don hall

http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadsh...ing?source=rss

Seldom watch my rear-view mirrors in stop-go traffic. Usually don't hear/see bikes until
they are abreast of me..... dangerous situations.

bobeast

Are the dangerous situations caused by lane splitting or by folks seldom checking their rear-view mirrors?

Robert R1

Sounds like the danger is you being on the road. Pay more attention ok?

chetly

The problems it's this law is 75%+ of the bikes that are splitting lanes are doing so at an unsafe speed. I've personally witness multiple times at the bay bridge toll booth where it's bumper to bumper at less than 5 mph and people are constantly jockying for position in lanes and bikes are doing in excess of the proposed 15 mph above speed. Just two weeks ago there was a car with their blinker on changing lanes legally only to have some biker come hauling *** through the lanes revving his motor obnoxiously punch the guys mirror off of his car. Biker totally in the wrong. But I guess karma prevailed because that biker or one that looked a whole like him was involved in an accident and he was writhing in pain on the ground...

kimmer

In all my years as a professional driver I have seen a few go down and it was the bikers fault 95% of the time. I also have ridden bikes for 40 years racing them when I was young.

TerryL

As with most things there are abusers who make the rest of the riders look bad. Same goes with drivers though. Some drivers squeeze the rider instead of maintaining their position or wagging over a tad. All drivers aren't bad though and the same goes for the riders. Been riding since the mid 60s and all high traffic multiple lane roadways should allow lane sharing. Personally, I'd prefer the cars I pass (at a reasonable speed) to just stay where they are. I wouldn't be passing if it was too tight. What riders need to be watchful for isn't the cars, it's the empty spots between cars that look enticing to cars in the next lane and sure enough, some drivers, w/o any warning will dive over into them making lane sharing a dangerous practice. Riders need to tone down their speed (and) their sound. Sport bikes need to up shift one gear and Harleys need to leave their throttle alone. We've all heard a Harley rev its motor, we don't need another decibel test right next to our window in heavy traffic.

JrRifleCoach

The recent UC Berkeley study showed lane-splitting at low to moderate speeds is safer for motorcyclists.

Nobody said Berkeley is credible!
I used to ride in LA traffic, just takes common sense and reflexes.
There was this one truck side mirror that extended further than most...just a light scratch to the helmet.
Can't say that for the mirror.

Dado5

You must be one of those smart *** bikers that don't follow rules.

Boomer111

Geez just sit back in the lane and go with the flow. Stopped traffic maybe depending on the situation.

Lane splitting is dangerous in my view. Just to many drivers not paying attention.

In a perfect World it would work but our highways are far from perfect with our far from perfect human drivers.

My experience is in a highly congested greater suburban area.

You guys out in the country would pose a different scenario.

don hall

To my beloved forum members, bobeast & Robert R1, thank you for attacking the messenger, and not the message.

If one wishes to chastise another, it would behoove that person not to parse a referenced sentence to validate the critique.

Hence, my statement that I rarely use my rear view mirrors in stop-go traffic is due to the fact that my focus is on vehicles in front and to the sides, not to my rear. Not inserting my focal point was a glaring omission, and poor clarification.

MotoJB

It's technically "legal" in CA and I have done it many times...but was always very careful and went slow.

I agree, now that I no longer ride on the street, I notice lots of bikers splitting lanes way too fast for how safely the conditions allow. It's annoying.

DucatiDon

Im one of those lawless hooligan Sportbikers. I lane split.
What speed i feel is safe may not be what you feel is safe.
I see a lot of drivers decide to suddenly change lanes, no look, no mirror, no signal.
By not paying attention, those drivers make it dangerous.
On the other side, the lane splitting biker needs to pay attention to what the drivers are doing.
Ive split anywhere between 10 mph and 80 mph..... speed is all relative.
I am a big proponent of lane splitting. I wish I could do the same in the vette....

TerryL

"Ive split anywhere between 10 mph and 80 mph..... speed is all relative."

And 80 on a crowded freeway is just stupid.

GotCorvette?

And illegal.

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-...gal-california

DucatiDon

This will continue to be an endless debate..those who know and those who think they know.

I hope we can all agree that drivers just need to pay attention. Bikers and drivers.
Give the bikers room, and let them get out of your way.

If I had to sit in traffic, the bike would NEVER be used to commute, EVER.

TerryL

I'll agree with that having ridden since the 60s but 80 mph on a crowded freeway? Say it isn't so....

DucatiDon

That language was removed afterwards.

Dont be a hippocrite....how many "illegal" things do you do on your way to work? No seat belt? Text? Speed? Gimme a break.

Those who cant ride will always be butt hurt by those who do.

DucatiDon

No...Thats me.

TerryL

Who are you talking to?

mjg1200

I give them plenty of room I even move over for them when going 35 or less. My problem is when they split lanes when I am going 65-75 this happens every day on my commute and I have seen some very close calls. If they clip a mirror or someone changes lanes and they lay there bike down in front of me I swerve to avoid running over the bike and get t-boned and killed for it. You are not only risking your own life splitting lanes at 80 but everyone around you. Turn signals and window wash usually slows them down.