DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
Great point. I'm going to add that to the post.
Safer Splitting: A Guide for Noobs
- Thread starter DataDan
- Start date
maidenfan84
Well-known member
How many wipeouts and accidents can be avoided by SLOWING DOWN? Lanesplitting is a new thing to me, but I do it within reason. If traffic is already moving along at a good pace and above 30mph or so, what reason do I have to fly between lanes? It's a recipe for disaster. I see people doing 60+mph while traffic is either very slow or moving fast already. Just makes no sense. The videos I saw on the first page could easily have been remedied by riding within the conditions. Dark, rainy, and trying to fly between lanes with lowlight? Nah...I'm good. Cruiser guy going the speed limit but still feels the need to fly between lanes to cut almost directly in front of a truck? Wouldn't catch me doing it.
Maybe I error on the side of safety, but if I'm already moving through traffic a bit faster than the cars, that's good enough for me. I happily move over if another rider wants to blaze by when I'm splitting lanes.
I assume every car is out to get me, I'd rather arrive alive. I appreciate you putting together this thread, hopefully it'll help keep someone riding safe to ride again.
Maybe I error on the side of safety, but if I'm already moving through traffic a bit faster than the cars, that's good enough for me. I happily move over if another rider wants to blaze by when I'm splitting lanes.
I assume every car is out to get me, I'd rather arrive alive. I appreciate you putting together this thread, hopefully it'll help keep someone riding safe to ride again.
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Maybe it goes without saying, but splitting in the dark is harder, lower speed differential is needed. You are even less visible, and large mirrors are harder to see and avoid.
I always slow down a lot on the first day after the time change because that will be the first time I split home in the dark that year. The one year I forgot I had a mirror tap, and no damage to either vehicle, I got lucky.
Actually, maybe it's better said that noobs shouldn't split in the dark.
I always slow down a lot on the first day after the time change because that will be the first time I split home in the dark that year. The one year I forgot I had a mirror tap, and no damage to either vehicle, I got lucky.
Actually, maybe it's better said that noobs shouldn't split in the dark.
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daninutero
New member
Curious - is it my responsibility to get out of the way? I ask because I was splitting at a 15 delta this morning on 80E and I had a Harley come up behind me and start revving. Traffic was at a near standstill on the way towards the Bay Bridge and I wasn't sure if it was on me to maneuver into a lane for his convenience, or on him to switch over to splitting between lanes 2/3?
Luckily traffic diverged in less than a mile as we got to the express lane exit towards the bridge but I'd like to hear thoughts on the etiquette for future reference.
DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
Get out of the way when you SAFELY can.
It's a matter of courtesy, even if the other rider is a dick. But it's also a matter of your safety. A tailgating splitter is a real danger to you.
cheez
Master Of The Darkside
Excellent thread, well gathered info. Kudos for putting it together DataDan.
If you know a rider is in the split behind you and wants to pass, let them past at the first safe opportunity. Like drivers who come up behind you in the fast lane, they tend to be aggressive personalities that become frustrated by being "trapped" behind you in their minds and do dangerous things as a result- just better to not be around them, period.
Here's an example- the guy couldn't have been behind me in the 1/2 split for very long, but decides to try to pass in the 2/3 split and tries to dodge over to evade a truck mirror, cutting me off. Once I know he wants past I let him pass, but that doesn't stop his impatience from putting us both at risk. I'm partly at fault for not observing him and yielding faster, of course.
https://youtu.be/MrcnsjmkJic
If you know a rider is in the split behind you and wants to pass, let them past at the first safe opportunity. Like drivers who come up behind you in the fast lane, they tend to be aggressive personalities that become frustrated by being "trapped" behind you in their minds and do dangerous things as a result- just better to not be around them, period.
Here's an example- the guy couldn't have been behind me in the 1/2 split for very long, but decides to try to pass in the 2/3 split and tries to dodge over to evade a truck mirror, cutting me off. Once I know he wants past I let him pass, but that doesn't stop his impatience from putting us both at risk. I'm partly at fault for not observing him and yielding faster, of course.
https://youtu.be/MrcnsjmkJic
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maidenfan84
Well-known member
Is lane splitting at a left turn allowed? I've noticed some riders doing it and some that don't. I don't think it's something I want to do, but I want to know what is and isn't allowed by law
DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
There are no restrictions.
