Lane Splitting / Filtering

[JHScoot]

Do you do it? Do you like it? Do people get mad at you?

I have been doing it a lot lately. It's exciting, fun, and playful. It's like when someone who hates you says "oh go play in traffic!"

Now we get to smile and say "OKAY, I WILL "

This is awesome. Tips, tricks, or otherwise? I must say dodging and weaving cars has never been so much fun!

[Skootz Kabootz]

If you lane split with such a casual attitude I venture a guess you won't be doing it for long. Lane splitting is nothing to be undertaken lightly. I suggest exercising extreme sober-mindedness and an acute awareness of the risks involved when doing it.

As for tips, the first thing I recommend is not to lane split anywhere other than in California. It is illegal everywhere else in the USA AFAIK.

Second tip, if there is a space between cars that is even remotely big enough for another car to fit in, always expect a car to leap across lanes at the last second to get into that space. Never expect them to signal.

Third tip, only lane split when traffic is stationary.

[ravenlore]

I saw somebody lane split in Minneapolis (not legal here)with a passenger and no gear on a weekend night at one of the busiest intersections in this town.

I just shook my head in disapproving disbelief...they never saw me of course, they were long gone.

[k1dude]

If you lane split with such a casual attitude I venture a guess you won't be doing it for long. Lane splitting is nothing to be undertaken lightly. I suggest exercising extreme sober-mindedness and an acute awareness of the risks involved when doing it.

As for tips, the first thing I recommend is not to lane split anywhere other than in California. It is illegal everywhere else in the USA AFAIK.

Second tip, if there is a space between cars that is even remotely big enough for another car to fit in, always expect a car to leap across lanes at the last second to get into that space. Never expect them to signal.

Third tip, only lane split when traffic is stationary.

^^^ This!!!

I only lane split at looong lights when traffic is stationary. It also seems to piss off a lot of drivers who seem to think it's illegal. I've had them try to block me or move into me when they see me coming in their rear view. Fortunately, since they're mostly blocked in, they can't move enough to make it into my path. But when you go by they honk and flip you off.

The only other time I might consider splitting, and I emphasize "might," is when traffic is moving 5mph or less on the interstate during rush hour and splitting could save you major time. I would only be on the interstate if I was on a motorcycle. But, I would be EXTREMELY careful because at that speed people can make abrupt moves right into you in an instant. I would also keep my speed at 20 or less.

[skully93]

I've done it a couple times in gridlock just to get INTO traffic. A lot of people see me, they just won't let me in.

There's also a 1-way major street by the house that a lot of people turn onto, so sometimes I will slide by so as to not wait 3 cycles of the light.

Otherwise I don't, if for not other reason than I expect some twit to cut me off and have nowhere to go.

[Edwub]

It's part of my daily routine. I do it rather frequently, but usually on my normal route. (Where I know exactly how the lanes bend, the light timing, etc). People used to get much angrier at me when I was on my Metro; a little less so on the Blur. I have had people angle their cars in to try to prevent me from passing them. I have had people shout at me. I have also had plenty of people angle their cars away to give me room, or give me a little wave to say it's ok to pass them. You'll see the widest range of drivers, up close and personal, lane splitting and filtering. Lane splitting/filtering cuts a ton off time off my commute. But I also know my commute damn well, and I'm in West LA. I either drive up Westwood Blvd or Sepulveda, which are relatively straight roads with fixed lanes. Also Wilshire/Santa Monica Blvd, which are so clogged it's impossible to split but always, always filter. For these streets, during work commute, I would never consider NOT driving the way I do. (I pretty much have to do it in the PM with the gridlock, or else I'll catch many more red lights due to cars moving slowly).

But...I barely do it it when I'm on streets I don't ride twice a day. Usually only when everyone is either stopped or slowing at a traffic light. I don't split or drive carelessly, but rather try to take the middle of the lane and make sure people see me. Because they're not "my streets" and I'm not as intimately familiar with them. I need focus.

It's addicting and it is intoxicating, which is also the risk. Keep yourself grounded. I posted months back where I was taking turns with a motorcyclist splitting lanes in traffic. Ultimately, I fit through something he didn't (which I did hesitantly). He really messed his bike up (though he was totally fine). Don't get too nonchalant about it, because it only takes a split second for something awful to happen.

