Lane Splitting - Tickets?

[opie]

"What's wrong with lane splitting?" I thought as I sat in traffic crawling home yesterday. I was riding my normal commuting route between Boulder and Aurora and traffic was horrible. My badly ventilated jacket (not mesh) and my overpants (mesh) weren't doing much to slow down the river of sweat running down my back.

I know it's not legal in Colorado, but has anyone gotten a fine for lane splitting? Curious what the ticket looks like because splitting the lane (probably along the shoulder) when traffic is stopped/crawling sure looks like a great solution. If the fine is reasonable, I might be willing to take the chance. I don't think I'd go down the middle b/c it would be very unexpected for drivers here.

Any outlaw lane splitters in the group? Thoughts?

On another note, maybe we could organize and start petitioning some of our politicians. Benefit -> Increased attractiveness of riding for commuters AND lower emissions.

[mushin_man39]

Represented a client recently for lane splitting. Four-point careless driving citation.

[opie]

That seems harsh. Of course, I'd fight it (something I've done successfully in NY several times). Are tickets routinely dismissed/knocked down in traffic court here?

If not, seems I might be better off petitioning the elected officials.

[Nick_Ninja]

If our elected useful idiots are going to mandate noise ordinances on our bikes we need to twist the screws to make lane splitting legal.

[Matty]

ya... i have a feeling i'm going to forget and get a ticket when i move out here. got to love california.. the only state in which it's legal to split lanes!!!


ya, i don't see them allowing lane splitting aka "lane sharing" after your politicians just past that stupid 82 decibel bullshit.

[beavisr1]

in state where lane splitting is legal than also carries a helmet law. and also carries that any one being in a lane splitting wreck its automatic the bikers fault. Lane splitting however a good idea I think the bad out weighs the good. I'll wait in traffic thank you....

[Kendo]

opie...

do you live in Boulder and work in Aurora?

what color bike is your bike......

[mushin_man39]

Opie, traffic tickets are typically not worth a trial. You should consider, however, at least attempting a plea bargain with the city attorney or district attorney, or even the officer, depending on the jurisdiction. Unfortunately, a lot more insurance companies are basing premiums on stops, not points.

[pilot]

Cali tends to have wider lanes. Makes lane splitting a bit easier.

[DevilDuc]

Unfortunately, a lot more insurance companies are basing premiums on stops, not points.

How is that possible? You can be stopped for ANYTHING! All the Po-Po needs is "reasonable suspicion" ... or to even just be in a bad mood and have a hard-on for harassing sportbikes.

How can insurance base your rates on stops without documentation? At least with a ticket (or even a written warning) there is record of you being stopped, and what it was for. The ticket in it's self is not a satement of guilt, but rather a summons to appear in court tp plead your case ... or pay the fine (and subsequently admit guilt).

Curious minds want to know what you base this comment on ...

[DevilDuc]

BTW ... Last Saturday there was a really bad accident on Hwy70. I was heading home form a ride with some friends and traffic was backed up for about 12-14 miles and dead stopped. Not to mention that I huge storm was rolling through that area at the same time and it was pouring rain.

I opted to ride the shoulder to the scene of the accident and find freedom from the cagers at slightly above a walking pace (10-15MPH = better than 0MPH). I heard from one of my fellow riders that he saw the Po-Po citing a couple of other riders for presumably the same offense ... which is stupid. If you are able to "safely" navigate traffice on the shoulder, then it should be a non-issue. Ploice officers do it all the time to get though traffic, both on bikes and in cars.

In any case ... Along the shoulder route I picked up a rear tire puncture that showed it's self just outside of Golden. Now ... I am not positive that I picked it up while riding the shoulder, but the likelyhood of it is pretty high considering all of the debris that gets washed into that area of the roadway.

Just something to consider ...

[Mac020]

Represented a client recently for lane splitting. Four-point careless driving citation.

How many $'s (including yourself) did it cost him? Was it a slam dunk? Was there any kind of chance for him?

[sky_blue]

Cali tends to have wider lanes. Makes lane splitting a bit easier.

Hm, yeah, not really.

[mushin_man39]

TwinSpeedJunkie, sorry, should have been more clear. Insurance companies look at number of citations, not points. They are telling insureds, "We know you dealt the points down, but we know you're a risk."

Mac020, it was one of Morse Racing's employees. Part of paying off my bodywork. Cost him $16.00 and the Alive at 25 class and a six month deferred sentence so no violation appeared on his DMV. I think the original fine was something around $100.00.

[Yamacati Bob]

Lane splitting is a friggin blast...did lots of it when I went to MotoGP in '05.
The streets are the same here as there...some wide, some not. No matter, my hard bags fit just fine and it is a LOT of fun to "high five" the people who enjoy seeing someone make headway in spite of their dire circumstances.


Would be interesting to see what it would take to get it on the agenda with the legislature.

[towneh]

--all --
imo there is more of an attitude of share with highway resources in the state of CA. there is give and flex amongst drivers on the West coast whereas the East and Plain states exhibit their territorial rights in the driving habits they use. My Hayabago with the CO plates was given lots a space at several Mex and Can crossings and all of the Ca interstates. expect a ticket in any other state.....
very smooth
bus_henry

[sky_blue]

--all --
imo there is more of an attitude of share with highway resources in the state of CA. there is give and flex amongst drivers on the West coast whereas the East and Plain states exhibit their territorial rights in the driving habits they use. My Hayabago with the CO plates was given lots a space at several Mex and Can crossings and all of the Ca interstates. expect a ticket in any other state.....
very smooth
bus_henry

Gotta disagree here. Splitting lanes in CA I had cars on an almost daily basis, see me moving up trough traffic, and purposely move their car over onto the lane lines to prevent me from splitting on a freeway or up to the front at a red light.

