Click to expand...

Apparently, my reading comprehension is not working well for me this morning. I need another cup of joe.
 
Manimal said:
Messages For Other Vehicles - Lane Sharing for Drivers - 1) Lane splitting by motorcycles is not illegal in California when done in a safe and prudent manner.

I don't agree with this at all! This is dangerous to motorcycles. Most especially if it's a new / beginner rider. Besides, I have never seen room for a car to lane share beside a motorcycle, within a lane. Crazy that is is even suggested, let alone a approved.

Someone please explain how this is acceptable?
Click to expand...

You never pulled up next to a car at a stop sign or red light? That's lane sharing.
 
The 'for cars' section seems really aggressive and motorcycle-biased to me. I don't think people are going to take kindly to them.

They basically amount to:
A. Lane splitting is legal.
B. Get out of the way.

Not very friendly.
 
I disagree.

Straight forward legal speak and moving is a tip. Not mandatory.

Give me the public outreach. I have not seen a single news story from regular media yet.
 
From the Los Angeles Times, last week. Reporter Charles Fleming has been supportive of lane splitting information and legislation efforts for a long time. He gets the "allowed by California law" thing wrong, but otherwise it's accurately reported and good publicity for motorcycling.

Let motorcycles drive between lanes, and give them room, California Highway Patrol says

Lane splitting by motorcycles has been allowed by California law for nearly two years. Now the California Highway Patrol has issued safety guidelines on the topic — guidelines that apply not only to motorcyclists but also to drivers of cars and trucks.

The law enforcement agency also said Thursday for the first time that interfering with lane splitting is illegal.

State legislation explicitly allowing lane splitting — in which motorcycles drive in the space between traffic lanes on public roads and freeways — took effect in January 2017 and stipulated that the CHP could issue safety tips on the topic.

The resulting tip sheet, published Thursday, notes that lane splitting can be dangerous and urges “extreme caution.”

“Every rider has the ultimate responsibility for their own decision making and safety,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said in a statement.

Drivers of cars and trucks have responsibilities too. It’s illegal to intentionally block or impede a motorcyclist, including by opening a vehicle door, the CHP tip sheet says. It also says vehicles in the far left lane should move to the left part of the lane so motorcycles have room to pass on their right.
​
 
He also got this wrong: "The law enforcement agency also said Thursday for the first time that interfering with lane splitting is illegal." The original CHP guidelines said interfering was illegal, even quoted relevant vehicle code.

I know him from the Give a Shift thing, and pointed out the errors. He disagreed—somehow—and declined to fix it. So supportive, yeah, but not overly concerned with getting the facts right to the massive LA Times audience, which is unfortunate.
 
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Surj said:
He also got this wrong: "The law enforcement agency also said Thursday for the first time that interfering with lane splitting is illegal." The original CHP guidelines said interfering was illegal, even quoted relevant vehicle code.

I know him from the Give a Shift thing, and pointed out the errors. He disagreed—somehow—and declined to fix it. So supportive, yeah, but not overly concerned with getting the facts right to the massive LA Times audience, which is unfortunate.
Click to expand...

Are you saying it is acceptable to intentionally block a MC from splitting, or that his caricature of what LE said was not specifically accurate?

I would hope that it is generally illegal to interfere with anyone's lawful operation of a motor vehicle on our public roadways, and that would include blocking a splitter.
 
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ctwo said:
Are you saying it is acceptable to intentionally block a MC from splitting, or that his caricature of what LE said was not specifically accurate?

I would hope that it is generally illegal to interfere with anyone's lawful operation of a motor vehicle on our public roadways, and that would include blocking a splitter.
Click to expand...

:laughing Do you really think I'd say that?

Fleming's article said: "The law enforcement agency also said Thursday for the first time that interfering with lane splitting is illegal."

The original CHP Lane Splitting Guidelines included this:

Lane Splitting Messages for Drivers
1. Lane splitting by motorcycles is not illegal in California when done in a safe and prudent manner.
2. Motorists should not take it upon themselves to discourage motorcyclists from lane splitting.
3. Intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm to the rider is illegal (CVC 22400).
4. Opening a vehicle door to impede a motorcycle is illegal (CVC 22517).
5. Never drive while distracted.

Ergo, this is not the first time the CHP has said "interfering with lane splitting is illegal." It was in the original guidelines, and talked about by officers in the media quite a bit afterward. CHP has had our back on interfering being illegal for years.
 
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Manimal said:
I have never seen room for a car to lane share beside a motorcycle, within a lane. Crazy that is is even suggested, let alone a approved.

Someone please explain how this is acceptable?
Click to expand...

