• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Beyond what speed do you avoid freeway lane sharing?

Beyond what speed do you avoid freeway lane sharing?

  • 0 mph

    Votes: 2 1.1%

  • 10 mph

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • 20 mph

    Votes: 8 4.6%

  • 30 mph

    Votes: 28 16.0%

  • 40 mph

    Votes: 58 33.1%

  • 50 mph

    Votes: 27 15.4%

  • 60 mph

    Votes: 20 11.4%

  • 70 mph

    Votes: 31 17.7%
  • Total voters
    175
pannayar

pannayar

e^ipi+1=0
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Location
The Pale Blue Dot
Moto(s)
SV650s ('02)
Beyond what speed(s) do you generally try to avoid lane sharing on the freeway? For example zero means you do it only when the cars are stopped.

EDIT: If you 'split at any speed' or looking for a 100 mph in the options, then choose 70 for the poll.
 
Last edited:
Your need 1 more option for I split at any speed when I can safely split.
 
pannayar said:
Beyond what speed(s) do you generally try to avoid lane sharing on the freeway? For example zero means you do it only when the cars are stopped.
Click to expand...

I try to follow the new guidelines, so 40mph for me. If you had asked a year ago my answer would have been higher.
 
Typically if traffic is going over 40 I fall back into traffic. Otherwise I split up to 35 mph because I'm also trying to be good and follow chp guidelines. Rarely I'll do it at up to 50.
 
sfcootz said:
Typically if traffic is going over 40 I fall back into traffic. Otherwise I split up to 35 mph because I'm also trying to be good and follow chp guidelines. Rarely I'll do it at up to 50.
Click to expand...

I was looking for 35 too. That has been my guide line for a long time, just not worth the risk at a higher speed for me.
 
Can you add a "over 100mph" choice to your poll? I kinda feel dishonest if I pick anything else.
 
newbiker said:
YUP...:)
Click to expand...

You started riding this year, right? You should take a moment to think deeply about whether you have the skills and knowledge to legitimately make a call on whether you can "split at any speed you can safely split." The way you're saying it here, I'd guess you're splitting pretty fast.

I used to split a lot faster, and I'll still occasionally split faster than the CHP lane splitting guidelines. Admittedly, the speed component is the hardest part to follow—I've been splitting lanes for 25+ years and it's easy to get comfortable at way higher speeds. But I'm keenly aware of the potential effects of fast splitting, in terms of driver hate, road rage, and our ability to continue splitting legally so I generally try keep it within the guidelines nowadays. I wish more riders would do this too—the actions of a few affect us all.
 
Depends on the situation. I will never split if the left lane is going much faster than the one to my right (IE. Carpool Lane).

Otherwise I will split whenever I can. However, I do avoid splitting a lot when there is no shoulder to the left of the number one lane. Cars tend to get nervous without that buffer zone and then to hug more to the right leaving a much tighter space for you to work with.

I also never split in an area with a big merge as traffic can do sudden and stupid things at those times.

I split at any speed but I don't split at a fast pace.
 
When I feel the need to shift past second gear it's time to merge back in with traffic. That's the rule that I use.

When I used to commute on I-680, I would keep up with the other bikes through the slow part in Fremont where the road turns east, but as soon as traffic started to pick up speed there, most of the other bikes were soon out of sight. I don't feel safe splitting when I'm traveling beyond about 30 mph.
 
There is no speed commonly encountered on a public road above which I will not lane-share.

I'm much less likely to do it above 45-ish, though.
 
Usually fall into traffic once it starts flowing at around 45-55mph. Though there are times when 2-3 cars like to hold hands and go at 65mph across all three lanes without separation, then i'll split just to get past the moving roadblock.
 
Above 40-50 mph I change from splitting to passing.
 
Since the CHP guidlines have come out I tend to follow that advise. So once traffic gets up to 30 or so I tend to fall back in with traffic.:ride
 
When the ambient traffic hits around 30 mph, I max out at about 40, depending on my familiarity with the location.

I tend to look at it by risk/reward. 40/30 is a 33% improvement in speed. 50/40 is only 25%, and not really worth it to me in terms of time saved.
 
The speed limit's 65 on most bay area freeways last time I checked :teeth

If some asshat's doing 50 in the HOV lane when the traffic next to them moving at the same speed I'll pass them.
 
I do what I deem is safe. Some roads/situations I won't split passed 30, other times I am splitting much faster. Typically I split around 40ish.

As Gary already hinted though there is rarely "traffic" moving at 50-60, so at that point you are just passing really rather than splitting.
 
I won't split faster than second gear, which is about 25-30 on my bike. If traffic is moving faster than that, I don't need to split.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top