In CA, you're only supossed to go 15 mph or less faster than traffic is moving. Unfortunately, many squids blow down between lanes at high speed, freaking out cage drivers, and generally making people hate the splitters.

On the other hand, I had many guys in trucks move over a bit in their lane when they saw me, so I could get by their mirrors. My guess is that these guys are riders themselves or wish they were.

IMO lane splitting is a great time saver. My commute from Newport Beach to Riverside could easily be 2 -2.5 hours in the cage (with an $5-9 toll road short cut), on the bike it was maybe 1.5 hours (with free tolls, depending on the route). Difference is, when I got home I was exhausted. Splitting lanes takes 150% concentration if you dont want to get squished.

[Matty]

in state where lane splitting is legal than also carries a helmet law. and also carries that any one being in a lane splitting wreck its automatic the bikers fault. Lane splitting however a good idea I think the bad out weighs the good. I'll wait in traffic thank you....

I'd much rather be able to Lane Share than be able to ride without a Helmet. When i was out there last weekend, i was amazed to see some of ya'll on sport bikes riding without a lids on. as for waiting in traffic fuck that. once you split lanes enough it's second nature. seems to be much safer splitting than having a cage rear-end you.

--all --
imo there is more of an attitude of share with highway resources in the state of CA. there is give and flex amongst drivers on the West coast.

You're on Crack!!! People in CA hate motorcyclists. not one day goes by where i don't think i'm going to get hit by some cager that doesn't want me to pass them cause their stuck in traffic.

In CA, you're only supossed to go 15 mph or less faster than traffic is moving. Unfortunately, many squids blow down between lanes at high speed, freaking out cage drivers, and generally making people hate the splitters.

On the other hand, I had many guys in trucks move over a bit in their lane when they saw me, so I could get by their mirrors. My guess is that these guys are riders themselves or wish they were.

well actually it's not the squids splitting fast it's the experienced riders doing that. most of the squids get scared when it comes to splitting. you'll see them on the freeway doing 85-100mph when the road clears and then when traffic hits their splitting maybe 5 mph faster than traffic, pisses the fuck out of me.

as for the trucks moving over. ya, i think that has to do with them being the only ones that can see us. but even they don't give you room all the time. don't get me wrong there are a lot of people out there that make room for bikes. but the big problem is that CA drivers forget that it's legal to lane share. and the last time they were reminded of these was when they got their drivers license.


And as for the lane width comment... that's a federal Dept of Traffic regulation that no lanes can be any narrow than 12 feet.


I've been Splitting Lanes in California for 8 almost 9 years and love it. On the freeway, it makes commutes quicker, and less stressful(i'd rather dodge a car or two, than be stuck in my cage yelling at dumb ass drivers who don't know the difference from the gas pedal and the brake while smoking a pack of cigerettes cause i got nothing better to do). On the street i love being able to ride to the front and not having to deal with cars not seeing me next to them and having them merge into my lane. with all the years and miles i've put on my bikes (about 200,000 miles) i've only been rubbed up on once or twice. yes, when you're splitting you have to be hella focused and always looking ahead. as for it being dangerous, ya of course it is. but then again, everything when it comes to sport bikes is dangerous.

[towneh]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. M cert since 1972 with a break starting in 1980 thru 1992. I have 6 documented rides that include big portions of the California interstates. Never had a problem with the CA drivers. Perhaps they gave me space because I was a curiosity. A busa with Givi boxes, full height windscreen and tankbag, more lighting than usual, gps, escort, a hazmat stitch, et al.

There are only 6 states in continental US that I haven't ridden in. I've got mileage throughout the United Kingdom and skipped around in Canada and Mexico.

To me, the toughest locations are the major beltways at peak; try the 495 around wash, dc or the 610 around houston, tx.

nope, no crack here because I drive for a living.... pee in this cup please...
bus_henry

[Matty]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. M cert since 1972 with a break starting in 1980 thru 1992. I have 6 documented rides that include big portions of the California interstates. Never had a problem with the CA drivers.

has nothing to do with age, you obviously have a few more years under your belt. But i too have ridden in New York, Chicago, Boston, Vegas, and a couple of other congested area. And after Boston, the rudest cagers towards motorcyclist are in Los Angeles (ok, not all of California, but the largest part).

nope, no crack here because I drive for a living.... pee in this cup please...
bus_henry

Hahahahaha!!! Really looking forward to moving out to Colorado and meeting some of you guys.

[towneh]

k-then Matty, the toughest motorized crowd in CA were the drivers in the vicinity of the Santa Monica Fwy. most were clueless until you got their attention!!!!

--tell us when you get here--
bus_henry

[dapper]

--tell us when you get here--
bus_henry

Then we can split lanes on our MT bikes!

[snatfinder]

I got pulled over after being an idiot. I shot the gap between 2 cars when they were doing 45 in a 55. It was at night, CHP was several cars back. Ended up getting cuffed and stuffed, charged with reckless driving. They let me go but initially told me I was spending the weekend in jail and my buddy's bike was getting impounded. I think I almost shit my pants.

[Matty]

k-then Matty, the toughest motorized crowd in CA were the drivers in the vicinity of the Santa Monica Fwy. most were clueless until you got their attention!!!!

ya the 405 and the 10 freeways sux!