So, two years later, I'm having a discussion on lane sharing. Naturally, citing references is a good thing, so off I go to the DMV website:As an asside, "splitting" suggests or implies the act of straddling, which is specifically prohibited in 21658(a) CVC.
I could swear that "straddling" was listed, but it's not there on that web page.. Doing a search on the DMV site for "straddling", it shows a list of violations and lists 21658(a) violation as "Laned roadways (2 or more lanes in direction of travel), straddling or changing when unsafe."Laned Roadways
21658. 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.
(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.
Amended Ch. 450, Stats. 1975. Effective January 1, 1976.
Often times I will encounter an auto who has positioned themselves towards the edge of their lane (closer to the car next to them), making my available path a little bit narrower. This means that in order to share safely, I may have to cross over the limit line dividing lanes one and two while I'm traveling up to the stop light.
If there are several cars that are doing this leading up to a stop light, that would mean that if I was trying to share lanes I would have to weave over to the adjacent lane several times. This seems like it could be more dangerous as opposed to simply riding safely and cautiously along the limit line that divides both lanes if there is enough room.
However, this contradicts my interpretation of what i have read here which is that when lane sharing you cannot straddle lanes or ride on top of the limit lines (whether they are fog lines, double yellows, or lane dividers).
What is the legal and safe way to share lanes in this situation?
If there are several cars that are doing this leading up to a stop light, that would mean that if I was trying to share lanes I would have to weave over to the adjacent lane several times. This seems like it could be more dangerous as opposed to simply riding safely and cautiously along the limit line that divides both lanes if there is enough room.
I have read this thread in its entirety and several others and feel that I have a fairly good understanding of lane sharing. I am still wondering:
I understand that vehicles can share a lane if there is enough room to do so safely without crossing the limit lines.
However, suppose the scenario is that there are two lanes on each side of the road. On a given side, both lanes travel straight through an intersection.
Often times I will encounter an auto who has positioned themselves towards the edge of their lane (closer to the car next to them), making my available path a little bit narrower. This means that in order to share safely, I may have to cross over the limit line dividing lanes one and two while I'm traveling up to the stop light.
If there are several cars that are doing this leading up to a stop light, that would mean that if I was trying to share lanes I would have to weave over to the adjacent lane several times. This seems like it could be more dangerous as opposed to simply riding safely and cautiously along the limit line that divides both lanes if there is enough room.
However, this contradicts my interpretation of what i have read here which is that when lane sharing you cannot straddle lanes or ride on top of the limit lines (whether they are fog lines, double yellows, or lane dividers).
What is the legal and safe way to share lanes in this situation?
I treat it as a lane change. However, I don't have the time to use my signals, so I guess I could be cited for unsafe lane change.
I treat it as a lane change. However, I don't have the time to use my signals, so I guess I could be cited for unsafe lane change.
interesting...difference between lanesharing and lanesplitting (defined as changing lanes quickly and often)
advice or techniques[/B] for how to lane share safely?
Tips:
1-Mind the Gap!! NEVER EVER try to share lanes with a vehicle when the adjacent lane is empty. Why? Because this is a great opportunity for said vehicle to make a quick and thoughtless lane change in an effort to save time in the 'faster' lane and in the process of doing so they may take you out.
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.”
Lane splitting is permissible if done in a safe and prudent manner
Please supply what section of codified law these statements of law are under?
As a new-to-CA import from the East Coast (land of waaaaay more cops per capita, and no lane sharing), I'll say that my lane sharing experience was dramatically improved by not focusting on the cars, but rather focusing on the space between the cars. For some reason probably better explained by a behavioral psychologist, the available room looks much bigger.