I've also posted before that my afternoon commute gets so jammed up, I can drive a whole mile splitting lanes right smack in the middle at 15mph, because it's bumper to bumper traffic. For those of you guys around West LA, I hope you never need an ambulance to take you to the UCLA hospital. Because I've beat that thing over a hundred times in the last three years, no exaggeration. I just filter through driving on the line red light to red light in the PM, but anyone having a heart attack at 6pm on a Thursday is screwed. I routinely leave the ambulance behind in the dust... (there's simply no physical way for cars to pull over for it to pass).

Anyway, be careful. It might depend on what part of LA you're in. Several other riders with a similar commute as mine, so cars may be more used to us splitting up and down Westwood Blvd, for the workday commuters. Especially when we ride within 30 seconds of each other, a bit more safe as we have a stronger presence.

And even when you feel you know "your streets" and you do it every single day, inevitably once every other week someone on a phone/eating/doing makeup will surprise you and give you a scare. Never let your ride be so routine that you stop paying extra, extra attention. Keep super alert. It's not even a car-vs-scooter thing most of the time, because I see it happen car vs car.

[CROSSBOLT]

I was shown lane splitting by a CHP cycle cop in 1967 on I-5 south in stopped traffic. Ditto what Skoots and K1 said. The point the trooper made with me then is to keep the speed to about 5 and never above 10 and drop back into traffic when it starts moving. A coupla weeks later I was carfully filtering and some numnuts in a HIGHLY modified Chevy Nova yelled out his window,"Hey! YOU can't do that you @$??!!%&*!" He roared ahead to continue shouting obscenities and wave his arm out his window and crashed in to a Nash Ambassador which was not even scratched. But redneck's Nova was pidgeon-toed, blowing steam from a punctured radiator, leaking all sorts of fluids. I came back to make sure the geezer in the Nash was OK when guess who shows up? Same cop! He gets all to the side and I even helped push the Nova which was not easy with two front wheels lookin' at each other! The cop asked me what happened and I told him what I have told you. He sez, "You get on your motor and go home." This set "Bubba" into orbit and the trooper had to restrain him before he could continue his investigation. I left. Had no problems after that for several years before I left CA. I NEVER filtered on a surface street ANYWHERE.

Karl

[Tom]

I only do it when something funky has happened on the road that causes cars the back way up and everyone is at a dead stop. This has only happened twice since I got the Stella.
The way I see it, I'm too slow to go jumping in front of everyone just cause I can at the light. I'd feel like that cager that always speeds to get ahead of you competitively, only to slow down once they do. Lame.
A lot of that probably has to do with the difference of my commute though. Highway-ish back roads, 50 mph speed limit, everyone drives about 60. I'd just as soon be passed most of the time, also the roads I drive are so empty most of the time, I don't normally see much that I want to go past.

Filtering I probably would do quite a bit if I lived in a city where you can really get an advantage from it- I'm thinking roads that are 35-45 mph, and where you may not get through an intersection on the first green.

[shuyaku]

can someone explain the difference between lane splitting and filtering?

I do ride up between cars when they are stopped at a red light. I have several caveats for doing this - many already mentioned. I only do it at red lights when all the cars are stopped. I only do it if I can make it all the way to the front of all the cars space wise. If traffic starts to move I slide in where I am. I'm super diligent about it and cognizant that it can piss people off. I live in the San Fernando Valley - most drivers are aware of the concept and are okay with it or so it seems. The scooter part is what seems to irk folks the most - they can't seem to grasp that i can easily out gun them from a red light on surface streets.

[rsrider]

there is a speed limit that you can do this at; I think when traffic goes below 25 mph, and you usually should only go 5 mph faster than the traffic you are filtering through. I always go to the front of the queue at a read light.

[Dooglas]

can someone explain the difference between lane splitting and filtering?

It's lane splitting when you do it in Los Angeles and filtering when you do it in London .

[heyitsomid]

I haven't read it so far so i'll chime in...
On streets like Lincoln Blvd there are often small left hand turn lanes that cars will often give right of way to the left hand turner because of massive congestion. They are hard to notice unless you're looking for them, ALWAYS slow down in these situations. I'm mindful of it and still almost each time I ride I have to slam on my brakes. (I don't know if that made any sense but just slow down at intersections that seem small while lane splitting in heavy congestion).

[heyitsomid]

can someone explain the difference between lane splitting and filtering?

It's lane splitting when you do it in Los Angeles and filtering when you do it in London .

