Lane Splitting Notice

[kirkemon]

This was posted on my neighborhood site from the California Highway Patrol.

[Ncdan]

NC will never pass that law for motorcyclist:(

[Lumpy Idle]

we in california have surj gish and the folks at citybike to thank for the rational lane splitting laws in our state. they fought tirelessly and often against overwhelming odds to get the lane splitting view heard in sacto.

props to him and to them.

[LowRyter]

I've mentioned this to one of the local ABATE guys.

He didn't know what lane splitting was.

[Bert Remington]

Kirk -- what prompted the CHP to post this?  Or was this a Neighborhood Watch-like action for a CHP bulletin?  And where? LA, SF, ...?

[twowheeladdict]

When I was touring California I wasn't brave enough to share the lane with moving cars, but I definitely filtered to the front at stop lights. 

Filtering at lights should be legal in all states, and lane splitting should be allowed when the vehicles are stopped or crawling along on all interstates. 

I filtered when I was young living in Florida and most people didn't mind.  I have ridden the breakdown lane on stopped interstates but only to get off the very next exit and find an alternate route.

[wirespokes]

we in california have surj gish and the folks at citybike to thank for the rational lane splitting laws in our state. they fought tirelessly and often against overwhelming odds to get the lane splitting view heard in sacto.

props to him and to them.

When did lane splitting in California become legal? I had the idea it's been that way for ever and ever.

We've got a lane splitting bill up for a vote here in Oregon. Hope it wins this time. I have heard that bikes routinely lane split on the freeway at rush hour around Portland - actually, they ride the shoulder - and the police don't hassle them. 

[kirkemon]

Kirk -- what prompted the CHP to post this?  Or was this a Neighborhood Watch-like action for a CHP bulletin?  And where? LA, SF, ...?

Bert, not sure, this just came out of nowhere on my neighborhood website that usually post about dog poop and homeless camps. There was no dat on the document so I don't even know hen the CHP made this. Sorry i don't have much info on it.

[Bert Remington]

Yeah I figured it was a neighborhood thing.  CHP doesn't post bulletins in neighborhoods.  Here's some history on the bulletin: https://lanesplittingislegal.com/chp-lane-splitting-safety-tips

[Tom H]

In Ca. splitting was not legal nor illegal. But you were presumed at fault if there was an issue. Now there are rules to follow, probably should read up on this. I'll just keep doing it like I have been all the years.

Tom

[wyno]

It's just become legal in all states and territories in Australia only it's called filtering and only legal up to 30kph. anything above that and it is classed as lane splitting and is illegal. So far there has been very little road rage over it.

[Noguzznoglory]

When I was touring California I wasn't brave enough to share the lane with moving cars, but I definitely filtered to the front at stop lights.

If it was legal in my state this is how I would use it. Seems very dangerous to do it at speed.

[wirespokes]

When I was living in Los Angeles 20 years ago and living on the bike, lane splitting was a way of life. I saw Harley 'outlaws' splitting lanes at 70mph or more. Crazy! But they got away with it. I believe the CA law states it's legal up to about 25 or 30mph, but it's not really enforced. When traffic moved at ten or fifteen, I'd maybe do ten or fifteen mph faster. Guys would blast by me, next lane over, ten or twenty mph faster yet. I had a couple close calls that happened so quickly, there wasn't even an adrenaline reaction, so can't imagine the mess at higher speeds.

[Ryan]

Oregon has shot it down before. Maybe this time. We have a great many "lane enforcers" here- those dumb asses who block a merging lane because they merged already and don't want anyone to move ahead of them. It is going to take a lot of tickets and public education here if we get splitting legalized to keep those morons from harming or blocking motorcyclist.

[Penderic]

Interesting - reminds me of 'fluid' dynamics a bit. 


Milan traffic POV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig9uwpV73is

[not-fishing]

When I was touring California I wasn't brave enough to share the lane with moving cars, but I definitely filtered to the front at stop lights. 

