Lanesplitting rider killed

[HondaHeathen]

CA:
Rider appears to be traveling too fast.
Splitting at the place where traffic first builds up is very risky. Drivers are more likely to jump lanes as they approach the traffic jam. Wait a few seconds, let the cars bunch up and eliminate the gaps. Let the drivers get used to the traffic before splitting.

+1 on this! Right when people see cars piling up is when they usually start jumping lanes. anything to get 2 cars farther up in line :rolleyes

There is a really bad intersection near my house thats the one place i almost never split in. Its a large intersection with multiple turn lanes, then right as you make it through the lane, there are two freeway onramps.

This constantly causes a cluster F#$% of drivers jumping from lane to lane trying to get on the freeway, or stomping the breaks so they can make the left turn into the taco bell. I do everything I can to avoid that intersection completely if at all possible.

 

[dowlinginchico]

Splitting at the place where traffic first builds up is very risky. Drivers are more likely to jump lanes as they approach the traffic jam. Wait a few seconds, let the cars bunch up and eliminate the gaps. Let the drivers get used to the traffic before splitting.

THIS!!! I often see (and have done in my rookie years) riders start splitting at a very high delta at the start of the split, then slow down a few cars after. I am not sure why this is, but I think we try to maintain the speed we previously had AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Maybe change is hard? Especially when slowing when all you want to do is go fast? Lack of focus to preemptively figure it out? I am not sure.

I think the delta is only part of it. Sure, there are crashes that could have been prevented just by a reasonable delta. This one (Fresno) possibly, and the one on 880 in San Jose that Enchanter posted a video of in a Crash Analysis thread. But there are situations where the delta isn't as important. When both lanes are bumper-to-bumper and no one can change lanes, a higher delta is possible. So I see it as a more general problem in situational awareness.

In my unpublished, 3500-word Lane Splitting Guide (yeah, it's a bit tedious :rolleyes), I emphasize:

1. Attitude. Accept an increase in some risks in order to reduce others and to save time. Accept the leisurely approach to driving of most other road users. Accept that you're putting yourself in spots where you won't be seen.
   
   
2. Know the common crash scenarios. Know how lane-splitting crashes happen, and be on high alert when you identify a high-risk situation.
   
   
3. Know the high-danger road situations. A careless lane change is a common cause of freeway lane splitting crashes. Where do drivers change lanes? Where flows converge or diverge. Where a merge lane ends. At an exit-only lane. Where there is a big lane-to-lane speed delta. When there's a disabled vehicle. Where a car-pool lane begins or ends. Etc., etc.
   
   
4. Know the non-freeway splitting dangers. When traffic is bumper-to-bumper, you're protected from crossing hazards. But as you clear the adjacent traffic, watch for peds, bicyclists, and vehicles crossing your path.

Dan, you are an asset to this community!

 

[Chicago_FJR]

DataDan Thumbs Up

......


Dan, you are an asset to this community!

Yes, this, about DataDan. Truly! :thumbup

 

[krongsak]

Some excellent advice on this thread and a great summary by DataDan.
I have now been commuting and lane sharing daily up and down the Bay, 101, 880, 580, for close to 20 years without a single crash.

While I would love to share a magic recipe, I am all too aware that some of it comes down to good luck. With that out of the way, I would add the following to what Data Dan and OaklandF4i said:

- Focus: regardless of how little you slept, how early you woke up, how long of a working day you had, how upset your wife or co-worker made you or where you need to get to, when you get on the bike, take 10sec to take a breath, clear your head and get all your attention on riding and on the road.

- Always look for escape paths: If the path between two cars closes at the last minute, getting on the brakes is rarely the best option. More often than not you won't stop in time. It's much better to have identified another path ahead of time and quickly switch.

- Whats legal is not always the safest option: I know I am going to get crap for that one, I am not advocating breaking the law, I am merely saying that following yellow lines can be a form of target fixation. When looking for escape paths also consider shoulders or wherever there might be space you can use in a pinch.

