Resisting Temptation

[KC 120]

Today while driving home from work I was just relaxing and going with the flow of traffic in the left lane on a two lane highway. Then I noticed the sound of a Harley passing me on the right side not a big deal, but I was in the process of passing someone in the right lane. Although lane splitting is not something I practice on the road I for the most part understand it. The rider then pulled in front of me and basically sat on the bumper of the car just ahead of me. I watched him finish the last two or three drags on his cigarette before he went to slide around the right side of the car ahead. The road banked uphill, and had a frontage road entrance on the right. As he went to pass the car in front of me he went wide, caught some gravel in an over zealous attempt to pass and down he went doing about 50 mph. While in a full slide he hit the curb of the frontage road and basically became a rag doll. When I ran up to him after pulling over, he was unconscious and face down. A nurse of some kind came up and was trying to stabilize his neck. My passenger and I picked up his bike and moved it out of the traffic. I thought to myself this guy may have just had his last cigarette. He did have a helmet on. I was parked in the right lane of traffic and was concerned my truck may be a hazard so we left. God bless. I hope he made it.

 

[mrtwowheel]

I hope to never see lane splitting legal here. I don't wish the rider any harm, but I don't have any more sympathy than that.

The more I see and the more I read, I am certain now that there are a lot of riders out there with the idea that motorcycling is all about outriding their skill level, like a video game,

Scott

 

[retiredgentleman]

It appears to be Darwin's Theory in action. The more intelligent members of a species learn to adapt and prosper. The less intelligent
tend to struggle and die out quickly.

 

[mrtwowheel]

I'm wondering now if ABATE lobbies for legalizing lane splitting. That would give me one more reason to argue and heckle at their booths at rallies. Someone should start a non-profit organization to collect money to counter just about everything that ABATE stands for.

Scott

 

[mrtwowheel]

There are other people on the road too, other people that you are putting at risk. If your attitude is "if I'm going, I'm gonna take some with me", you need to see a doctor right now.

Scott

 

[mrtwowheel]

It appears to be Darwin's Theory in action. The more intelligent members of a species learn to adapt and prosper. The less intelligent
tend to struggle and die out quickly.

I can't say that I agree with Darwin's theory, but the less intelligent do die out quicker, but only after increasing the population.

 

[MaxPete]

Lane splitting has always seemed to be the height of idiocy to me. Your safety depends waaay too much on the skill and attentiveness of others - and when you're taking up the tiny piece of real estate between two vehicles - there's nowhere to go if someone f@cks up.

As for the "when it's your time...." philosophy - that also doesn't make sense when combined with "caught up in the moment" and "OK to have fun". Riding a motorcycle isn't safe when you're "caught up in the moment" - for the rider or anyone else around him/her.

 

[KC 120]

When I lived in CA lane splitting was very common on the expressways. Exspecially in a five lane bumper crawl. Although many coffin drivers resent the action and have been known to turn in, open doors, throw cigs out the window at the passing rider(s), etc. Here in IL it is not legal. And, I never do it. Although I have been known to speed excessively on a country road. But most of the time I resist the temptation.

 

[KC 120]

Lane splitting has always seemed to be the height of idiocy to me. Your safety depends waaay too much on the skill and attentiveness of others - and when you're taking up the tiny piece of real estate between two vehicles - there's nowhere to go if someone f@cks up.

I agree whole heartedly.

 

[59Tebo]

KC 120,
I pray the guy made it, too. 50 MPH is about all the human body can handle and not die (unless you're from Krypton). With so many dumb asses on the road, (some of them ride), it doesn't make any sense to take those kind of chances, legal or not. You have to keep your head in the game at all times, to the point of clairvoyance, anticipating people's movements, road conditions, environment, etc. Ride with a purpose and be safe.

 

[ThatXS650Guy]

Rode for years in CA when I was young, dumb and bulletproof. Lane splitting was legal and helmets were optional. I don't lane split in GA since it's illegal and more dangerous since cagers here are not used to it. Do I wish it were legal? Hell Yes. Nothing worse than sitting in traffic when it's 95* on an air-cooled bike. I wouldn't do it all the time but it sure is nice to be able to ride to the front of the line of cars at traffic lights.

 

[retiredgentleman]

When the hospital gets word of a bike accident involving lane splitters (especially with no helmet) coming in, they say,
"Get the operating room ready, we have an organ donor coming in" !

 

[mrtwowheel]

My thoughts on lane splitting.........I want the other drivers to respect my space and my right to lane usage, treat my bike just like it was a car. I will block my lane at wide intersections so that cars can't squeeze into my lane, I usually ride to the left of my lane so that I am more visible and blocking my lane. How can I expect cars to respect my lane and space if I don't respect theirs? Lane splitting also gives non-riders the impression that riding a motorcycle is like point and click, more reason to cut you off, treat you as if you're riding a bicycle. I'll gladly sit in traffic in my lane and wait like I was driving a car because that builds respect from the car drivers to respect MY LANE just as if I were driving a car. I just don't see it working any other way.

Scott

 

[xjwmx]

Lane splitting enables iconic dialog:

 

[MaxPete]

You are absolutely amazing '77 - I've lived and worked all over the world and I've never met the like of you.

Only you could turn a discussion about safety into a crack about another man's skills as a rider.

Oh well - have at it guys.

Pete - out.

 

[Michaelo]

Here in NYC lanesplitting isnt legal but many motorcyclists do it. The other day I was on the FDR on my XS. A guy on a modern bike, wearing a fishbowl helmet, was doing the most outrageous kind of lanesplitting. I guess his skills were up to snuff as he squeezed through the narrowest of passageways.

I do lanesplit sometimes, but very cautiously. I think all of us have done stupid things on a bike, and I am no exception. I guess when its your time to go, its your time to go.

Im not posting this just to "link' to my instagram, but to show I can be silly as well. Like I said, when its your time to go, its your time to go - this is me and my buddy on our hondas this summer in williamsburg brooklyn - https://www.instagram.com/p/BWtkGG5BX_w/?hl=en&taken-by=j_wilde_

Fuck me are you back again? Breakout the admin barrels before shit goes down.....reformed? Yeah right....

 

[xjwmx]

When something foreign to you is perfectly acceptable, there's usually a perfectly acceptable reason for it.

 

[XSLeo]

I have ridden through NYC on several trips to see friends on the Island. The first time through the drivers had very little respect for my space.
I watched other bikes splitting lanes and instead of crowding the bike other drivers cleared the area around the bikes and let them go through.
I thought this was strange.
After a few miles of being crowded I started getting more aggressive. The more aggressive I became the more others stayed away. Apparently cager's can sense the more aggressive riders and give them room. Perhaps they sense that more aggressive riders are something to fear, and respect us more, I can't say for sure but I have found that a mellow rider will be more apt to get pushed around by cars than a more aggressive rider.
Would I recommend someone that doesn't have the skills to be aggressive be aggressive, NO, push yourself a bit at a time to see where your boundaries are. Once you learn them you can work on developing your skills and expand your boundaries.
Ride within your skills until your skill improve.
Leo

 

[650Skull]

All it takes is someone who wants the dents taken out of their car to .......open the door ..........ha, ha ,Ha.

 

[mrtwowheel]

I don't think NYC is comparable to most of the rest of the country when it comes to this subject. In my younger days when I had more meat on my bones I was known for kicking dents in cars that violated my lane space. In certain situations I considered this a threat to my life. I would not blame cage drivers for having the same reaction to riders doing similar things in their space.

Scott