Wikipedia says filtering is a broader term that includes "using space on the outside edge of same-direction traffic as well"

[Skootz Kabootz]

... I always go to the front of the queue at a red light.

+1 In addition to being convenient it is also a good safety practice as having the cars behind you serves as protection from being rear-ended.

[JHScoot]

well firstly i just want to add although i post as if i might be taking it lightly and having "fun", i am not and i am. meaning i do not take it lightly. i ride, am on two wheels. i understand what that means. i also have fun when riding. i did not know this would be part of the fun. but it is when i do it. i never do it just to have fun, however. it is a recent development. i am confident in traffic, but not overly so. but i must have some confidence to ride. i apply that to splitting and filtering

filtering while cars are moving? idk? i don't like being in a 30mph zone with two cars ahead going 20 and 25mph blocking me as all behind me want to go 35mph+. but guess what? i can. i have a scoot. i will use scoot to "filter" through these cars that don't even know or care i am there. and keep braking in front of me, and endless crap

they are dispatched. if i can in a safe and and confident manner.

again, i do not take this lightly. even if i sound as if i do. its just my way of posting / talking / getting convo going

i wanted to hear from others the pros, cons, personal experiences. i mean if you have NEVER filtered moving traffic or "dashed" ahead, i would be very surprised. at least on something like a Buddy 125cc+ or Agility

i am kind of with Edwub on this one. i have a spirited attitude about it. BUT that does not translate to unsafe and stupid. i went down in a slick intersection doing nothing. people turn in front of me all the time. i know i am invisible. i have to SEE them. and i do. by the time they see ME, i am well ahead of them and i made the light

and remember physics, folks. if you KNOW its not there, can not be there, and will not be there....it can't hit you. think about it


EDIT: and again, the above? its just fodder, the physics lol. its not that simple. i am an aware and astute rider, make no mistake. so, i want to be clear about that. and i believe safe. and hopefully legal

[LunaP]

Do you do it? Do you like it? Do people get mad at you?

I have been doing it a lot lately. It's exciting, fun, and playful. It's like when someone who hates you says "oh go play in traffic!"

Now we get to smile and say "OKAY, I WILL "

This is awesome. Tips, tricks, or otherwise? I must say dodging and weaving cars has never been so much fun!

I've done it twice. Once, Lokky was driving- we were on our way to Balitmore from here. We stopped for lunch at a McD's just before the Route 301 bridge over the Potomac. The McD's begun getting super crowded, and a woman approached us, warning us we better not be headed toward the bridge because it was backed up already and she could see smoke. Instead of taking a 'break' and hoping it would be clear in 30 minutes like everyone else, we left since we were done eating and got in line in traffic. After sitting in traffic for 30 minutes and going next to nowhere, we began to lanesplit just to get to the bridge, since there were no emergency personnel around us to ticket. It was touch and go and people did get mad at us- but honestly, if we hadn't, we could've run out of gas (this was what we planned on telling a cop if we'd gotten blue-lighted... we felt they'd be sympathetic, esp since it was 95 out). It was backed up for MILES- it took us an hour and a half to get to the bridge, I think. Turns out, a crash had happened on the bridge and one of the cars had straight up burst into flames, causing the traffic on the bridge to be reduced to one lane during lunch time:

IMG_1156 by Luna-P
We had a few people shaking their heads, and one girl we had to pass slowly flopped her hands around exasperatedly and yelled "REALLY?!" at us as we passed. I didn't blame her. That trip was fun, I remember making exuberant fb posts from the back of the Stella.

The second time, I was driving alone on my way to my second job, and I lane split down a half-lane space between cars and the curb, so I could make a right turn and keep going to the nearest gas station because I was running on fumes I'd misjudged how much gas was going to be used if waited to get to the other end of town where it's cheaper.

Short version: I'm willing to break the law and lane split if it's an emergency or I feel I'm in danger.

EDIT bc I had a pic

[JHScoot]

^ ha thats an awesome lane splitting story

can someone explain the difference between lane splitting and filtering?

good vid, here. essentially splitting is straight down the middle and filtering is "riding" side to side and in and out and using as much free space as possible

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aqRPohn0HpM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

filtering also applies to slow moving "lane blocking" cars others cannot get around. but a scoot / bike can quickly slide right by given position and other conditions. i never ride between cars which are moving completely parallel.
but if offset i will filter / lane change past 'em if good judgement allows and they are painfully slow and oblivious

i live and ride in the West SGV, btw. for the most part. so, yeah. and i seldom travel west of Fairfax concerning L.A.