The last 5 years my youngest has gotten me to lane split more.  It really helps when riding in the Bay Area (SF).  I've split Highway lanes running below 30 mph for miles there.  I'm not so hot on filtering.  I'm usually not in that big of a hurry unless it's over 95 degrees.

[Lumpy Idle]

When did lane splitting in California become legal? I had the idea it's been that way for ever and ever....

https://www.citybike.com/news-clues-rumors/california-lane-splitting-tips-finally-released/

https://www.citybike.com/?s=lane+splitting

[Bud]

     My daughter-in-law's step dad was lane splitting in California last year. Not positive about the details but I think the traffic had come to a stop and cars were too close for him to continue and he was next to a semi. When the traffic began moving the semi change lanes with no where for him to go and he was run over by the trailer. Broken everything. I think it would be wiser to just let motorcycles use the breakdown lanes with limits but data says it's safer to be on the side of a car than behind or in front of one. Guess you have to do whatever makes you comfortable.

[kirkemon]

Yeah I figured it was a neighborhood thing.  CHP doesn't post bulletins in neighborhoods.  Here's some history on the bulletin: https://lanesplittingislegal.com/chp-lane-splitting-safety-tips

I think you miss understood. This is a notice from the CHP. Someone posted it on our neighborhood web site. The CHP did not post it, but the authored the notice.
https://www.chp.ca.gov/PressReleases/Pages/18-27_Lane_Splitting_Tips_Press_Release.pdf

[jdgretz]

OK, a bit of history here...

Lane splitting was a permissible activity in California as it was not addressed in the California Vehicle Code.  Thus, since it was not illegal, it was "legal" by default.

Back around 2012 or so, the CHP posted guidelines for lane splitting.  Some folks got upset at that saying the CHP was making laws where none existed, and that they were acting outside of their authorizations.  CHP pulled the guidelines and a move began to have lane splitting declared legal by being included in the California Vehicle Code.  In 2015, this happened, but there were no guidelines in the law.  Here is the section of the Code that pertains to Lane Splitting:

21658.1. 
(a) For the purposes of this section, “lane splitting” means driving a motorcycle, as defined in Section 400, that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways.

(b) The Department of the California Highway Patrol may develop educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner that would ensure the safety of the motorcyclist and the drivers and passengers of the surrounding vehicles.

(c) In developing guidelines pursuant to this section, the department shall consult with agencies and organizations with an interest in road safety and motorcyclist behavior, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) The Department of Motor Vehicles.

(2) The Department of Transportation.

(3) The Office of Traffic Safety.

(4) A motorcycle organization focused on motorcyclist safety.

Several years later, the CHP finally posted the guidelines referenced above, but they are very weak, and as close as going back to being a permissible activity as possible.  What was posted before had some defined limits (no splitting over 50MPH, no greater than 10 (15?) MPH faster than the traffic, etc.) which gave LEOs some definites to site you with.  Now, we're back to the old rules of Do it safely, don't piss off the cops, and you'll be fine.  It leaves "safe lane splitting" up to the judgement of the officer who has just pulled you over.

Before Lane Splitting became "legal", a rider would be sited for (usually) excessive lane changes, or if you has pissed off  the cop, unsafe riding (or operation of a motor vehicle).  Now you can be sited for a lane splitting violation, but since there are no hard limits in either the law or the guidelines, in the judgement of the officer who has just pulled you over (sound familiar?).

You will notice there are no hard limits, only suggestions or recommendations.  Those can always be fought in court, providing you don't run into someone.  If you are involved in an accident, the burden will be on the rider to show that (s)he was being safe and that the other person involved did something illegal or unsafe that was the proximate cause of the accident.

HTH

jdg

[Lumpy Idle]

OK, a bit of history here......  If you are involved in an accident, the burden will be on the rider to show that (s)he was being safe and that the other person involved did something illegal or unsafe that was the proximate cause of the accident.

