Hello Mr. Lanesplitter guy

[cdovego]

You warmed my heart as I saw you approaching on your BMW, appropriately rocking the faded aerostitch. As I sat in traffic in a car full of dog hair...wishing the radiator on my Monster was unexploded - you elegantly split lanes as I moved over for you on rt. 2. It was a subtle reminder of the awesomeness that lane splitting is. Having relo'd from northern CA. last month, my heart lept with joy and I silently rooted you on.

I know the rules, you know the rules - you rock.

Discuss...who says F it and splits traffic? Have you received a performance award from the "man" for it? What's the MA motorcyclist opinion on this moral dilemna?

My clutch hand is already tired.

[R1]

IMHO the few times i have embarked on the journey of lanesplitting I have felt safer except for the few assholes that feel it is their right to enforce laws from behind the wheel of their car.

It shouldn't be illegal.

Whenever i am in bumper to bumper traffic (except when i ride with my wife) I lanesplit.

[bigred875]

/raises hand

never been bothered by leo...i wont sit in bumper to bumper traffic and will gladly accept the ticket.

[QuarterGig]

I am in ME, but will throw in my $.02
I did my first splitting in Austria and Hungary this summer and found it quite liberating. but doing it in MA I think could be dangerous because drivers are so much more aggressive toward bikes over here, especially in MA.

[TheIglu]

Used to do it all the time on 495 when traffic was stopped on the KLR. Nice and slow, quiet and respectful. Used to get yelled at a lot, specifically with the term "CHEATER!!!!".

[cdovego]

Used to do it all the time on 495 when traffic was stopped on the KLR. Nice and slow, quiet and respectful. Used to get yelled at a lot, specifically with the term "CHEATER!!!!".

It's legal in CA so it's pretty ingrained in me. It'll be hard to break the habit.

"Cheater" is what bothers me, I'm a little worried about vigilante justice as I really (and literally) wouldn't have a leg to stand on in the law's eyes if someone swerved.

[a13x]

Lanesplitting is awesome (former NorCal resident) but I'm wary to do it in New England cause drivers actually try and take you down.

Stupid it's not legal.

[Jim]

if i cant do it in my truck, then i dont do it on my bike

[Woodsy]

if i have to put my feet down on the highway i will do it. if i can put along at 10mph then no i will most likely sit there.

[kamikaze]

I do it only when I see my coolant temp rise and the fan comes on. I then say - Fuck it - I do not want to be destroying my engine with over heating...Ride slow and steady....As for someone blocking me, I keep an eye out and if someone actually does it, I am sure there will be more damage to his car than my bike! As for those frustated stares, who cares..it MA thats how they look on the road!

[bigred875]

someone opening a door or swerving to hit me is definately a worry. but, getting rearended scares me a lot more and seems more likely..which is my primary reason for doing it

[cdovego]

...getting rearended scares me a lot more and seems more likely..which is my primary reason for doing it

Exactly.

[akira700]

You warmed my heart as I saw you approaching on your BMW, appropriately rocking the faded aerostitch. As I sat in traffic in a car full of dog hair...wishing the radiator on my Monster was unexploded - you elegantly split lanes as I moved over for you on rt. 2. It was a subtle reminder of the awesomeness that lane splitting is. Having relo'd from northern CA. last month, my heart lept with joy and I silently rooted you on.

I know the rules, you know the rules - you rock.

Discuss...who says F it and splits traffic? Have you received a performance award from the "man" for it? What's the MA motorcyclist opinion on this moral dilemna?

Rock onward !


I do it all the time at slow speeds with proper space and only when cars are stopped or going really slow but I'm always on the watch for weebles.
If I see em' I stop just behind them.

[ThisBitch]

I haven't done it because I can clearly remember sitting in traffic on 93 on the way to Laconia 5 years ago and watching someone open their door to take out a guy on a harley that was lane splitting... scared the shit out of me.

[KillBill]

I have done but don't make a habit of it.

depending on the situation of course

[ChrisNoF4i]

I went to California once. ONCE!

[KillBill]

I love CA - that's why we're having our wedding in Monterey



and to think that Laguna Seca even does Weddings

[slowrider]

For my money, it's a bad bet. It's too easy for them to veer into us and even though they were the aggressor, LEO will start with our illegal lane splitting and the cager's claim that "they never saw us" and both the damage and the fault will be ours.

That's my concern. My friend got hit by someone, and then had to worry about being sued by them as well (for the damage to her car). I don't think it ever came to that, but he was sweating it for a while.

[OreoGaborio]

It is ridiculously stupid that lane splitting is not legal everywhere.

But it is illegal and unlike some other things we might do on a bike that are also illegal, lane splitting not only infuriates cagers, but it makes us slow moving targets for their hostility and frustration.

For my money, it's a bad bet. It's too easy for them to veer into us and even though they were the aggressor, LEO will start with our illegal lane splitting and the cager's claim that "they never saw us" and both the damage and the fault will be ours.

All the while, the cager will be smiling inside because they know they attacked us and got away with it.

I will filter through stopped traffic at a red light to gain some space when the light turns green, but I don't lane split in stop 'n go or on the highway.

But it should be legal.

+1

I don't really lane split, but I do "squiggle"

[Ericthejet]

Did this a few times in Toronto. Scary

[slammp]

I will chime in as I commute daily on my bike - and yes I split lanes. I agree that it should be legal and applaud CA on that. My personal view is that I chose to ride a motorcycle and accepted the associated risk. That being said that risk also comes with rewards and one of those should be the ability to avoid gridlock. The way I see it I am actually making space for one more car to fit. Now if I were to cause an accident doing so, then I need to accept responsibility for it - but it is not like I am going 50 while eveyone else is standing still. I am probably going 10-15mph in stopped traffic only. Once traffic begins moving I blend back in. 'The man' has yelled at me once (statie) and motioned me to get back in lane once (in 7years of doing it).

And please before any of the Gregorian Monk (holier than thou) riders chime in. This does NOT make me a squid, so DO NOT ban me from group rides for being honest.

[TheIglu]

And please before any of the Gregorian Monk (holier than thou) riders chime in. This does NOT make me a squid, so DO NOT ban me from group rides for being honest.

Lane splitting seems rather un-squid to me, I wouldn't worry about it.

[loridin64]

Guilty. If im alone.

[cdovego]

Great info guys/gals, thank you!

[kamikaze]

Since we are on topic, what do you guys think of riding in the emergency lane in bumper to bumper traffic? Of course not when you see an accident and you know emergency vehicles might be coming through. I mean on red lights, heavy commuter traffic and near exits.