[k1dude]

good vid, here. essentially splitting is straight down the middle and filtering is "riding" side to side and in and out and using as much free space as possible

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aqRPohn0HpM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

filtering also applies to slow moving "lane blocking" cars others cannot get around. but a scoot / bike can quickly slide right by given position and other conditions. i never ride between cars which are moving completely parallel.
but if offset i will filter / lane change past 'em if good judgement allows and they are painfully slow and oblivious.

That guy in the vid has a death wish. What he was doing is extremely dangerous.

[Raiderfn311]

That video is INSANE. one car door opens and BAM! I dont lane split here, although in a pinch I might. I just wait my turn.

[JHScoot]

i have not encountered a situation that.....long. but i have split some pretty good ones

its also important to remember while doing it its ok to take a break and slide into traffic if doubtful or more caution need be taken. it relaxes you when you see the open spaces and outs. but also realize they can close up fast. so that readies you as well. for anything. 'cept maybe a door

you know, the whole riding deal is going on...

[Edwub]

That video is exactly what I've done (albeit I only watched the first 30 seconds). I've wanted to record my commute because I've done that for miles.

I may have misused the terms. I always thought that 'splitting' was going between lanes (down the middle), with moving or slow traffic.

I only recently, a few months ago, heard of 'filtering' - in the context it was described to me, filtering is when other cars are stopped or non-moving. You basically 'filter through' to the front or beyond them.

I never thought about whether you go off to the sides or not.

[JHScoot]

good vid, here. essentially splitting is straight down the middle and filtering is "riding" side to side and in and out and using as much free space as possible

filtering also applies to slow moving "lane blocking" cars others cannot get around. but a scoot / bike can quickly slide right by given position and other conditions. i never ride between cars which are moving completely parallel.
but if offset i will filter / lane change past 'em if good judgement allows and they are painfully slow and oblivious.

That guy in the vid has a death wish. What he was doing is extremely dangerous.

i am pretty sure the camera lens accounts for some of the tighter shots

i see this all the time in SoCal. deathwish? how so? too fast? no oncoming traffic or intersections or traffic lights. just traffic not moving and barely moving and a bike moving through it

this is the kind of riding i see high skilled riders doing like motorcycle cops and those funeral procession guys. watching them one day made me think "that looks nice"

do they have a deathwish too? or does maybe having to drop your bike or maybe someone bumping into you or what could happen constitute a deathwish?

don't get me wrong. i do not condone or dissuade anyone from riding as they see fit. but deathwish is something of an overstatement. if that is true it can be said we all have one just for riding

[Cheshire]

There's a few decent scooter vloggers on YouTube from china and such who filter nicely. I've never done it and get mad when others try to filter or split past me...but that's because I'm on the east coast. It's never expected, and I'm usually in the middle of swerving towards that side of my lane to dodge a pothole! If It was legal and/or expected, I probably wouldn't give it a second thought.

[ericalm]

there is a speed limit that you can do this at; I think when traffic goes below 25 mph, and you usually should only go 5 mph faster than the traffic you are filtering through. I always go to the front of the queue at a read light.

The "speed limit on lane splitting" thing is part myth.

Here's the lowdown on lane splitting and what's legal. (Compiled over time from my posts in other threads about this.)

There's a lot of misinformation and apocryphal info out there about driving laws and, in particular, lane splitting.

I have scoured the CA Vehicle Codes and LEO websites. All I've been able to find is that, yes lanesplitting is legal though primarily because it's not prohibited by the VC. There are no codes stipulating any sort of restrictions on it. What you will find on the CHP site is language saying it must be done in a "safe and prudent" manner. This is not codified; it's a standard for enforcement, their own policy.
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html

The "safe and prudent" language apparently came from the old code permitting lane splitting, CA VC 21658, section (b):
(b) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to use a designated lane or allocating specified lanes to traffic moving in the same direction, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of the traffic device. “Lane splitting” by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
This was later amended to remove the lane splitting portion of the code.

The current section (a) of 21658, BTW, states:
A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. This means that lane "sharing" is probably closer to legal (try arguing that in court!) than splitting.

