Lane splitting is fun - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

AwwsChwA · 09-21-2004, 02:05 PM

This morning in San Diego there was a total block of the I-15 freeway, both directions. I decided to try lane splitting for the first time. It wasn't has hard as I thought it would be, but it definitely requires absolute awareness.

By the way, I know that lane splitting is legal in CA because some bikes (like mine) are air cooled, but does anyone know the top speed at which a rider is allowed to ride between lanes?

sicrx69 · 09-21-2004, 02:11 PM

Yo,
WOW, Lane splitting is legal;? and why would air cooled effect this law;? emmisions?
John
'00 Gsxr 600

SuzukiGirl1 · 09-21-2004, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sicrx69

Yo,
WOW, Lane splitting is legal;? and why would air cooled effect this law;? emmisions?
John
'00 Gsxr 600

I don't know if that is the reason for the law, but even if you're bike is liquid cooled, riding in stopped traffic can easily make your bike overheat!

sicrx69 · 09-21-2004, 02:40 PM

Sup,
AHH, I usually turn mine off if its a stopped jam, my bike usually seasaws at 230ish in traffic, i think the fan kicks on at 230 or 225. I just never heard of it being legal, if i do it i usually do it on the shoulder not in the middle bc peeps see you comming they get pissed they are waiting and you are zooming, dont want them to have the chance of being an a$$hole and doing something stupid.
John
'00 Gsxr 600

SuzukiGirl1 · 09-21-2004, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sicrx69

I just never heard of it being legal, if i do it i usually do it on the shoulder not in the middle bc peeps see you comming they get pissed they are waiting and you are zooming, dont want them to have the chance of being an a$$hole and doing something stupid.
John
'00 Gsxr 600

It's not legal in all 50 states. It's legal in CA. I don't know what other states have this in effect. I live in MN and you cannot split lanes.

**87gsxrnut** · 09-21-2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

I live in MN and you cannot split lanes.

You can. Just don't get caught.

- Nut

SuzukiGirl1 · 09-21-2004, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87gsxrnut

Quote:

I live in MN and you cannot split lanes.

You can. Just don't get caught.

- Nut

Yeah, Right!!

**Freakinout** · 09-21-2004, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87gsxrnut

Quote:

I live in MN and you cannot split lanes.

You can. Just don't get caught.

- Nut

Not doing it is much easier than posting bail!

SeattleKatana · 09-21-2004, 03:02 PM

From a previous post:

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmdan

I got this from a website (cali) told to me on another post on this site. I agree, and practice this. 40mph, naw. According to this it is 10mph lower than the posted limit (55mph) in a 65.

Is lane-splitting legal?
Here's the text (verbatim) from the CHP's site: "Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible under California law but must done in a safe and prudent manner." The text used to also include "The motorcycle should be traveling no more than 10 mph faster than surrounding traffic (without exceeding the speed limit) and not come close enough to that traffic to cause a collision." but has since been removed. Perhaps they wanted to give cops more latitude to interpret what they thought was safe so they removed it.

AwwsChwA · 09-21-2004, 05:10 PM

I agree with that too. I don't go anywhere near 10mph faster than the cars while I'm splitting lanes. I go just fast enough to pass them and not end up in their blind spot, and sometimes I also hit the clutch and rev the engine up a bit every few seconds so people hear me coming.

**87gsxrnut** · 09-21-2004, 05:21 PM

Quote:

I go just fast enough to pass them and not end up in their blind spot, and sometimes I also hit the clutch and rev the engine up a bit every few seconds so people hear me coming.

Yup, that is how you do it.

- Nut

SDSUsnowboards · 09-21-2004, 07:39 PM

On an side note, the traffic was backed up because of a bike crash. the rider died. I went up the 15 to the dealer to go look at the bike i just bought (as he adds frame sliders) and to pick up misc gear. Isn't life ironic?

