Only if it's legal.
Is it legal in California like it is for motorcycles?
Only if it's legal.
Is it legal in California like it is for motorcycles?
Even if it wasn't illegal, I don't think I'd split/filter:
Datsun1500 wrote: My mini and my Datsun can fit, can I make my own lane?
Go for it, just make sure to stagger them. 
...and look out for people throwing hissy fit's because they can't.
They should have special rules because they are different (very different really). As mentioned previously, big rigs etc. have different rules because they are different. It is entirely reasonable that a motorcycle would have different rules. And to be fair, motorcycles have very few special rules in terms of using the road.
In this case, it is not a rule that (when done properly) has any impact on anyone other then positive. So, would that not be a good rule?
If motorcycles should have the same rules as cars, shouldn't they have side impact protection, air bags, seat belts etc? Cars have them, why not motorcycles? I am honestly a bit surprised that the "must be totally safe at all time under all circumstances" trend that has continued for a while even allows motorcycles.
I don't understand why we can't use bike lanes. 
Trans_Maro wrote: I don't understand why we can't use bike lanes.
I've been known to use empty sidewalks when I absolutely need to get air across the radiator of the raptor....I've even left boost stripes in my wake from time to time.
Trans_Maro wrote: I don't understand why we can't use bike lanes.
You might as well. The f'ing bicycles aren't using them.
aircooled wrote: As mentioned previously, big rigs etc. have different rules because they are different.
Oh really? I was under the impression that the rules of the road were the rules of the road, the only thing you can have placed on you is RESTRICTIONS, not doing away with the rules of the road.
There are legitimate times where it would be possible to lane split with a vehicle, but they are ticketable. So the question remains, why are bikes/motorcycles somehow more special than cars?
I DD a bike and have for years. I love the stop and go law in TN. I've been riding street bikes for a long time and used to have to run red lights illegally because I couldn't trip them. My options were wait for a car to come along, which could sometimes take a significant amount of time, or run it.
It's also nice to be able to use the HOV lane without a passenger, the electric/hybrid cars are also allowed to do this. Why are they treated different than normal cars? I don't care why. Hit the hybrid forums and ask them.
IIRC lane splitting is only legal in California. I know it isn't legal here in TN, but if it were I'd do it. As it is now I sit in gridlock just like everyone else. I refuse to call people in cars cagers because, just to be honest, most people that use the term cager are in a car far more than they're on a bike, so I just think it's stupid.
I never run up to the front of a red light. Honestly I didn't even know that was a thing until I read it on this board at some point....maybe it's regional, but here I'm sure that would get you a ticket. I just watch my mirrors when stopped and try to make sure I have room to get out of the way.
I don't ride in packs or side by side. I don't think it's a good idea, plus I just don't generally ride with other people anymore. Evasive maneuvers are much easier if there isn't another bike to get tangled up in right beside you.
pinchvalve wrote:Toebra wrote: Camera is facing N on Business 80, which goes roughly N to S and is sort of an extension of 99. On the E St camera, between the H St and 16th St labels, next to the Hwy 50 emblem, center right. Just hover your cursor over it and it gives you a new picture every minute or so, you can see an on ramp on the R side of the freeway, we stopped where the shoulder on the L goes away from the lanes on the R. It is right were it goes from 4 lanes to 3, with on ramps at J St and E St where it does that. He hit me right about where the on ramp merges.
LAWL!!!! 
Cotton wrote: I DD a bike and have for years. I love the stop and go law in TN. I've been riding street bikes for a long time and used to have to run red lights illegally because I couldn't trip them. My options were wait for a car to come along, which could sometimes take a significant amount of time, or run it.
I wish we had that in PA. There are many lights that I have to look for cars, then make sure no cops are watching... then go.
I never run up to the front of a red light. Honestly I didn't even know that was a thing until I read it on this board at some point....maybe it's regional, but here I'm sure that would get you a ticket. I just watch my mirrors when stopped and try to make sure I have room to get out of the way.
I rarely do it - if it were legal I'd take full advantage but I save it for when things are not moving at all or going very slowly and I'm uncomfortable (too hot, need to bust out a crap, etc). A good example would be Philly shore traffic has 322 to 95 at a standstill and will remain that way for hours. I lack the will power to sit idle for 4hrs to only move 5 miles down the road when I clearly "can" move more. Will power moves directly opposite in proportion with colon/bladder volume. I'll just keep slowly moving to the front at the lights on 322 until I can get on 95, then run up the merge lane and along the shoulder to get off on 476 half a mile up.
Is it legal? No. Could I be pulled over? Yes, but super unlikely. They could spend all their time writing up people who blast down the closed lane in construction or on the shoulder for a mile to make a right turn if they wanted to but they don't bother them either. Sometimes I use those guys a blockers ;)
I don't ride in packs or side by side. I don't think it's a good idea, plus I just don't generally ride with other people anymore. Evasive maneuvers are much easier if there isn't another bike to get tangled up in right beside you.
I ride alone 99% of the time but I will wave guys on bikes thru who want to move by at a light or in traffic to share as they go by !quickly! but never to ride next to me or hang out there for that reason. I also move to the right of a two lane to allow a bike coming the other way to pass a car in my lane. Not because I think it's a great idea... but because some berkeleying squids will do it anyway and I prefer it not to be a surprise.
HiTempguy wrote: So the question remains, why are bikes/motorcycles somehow more special than cars?
