CHP Lane Splitting Guidelines

From the link below.

Lane splitting in a safe and prudent manner is not illegal in the state of California.

The term lane splitting, sometimes known as lane sharing, filtering or white-lining, refers to the process of a motorcyclist riding between lanes of stopped or slower moving traffic or moving between lanes to the front of traffic stopped at a traffic light.

Motorcyclists who are competent enough riders to lane split, should follow these general guidelines if choosing to lane split:

http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/lanesplitguide.html

Dale,

Good link. I have been out here in California for about 16 years now and I split lanes and wish I could have done this in Illinois. I remember in Illinois we couldn't do a U-turn at red lights or lane share and it makes traffic move better. Why have motorcycles taking up traffic and slowing traffic down at red lights too.

I know most riders in the U.S. think it is very dangerous but since I have been doing this it seems other states should look into this more. This topic may open up a can of worms but this is one reason I would not want to move out of California as a rider.

Its all fun and games till some kid opens a back door and you land on the rear seat.

hotwings wrote:

Its all fun and games till some kid opens a back door and you land on the rear seat.

Or if someone just decides to run a stop sign and hit you. If you are so worried about getting in an accident you probably should not be riding a bike. But stay in a large SUV.

Lane splitting is GREAT!! on bike-----rest of US for not allowing it is stupid.I rode in Japan 20 years, could not get anyplace without, more years in Korea, 20 years in Europe....at that time offically forbidden in Germany---but done. Italy Great----driver skills are pretty good there and allEurope and Asia RIDER skills are really good---not MSF parking lot "specials".


Idea is to move thru traffic quickly----in US do it when traffic in blocked on Freeway and some idiot in PickUp or SUV may try to shoot you....as you got ahead.

Lane splitting is now illegal in France. French police very keen with on the spot fines - great revenue earner for a bankrupt country!
In fact if you have foreign plates they'll book you for breathing too rapidly!

Cheers,

Lane splitting means the difference to me on the way to work of either 20 mins on the SW or up to an hour in the car. The US has such big wide roads in general I don't understand why its not generally OK.

Then again, we cant turn left at red lights when clearly safe to do so, so we all have our hang ups

Also some cities in the UK allow sharing of bus lanes and most don't, thats another stupid waste of a clear road.

Im so lucky,all I need to wary is can I dodge that moose , that bear or that partridge ,That feathered bullet that can take my head off.

I think filtering or lane splitting is fine if you have to contend with city traffic or congestion every day, you adapt and become good at it. I'm adapting to the heavy traffic around York now I live here, and I really can't be bothered with all this squeezing through gaps to gain a few yards, I'll use my bus pass or my Smart instead.

City throttle jockeys may be hot shots in traffic, but are usually way out of their comfort zone when they get out on open country roads. After nearly 40 year of living on the edge of the Lake District, Springtime was always marred by crashes from over confident city riders coming into the area in packs for weekend rides, and riding too fast, too close, and being general arseholes.

Meldrew wrote:

I think filtering or lane splitting is fine if you have to contend with city traffic or congestion every day, you adapt and become good at it. I'm adapting to the heavy traffic around York now I live here, and I really can't be bothered with all this squeezing through gaps to gain a few yards, I'll use my bus pass or my Smart instead.

City throttle jockeys may be hot shots in traffic, but are usually way out of their comfort zone when they get out on open country roads. After nearly 40 year of living on the edge of the Lake District, Springtime was always marred by crashes from over confident city riders coming into the area in packs for weekend rides, and riding too fast, too close, and being general arseholes.

What he said. Only I still live in the country!!!!! ANd regards the road deaths - already started!!!

I restrict my filtering to stopped or very slow moving traffic. Also I don't do excessive speed myself, maximum of 20 mph when filtering between two lines of traffic so that I have a reasonable chance of stopping if I need to.

Cheers,

I like tarmacburner2's version of splitting. That's the basic idea, not doing it in normal traffic but congestion and lights. That being said, I sure as hell won't try it o a big touring bike, a Swing or something smaller than 1,000 cc w/no sidebags.

i was stopped by traffic police recently who told me i had left my wife at the last service station. thank christ i said i thought i had gone deaf.

The CHP guidelines are very similar to those given by the IAM here in Uk. So I believe it's good advice

I filter along the M27/M3 most mornings, keeping to no more than 15 mph above the cars. As soon as the traffic starts flowing around 40 then I slot in and join the flow.

The other place I make up time is at static traffic signals and roundabouts.

Usual rule - if in doubt ... don't. Safety first.

I can't imagine why all countries don't encourage lane splitting/sharing. It is very favorable for traffic flow and encourages riding. The other 49 states are way behind on this one.

SCTLVR,

When I first got out to California I didn't know about lane sharing. I just thought they were a bunch of crazy California riders. I do remember when I was back in Illinois, I would see all the people with Calif plates doing U-Turns at red lights, and thinking the same thing.

Then I came out to California and I love lane sharing and being able to do U-turns at red lights. It is a much nicer way to ride. Although, I don't lane share going fast. If the traffic is going around 40 mph I just kick back and enjoy it.

JeffR
I'm from Portland, OR where drivers are very slow and passive aggression is a sport. Just plain frustrating to drive or ride in.
Came to California and feels like highway heaven. Heavy traffic is heavy traffic, but people drive like they have someplace to go and are motivated to get there.
Highway speed, lane sharing, u-turns and many other small details make such a difference.
Maybe it's the weather. People just seem happier here...