FIVEINCH · 09-22-2004, 09:42 AM

USEFUL INFO:

Lane-splitting (sharing) is not governed in California. Not legal, not illegal. The CHP govern the act as follows (loosely): traffic must not be moving greater than 25mph, and the MC rider should not be moving at greater than 15mph over the traffic. The CHP reserve the authority to cite the MC rider for wreckless driving if they deem necessary. If you are cited, you still have your turn for say-so in a courtroom. Riding in the emergency lane, or shoulder, is illegal in Cali as the driver, or rider, is required to cross the white line (right-most lane limit) to do so.

007 · 09-26-2004, 09:31 PM

Legal or not, sometimes you have to do lane splitting. I was caught in this massive traffic jam which was moving like 2-3mph. You can't do that with an aircooled bike, you know. So I had to go between the cars. It's dangerous, but it's definitely fun. And I saw MC cops doing it all the time, even though it is illegal here in MA. I don't think they enforce this law -they have better things to do.

themeatmanlandry · 09-27-2004, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007

I don't think they enforce this law -they have better things to do.

Riiiiiiight!

09-21-2004, 02:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
AwwsChwA In Training Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 128	Lane splitting is fun This morning in San Diego there was a total block of the I-15 freeway, both directions. I decided to try lane splitting for the first time. It wasn't has hard as I thought it would be, but it definitely requires absolute awareness. By the way, I know that lane splitting is legal in CA because some bikes (like mine) are air cooled, but does anyone know the top speed at which a rider is allowed to ride between lanes?

09-21-2004, 07:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
SDSUsnowboards Tin Foil Inspector Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2000 CBR600f4 Location: Southern California Posts: 764	On an side note, the traffic was backed up because of a bike crash. the rider died. I went up the 15 to the dealer to go look at the bike i just bought (as he adds frame sliders) and to pick up misc gear. Isn't life ironic? __________________ The notion should be deleted from your noggin. -FIVEINCH

09-22-2004, 09:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
FIVEINCH U.B's LoveChild Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: GSXR600K4 + D&D = DSRPTV!!!!!! Location: San Angelo, TX Posts: 1,083	USEFUL INFO: Lane-splitting (sharing) is not governed in California. Not legal, not illegal. The CHP govern the act as follows (loosely): traffic must not be moving greater than 25mph, and the MC rider should not be moving at greater than 15mph over the traffic. The CHP reserve the authority to cite the MC rider for wreckless driving if they deem necessary. If you are cited, you still have your turn for say-so in a courtroom. Riding in the emergency lane, or shoulder, is illegal in Cali as the driver, or rider, is required to cross the white line (right-most lane limit) to do so. __________________ I can see you... MK86: The US Navy Sends Its Regards... FIVE INCHES AT A TIME!!

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09-21-2004, 02:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
sicrx69 Seat Tester Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2000 Suz Gsxr 600 Location: Metairie, La Posts: 54	Yo, WOW, Lane splitting is legal;? and why would air cooled effect this law;? emmisions? John '00 Gsxr 600

09-21-2004, 02:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
sicrx69 Seat Tester Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2000 Suz Gsxr 600 Location: Metairie, La Posts: 54	Sup, AHH, I usually turn mine off if its a stopped jam, my bike usually seasaws at 230ish in traffic, i think the fan kicks on at 230 or 225. I just never heard of it being legal, if i do it i usually do it on the shoulder not in the middle bc peeps see you comming they get pissed they are waiting and you are zooming, dont want them to have the chance of being an a$$hole and doing something stupid. John '00 Gsxr 600

09-21-2004, 05:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
AwwsChwA In Training Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 128	I agree with that too. I don't go anywhere near 10mph faster than the cars while I'm splitting lanes. I go just fast enough to pass them and not end up in their blind spot, and sometimes I also hit the clutch and rev the engine up a bit every few seconds so people hear me coming.

09-26-2004, 09:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
007 TurtleWax Taster Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Boston. MA Posts: 592	Legal or not, sometimes you have to do lane splitting. I was caught in this massive traffic jam which was moving like 2-3mph. You can't do that with an aircooled bike, you know. So I had to go between the cars. It's dangerous, but it's definitely fun. And I saw MC cops doing it all the time, even though it is illegal here in MA. I don't think they enforce this law -they have better things to do.

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