*The definitive laneSHARING thread*

[highonF4i]

.

 

[rumpofsteelskin]

Crikey. How is it that this thread was never stickied? IS THERE NO JUSTICE IN THIS CRUEL WORLD?

 

[donjumpsuit]

To everyone who rides FROM the Richmond bridge north on 580, TO where it joins the 101N in San Rafael (construction these days).

When the two lanes merge into one, I was basically walking my bike (both feet off pegs) past the cagers merging by passing them straddling on the right hand solid line side at 5 mph.

During this time there was a motorcycle LEO parked in the break-down lane at exactly the merge point. He saw me pop out, (at 5mph mind you), pointed at me, pointed at the ground next to him, pulled out his ticket book and started writing.

STARTED WRITING!

Was I traveling at unreasonable speeds? NO
Was I acting like a jackass? NO
Was I putting anyone in Danger (including self)? NO

He told me I cannot pass on the right, PERIOD.

He told me I can split up to the lane merge and then squish myself into the cagers to merge.

The moral of this story is to my understanding is Lane sharing is a myth, and lane splitting is the actuality of it all. In order to laneshare/split, you need two lanes to split. So when in doubt make sure there are two lanes to split. This includes hwy merges, onramp merges, stoplight with any turn lane and forward lane.


These are the rules I follow according to my swift correction by the LEO.

 

[Junkie]

if you were straddling the right hand solid line, you were riding on the shoulder. if you had kept on the left side of it, you would've been fine.


what did he write you for?

 

[donjumpsuit]

The ticket was for "Passing on the right"

If I was straddling it was a matter of fact rather than a purposeful act, I wasn't attempting to ride the breakdown lane the whole way out, probably just trying to avoid a merged car still stuck to the far right of the lane.

 

[WFO]

Funny - When I was riding back from Laguna Seca on the Friday practice day, I got stuck in the traffic between Castroville and Pajaro (Highway 1 is only two opposing lanes on this stretch.) Three CHPs on Beamers road past everyone on the shoulder. There were never any incidents further up the road when it turned back into freeway. I love how cops break the law whenever it suits them.

 

[Lester Green]

Question: If for instance I'm on Hwy 9 double yellow and all that. If the car moves to the right slightly and i go around the car on the left side, sharing the lane and never cross over the double yellow. could that be considered lane sharing? could i be cited?

My guess is yes.

 

[Junkie]

yes, it can be considered lane sharing.

yes, it can also be considered unsafe passing in the same lane, depending on how far over they went. if they're 75% out of the lane, odds are you're fine. if they're 75% in the lane, odds are you aren't.

 

[QuaiChangKane]

And to bump yet another dormant thread....



Great practical info from everyone, and good on the LEOs for offering their understanding of the VC as it can be applied to lane splitting (yeah, I said it).

Just one comment and one question:

First, for those who are complaining of unfair persecution for splitting, you should try to understand that the CVC is HUUUUGE, and not every LEO can have a full understanding of each code by both the letter and spirit of the law at all times. As with a lot of other occupations, I'd imagine that most traffic patrol LEOs have a solid general understanding of most of the CVC and a better understanding of any city/county codes as they apply in their own jurisdiction - but never a 100% knowledge of everything all the time. As they encounter traffic trends, their knowledge will change as they start citing for different codes, and because of this, their overall memory of the CVC will be constantly changing depending on what codes (if any) their department or superiors like to pay special attention for, and what current trends those on patrol encounter.

In other words, a traffic officer's job is to enforce the CVC and local vehicle codes in order to keep all road users/bystanders/property owners safe from undue harm. If you feel that a particular officer misinterpreted the CVC, profiled you, or wrongly cited you - just collect your facts and negotiate with the judge - or get an attorney. You can't expect every officer to know the nuances of every code at all times - especially over something with so many potential applicable codes (yet something that's not even fully defined) as lane splitting.


