Advice: single lane split done right?

[IAmA M0t0r Ridεr]

So this is me, new rider in the bay area (been riding here since March this year), I've done splitting in 3 other countries, so I'm not looking for arguments pro or contra lane splitting in general.

I'm just talking about why we don't see many single lane splitting here, and if this one instance was kosher with you all.

IMHO 95% of drivers were beyong reproach, and outstanding.

This was coming from Bodega Bay, there were protests in Oakland and they closed 980(?) I think, and it seemed to reflect on CA-37 Sears Point:

This is the road, if you're not familiar with it:

The video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NheSROA4B64&feature=youtu.be


youtu.be/NheSROA4B64&feature=youtu.be

One thing is certain, I wouldn't want to stay behind that rental truck the whole 14miles...Also, in the beginning of the video, at the traffic light, there's a cop on a motorcycle at the side of the road. I wave at him, he didn't wave back, but he saw me splitting, at least the beginning of it.

 

[MikeyRocks]

It's not lane splitting, it's lane sharing. I see riders riding the shoulder all the time on 37 when traffic is pretty bad, but I wouldn't recommend it since it's technically illegal. Afaik, you're supposed to stay within the lane if you're going to pass a car, once you cross that solid line it becomes illegal. But I'm no expert on the matter, so maybe an LEO can chime in.

 

[Loki1000R]

no solid line crossing mmmkay. it's solid so that you know not to cross it! not really any different than a DY line.

 

[rodr]

See also this.

I'd guess you'll get away with it if you can mostly stay in the lane, which you seem to be doing. Nice that many of the cars are moving over.

 

[ZCrow]

As long as the cars are conceding like they are for you in the video it all looks good. If someone decided to be a hammerhead I don't think I would push it with so little room for escape.

 

[IAmA M0t0r Ridεr]

Thanks all for the feedback! When Loki1000R saying no solid line crossing, he means don't cross the solid YELLOW light that it's there, right? IF it were white, would the same rule applies?

Granted, maybe not to be done in front of an officer since then technically you'd be off the road, but cars do that all the time in the left most lane when I'm splitting in the highway (trying to be nice, which is not needed, really, but I appreciate the effort and wave). When cars do that to make room for me, they are going over a solid white, and to a greater extend than a bike would do, so yeah, not 100% kosher, but cars do that all the time, not to mention when merging into/off highway, or approaching an intersection, solid white lines tend to be super conservative too, and mostly ignored. Am I missing something?

See also this.

I'd guess you'll get away with it if you can mostly stay in the lane, which you seem to be doing. Nice that many of the cars are moving over.

As long as the cars are conceding like they are for you in the video it all looks good. If someone decided to be a hammerhead I don't think I would push it with so little room for escape.

Yeah, I tried to not cross any lines and make sure I was asking to share in. I tried to wait for a good spot, not sure what I'd do against a very aggressive driver, best deal would be just to wait.

 

[IAmA M0t0r Ridεr]

Oh yes, forgot to mention, there's a motor cop on the traffic light, I waved at him, he didn't wave back and he could see me splitting, not sure if single lane splitting, but I guess he could guess where I was, or wasn't looking at the gap between cars, since the road makes a slight turn to the right.

 

[rodr]

Thanks all for the feedback! When Loki1000R saying no solid line crossing, he means don't cross the solid YELLOW light that it's there, right? IF it were white, would the same rule applies?

Granted, maybe not to be done in front of an officer since then technically you'd be off the road, but cars do that all the time in the left most lane when I'm splitting in the highway (trying to be nice, which is not needed, really, but I appreciate the effort and wave). When cars do that to make room for me, they are going over a solid white, and to a greater extend than a bike would do, so yeah, not 100% kosher, but cars do that all the time, not to mention when merging into/off highway, or approaching an intersection, solid white lines tend to be super conservative too, and mostly ignored. Am I missing something?

In this case the solid white line separates the lane from the shoulder. The shoulder is for emergencies and not for normal travel. Traffic that's too slow for you is not an emergency, so you can get ticketed for traveling on it. I guess a car driver *could* get ticketed for encroaching the shoulder briefly to make room for something or from inattention, but I've never heard of that happening.

 

[IAmA M0t0r Ridεr]

Got it, makes sense.

 

[tagraff]

In this case the solid white line separates the lane from the shoulder. The shoulder is for emergencies and not for normal travel. Traffic that's too slow for you is not an emergency, so you can get ticketed for traveling on it. I guess a car driver *could* get ticketed for encroaching the shoulder briefly to make room for something or from inattention, but I've never heard of that happening.

Yeah, it appears enforcement for motos crossing the solid white line is stringent that cars doing the same.

 

[RightCoastBias]

Yeah, it appears enforcement for motos crossing the solid white line is stringent that cars doing the same.

Not always true. I've gotten "caught" several times by CHiP enforcing the Carpool on ramp @ Bryant/2nd in SF. Only time I've ever even had one give me a look was the slow down hand gesture.

 

[HeatXfer]

It's not lane splitting, it's lane sharing. I see riders riding the shoulder all the time on 37 when traffic is pretty bad, but I wouldn't recommend it since it's technically illegal. Afaik, you're supposed to stay within the lane if you're going to pass a car, once you cross that solid line it becomes illegal. But I'm no expert on the matter, so maybe an LEO can chime in.

In order to "qualify" for lane splitting there has to be 2 lanes traveling in the same direction. Passing vehicles on a single lane road is PASSING.

A mellow CHP might give you a warning.

 

[RickM]

In order to "qualify" for lane splitting there has to be 2 lanes traveling in the same direction. Passing vehicles on a single lane road is PASSING.

A mellow CHP might give you a warning.

I am not sure if all LEO's do it that way. A friend of mine and I passed a car on a mountain road( with only one lane in each direction.) I passed within the lane, my buddy passed over the DY. A CHP was saw that and pulled my buddy over. I stopped too. He got a ticket. I did not even get a warning. Officer said within lane is OK and my pass was safe. Very slow moving car and lane was pretty wide.

 

[MikeyRocks]

In order to "qualify" for lane splitting there has to be 2 lanes traveling in the same direction. Passing vehicles on a single lane road is PASSING.

A mellow CHP might give you a warning.

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2323603&postcount=5

 

[HeatXfer]

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2323603&postcount=5

Based my post on the 'letter of the law':

CVC21658 Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, the following rules apply: (a) 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.

I think your example shows enforcement is left to the senseabilities of the LEO.