34 replies to this topic

[bayarearider]

...in the interest of Moto safety month.

http://m.mercurynews...ntguid=als8YvK4

[realistdreamer]

It's legal, but not the way most of us do it. Most folks are polite enough to move to one side of the lane. It is also clear who pays attention to their rearview and who gets surprised by loud pipes.

In my cage, I'm occasionally startled, but I have never yanked the steering wheel and almost crashed into the next lane as I see some do.

[Monk]

Maybe CHP could post that lane splitting is legal on their lighted signs for a day once a month for a while to clue the public in............ And if they don't want to do that, maybe post that it's "Illigal" to block traffic that are splitting.........

[Beck]

Most of the people against it in CA are people who just moved in from other states and are not used to it and most of them as noted don't even know it is legal. That's the only reason it's even an issue with the media. It's not like there's a whole bunch of cars and bikes getting into accidents everyday because of lane splitting.
And yes, I've encountered stupid cage drivers who try to block lane splitting motorcyclist maybe because they feel envious they are stuck in dead stop traffic and cannot move forward like us bikers.
The bad thing is, I have read through the years that most CA LEOs (I think it was mostly City Biker columns) will place most responsibility for any lane splitting related accidents on the motorcyclist even though there could be evidence that a cage driver caused it either by inattention or malice. So it's not like the law over here really supports lane splitting, but I guess it has been legal here for so long that the LEOs and state politicians are afraid of the consequent protests from the motorcycle community if they try to make it illegal to lane split.

Beck
95 VFR

[mk2davis]

I asked about lane splitting while in my MRE class. According to the instructor, while lane splitting is not illegal (and he was making the distinction between "not illegal" and "legal"), there are laws that would seem to be against it. The only one I recall right now is something about control or right to your lane, which belongs to the cage. Therefore, as it was explained to me, the rider assumes all responsibility.

[Monk]

I asked about lane splitting while in my MRE class. According to the instructor, while lane splitting is not illegal (and he was making the distinction between "not illegal" and "legal"), there are laws that would seem to be against it. The only one I recall right now is something about control or right to your lane, which belongs to the cage. Therefore, as it was explained to me, the rider assumes all responsibility.

There's is a law in all cases that says a person that has the right of way can not take the right of way knowing that there will be contact if it can be avoided.

[mk2davis]

The instructor was implying that the cage has the right of way.

*The above does not apply. sorry Monk, helps if I read all of your words before I reply.

I think your statement depends on if the driver admits he knew you were there. It seems like they would fall back on the typical "He came out of nowhere. . . " When the information is presented like that, it seems like the rider would be liable. It is my understanding that although are able to split lanes, that doesn't mean we have the right. As long as we watch out for the idiots, we should be alright.

Edited by mk2davis, 09 May 2012 - 05:06 PM.

[realistdreamer]

From http://www.chp.ca.go...ml/answers.html

Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?

Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and

prudent manner

I'm always safe and prudent

[mk2davis]

So you can, but if something happens then you shouldn't have.

[realistdreamer]

So you can, but if something happens then you shouldn't have.

Pretty much