Do you mean filtering up to the limit line between two left-turn lanes at a red light? I don't do it, but it wouldn't seem to be a problem if the geometry is favorable. You need space to accelerate quickly on the green and GTFO of the way so you don't interfere with lane changes or get taken out by sloppy driving.
If you mean splitting between two left-turn lanes in motion, I wouldn't recommend it due to the sloppy driving risk. I'm sure you've seen a driver in the left lane run a little wide into the right lane. When I'm in the right lane, I expect that kind of incursion and position myself accordingly.
maidenfan84
Well-known member
Yes, a left turn where there's 2 lanes going left (one can also do u-turn)....sometimes I see people cut up all the way to the front, but I was thinking that you can only split on a dotted line going straight, not in turns. Besides, like you said, it would be too crazy with people turning the cars even if you did get up to the front while traffic is stopped.
Thanks for the reply and enlightenment
Thanks for the reply and enlightenment
ScottRNelson
Mr. Dual Sport Rider
I've only split to the front between left turn lanes when traffic was heavy and I was able to get past ten or more cars. I've never bothered for just two or three. It's not all that hard to take off from the intersection faster than the two cars in front.
And I'm still occasionally missing the ability to split lanes here.
BayAreaF4i
Member
Thanks for the great info DataDan. Have been riding for about a year now but have not had to do a long commute where splitting lanes was of importance. As of late i will be commuting from Antioch to Union City so this thread will come in handy!
DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
youtu.be/p_ephTqS8KQ
This is one of the best lane-splitting how-to videos I've seen. It demonstrates many of the tips in this thread.
The woman doing the riding and the talking, a moto-journalist at Ultimate Motorcycling, has a great attitude about splitting that contributes to a lower stress commute.
Things to look for: Speed differential--she keeps it down to +10mph (do the 1-second count). Caution near gaps. Caution around trucks. Caution near junctions. Courtesy to fellow splitters and fellow commuters. And much more. :thumbup
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Smash Allen
Banned
As always, your contributions are valued and appreciated Mr. Dan.
Although I have 30,000 miles of lanesplitting experience while attending school in LA, it was several years ago. Because returning riders make up a good chunk of statistics, I am approaching things like I am a new rider. This video does a great job at (re)introducing best practices and I look forward to implementing them. :ride
Although I have 30,000 miles of lanesplitting experience while attending school in LA, it was several years ago. Because returning riders make up a good chunk of statistics, I am approaching things like I am a new rider. This video does a great job at (re)introducing best practices and I look forward to implementing them. :ride
DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
A bad place to split
A 29-year-old woman on an R6 was killed yesterday while splitting on this freeway connector in Rancho Cucamonga:
The ramp connects westbound I-210 to southbound I-15. To the left is the I-15 mainline, to the right is the eastbound-southbound ramp. Almost simultaneously, this connector narrows from two lanes to one, merges with the other one, and joins the mainline. Talk about lane-change hell.
So far, what has been reported is that while splitting the two-lane ramp, she hit a Corolla and was thrown into the path of a truck in the mainline #4 lane.
Lane changes are a primary factor in splitting crashes. And places where they are more likely--such as where two lanes merge into one and where roadways converge--are the most dangerous for lane splitters.
RIP rider. :rose
A 29-year-old woman on an R6 was killed yesterday while splitting on this freeway connector in Rancho Cucamonga:
The ramp connects westbound I-210 to southbound I-15. To the left is the I-15 mainline, to the right is the eastbound-southbound ramp. Almost simultaneously, this connector narrows from two lanes to one, merges with the other one, and joins the mainline. Talk about lane-change hell.
So far, what has been reported is that while splitting the two-lane ramp, she hit a Corolla and was thrown into the path of a truck in the mainline #4 lane.
Lane changes are a primary factor in splitting crashes. And places where they are more likely--such as where two lanes merge into one and where roadways converge--are the most dangerous for lane splitters.
RIP rider. :rose
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mobileninja
Member
Another great find =) Thanks!!!
I do lane split but almost exclusively in stopped or incredibly slow traffic. If its more than 20 I will selectively split at a few points but not much.
