Bay Area Riders Forum official Lane Splitting Guidelines

vorhese

vorhese

Well-known member
I'm also glad there is no mention of top speed / delta.

There seems to be a large number of the population, mostly just cars drivers, that think splitting in traffic over 35-45mph is wrong and unnecessary, calling it asshole behavior. I think that's just ridiculous. I might as well just drive.

I was listening to the latest Motorcycles and Misfits and an INSTRUCTOR is telling the audience that it is illegal to split over 40mph

https://soundcloud.com/re-cyclegarage/podcast-230-variety-show#t=33:30
 
tzrider

tzrider

Write Only User
Staff member
Lots of us ride in pretty dense traffic these days and appreciate the advantages lane splitting gives us. We know we leave car drivers with an impression but have you ever estimated how many car drivers you come into contact with each day?

I did a couple of counts yesterday evening on the heaviest part of my commute, which heads east over the Dumbarton Bridge towards Fremont. The stop lights leading up to the bridge were at a standstill, so traffic was very dense. The density over the bridge itself was somewhat less but still heavy, as is typical on a weeknight.

Based on my counts, I'd conservatively say I passed between 1,300 cars in the 13 miles from Marsh Road & 101 to 84 & 880. These are cars that were either directly to my left or right as I split.

Your own numbers may be higher or lower but for any one of us, that's a lot of eyeballs witnessing how we behave on motorcycles. Along with any other safety consideration we may have, it's worth keeping in mind that each of us leaves a considerable mark on public opinion every time we ride.
 
RhythmRider

RhythmRider

Still Rhythm Rydin'
tzrider said:
Your own numbers may be higher or lower but for any one of us, that's a lot of eyeballs witnessing how we behave on motorcycles. Along with any other safety consideration we may have, it's worth keeping in mind that each of us leaves a considerable mark on public opinion every time we ride.
Click to expand...
Good thing I have a short commute! :teeth

P.S. - Hi, Andy!
 
stubble

stubble

let's moto!
:thumbup

i-b26Z78S-X2.jpg
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Thanks for posting!

I am actually getting reach outs from around the country asking to see them. Very cool.
 
gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
The picture they chose to use there is pretty much perfect in every way. It says a lot with no words, screams *doing it right*.
:thumbup
 
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DataDan

DataDan

Mama says he's bona fide
Lane Splitting – Filtering – Sharing Guidelines

Presented by
Bay Area Riders Forum​


Your safety depends on your good judgment:
  • Don't expect to be seen. Lane-splitters are hard to see and some drivers are distracted.
  • Keep speed down so you have time and space to react to hazards.
  • Avoid splitting next to large trucks and other wide vehicles. They reduce space available and can be deadly in a crash.
  • Leave a margin for error, so when someone makes a mistake in the tight confines of the splitting corridor, it may not end in a crash.
  • Respect other motorists. Commuting is a cheerless grind for everyone. Don't make it harder for them even if a few make it harder for you.
  • Watch for lane changes, they are a frequent cause of crashes.
Less risk:
  • Lower traffic speed and speed differential.
  • Wider lanes.
  • Dense bumper-to-bumper traffic that limits ability of vehicles to change lanes.
  • Left-most lanes farther from merging and exiting traffic.
More risk:
  • Higher traffic speed or speed differential.
  • Narrow lanes, wide vehicles.
  • Gap in traffic that permits a quick lane change across the splitting corridor.
  • Right side lanes near merging and exiting traffic.
  • Intersections and crosswalks in the city.
  • Following or being followed closely by another motorcycle.
  • Night time or wet pavement.
Minimize your risk:
  • Ride with your head and eyes up, looking well ahead.
  • Anticipate the flow of traffic and predict hazards.
  • Limit your speed to 10-15 miles per hour above surrounding traffic. This helps others to see you and gives you more time and space to react to hazards.
  • Adjust your speed for road and weather conditions.
  • Cover your brakes to reduce reaction time.
  • Keep your hands and feet on the controls.
  • Don't split when traffic is moving at higher speeds. It raises risk but saves little time.
  • Be skilled at maximum braking and swerving.

Disclaimer: Lane Splitting can be dangerous, you could be seriously hurt or killed. These guidelines are meant to provide basic information based on experienced riders/commuters input and the SafeTrec Lane Splitting study by UC Berkeley. There is no guarantee these guidelines will keep you safe. Ride with extreme vigilance.
Additional tips are available at: www.bayarearidersforum.com/features and www.bayarearidersforum.com/1Rider

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The above is the same as the PDF Budman linked in his OP, but forum-formatted for your reading convenience.
 
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Marcoose

Marcoose

50-50
Very nice, Dan.

I make a point to say thanks to people that make a little extra room. I'd like to hope a good gesture now will pay dividends in the future.

I wish there was a way to convey to car drivers to not overly get out of the way, and definitely not exit the lane, or drive in the shoulder. Motorbikes are somewhat narrow. They don't need all that much space. When car drivers get way too much out of the way, they may lose visual contact with other splitters, and when the driver moves back in the middle of the lane, there could other splitters going by.
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
FYI... the CHP tips are very close.

They changed the wording from Guidelines to Tips.
They also took out all speed references and just said as speeds increase so does the danger.

I expect they will be out by May 1.
 
Krooklyn

Krooklyn

Usual Suspect
budman said:
FYI... the CHP tips are very close.

They changed the wording from Guidelines to Tips.
They also took out all speed references and just said as speeds increase so does the danger.

I expect they will be out by May 1.
Click to expand...

Very nice work. :thumbup
 
DataDan

DataDan

Mama says he's bona fide
Not mentioned in the BARF Guidelines is the potential danger of "splitting" on a single-lane ramp. In San Diego yesterday, a rider was passing vehicles on a wide, single-lane freeway offramp (Google Maps link). However, approaching the stop sign at the end of the ramp, the one wide lane becomes two narrow lanes. While the motorcyclist was apparently passing on the left, a vehicle ahead veered left into the left-turn lane, forcing him into the curb. He died in the crash.

In similar crash a few years ago, a rider with passenger was using the wide right shoulder to pass a truck on this single-lane ramp (Google Maps link). But as the curving ramp merges with another ramp, the rider's right shoulder disappeared, and the motorcycle went down under the truck, killing both occupants.

IANAL and take no position on the legality of "splitting" on a single-lane ramp. But if you do it, know the peril and have an escape route if it goes bad.
 
E

erok81

Well-known member
What are the rules for an upcoming rider thats trying to pass during lane splitting?

I usually split really slow. Like 5-10mph (closer to five though) and when traffics moving 30+ I don’t split. So I’m sure this annoys a lot of riders behind me. I’m constantly checking mirrors to make sure I’m not in the way. But occasionally I’ll miss someone.

Example from last week. I was splitting pretty much stopped traffic so I’m on the slow end for speed. Another biker came up behind me and just keep reving his bike behind me. Keep in mind this is stopped traffic so I can’t really go anywhere. Eventually I got sick of it and just angled between two cars to get out of the way. He blew by and all was good.

This is my first year of splitting - I came from a state you just have to suffer in traffic. What do you guys do when you have an agressive rider come up behind you?

Hopefully replying here is okay. If not feel free to delete. :)
 
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