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Splitting Lanes?

Chuci and I got into a 100+ mph lane split one day after Sears Point on the 80W... I got ran into the shoulder by a cage and that slowed us down a bit... for a few miles :)
 
One thing I learned the other day.....

Lane splitting where 3 lanes become 2 is a not a good idea at any speed. :eek (but hey..I was running late :D)
 
engineboy said:
One thing I learned the other day.....

Lane splitting where 3 lanes become 2 is a not a good idea at any speed. :eek (but hey..I was running late :D)
Click to expand...

I call those situations "zippers". Not a good thing in which to be caught! :teeth
 
I actually printed this thread so I could read it. I have to split lanes everyday on the way home from work going from Petaluma to Santa Rosa. I hate it so much so that I don't even want to ride to work anymore.

Here is my question. The California Motor Vehicle code is conviently online. Does anyone know if lane splitting is specifically addressed in the code? And if so, where?

Thanks. :devil
 
This is all good 411, thanks. I was lane splitting the other day in Santa Cruz on 1 before Soquel and this Jeep Cherokee started to turn into me trying to pinch me off, I was in 1st gear and gassed it real quick to get by and accidentally pulled a wheelie for like 5-10 feet. :teeth Yes, while lane splitting, it hella freaked me out but I controlled it by hitting the rear brakes and setting her down easy. I then gave it a little gas so peeps around me thought that I meant to do it cause I love to look good... :cool
 
Lots of good stuff here, follow it... I use light flashers (mine are made by Kisan, there are other manufacturer's).. I'll say this: THEY WORK!! Folks often will make way for you or if you hang so the flashers hit their side mirror, they will see you 99% of the time (now, what they do is another thinng...)

I commute from Sonoma to San Rafael during the work week, I will split usually from ALameda Del Prado through Central San Rafael... If you do alot of splitting, get the flashers!
 
yah...what everyone else said...

i split at every light i get to...unless in a group and then its at 90%

on the freeway i've been as stupid as to split at 100+ mph in the past...haven't done that in a while...

whatever you feel comfortable with...but splitting on the freeway is hard work...takes 110% concentration...

splitting at a light is a lot easier =)
 
JaganRR said:

Here is my question. The California Motor Vehicle code is conviently online. Does anyone know if lane splitting is specifically addressed in the code? And if so, where?
Click to expand...

I don't think it is, either for or against it. It's up to the cops to use their judgement as to whether you are splitting safely or not. If you're weaving, you can get cited for unsafe lane change, if you're speeding- self explanitory.

CA Laws- http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
 
JaganRR said:
I actually printed this thread so I could read it. I have to split lanes everyday on the way home from work going from Petaluma to Santa Rosa. I hate it so much so that I don't even want to ride to work anymore.

Here is my question. The California Motor Vehicle code is conviently online. Does anyone know if lane splitting is specifically addressed in the code? And if so, where?

Thanks. :devil
Click to expand...

Although I don't remember the section/page/whatever, I do remember looking this up. It IS legal in California to split lanes. Here are the two laws which pertain to this specifically:

1) You may pass between vehicles if you are going no more than 10 mph faster than the vehicles you are passing between.

2) You may pass between vehicles if you are going no faster than 20 mph.

It is obvious that these laws are not enforced to the letter, but are more of a guideline. When pulled over I asked the motorcycle officer about this and was told "I only go after lane splitters if they are being wreckless or speeding( exceeding the posted speed limit while lane splitting )".

Personally, I never wait in line at a red light.
On the freeway, I generally only split lanes when traffic is going slower than 30 mph or I'm trying to get over to another lane.
 
wolf2600 said:


I don't think it is, either for or against it. It's up to the cops to use their judgement as to whether you are splitting safely or not. If you're weaving, you can get cited for unsafe lane change, if you're speeding- self explanitory.

CA Laws- http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Click to expand...

This is my understanding as well, at least the last time I checked several years ago.
 
well my uncle is a Santa Clara bike cop and i asked him this same question. this is what he told me...splitting lanes is not illegal, but you have to do it right. if you cross over the center line you have to signal the direction your going, if not that is liable for a ticket. Also if you are splitting lanes faster than 50mph that is reckless driving. He said they are not that worried about bikes splittin lanes as long as they do it safely...if you know you can't fit in don't do it because if you hit a car then you are liable for the accident and the ticket.
 
Some have already mentioned this but I wanted to give my testimony as well...

I don't always split lanes at intersections unless traffic is stacked more than 5 cars back (give or take a few).

On the freeway, I always use my high beams splitting between bogged down traffic. You'd be surprised at how many cagers will actually pull to the side to give you more room.

I have also noticed that the cages that are most likely to give you the squeeze or just cut you off, will have a driver yapping on a cell phone.
 
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