The amount of times I've been cruising along at 40-50 behind a car in moving traffic and had a bike fly past me at 60+ and even sometimes 80+ boggles my mind.
Thanks for all the tips and actively promoting good splitting habits!
I do lane split but almost exclusively in stopped or incredibly slow traffic. If its more than 20 I will selectively split at a few points but not much.
The amount of times I've been cruising along at 40-50 behind a car in moving traffic and had a bike fly past me at 60+ and even sometimes 80+ boggles my mind.
Thanks for all the tips and actively promoting good splitting habits!
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DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
Another bad place to split
A rider was killed while splitting this morning here on SR-57 in Brea:
The motorcyclist had entered the southbound 57 from Lambert (coincidentally, my onramp going home from work at Hughes Aircraft many years ago), and split between two big rigs in lanes 3-4. He collided with one, went down, and was crushed. Neither remained at the scene, but CHP concedes that "it is possible that the drivers were unaware of" the crash.
Lanes here are 11ft wide (measured in Google Earth), a foot narrower than the 12ft standard. A full-sized truck is 8.5ft wide, so the width of the corridor was 2.5 feet, 30 inches, assuming the trucks were centered. Even a small deviation from the straight and narrow by either one could make the split impassable.
This was the eighth lane-splitting fatality statewide this year and the fifth involving a truck. At this time last year there had been 11.
If you're new to lane splitting or new to this thread, see post #3 for more information about the danger of splitting next to a truck.
RIP, rider. :rose
A rider was killed while splitting this morning here on SR-57 in Brea:
The motorcyclist had entered the southbound 57 from Lambert (coincidentally, my onramp going home from work at Hughes Aircraft many years ago), and split between two big rigs in lanes 3-4. He collided with one, went down, and was crushed. Neither remained at the scene, but CHP concedes that "it is possible that the drivers were unaware of" the crash.
Lanes here are 11ft wide (measured in Google Earth), a foot narrower than the 12ft standard. A full-sized truck is 8.5ft wide, so the width of the corridor was 2.5 feet, 30 inches, assuming the trucks were centered. Even a small deviation from the straight and narrow by either one could make the split impassable.
This was the eighth lane-splitting fatality statewide this year and the fifth involving a truck. At this time last year there had been 11.
If you're new to lane splitting or new to this thread, see post #3 for more information about the danger of splitting next to a truck.
RIP, rider. :rose
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vaara
Well-known member
My only collision in 28 years of riding occurred a little over a year ago on King St. in SF, right after the end of 280. It was a classic "mind the gap" crash - I was about 4 cars back from the light when it turned green, and as traffic started moving, an empty spot appeared. But I didn't scoot far enough into the lane after coming alongside it, and a woman merged right into me.
I had my high beams and a hi-viz vest on - visibility-wise, there wasn't much else I could have done.
Fortunately, (a) I didn't go down and (2) I took out her mirror and (iii) I left a huge dent in her door. We both stopped and I basically said, "WTF?" (politely). Her response, and I'm not making this up, was: "I had my blinker on, didn't you see me??" It didn't occur to me until much later to point out (politely) that YOU STILL HAVE TO FUCKING LOOK.
Anyway, let this be yet another cautionary tale: mind the gap!
As for the aftermath, there was none. My bike and I sustained zero damage, and although she took a photo of my license (I couldn't find my insurance card at that instant), I never heard from her or her insurance company - presumably she just ate the cost of the repairs, since she was, IMHO, completely at fault.
I had my high beams and a hi-viz vest on - visibility-wise, there wasn't much else I could have done.
Fortunately, (a) I didn't go down and (2) I took out her mirror and (iii) I left a huge dent in her door. We both stopped and I basically said, "WTF?" (politely). Her response, and I'm not making this up, was: "I had my blinker on, didn't you see me??" It didn't occur to me until much later to point out (politely) that YOU STILL HAVE TO FUCKING LOOK.
Anyway, let this be yet another cautionary tale: mind the gap!
As for the aftermath, there was none. My bike and I sustained zero damage, and although she took a photo of my license (I couldn't find my insurance card at that instant), I never heard from her or her insurance company - presumably she just ate the cost of the repairs, since she was, IMHO, completely at fault.
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