I have even heard LEOs say things such as "it must be done at less than 15mph over speed of surrounding traffic" and such. Anyone who can show me where this rather arbitrary rule is on the books is welcome to do so.

Here's what a lawyer who's part of a motorcycle law network had to say about it:

…California allows lane sharing, which means that motorcycles can drive in between cars that are in a lane. Now, most motorists regard that as an insane and an illegal act by a motorcyclist. However, although not legally set forth in the law, it is not against any law. The California Highway Patrol used to have guidelines where they advised people about what was safe to do for lane sharing, but they have since taken that off of their pamphlet on motorcycling and now they just say that all you have to do is do it in a safe and prudent manner. Essentially what they're saying is that a safe and prudent manner is probably that you're not supposed to go faster than 35 miles an hour and you probably shouldn't go faster than 15 or 20 miles faster than the traffic that you're passing. Obviously, there are ways to do lane sharing that are safer than others and you should try to do that.

http://accident-law.freeadvice.com/acci ... e-laws.htm

The state driver's handbook states:

Motorcycles may travel faster than traffic during congested road conditions and can travel in the unused space between two lines of moving or stationary vehicles, which is commonly called lane splitting.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/shr_slo ... otorcycles

The motorcycle handbook has a section on lane "sharing"; it's discouraged there, but nowhere does it state any guidelines for doing it.

However, the definition of "reckless driving" is pretty much wide open to interpretation by any LEO. There are no laws allowing riders to act as I've seen some squids (and a few scooterists). Swerving between lanes is just dangerous. Ride like a jerk, get caught, get a ticket.

[ericalm]

SO. Now that that's out of the way…

I split every day on my commute. (Actually more filtering, moving between stopped traffic not moving traffic.) Most drivers are very good about. Some will move to allow more room. Some are scared to death of getting the Lamborghini scratched so stay clear.

People who don't live, drive and ride in CA often freak out about lane splitting, but here it's as natural as turning right on red in some other places.

That said, I keep an eye out for out of state plates when doing it. The only time I've gotten yelled at while splitting was someone with out of state plates.

Use good judgment. Keep it slow. I never split when traffic is moving at a good clip. I don't split over hills or in curves where you can't see what cars ahead are doing. I usually don't split when it's dark unless it's just up to the stop in a well-lit intersection when traffic is backed up.

[k1dude]

i am pretty sure the camera lens accounts for some of the tighter shots

i see this all the time in SoCal. deathwish? how so? too fast? no oncoming traffic or intersections or traffic lights. just traffic not moving and barely moving and a bike moving through it

this is the kind of riding i see high skilled riders doing like motorcycle cops and those funeral procession guys. watching them one day made me think "that looks nice"

do they have a deathwish too? or does maybe having to drop your bike or maybe someone bumping into you or what could happen constitute a deathwish?

don't get me wrong. i do not condone or dissuade anyone from riding as they see fit. but deathwish is something of an overstatement. if that is true it can be said we all have one just for riding

Yes, anyone that rides like that has a death wish. Your luck will only last so long, it has nothing to do with skill. You must be young. Only the young display such confidence (lack of judgement) and think they're bullet-proof.

[JHScoot]

well i am not young but am a new(er) rider. with more experience perhaps my POV will become more prudent, though? i should piont out i posted that vid as sort of an...absolute example of what is possible so far as moving though traffic and not as an example of how folks should ride or aspire to

however i still think you overstate it. how moving slowly through traffic and filtering though moving traffic on a motorcycle constitutes a deathwish is not something i comprehend too clearly? i don't split like that, but when i see others doing it they seem to be doing fine. some of this riders maneuvering was somewhat daring but luck or not, mission was safely accomplished. i did not see luck in his riding, but i did see some skill. and although that may not be enough to prevent others from hitting you, it did him well to ride past those who might have. was it safest way to ride? idk?

i mean he may have not filtered that day and gotten rear ended, right? or any number of things. we all need a bit of luck when on two wheels. as said, i went down on a slick of....something. just riding as usual

listen, i just don't want to be a fearful rider. fearful if i am lane splitting or blowing through an intersection at 45mph with people turning left in front of me and braking in front of me and riding my ass while people are turning right in front of me and racing out of driveways all around. which i cannot control but happens to me everyday at multiple intersections! i cannot afford to ride scared. safe, yes. scared, no.

i will take your words into account, however. and remember them when better judgment may be necessary

[JHScoot]

ok now i am upset!

i am trading in my fire breathing Agility for this:



side of the road, 15mph. i should be fine

[Edwub]

Yes, anyone that rides like that has a death wish. Your luck will only last so long, it has nothing to do with skill. You must be young. Only the young display such confidence (lack of judgement) and think they're bullet-proof.

