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Lanesplitting rider killed

We need to require sailing lessons before issuing DL's, where the concept of "standing on" is as important as giving way.

Besides, everyone would be happier.
 
Hoppalong said:
They're not staring at you blankly, they're staring at you in disbelief (as am I).
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So you'd prefer when people erratically swerve out of the way for you when you're splitting, as opposed to staying where they are and being predictable? The lanes in CA are plenty wide enough for both a car and motorcycle to fit. No reason for them to swerve out of the way for us, and again, I'd prefer predictability over crazy movements that can confuse or scare other inattentive drivers.

I'd genuinely like to hear your reasoning behind this.
 
295566 said:
So you'd prefer when people erratically swerve out of the way for you when you're splitting, as opposed to staying where they are and being predictable? The lanes in CA are plenty wide enough for both a car and motorcycle to fit. No reason for them to swerve out of the way for us, and again, I'd prefer predictability over crazy movements that can confuse or scare other inattentive drivers.

I'd genuinely like to hear your reasoning behind this.
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What you call "erratically swerve out of the way" I call acknowledging my presence and extending courtesy to me.

What you call "staying where they are and being predictable" might actually be that they don't know I'm there, or worse.

And as to why they might be staring in disbelief? you're talking about forcing your way into their already established lane position. You're like the ungrateful house guest that complains about the accommodations.
 
Hoppalong said:
What you call "erratically swerve out of the way" I call acknowledging my presence and extending courtesy to me.

What you call "staying where they are and being predictable" might actually be that they don't know I'm there, or worse.

And as to why they might be staring in disbelief? you're talking about forcing your way into their already established lane position. You're like the ungrateful house guest that complains about the accommodations.
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:rofl Now you're making statements about my character?

650x366


Look how much fuckin' room there is in those CA lanes. As stated above, plenty of room for a motorycle and car to occupy that space, without either having to alter their path. Sure, the thought is nice, but I'd rather them drive predictably. Unpredictable behavior is what causes collisions, and in case you haven't heard, those usually end up poorly for motorcyclists.

EDIT: I think you're confused.

I'm not saying ALL PEOPLE THAT PULL OVER A BIT ARE BAD. I don't mind that. What I'm really saying is those people who are driving, don't see you until you're at their rear bumper, then swerve into the shoulder quickly to "make room." IMO that's not "acknowledging my presence and extending courtesy to me," it's erratic and unpredictable, and I'd rather prefer they stay where they're at.
 
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295566 said:
:rofl Now you're making statements about my character?
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Yes, you're an ungrateful house guest. There, I've said it!

295566 said:
What I'm really saying is those people who are driving, don't see you until you're at their rear bumper, then swerve into the shoulder quickly to "make room." IMO that's not "acknowledging my presence and extending courtesy to me," it's erratic and unpredictable
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Potato, tomato.
 
Want to move a little? Cool. But please don't leave the roadway to make room for me.

I've been splitting lanes since the early eighties, and rode through the motorcycling boom of the nineties when there were more motos on the road. I didn't need it then, and don't need or want it now.
 
Enchanter said:
Want to move a little? Cool. But please don't leave the roadway to make room for me.

I've been splitting lanes since the early eighties, and rode through the motorcycling boom of the nineties when there were more motos on the road. I didn't need it then, and don't need or want it now.
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I agree with this completely but I’ll take the swerve out of the way over the old school 90’s swerving to block me any day! :laughing
 
I'm in the boat that I wish cars would keep doing what they're doing. There's enough room for me to fit.

If they swerve over real quick, it's a red flag to me. Maybe they're not moving for me, maybe they got spooked by something and they might swerve right back too far the other way. Just drive normal and I'll get through. If there's not enough room, I'll wait til there is.
 
Kurosaki said:
I'm in the boat that I wish cars would keep doing what they're doing. There's enough room for me to fit.

If they swerve over real quick, it's a red flag to me. Maybe they're not moving for me, maybe they got spooked by something and they might swerve right back too far the other way. Just drive normal and I'll get through. If there's not enough room, I'll wait til there is.
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Get outta here with your logic. :x
 
295566 said:
Get outta here with your logic. :x
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You can come over here with your logic. I want drivers around me to act calmly and predictably. I can totally see some reactionary swerving because they’ve spotted me.... right into the guy splitting the other side. “Immediately hug the far edge of the lane if you see a motorcycle approaching from the rear” said no statute or drivers handbook ever. I like being acknowledged... with a howdy finger :thumbup
 
mjj said:
You can come over here with your logic. I want drivers around me to act calmly and predictably. I can totally see some reactionary swerving because they’ve spotted me.... right into the guy splitting the other side. “Immediately hug the far edge of the lane if you see a motorcycle approaching from the rear” said no statute or drivers handbook ever. I like being acknowledged... with a howdy finger :thumbup
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Perhaps you missed the sarcasm in my post. If you scroll up a ways, you'll see that I stated pretty much the exact same thing that I quoted... hence my sarcasm.
 