- Be razor accurate with your steering: For example practice riding on a line at different speeds, with wind, without wind. Be mindful of the turbulences created by large vehicles, they will push or pull you, anticipate and keep your wheels exactly where you want them to be. An inch can be the difference between staying up or going down. Again I am not advocating getting within one inch of a car, simply to steer as if all you had was an inch rather than being lulled into steering sloppily just because there is space.

- Be decisive: I see everyday riders hanging a few feets away to the rear right corner of cars. Waiting for who knows what sign that it is safe to pass. If you are not ready to pass stay at a safe distance from the car ahead of you. Once you are ready to pass, whatever it means, you made eye contact with the driver, the gap between cars has widen, etc. pass decisively.

As Budman mentioned earlier, none of these "techniques" are meant for new riders, or riders with little experience.

My 2 cents.

 

[planegray]

Been "sharing" for 15 yrs, 5 days a week... I've taken a few hits doing so...DataDan's insights require you to think, but omg he has got it nailed :hail

 

[kelsodeez]

Data-dan nailed it, but id like to add:

always cover both brakes at all times
and...
situational awareness isnt enough. you need anticipational awareness as well.

 

[Cabrito]

Some excellent advice on this thread and a great summary by DataDan.
I have now been commuting and lane sharing daily up and down the Bay, 101, 880, 580, for close to 20 years without a single crash.

While I would love to share a magic recipe, I am all too aware that some of it comes down to good luck. With that out of the way, I would add the following to what Data Dan and OaklandF4i said:

- Focus: regardless of how little you slept, how early you woke up, how long of a working day you had, how upset your wife or co-worker made you or where you need to get to, when you get on the bike, take 10sec to take a breath, clear your head and get all your attention on riding and on the road.

- Always look for escape paths: If the path between two cars closes at the last minute, getting on the brakes is rarely the best option. More often than not you won't stop in time. It's much better to have identified another path ahead of time and quickly switch.

- Whats legal is not always the safest option: I know I am going to get crap for that one, I am not advocating breaking the law, I am merely saying that following yellow lines can be a form of target fixation. When looking for escape paths also consider shoulders or wherever there might be space you can use in a pinch.

- Be razor accurate with your steering: For example practice riding on a line at different speeds, with wind, without wind. Be mindful of the turbulences created by large vehicles, they will push or pull you, anticipate and keep your wheels exactly where you want them to be. An inch can be the difference between staying up or going down. Again I am not advocating getting within one inch of a car, simply to steer as if all you had was an inch rather than being lulled into steering sloppily just because there is space.

- Be decisive: I see everyday riders hanging a few feets away to the rear right corner of cars. Waiting for who knows what sign that it is safe to pass. If you are not ready to pass stay at a safe distance from the car ahead of you. Once you are ready to pass, whatever it means, you made eye contact with the driver, the gap between cars has widen, etc. pass decisively.

As Budman mentioned earlier, none of these "techniques" are meant for new riders, or riders with little experience.

My 2 cents.

This is a great post, all of it.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Good thread, but I find the single most important note missing;

"Fear the gap"

If there's a gap ahead, your lane or adjoining lane, you can count on someone diving into it as soon as humanly possible. No signal, no looking over their shoulder- its a scientific fact- gaps create a vacuum that folks are sucked into without any input or reasoning. If there is no gap, well folks tend not to power on over- but some will anyway.

Know this behavior and I think you'll avoid most incidents.

 

[packnrat]

sad to hear another rider gone.

but to those who say never to a big rig.
as a commercial driver i will give way for a bike. but some are splitting way too fast for me to see them let alone move over a bit for there safety.

but double yes, you never want to go under a rig.

 

[Mekongriver]

This thread is very good. Thanks for all the insight everyone. I am from Bangkok, we also lane splitting.

My commute route the past 4 years, Albany to SFSU, or 880 down to Newark. I lane splits when I feel safe, not much when overall traffic above 55-60.