HTH

jdg

nicely done JD.

this is a good synopsis.  i lane split but i do so with a great bit of caution. even with that it is a bit nerve wracking. the freeways in the bay area become parking lots in the morning and the afternoons (DON'T move here!) - parking lots filled with distracted drivers who ritually become a bit unhinged if they are going to be late for work. my current rider, the 1100sporti, does not lend itself to sitting in traffic or circumnavigating its way through a maze of cars at low speed. so, i will lane split. the bike is a bright color and the exhaust is loud - all of which helps a bit in being seen BUT the freeways are chockablock with anxious A-holes on their phones.  this invites disaster and so often when listening to the local radio traffic reports you will hear about yet another "motorcycle involved collision tying up traffic..." so, smaller, lighter bikes are better for this sort of activity and going slowly, with your head on a swivel, is absolutely required for all but the suicidal. stay safe out there.

[PhilB]

OK, a bit of history here...

Lane splitting was a permissible activity in California as it was not addressed in the California Vehicle Code.  Thus, since it was not illegal, it was "legal" by default.

Back around 2012 or so, the CHP posted guidelines for lane splitting.  Some folks got upset at that saying the CHP was making laws where none existed, and that they were acting outside of their authorizations.  CHP pulled the guidelines and a move began to have lane splitting declared legal by being included in the California Vehicle Code.  In 2015, this happened, but there were no guidelines in the law.  Here is the section of the Code that pertains to Lane Splitting:

Several years later, the CHP finally posted the guidelines referenced above, but they are very weak, and as close as going back to being a permissible activity as possible.  What was posted before had some defined limits (no splitting over 50MPH, no greater than 10 (15?) MPH faster than the traffic, etc.) which gave LEOs some definites to site you with.  Now, we're back to the old rules of Do it safely, don't piss off the cops, and you'll be fine.  It leaves "safe lane splitting" up to the judgement of the officer who has just pulled you over.

Before Lane Splitting became "legal", a rider would be sited for (usually) excessive lane changes, or if you has pissed off  the cop, unsafe riding (or operation of a motor vehicle).  Now you can be sited for a lane splitting violation, but since there are no hard limits in either the law or the guidelines, in the judgement of the officer who has just pulled you over (sound familiar?).

You will notice there are no hard limits, only suggestions or recommendations.  Those can always be fought in court, providing you don't run into someone.  If you are involved in an accident, the burden will be on the rider to show that (s)he was being safe and that the other person involved did something illegal or unsafe that was the proximate cause of the accident.

HTH

jdg

This is accurate.

It's an immense benefit to bikers, and a small benefit to drivers. There are no actual losers. Education can help people grasp that. It's legal and accepted practice in most of the world; only in America (land of the free) are people too jealous and busybody-ish to allow it.

Warning: anecdotal evidence! I split lanes daily in SoCal for 25 years when I lived there -- over 40K miles of split lanes. Once a month or so, someone would try to edge over to slow me down. I *never* had anyone intentionally try to hit me or open their door on me for lanesplitting. Conversely, I saw quite a few nasty accidents from cars rear-ending a bike that was *not* lanesplitting.

For quite a few years, I had a "Thank You" sign on the back of my helmet, so people would see it when I passed, and I would specifically point to it as I passed if someone gave me extra room, or was otherwise courteous in traffic. I don't know if it really helped anything, but I thought it was a nice idea. And maybe that attitude of being thankful and polite had something to do with my positive results.

Studies have consistently shown lanesplitting to be a safety increase, if done according to a reasonable set of rules. I'm in favor of implementing it everywhere.

PhilB

[wirespokes]

Yeah, agreed - lane splitting put me right smack dab in the moment!!! It's like when I first rode bikes and it was all dangerous and I was watching EVERYthing. It's not white knuckle, but when lane splitting I sure was attentive to all around me. And some of the most scary times were threading my way between two semis on an on ramp, both leaning to the side and barely moving. Spooky shit!

I've seen videos of how they do it in Europe. Now that is really something - riding down the center line on a two lane at highway speeds - vehicles in each direction pulling over just a little to make way.

[lazlokovacs]

yeppp

over here it's a normal way of life,

you're generally considered a bit weird if you're on two wheels but don't filter