295566 said:
Perhaps you missed the sarcasm in my post. If you scroll up a ways, you'll see that I stated pretty much the exact same thing that I quoted... hence my sarcasm.
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Totally did miss it! Also am just noticing this is/was an R.I.P. thread... sorry... there’s probably a better place to have this discussion.
 
Great thread, I'd like to add some bits earned from experience:

1. Know your bike. Every bike has a different width and low-speed character. I promise myself five months to get truly in-sync with a new bike before splitting. You might find a new bike has potentialy tight-squeeze contact points you didn't expect (esp with luggage).

2. In the neighborhood, some roads are just no good for splitting, or some blocks of specific roads. Older towns are inconsistent.

3. Road rage from cagers is a reality. Many years ago I had a pickup driver on I-405 in LA deliberately swerve-over and try to door me as I passed at a low delta, maybe only 3-5mph, but at 25mph overall rather than 65. He was in a mood to violently take out his traffic jam frustration on random people. In the wrong, but his intent's not important to my medical bill if I hadn't been able to dodge! After that I stopped splitting on the interstate, because those unpredictable idiots are real. Splitting at intersections is a safety move, splitting on the highway is just impatience. Meditate, follow the way, ctfo.
 
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Joker B said:
Great thread, I'd like to add some bits earned from experience:

1. Know your bike. Every bike has a different width and low-speed character. I promise myself five months to get truly in-sync with a new bike before splitting. You might find a new bike has potentialy tight-squeeze contact points you didn't expect (esp with luggage).

2. In the neighborhood, some roads are just no good for splitting, or some blocks of specific roads. Older towns are inconsistent.

3. Road rage from cagers is a reality. Many years ago I had a pickup driver on I-405 in LA deliberately swerve-over and try to door me as I passed at a low delta, maybe only 3-5mph, but at 25mph overall rather than 65. He was in a mood to violently take out his traffic jam frustration on random people. In the wrong, but his intent's not important to my medical bill if I hadn't been able to dodge! After that I stopped splitting on the interstate, because those unpredictable idiots are real. Splitting at intersections is a safety move, splitting on the highway is just impatience. Meditate, follow the way, ctfo.
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This. I sometimes split at intersections, but rarely anywhere else. Then again, I'm not a highway commuter who rides the same stretch of road day and day out. I also have a fairly wide bagger and I'm afraid I might clip something if it's fairly tight or a driver weaves toward the line just as I'm getting close to passing.

Not long ago I had a situation on 580 northbound near Emeryville where there are right hand merges with 123. Normally, cars slow down as they try to merge right while at the exact same time cars are trying to merge left. It's a poorly designed mess. Anyway, instead of slowing and carefully merging right while continuing forward, the jackass in front of me actually came to a fairly sudden stop, in the middle of the freeway, forcing me to take evasive action. There was a sedan to my left, so I had to ride the line to swerve and get around him, which kind freaked out the driver of the sedan, understandably. I came very close to clipping the jackass's bumper =:-O
I really hate that merge. It confuses the hell out people.
 
I agree with those who say the delta was too big for comfort I would have tucked in and went 65mph. I probably would have been atgatt and likely the HD rider wasn't but I doubt the gear would have helped. Instead of saying "ride safe" a instructor once said "ride smart"
was now his motto. Seemed good to me so "ride smart" you guys.
 
Because this happened 3 years ago, US DOT crash data is now available.

Speed differential was bad enough, but the deceased rider had a BAC of 0.19, a suspended license, and 2 previous suspensions.
 
RobSmith87 said:
Is this topic no longer relevant? Or am I confusing something.:cool
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Here at BARF we don't tend to keep one thread going for years and years as is common on some other motorcycle forums. But so far, somebody resurrects this one about once a year. Did you have any specific question on the subject?


Interesting side note: my last post here was a week before I moved out of California permanently. Every once in a while I miss the ability to legally split lanes.
 
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