I'll try not to take offense, as I disagree, but then again I must have a deathwish too There's an illusion of higher speed when other cars are stopped or crawling - even 15 mph past stopped cars would seem like you're zooming through the middle split at breakneck speeds.

In my opinion, the biggest danger of stopped cars is usually side view mirror on mirror contact, which usually is at its worst when cars are parallel to each other. (Ideally (also usually), cars are staggered so you have some space on at least one of your sides). It's worse on many surface streets, as freeway lanes tend to be wider. I don't know about bulletproof, but I've seen firsthand a few errors which usually result in people ping ponging between cars. Most riders I've seen adjust their speed accordingly depending on the scenario.

If I can ask, what part of Northern California are you in? It could just be that many riders are used to being in very different traffic conditions. What seems foolish (and maybe unnecessary) to you is just a different riding climate.


The 405 at Sunset Blvd.


405, slow shutter speed


I like the slower shutter: you see a bit of shift in the cars as they're slowly moving (and heck, this is even a curve!!) . But there's nice, wide swaths of road available. At 10, 15, 20 mph, there's *plenty* of space for a scooter. It might seem like a breakneck speed, in comparison, when viewed through someones mounted camera, but to be honest: I sometimes feel safer doing this. As much as we complain about LA drivers at times, the bulk of them aren't as unaware of riders and lane splitting as drivers in other areas or cities. There's a hell of a lot of people here, and a hell of a lot of riders. Especially in traffic, cars have less wiggle room (they're trapped in cages, right?), and down here they are _used to_ motorcycles and scooters doing this.

And it is an INCREDIBLE feeling to pass thousands of cars on the 405, putt putting along.

[Edwub]

A different perspective, the 405 again:

[batgirl101]

Do you do it? Do you like it? Do people get mad at you?

I have been doing it a lot lately. It's exciting, fun, and playful. It's like when someone who hates you says "oh go play in traffic!"

Now we get to smile and say "OKAY, I WILL "

This is awesome. Tips, tricks, or otherwise? I must say dodging and weaving cars has never been so much fun!

i split frequently, and i get the feeling you're talking about here. heading into San Francisco approaching the Golden Gate Bridge, traffic is often crawling at least 4 miles back. the drivers totally make way for me as i zip through--how cool is that?

[ericalm]

I have (somewhere) rather shakily video of lane splitting that looks like I'm going much faster than I actually was. This was on a miles-long backup of a northern section of the 101.

Freeway splitting is a different animal thank on surface streets. When cars are backed up, as in the pics of the nightmarish 405, it's usually pretty easy going. Took my wife over 2 hours to get from LAX to North Hollywood via the 405 yesterday. I could have done it in half the time on a scooter.

When traffic is moving, things get hairier. Even then, it just comes down to judgment (there's no need to split if traffic is moving over 40 or whatever) and skill.

It's the guys who are doing it at over 60mph on the freeway or weaving in and out and between traffic on freeways and surface streets that cause problems for the rest of us. In congested traffic, some of those guys pose as big a problem or danger to me as cars.

The one time I've seen someone have a problem lane splitting was when a Vespa GTS split down around a frequently-congested curve (where Cahuenga becomes Highland just before the Hollywood Bowl). He took the mirror off a BMW. Oops.

[2wheelNsanity]

I wouldn't do it even if I lived in California. My safety is paramount and time is something I have plenty of .

[JHScoot]

A different perspective, the 405 again:

ah...that makes me smile. i was looking at the other shots and realized when i drove and someone asked me "what do you see" i would have said 'a horrible traffic jam, a complete bore, and wasted time"

now when i see that pic i see the "lanes" that are MINE. all mine. i own that traffic jam. and that is awesome

Do you do it? Do you like it? Do people get mad at you?

I have been doing it a lot lately. It's exciting, fun, and playful. It's like when someone who hates you says "oh go play in traffic!"