Secondly, a question for the LEOs - the two-lane road issue. I have read in several places that it is only legal to split if the lane you're riding in has a stripe on each side - meaning both the center line and fog line are necessary to define the boundaries of each lane. If there is no stripe on right side of the lane, then you are technically passing on the shoulder if you split past someone on the right. IIRC, when I was reviewing snippets from the CVC, it said something to the effect that any deviance from the common path of traffic within a lane with no right-side boundary is considered driving on the shoulder. In essence, this could make it illegal to split on a two-lane road with no shoulder stripe, or in the right-most lane of a multiple lane road where the lane has no shoulder stripe.

Can any of the LEOs clarify this?


And many thanks again to BudMan for starting the LEO forum, and to the LEOs who take their time to moderate and answer questions here - this is a great resource. And gawd only knows that the last thing I want to do when I get home from my day job is to continue working (off the clock!) by answering even more CVC questions online....



Cheers,


-Q!

 

[JPM]

........

Secondly, a question for the LEOs - the two-lane road issue. I have read in several places that it is only legal to split if the lane you're riding in has a stripe on each side - meaning both the center line and fog line are necessary to define the boundaries of each lane. If there is no stripe on right side of the lane, then you are technically passing on the shoulder if you split past someone on the right. IIRC, when I was reviewing snippets from the CVC, it said something to the effect that any deviance from the common path of traffic within a lane with no right-side boundary is considered driving on the shoulder. In essence, this could make it illegal to split on a two-lane road with no shoulder stripe, or in the right-most lane of a multiple lane road where the lane has no shoulder stripe.

Can any of the LEOs clarify this?


.........

-Q!

21755 VC-part about driving off pavement or main-traveled portion of the roadway.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21755.htm

 

[V-Rod Chet]

This is a great thread, after reading all this, I wonder: Is it ok NOT to split lanes? Sometimes I just putt in traffic till I get bored. I'll dummy-up and ride the braille if lane splitting is the rule

 

[JPM]

This is a great thread, after reading all this, I wonder: Is it ok NOT to split lanes? Sometimes I just putt in traffic till I get bored. I'll dummy-up and ride the braille if lane splitting is the rule

I never split traffic when I'm at work unless I'm trying to get to a call. Only because there is no reason to hurry to one side of the city just to turn around and go back to the other side.
Also it’s funny to see a bike split partway up until they see me sitting in traffic and they stop and try to blend in. If they think it is illegal then why do it in the first place?

 

[NorCalBusa]

I never split traffic when I'm at work unless I'm trying to get to a call. Only because there is no reason to hurry to one side of the city just to turn around and go back to the other side.
Also it’s funny to see a bike split partway up until they see me sitting in traffic and they stop and try to blend in. If they think it is illegal then why do it in the first place?

Wait a second; so you guys find shade, look cool, check yourselves out in big store windows, observe violators AND can see some dude splitting lanes way back?

 

[Junkie]

This is a great thread, after reading all this, I wonder: Is it ok NOT to split lanes? Sometimes I just putt in traffic till I get bored. I'll dummy-up and ride the braille if lane splitting is the rule

please don't actually ride the braille

 

[V-Rod Chet]

Junkie, I was just metaphorically speaking

 

[JPM]

Wait a second; so you guys find shade, look cool, check yourselves out in big store windows, observe violators AND can see some dude splitting lanes way back?

I'm a legend in my own mind.

 

[Sharke]

lane share when prudent and if you are being not so prudent..(technical way hehe) then don't do it when cops are around. I have no problem bypassing slowpokes in the fast lane but only if I feel it safe. Take the law and use your experience and wisdom and I am sure we will all make it through the high quality ..(BAH HA HA..sorry) roads of this state

 

[Mistyz]

I had a Moto Officer get on his intercom and tell me lanesplitting was illegal. Then he took off lansplitting

In hindsight, I was very new, probably wobbly, and he was probably trying to get me to consider my skill level and not become a skid mark on the freeway of life.

Great thread, thanks for posting it as a sticky.

 

[Razel]

I had a Moto Officer get on his intercom and tell me lanesplitting was illegal. Then he took off lansplitting

In hindsight, I was very new, probably wobbly, and he was probably trying to get me to consider my skill level and not become a skid mark on the freeway of life.

Great thread, thanks for posting it as a sticky.

