I read somewhere, that it is legal to split lanes in CA.
really got me curious about this...safety wise.
way back when...
when you didn't need helmets, I lived out there..and the 'mind set' of the auto drivers wasn't 'into' allowing the cyclists that freedom.
I saw doors fly open, cars swerve..
plus what about the truly accidental lane change??
are the motorist more aware now?

according California Highway Patrol(CHP)its legal at 35mph and below. and mostly the cagers are ok with it. bdwolf77

Quoting: Originally posted by oldharleylover I read somewhere, that it is legal to split lanes in CA. really got me curious about this...safety wise. way back when... when you didn't need helmets, I lived out there..and the 'mind set' of the auto drivers wasn't 'into' allowing the cyclists that freedom. I saw doors fly open, cars swerve.. plus what about the truly accidental lane change?? are the motorist more aware now?

I was heading out to Santa Cruz from the Mariposa area las  more...

Quoting: Originally posted by oldharleylover I read somewhere, that it is legal to split lanes in CA. really got me curious about this...safety wise. way back when... when you didn't need helmets, I lived out there..and the 'mind set' of the auto drivers wasn't 'into' allowing the cyclists that freedom. I saw doors fly open, cars swerve.. plus what about the truly accidental lane change?? are the motorist more aware now?

I was heading out to Santa Cruz from the Mariposa area last year around this time and didn't have any scares doing it. I can see the accidental lane change happening. You would still have to be carefull. It was a little strange for me doing that since it isn't allow here in IL. less...

No they are not they still do all the above
Its up to riders if they dare to or not

CA? Not sure, but here in Colorado it's an $80 ticket, but at least we're still helmet-free.
BTW, where did the "turd" spam get started? Grow a brain- there's better stuff to talk about. A big biker worlds out there, so .come on, OK?

Ignore them. You'll get use to people.

I always believe that no matter what the infringement may be safety has to be the highest priority and the pursuit of everyone.

I cannot understand why some people take such exception to other drivers/riders on the road they would purposely endanger their lives. car drivers pull out or open a door to "teach" a biker a lesson or "stop" them. But they don't stop they just go into you or over you and damage their heads or spines if n  more...

Ignore them. You'll get use to people.

I always believe that no matter what the infringement may be safety has to be the highest priority and the pursuit of everyone.

I cannot understand why some people take such exception to other drivers/riders on the road they would purposely endanger their lives. car drivers pull out or open a door to "teach" a biker a lesson or "stop" them. But they don't stop they just go into you or over you and damage their heads or spines if not killed. Don't understand it.

But then my brother is one who does things to "teach" another a lesson or insist on his right of way. I try and tell him a bike or a large HGV vehicle cannot stop on a sixpense and to let them go past. But no, he has to show who's boss.

Felt very sorry for one HGV driver at a junction coming down at 60 mph when my brother insisted in pulling out. Not only did he have to screech to a halt inches from us (God knows what his merchandise looked like in the back. Good thing it was not livestock) but after spinning out like Steve Mcqueen my brother then went slow and insisted on slow change up into gear. After realising I was still alive I could do nothing but swivel in my seat and mouth apologise to the HGV driver. If he had pulled us over, got out and tried to kill my brother I would have held him.

Why don't drivers realise they are driving machines that can kill. Person before Pride.

You can tell the full time driver/rider and the one who is not.

Don't understand you rules on lane changing as in England. But have no problem as long as they are not swerving in and out and confusing people.
JunieXXX less...

OldHarley;

I ride a lot in California and for the most part people are pretty decent. Sometimes the tourists are a bit more of an issue because they are not used to it.

I'd like to see more states (particularly Georgia) adopt this option. It's like adding a lane to every major hiway in the state at nearly zero cost. To put it into perspective the State of Georgia is considering widening I75 OTP to 22 lanes! I'm not sure how many billions are involved - but I'd like to have the concret  more...

OldHarley;

I ride a lot in California and for the most part people are pretty decent. Sometimes the tourists are a bit more of an issue because they are not used to it.

I'd like to see more states (particularly Georgia) adopt this option. It's like adding a lane to every major hiway in the state at nearly zero cost. To put it into perspective the State of Georgia is considering widening I75 OTP to 22 lanes! I'm not sure how many billions are involved - but I'd like to have the concrete contract...

Lane splitting saves gas, reduces pollution, reduces congestion and can be safer. [After failure to yield the right of way, getting hit from behind is the number one moto accident on a freeway].

It would require some behavior modifications for the cagers and some riders but the benefit is huge.

Peace less...

living in calif as much as i live in oregon, i do split lanes, but if on the freeway,traffic has to be it a crawl and for the reason you mentioned. im betting drivers are better then way back, but not by much.. the times i do like to split is on city streets where i can get to the front of the line.
the hard thing fo me is to remember NOT to split lanes in oregon...lol

I don't know about California but here in Maryland it is illegal.

Now for safety sake, I don't advise splitting lanes. Mainly because I almost crushed a motorcyclists once in a heavy traffic situation. He slipped in between me and another car trying to bypass traffic. Luckily I noticed him in time to counter act. But, there wasn't a lot of time and it was close.

Quoting: Originally posted by longbeard52 No.

I smell a turd, but at least I will not have to see it anymore.

No.