I honk and flash my light, nicely, to make my way thru. I did got some angry drivers honk or flash their light back, but hey, they saw me, but not for long:laughing.
I got big light with amber lens, it help to be seen. At night even better, cars moved when they see the light.

I tried to keep the speed down, like other said, low delta. It also annoying to have loud bike flashed by when you in the car. We all drive too.

Have a good etiquette for anything, including lane splitting, be nice, be kind to people that stuck in the cars.

Stay calm, rushing is a recipe for disaster. learn meditation, learn about the awareness, lane splitting is not walk in the park. You gotta be on point.

Become like water.. as Bruce Lee said, read the traffic and be part of it.


Namaste.. rip rider.

 

[dravnx]

Honking and flashing your lights is very rude. Have a little patience and the split will always open up.
Every time you get on your bike you become an ambassador for the rest of us.
Act accordingly.

 

[Maddevill]

While I agree that big rigs are a special hazard, many of those crashes where a big rig was involved, the rider was injured AFTER he crashed with an ordinary car. I've been riding awhile and I do ride a sporty pace in the hills but, in my opinion, there are a LOT of riders splitting with a very high delta. I see it every day. I guess until they get involved in an accident , it means nothing to them.

Mad

 

[ScottRNelson]

While I agree that big rigs are a special hazard, many of those crashes where a big rig was involved, the rider was injured AFTER he crashed with an ordinary car.

I think the main point of not splitting past big rigs is that if something goes wrong you've greatly increased your chances of serious injury or death. So even if it's a car that you tangle with, you're more likely to die going under the wheels of a big rig.

 

[Maddevill]

I think the main point of not splitting past big rigs is that if something goes wrong you've greatly increased your chances of serious injury or death. So even if it's a car that you tangle with, you're more likely to die going under the wheels of a big rig.

That's fine but how about riding so you don't get tangled with a car in the first place ? Semi's are part of the highway. We have to deal with them.

Mad

 

[Enchanter]

The techniques you two are sharing are not mutually exclusive.

I split all the time. I never split past semi tractor-trailers.

 

[budman]

I will pull back in line as well.
One tip over being fatal is just not worth the risk.

 

[Hoppalong]

One tip over being fatal is just not worth the risk.

I think for many riders it's not even about getting somewhere a few seconds quicker. They get caught up in the adrenaline-rush of it.

 

[Enchanter]

I think for many riders it's not even about getting somewhere a few seconds quicker. They get caught up in the adrenaline-rush of it.

I tend to agree with you. I've recently met a few riders that indicated that a) you have to lanesplit, and b) cars are supposed to get out your way / create space.

 

[PorradaVFR]

A pet peeve of mine is the people who swerve sharply onto the shoulder at the last minute to give you room. [....] It also tells me they have no depth perspective, because 9 times out of 10 it's someone in a Nissan Leaf, Mini Cooper, Prius, or other tiny car that barely takes up half a lane to begin with.

Exactly!! I’ll split past a far larger car that’s far closer to the lane marker with no problem - then the person in the tiny clown car moves 10’ over (I mean, thanks?) abruptly and recklessly.

Every.

Damn.

Time.

:ride

 

[295566]

Exactly!! I’ll split past a far larger car that’s far closer to the lane marker with no problem - then the person in the tiny clown car moves 10’ over (I mean, thanks?) abruptly and recklessly.

Every.

Damn.

Time.

:ride

Omg, seriously! I appreciate the gesture, I guess... but I can't tell you how many blank stares I get when I tell people I prefer them to keep going their course and NOT pull 3/4 of the way onto the fucking shoulder to "make room" for me splitting. I know where the ends of my bike are, and there's plenty of room for both of us... if there isn't, I'll wait! No need to recklessly jerk over to make more room. 99% of the time that extra room isn't needed. And, worst case, you pop a tire, freak out other drivers not paying attention, etc. Not worth it. Just keep :ride in your cage!