Back in 1979 I learned to lane split while stationed in Japan and it
wasn't really an option because the Japanese government actively
encouraged riders to split lanes rather than claim a lane because of
the never ending congestion and I learned dispute it being really
tight most times... more tight than lane splitting in the wide open
spaces in California... we have much more room to maneuver...

Accidents are rare but I had one close call while navigating in the
perverted traffic of Tokyo... it happen at speed as I inched forward
between an Isuzu and Hino dual wheel cargo trucks... the space between
them gradually narrows to nothing... then clank... my Z400FX Kawasaki
handle bars were captured against the sides of both trucks in perfect
formation... so there I was sitting on my bike unable to steer because
my handle bars were stuck on the trucks... well I figured it was time
to jettison the whole mess... so I grabbed the cattle guards on the
Hino and proceeded to climb aboard... as my weight wiggles the Hino
the driver "Pops" (all Japanese truck drivers are called Pops) looks
in his rear view mirror... he gives me that look like where did you
come from... then he sees the Kawasaki appendage to his Hino and so he
veers left... now my poor Kawasaki is free but riderless and all I
could think about was getting back in the saddle and saving it... so I
made a leap for the bars Rodeo style... and to my surprised I made it
but the front wheel shimmies about violently... I didn't wait for
words... I rolled on the gas and make the first exit... I parked at a
noodle shop to take it all in... I was hungry but a wreck... my hands
and knees shook uncontrollably slurping hot noodles... I shall never
forget it...

My Z400FX Kawie with Honda RS250 fairing...
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Lane splitting Japan... .......................Hirotoshi Honda @ Mt Fuji Motor Circuit...
 

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Busy Little Shop, that's a helluva story! Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you made it through ok.
 
Whoa...
“... then he sees the Kawasaki appendage to his Hino and so he
veers left... now my poor Kawasaki is free but riderless and all I
could think about was getting back in the saddle and saving it... so I made a leap for the bars Rodeo style... and to my surprised I made it but the front wheel shimmies about violently... I didn't wait for words... I rolled on the gas and make the first exit”

Cool story bro. Worthy of its own thread...
 
Lanesplittingislegal.com has a comprehensive list of info here. http://lanesplittingislegal.com/resources-links

Surj and I will be talking splitting with the State of Oregon next week and this is such a great resource. Give me something to study before the meeting. :cool
 
Busy Little Shop said:
Back in 1979 I learned to lane split while stationed in Japan and it
wasn't really an option because the Japanese government actively
encouraged riders to split lanes rather than claim a lane because of
the never ending congestion and I learned dispute it being really
tight most times... more tight than lane splitting in the wide open
spaces in California... we have much more room to maneuver...

Accidents are rare but I had one close call while navigating in the
perverted traffic of Tokyo... it happen at speed as I inched forward
between an Isuzu and Hino dual wheel cargo trucks... the space between
them gradually narrows to nothing... then clank... my Z400FX Kawasaki
handle bars were captured against the sides of both trucks in perfect
formation... so there I was sitting on my bike unable to steer because
my handle bars were stuck on the trucks... well I figured it was time
to jettison the whole mess... so I grabbed the cattle guards on the
Hino and proceeded to climb aboard... as my weight wiggles the Hino
the driver "Pops" (all Japanese truck drivers are called Pops) looks
in his rear view mirror... he gives me that look like where did you
come from... then he sees the Kawasaki appendage to his Hino and so he
veers left... now my poor Kawasaki is free but riderless and all I
could think about was getting back in the saddle and saving it... so I
made a leap for the bars Rodeo style... and to my surprised I made it
but the front wheel shimmies about violently... I didn't wait for
words... I rolled on the gas and make the first exit... I parked at a
noodle shop to take it all in... I was hungry but a wreck... my hands
and knees shook uncontrollably slurping hot noodles... I shall never
forget it...

My Z400FX Kawie with Honda RS250 fairing...

Lane splitting Japan... .......................Hirotoshi Honda @ Mt Fuji Motor Circuit...
Click to expand...

Nice save! Honestly though, that sounds about the same as a typical San Francisco Commuter split. Our shit is threading the needele every day, usually you have to swing the bike from side to side to veer your bars past Mirrors, because you wouldn't fit otherwise.
 
CMSP Meeting and the Lane Splitting Tips

I attended the CMSP Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday and of course the CHP announced that they issued the Tips.

I asked when we would see the media blitz for this and the answer was not until spring of next year as their media package is complete for '18 and it would have to be in next years effort.

Disappointing, but I get it. Nick H from the AMA noted that they have a LS Video when the original guidelines came out and that was taken down when the whole deal went sideways (as explained in the BONE LS Podcast).

He was able to find that and I hope we see some of this moving forward next year.

Here that is FYI.

[YOUTUBE]3rTsEazcGwg[/YOUTUBE]
 
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