Lane splitting is illegal. Lane sharing isn't...

 

[Mistyz]

Lane splitting is illegal. Lane sharing isn't...

Its all about the details.

 

[blackOnblack]

What if you're on a 1 laned, 2 way "highway". (ie: 25, one lane going each direction). When traffic stops, do you take to the shoulder to continue on, or do you dare "share" to the left of the vehicle towards the middle of the road?

 

[Razel]

What if you're on a 1 laned, 2 way "highway". (ie: 25, one lane going each direction). When traffic stops, do you take to the shoulder to continue on, or do you dare "share" to the left of the vehicle towards the middle of the road?

It's attention-grabbing, and most likey to be followed by a "discussion", maybe even insistance on your autograph.

 

[JPM]

What if you're on a 1 laned, 2 way "highway". (ie: 25, one lane going each direction). When traffic stops, do you take to the shoulder to continue on, or do you dare "share" to the left of the vehicle towards the middle of the road?

If there is room on the left without any part of you or your bike crossing into the oncoming lane, and it’s done at a reasonable speed, it’s legal. Riding the shoulder is illegal.
If you search there have been a number of threads on this.

 

[Mickey_D100]

I've seen the question asked here in this thread, but I'm still not 100% clear - on a highway like 92W that gets completely bogged on weekends, with one lane going each way, according to JPM above it is legal to share a lane on the left provided that it can be done safely (questionable in the first place, since you'll be even closer to oncoming traffic) and completely within the space between cars on the right and the double yellow on the left.

However, is it legal to share on the right between the fog line and the cars on your left, provided you're not actually crossing the fog line and therefore, by JPM's definition, not riding the shoulder? I've read the VC that passing on the right is illegal, but does this apply in that situation?

I've seen definitive answers like JPM's regarding sharing to the left of stopped cars but haven't seen a statement regarding the acceptance of sharing on the right provided it is done entirely within a lane? I did a search but there's so many results it was tough to find anything. Based on JPM's statement that "If there is room on the left without any part of you or your bike crossing into the oncoming lane, and it’s done at a reasonable speed, it’s legal", it applies to either side of the lane, but just wanted to check.

Obviously, for those reading, IF right-side sharing is legal, one should take extra care when approaching a ride-side exit or a right turn opportunity. I currently don't share on the right side of a two-lane highway because of the questionable legality but if the answer is "yes, it's acceptable", it is something I would consider in certain situations, with the caveat of heightened vigilance in those scenarios.

 

[Mickey_D100]

I've seen the question asked here in this thread, but I'm still not 100% clear - on a highway like 92W that gets completely bogged on weekends, with one lane going each way, according to JPM above it is legal to share a lane on the left provided that it can be done safely (questionable in the first place, since you'll be even closer to oncoming traffic) and completely within the space between cars on the right and the double yellow on the left.

However, is it legal to share on the right between the fog line and the cars on your left, provided you're not actually crossing the fog line and therefore, by JPM's definition, not riding the shoulder? I've read the VC that passing on the right is illegal, but does this apply in that situation?

I've seen definitive answers like JPM's regarding sharing to the left of stopped cars but haven't seen a statement regarding the acceptance of sharing on the right provided it is done entirely within a lane? I did a search but there's so many results it was tough to find anything. Based on JPM's statement that "If there is room on the left without any part of you or your bike crossing into the oncoming lane, and it’s done at a reasonable speed, it’s legal", it applies to either side of the lane, but just wanted to check.

Obviously, for those reading, IF right-side sharing is legal, one should take extra care when approaching a ride-side exit or a right turn opportunity. I currently don't share on the right side of a two-lane highway because of the questionable legality but if the answer is "yes, it's acceptable", it is something I would consider in certain situations, with the caveat of heightened vigilance in those scenarios.

I was able to find this just now. Here is an excellent post by MM4L (as usual ). My understanding is that it MAY be written as unsafe passing on the right, but that YMMV and that you assume a higher risk of write up when doing it on the right. Would that be the correct way to look at it?

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/f...2983018&highlight=laneshar*+right#post2983018