Now we get to smile and say "OKAY, I WILL "

This is awesome. Tips, tricks, or otherwise? I must say dodging and weaving cars has never been so much fun!

i split frequently, and i get the feeling you're talking about here. heading into San Francisco approaching the Golden Gate Bridge, traffic is often crawling at least 4 miles back. the drivers totally make way for me as i zip through--how cool is that?

yeah thats pretty nice. sometimes i even feel smarter passing cars in a jam

and again i want to say because of that video i posted.....of course always ride safe and use good judgment. and by no means weave between lanes and play "dodge ball" with moving cars. as eric said, you will lose

that is not what lane splitting / filtering is. i do not dodge and weave in traffic as i stated in my first post. but sometimes it feels like that as i move through traffic. but sure if i am going nowhere fast and traffic is moving, lights, the whole thing...i jusr ride along with it. if conditions are right and i want to pass some cars, however....i feel free to do so if safe

so plz yes, ride safe. and for those outside Cali or not heavy urban riders, well....i grew up watching this all around me. so as others have said, its part of the driving / riding culture in L.A. / SoCal and seems pretty normal

[JHScoot]

ok i am bringing some balance to the thread

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[Lokky]

I spent two weeks in Italy visiting my family this March, and my father allowed me to ride his Suzuki Marauder while I was home.

Well I quickly learned that in a city like Milan, not only does lane splitting cut a lot of time from your commute, but is actually safer that riding like you have a right to your lane.

Milan doesn't exactly have lanes to begin with, most two lane streets are simply wider without proper markings between the lanes. People will not give motorcycles an entire lane because there is so many of them around and it is expected of them to lanesplit to make traffic better for everyone. Also the incoming lane is completely fair game in order to make your way to the light ahead of a column of stopped cars.

I really wish I had a gopro to shoot videos of this while I was there.

[ilektron]

In Italy, the cars lane share and filter. Even with oncoming traffic. Both parties go to the sides and you go through on the middle of the road.

In Italy: If a car fits, it should go there.


I personally have never filtered/lane shared on my 125. I live in a small town in CA and it would only save me about 10 seconds. I also am not confident enough that I would be able to beat the cars off the line on my Buddy 125.

[JHScoot]

^thats awesome. it sounds to me like in Italy the attitude is more like "we are on cycles and fit in small spaces. the big spaces are for cars, let them have it"

and vice versa. i was speaking to a woman from Italy who said just about everyone rides from the age of 13. thats great

[ilektron]

The laws are different over there. A kid can legal drive a scooter starting at age 14, but cannot drive a car until 18.

I went to school there for a brief period as a 15 y/o and all my peers had scooters with after-market everything to make them as fast as possible (which was illegal). At least one person at my school died on a scooter in the year I attended.

[Dooglas]

can someone explain the difference between lane splitting and filtering?

It's lane splitting when you do it in Los Angeles and filtering when you do it in London .

Wikipedia says filtering is a broader term that includes "using space on the outside edge of same-direction traffic as well"

Well, I suppose Wikipedia can say anything it wants (and often does ). Passing on the right, however, is illegal in every state in the US including California, so that is probably not something to add to your bag of tricks.

[Lokky]

It's lane splitting when you do it in Los Angeles and filtering when you do it in London .

Wikipedia says filtering is a broader term that includes "using space on the outside edge of same-direction traffic as well"

Well, I suppose Wikipedia can say anything it wants (and often does ). Passing on the right, however, is illegal in every state in the US including California, so that is probably not something to add to your bag of tricks.

Technically if you split down the middle between two lanes you are passing the people on your left to the right :p

[ericalm]

Wikipedia says filtering is a broader term that includes "using space on the outside edge of same-direction traffic as well"

Well, I suppose Wikipedia can say anything it wants (and often does ). Passing on the right, however, is illegal in every state in the US including California, so that is probably not something to add to your bag of tricks.

Technically if you split down the middle between two lanes you are passing the people on your left to the right :p

On almost all roads in CA with 2+ lanes in each direction ("unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and clearly marked for two or more lines of moving traffic in the direction of travel") and on one-way roads, passing on the right is legal. So, basically, no doing it on narrow, 2-way roads with only one lane moving in your direction.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21754.htm

One of the problems with legality by omission with lane splitting in CA is that much of the behavior is technically made illegal by other laws governing use of lanes, etc. At the same time, they openly state that lane splitting is permitted between "lines of moving or stationary vehicles."

SO, basically, if you ride like a jerk, they can bust you for a number of things. If you're sensible and cautious, you'll be okay.