Saturday, October 14, 2006

Rush Hour Traffic

Do you ever split lanes? Ride shoulders? Your thoughts and comments!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do not personally split lanes or ride the shoulder during rush hour, as it seems like a sure-fire way to get killed -- or at least intentionally sideswiped by an irate, less-mobile four-wheeler. Perhaps the experience/acclimation/preparation that characterizes the daily commuter explains my relative lack of impatience.

The only bikes I have ever seen engaged in either of those behaviors in rush hour traffic have been rice burners -- water cooled, of course. And I must admit, I (at least momentarily) pray for their bloody demise every time.

Anonymous said...

I have split lanes while riding in California where it is legal. Of course, it's a bit safer there to do so as bikes are on the road virtually year round. I think with the soccer mom's and brain dead idiots in their minivans out here in addition to too many boneheads on cell phones, it wouldn't be such a good idea.

In reality, I believe the primary reason for lane splitting was because in the warmer climates, bikes were more susceptible to overheating as most bikes were still "airheads". Now, the majority of riders who commute on a bike are riding the water-cooled "rice-burners" as previously reffered, and hence, not really an issue.

I am thankful for my rice burners...the rice they leave on the garage floor, soaks up the oil from my HD!

Anonymous said...

I'm relocated from San Francisco last summer. I was a motorcycle commuter year round, and a lane splitter. Be loud and heard. If you can't set off car alarms from a block away you are invisible. I have seen CHP riders put down while splitting lanes because the soccer mom in the Land Rover didn't look over her shoulder. When I first moved to IL I didn't realize it was only a Cal thing. Never got picked up, but it explains all the dropped jaws.

supafly said...

I only cut through cars when there's a lot of traffic and there's space on the right side to get ahead. If I'm in a hurry, I'll also speed ahead at intersections where there's enough room to do that after a red light.

Anonymous said...

Can't we all just get along? Come on. Water cooled, rice-burner, Harley, what's the difference? We are all on the same page, when it comes to safety and the pleasure that comes from riding a motorcycle.

Anonymous said...

I only split lane when the traffic is dead stop or moving very slowly and the soccer moms and cell phone talking multi tasking cage driver
can't change lane. I do it smoothly and ready to stop at a dime.

Anonymous said...

As a motorcycle group we should work to change the law. If peddlers can do it, so can we. We could even share the peddle lane! But, keep your eyes peeled and be ready to stop on a dime! There may be alot more of us if gas prices keep going stupid.

Anonymous said...

For me I have had a v twin for 8 years and now a 06 Hyabusa sport bike, not rice burner. Big heavy,vibrating,shaking machines are great if you like things that are inifficient.(From a mechanical point of view). My favorite is the Duece. Either way I try not to loiter in traffic. I'm on stock pipes and the cops can't hear me unless i'm at 10 grand, super quiet. At ten grand your fly'n. Most people don't know I'm there its so quiet(very scary). When I drive a 4 wheel vehicle down the highway and a bike is next to me, behind me, or infront of me, I get nervous. A 7 hundred pound bike including the rider has no match for 4 wheelers. Splitting traffic is illegal in this state. So is burning 180 down I-80 to or from Starved Rock. A fast rip with no cars present. A slow rip through traffic just enough to piss people off. They most likely feel like I do when I drive a four wheeler. Ther worst is when a bike tailgates a 4 wheeler. If ANY four wheeler gets aggresive its my life, I move away from the large vehicle. Some times on 1 wheel. For Some reasons 4 wheelers won't let bikes through.(not sure why)especially in heavy traffic. People are pist when cars are not moving. On my friends Ultra Classic, another friends Victory, or my Busa. I personnaly wait, juice it, and go around. Its a lot easier to manuever on a Busa. I ride like some one is out to kill me. I have passed people so close that our mirrors have touched. Not how I really like it. Id rather have another bike next to me. For the real question would I split traffic? Depends on the road conditions. wheather,(tire stickyness) how much traffic. Is my exist less than a mile if I plan to ride the shoulder. How many people I'm with. Shoulders are safer than between cars. Do I split traffic? No not in heavy traffic, I shoulder it and don't care, I'm on a bike.

Anonymous said...

I just started riding and I ride a crotch rocker, or 'rice burner'.
Today I was on I-90 in slow moving traffic and a couple young guys were doing this. I saw it and moved to the side of my lane to give them room.
I do not like doing this in traffic cause people do get pissed and I don't trust them to be nice.
However... I am guilty of moving to the front of traffic at a red light if there is room.

Anonymous said...

i'm new out here from cali and i will lanesplit any time traffic is stopped . i encourage everyone to lanesplit but to be VERY careful while doing it and keep your speed down , lanesplitting makes traveling by bike the best way to get around and yes my watercooled bike will overheat if i don't keep moovin , like a shark , so lets all do it as civil disobediance , just claim your saving the enviroment or some green BS like that

Anonymous said...

lanesplitting rules , you fools

Anonymous said...

Nope... it's a bad idea, and it's against the law.

Anonymous said...

I split lanes or go to the front of the line in downtown Chicago when there's lots of stupid gridlocked traffic. Well, I won't do this in the loop area where are the tall buildings are... too many on-foot people. But, for example, after the air show, I was blowing by cars behind a peddle bike!

Unknown said...

Rode thirty thousand miles last year, almost all of them in California. My commutes ranged from 80 - 160 mi every day. I mostly ride Guzzis, which are air cooled, and a Ducati ST2; water cooled but hot as hell running in traffic.

I split lanes constantly there and had few if any problems. It's the only way you'll get anywhere on some freeways at rush hour. It's legal and drivers don't get so upset, in fact it's an attempted murder charge if they're caught maliciously blocking you, as it is here in Illinois, although you're going to get a ticket as well.

I had a close friend that was blocked maliciously on a freeway, but had the good fortune to have a CHiP following him. He pulled everyone over, and backed the biker up as Motors in California are likely to do. The well-dressed young and indignant young man behind the wheel of his new E-Class Benz was $30K lighter in the pocket by the time he paid his lawyers and fines.

California is motorcycle paradise. Year round riding, amazing roads from ocean-side sweepers to twisty canyons. If you're not an idiot, the CHP will back you up any and every time.

I blog about riding, especially Moto Guzzis and scoots. http://danilogurovich.wordpress.com/

Danilo

Unknown said...

No I don't. I want to all the time, but don't, and here is why:

Eventually, some prick in a pissy mood will turn his wheels and jerk out infront of me and I go down. and the headline will read, "Biker injured as result of own wreckless behavior."

I have learned from personal experience that if a LEO does NOT write a citation, there is no forum to contest "at fault" in a collision.

Anonymous said...

Many states are not "Environmentally Friendly" because of the Gas Taxes. Chicago seems the biggest offender. Why, with all of our rush hour gridlock, don't we have HOV lanes and include motorcycles? Why do you start from a green light and get to the next light as it's turning red? Governments are crazy for gas taxes. And left turns/red lights that don't work for motorcycles? When are we going to get tired of being treated as second class citizens? We pay gas taxes and registration fees.

Anonymous said...

How about a 3 foot motorcycle lane?

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MichaelB said...

I will only lane split when traffic is stopped and when there is a truck or other large vehicle in front of me obstructing my view. I think it is dangerous, but they seem to do it in california alright, and traffic there is hainous.