They're not 'more special'. They're different and capable of doing things on the road that car's can't, so that should be taken advantage of to better the flow of traffic. It's your choice what you choose to drive or ride.
Wally wrote:Trans_Maro wrote: I don't understand why we can't use bike lanes.You might as well. The f'ing bicycles aren't using them.
QFMBT
I witnessed a pair of bicycles, riding side by side, on the freaking road, yesterday. Our city has taxed its citizens to put in bike paths ON BOTH BERKLEYING SIDES of this particular road! I don't usually hate, but when cork smoking cyclists ride two abreast on a busy road, when there are TWO bike paths.....
In reply to RealMiniParker:
Yeah, side-by-side riding is annoying as hell. One reason why I don't ride with others very often.
"Bike paths" are a mixed blessing. They sound wonderful in principle and would be great if they were dedicated for bikes, but they aren't. If we are talking an painted lane on the shoulder, yes the bike should be in them riding single file. But the most useless berking thing in the world is a "bike path" that is really just a wide sidewalk. Those are absolutely useless as bike paths although often signed as such. Whoever invented those wastes of space apparently has never ridden a god damn bike. Why? For one, they are usually poorly constructed (severe under-engineered foundation) and never maintained, so riding on one is little better than riding on dirt. Second, they are typically filled with joggers and walkers and if you think a bicycle with vehicular traffic is scary, it's nothing compared to trying to ride a bike at 20 mph with joggers and walkers wearing iPods randomly crossing the path and turning without looking.
This is one of those things where if you haven't experienced it, then you won't understand. Keep in mind, my "casual low speed" is still about 15 mph. I can't really go any slower. That is still about 5 times the speed of path walkers. Typically I ride at speeds in the high-teens to low-20's. Faster if I'm training (I can sprint into the mid 30's). And I'm maybe a mid-level competitive cyclist, ability-wise. I know guys who can pedal at 25 mph all day long and barely break a sweat. At those speeds we literally can't ride on "bike paths" with walkers and joggers. It's simply not safe.
^Yup, all that.
Bike lane on road = good.
Bike path = multi-use path = casual walkers, joggers, slow moving cyclists, and general collision nightmare. FWIW, I haven't had any issues with the actual construction of the paths here though.
Trail = mountain bike
Generally, the latter two are for leisure and rarely take you were you want to do.
In reply to Ian F & ProDarwin:
Re bike "paths": I know. I'm just berkeleying with y'all.
HiTempguy wrote:aircooled wrote: As mentioned previously, big rigs etc. have different rules because they are different.Oh really? I was under the impression that the rules of the road were the rules of the road, the only thing you can have placed on you is RESTRICTIONS, not doing away with the rules of the road. There are legitimate times where it would be possible to lane split with a vehicle, but they are ticketable. So the question remains, why are bikes/motorcycles somehow more special than cars?
Tell us, what is the real problem for you? I find it entertaining when people resist, fight, and talk E36 M3 about something that doesn't affect 98% of their life.
I moved to California, and the lane splitting bikes are the least of my worries on the highway. It's people not using their turn signals and purposefully speeding up just to keep you from switching lanes to get in front of them. I've never seen such E36 M3.
ProDarwin wrote: ^Yup, all that. Bike lane on road = good. Bike path = multi-use path = casual walkers, joggers, slow moving cyclists, and general collision nightmare. FWIW, I haven't had any issues with the actual construction of the paths here though. Trail = mountain bike Generally, the latter two are for leisure and rarely take you were you want to do.
In the Twin Cities area, in most cases they have separate walking paths and bike paths so it isn't as big a problem; having said that you do get people who don't pay attention and walk on the bike paths by mistake.
One issue they do have is the bike paths are meant more for casual riders and commuters, so the people who are riding fast either have to weave through bike traffic or else get back out on the road.
They put a separated bike lane on several aves in Manhattan. They go pretty much unused while these idiots ride in traffic and knock mirrors off vehicles they feel are taking their space.
They did that in Vancouver too. The twelve cyclists that use the bike lanes seem to love them.
Wally wrote: They put a separated bike lane on several aves in Manhattan. They go pretty much unused while these idiots ride in traffic and knock mirrors off vehicles they feel are taking their space.
The quick fix for that:
Always wanted one of these stickers:
HiTempguy wrote:aircooled wrote: As mentioned previously, big rigs etc. have different rules because they are different.Oh really? I was under the impression that the rules of the road were the rules of the road, the only thing you can have placed on you is RESTRICTIONS, not doing away with the rules of the road. There are legitimate times where it would be possible to lane split with a vehicle, but they are ticketable. So the question remains, why are bikes/motorcycles somehow more special than cars?
How is it that you have read this thread and still don’t comprehend that in CA (the place that lane splitting is legal) that there is not any special rule only for motorcycles. The rules of the road are the rules of the road. They just did not impose a law that forbids it and so motorcycles are taking advantage of that fact. If you live in CA and it bugs you, call your state rep and governor and complain. If you live elsewhere, why do you care?
as a person who likes to ride a bicycle, some of you terrify me.
Just because there are bad riders out there does not mean all of them are bad.
Oh, as for sidewalk riding- that's dangerous as hell. My wife was going slow on a sidewalk when a car pulled out in front of her. Wham. Hidden driveway, neither could see each other.
I want to ride, and not die.
If it's legal for a motorcycle to lane split in your state, so be it. At the risk of the rider, of course. Just like they want to ride w/o helmets. Just because it's legal does not mean it's a good idea, nor does it take responsibility away.
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