[Tyga11]

Is there a valid explanation for this?

And why can they move to the front of the line? We're getting this in Arizona and it's concerning to a lot of us

[GuidoK]

Lane splitting is much safer, when done correctly.

[Esteban]

I'm sure Sedan_Clan would be happy to chime in. Maybe should ask the question in his thread.

[Multimodal]

Why should it be illegal?

[HFW003]

We have it here as well and it generally works very well.

There are two times it doesn’t; when imbeciles scream up between two cars doing 100 kms hr and when uneducated car drivers try and squeeze the bikes out by moving closer to the other lane.

[overcoil]

I certainly don't mind bikers filtering to the front of stopped traffic.

Tho lane splitting at 80mph in back-up traffic is nuts.

[Multimodal]

To be clear, lane splitting in California is only legal within 10 MPH of the general flow of traffic. You can't go 50 MPH between a line of stopped cars.

[GuidoK]

Where I live, lane splitting has been legal for over 30 years. So pretty much everyone on the road is used to this and doesn't know anything else.
But indeed, how its done is key. Here its within 10km/h within general traffic speed, with a maximum traffic speed of 40kph.
Pretty much every biker keeps to these rules here.
The idea is that you don't want to be inbetween cars or at the back of a traffic jam when you're on a motorcycle, as you're very vulnerable then.
And of course, traffic jams are shorter when motorbikes split lanes

[Dang3r]

Here it is tolerated but not necessarily legal.
Personally I avoid to split sideways because some car drivers are starting immediately to narrow the space when they are awaring, that a biker is taking advance of his ride.
Onto the flipside I would expect no complaints from the bikers, when they do so and doesn't got respected because normally its illegal to do so.
There were some more or less friendly discussions at some certain spots here...

[Samurai of 2day]

Like others have stated, it's safer for the biker in congested traffic conditions or at stopped intersections due to distracted drivers potentially rear ending a biker. Distracted drivers cause rear end collisions quite frequently, and this is catastrophic for a motorcycle, so allowing them to filter through keeps us less vulnerable to injury and vehicle damage in these situations.

Also, allowing motorcyclists to filter through traffic contributes to easing traffic congestion, due to having less vehicles adding to volume in a particular space at any given time.

[2000cs]

When I commuted regularly in the LA area (Orange to downtown LA, Manhattan Beach to Century City) in the 1980s there was a lot of lane splitting and cars driving on the shoulders. Shoulders have debris and dodging that created some problems and accidents. Lane splitting resulted in some fatalities, which I had the misfortune to come across. The bikes were typically much faster than +10mph, and as a car driver it could be very hard to see them coming on either side of the car. As quick as a car tries to change lanes in that traffic, the bike is there with no room to brake and no place to go left or right.

I don’t know the stats or have current info; what I learned then is I’d never ride in heavy commuter traffic and I would never lane split at speed.

[DocL]

I could see motorcyclists using the bike lane to jump to the front at a traffic light. However I see lane splitting on a three lane road like many are where I live can be dangerous for the rider. So many people don't use their mirrors, and almost everyday I have to avoid a silverhair who comes into my lane. We even have cars that try to lane split lol.

[cmyx6go]

I see it all the time here, especially during my evening commute home. When I see them coming, I move over within my lane to give them more room. Unfortunately, most drivers don't pay attention to their mirrors to know what's coming. Loud pipes save lives.

Just the other day, I moved over for a bike, but the jerk two cars ahead did the opposite and moved into his path. I'm not sure if it was intentional or an attempted lane change with no blinker. The biker punched the side of the car and went on his way.

[DETRoadster]

I ride and the thought of lane splitting terrifies me. I'd rather take my chances of getting rear ended. So many people change lanes in a panic, with no blinker, the second they think their lane might not be "the fastest" one. The only time I'd feel comfortable splitting lanes is at a light when everyone is stopped and I could just creep my way to the front of the line at like 5 mph.

[evil-G-nius]

Originally Posted by Mr. Maboomba

To be clear, lane splitting in California is only legal within 10 MPH of the general flow of traffic. You can't go 50 MPH between a line of stopped cars.

I have literally NEVER seen one biker adhearing to that rule. I used to drive wine tours and I spent a shit ton of time on the freeway between the city & wine country and the bikers were just straight up assholes. Flying by at high speeds, flipping cars off if the car didn't see the biker and so on. With them riding like idiots, its no safer for them or anyone else.

One theory I heard is that lane splitting was legal to avoid bikes overheating in stop & go due to them being aircooled. IDK if thats true or not

[lens]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Is there a valid explanation for this?

And why can they move to the front of the line? We're getting this in Arizona and it's concerning to a lot of us

Why would it be concerning? I wish it was legal in Canada, it reduces the amount of traffic (as bikes can just filter themselves through) and if done correctly, it can be safe and efficient.

Anyone against this is an asshole on the road, I personally have zero issues with it.

[Lady Jane]

Some of the reasons why I never did it.

[spazzyfry123]

I certainly don't have an issue with it. However, I'd see it done in the Atlanta area with a LOT of drivers angry that someone was trying to "cut the line" and cut them off.

I think it's great in theory, but human emotions make it overly dangerous in our region. Perhaps in an area of smaller egos and people that take driving as a privilege rather than a right...

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by chaungo

Why would it be concerning? I wish it was legal in Canada, it reduces the amount of traffic (as bikes can just filter themselves through) and if done correctly, it can be safe and efficient.

Anyone against this is an asshole on the road, I personally have zero issues with it.

Just seems to be extremely dangerous. Most people don't look as it is. I have a problem with allowing motorcycles to cut to the front of the line also.

Why can't they wait their turn at a red light like everyone else?

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I see it all the time here, especially during my evening commute home. When I see them coming, I move over within my lane to give them more room. Unfortunately, most drivers don't pay attention to their mirrors to know what's coming. Loud pipes save lives.

Just the other day, I moved over for a bike, but the jerk two cars ahead did the opposite and moved into his path. I'm not sure if it was intentional or an attempted lane change with no blinker. The biker punched the side of the car and went on his way.

Loud pipes also cause hearing damage.

I was first in line, right lane, stopped at a red light when a motorcycle pulled up between me and the car to my left. Unfortunately, I had my window down. The motorcycle noise was so loud that it felt like someone stuck an ice pick in my left ear.

I do not like lane splitting.

[lens]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Just seems to be extremely dangerous. Most people don't look as it is. I have a problem with allowing motorcycles to cut to the front of the line also.

Why can't they wait their turn at a red light like everyone else?

Or what if you were behind a group of motocycles and they all moved up to the front and you were able to save 30-45 minutes of traffic time because of that?

There's really nothing wrong with it, logically they would all clear the traffic, leaving less vehicles in that pack, which is better for everyone.

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by chaungo

Or what if you were behind a group of motocycles and they all moved up to the front and you were able to save 30-45 minutes of traffic time because of that?

There's really nothing wrong with it, logically they would all clear the traffic, leaving less vehicles in that pack, which is better for everyone.

How is that saving time if they move to the front of the line? They're just switching spots with cars who are ahead of them. And most motorcycle riders clog up the left lane because they have to ride in a group.