California Motorcycles May Get Legal "Lane Splitting" - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #31 06-04-2015, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Bikers are risking mostly their own safety. It's their problem, not the state's.

The other day I changed lanes at slow speed - had an exit coming up - and I didn't see the lanesplitting guy coming my way. I looked, but maybe he was back a ways, not sure. Just completed the lane change and the guy comes up and glares at me through my open window. F-'im.

I'm on the hook for liability and hassle based on such nonsense. And motorcycles striking cars can injure passengers (of the car). Happened to me once - late 70s - at dusk, a half block from my house, I paused at the yield sign, saw a headlight a good ways off, proceeded across and was hit by a bike doing around 70. Was a newly paved, slightly downhill, very smooth bit of roadway he was on and no doubt good for bursts of speed. Quiet neighborhood street - 25 mph.

Lucky for me three high school boys saw the whole thing and told the cop that the bike was doing perhaps 70. I got a bad cut and a broken finger from the steering wheel whipping around - this after I hit the oncoming curb as the bike had driven me in that direction. Bruised the hell out of my thigh (drove the sheet metal in at that point), I was limping for a week. Also totaled my '67 Saab 96.

The motorcyclist (maybe 20) broke both arms. I felt for the kid but oh well. Got a payout from his ins. company.

t walgamuth · #32 06-04-2015, 04:48 PM

Too bad the Saab was totaled.

MTI · #33 06-04-2015, 05:38 PM

Unless extremely lucky, hitting something going 70 mph usually results in limb detachment and fatalities on a motorcycle.

spdrun · #34 06-04-2015, 06:57 PM

The peanut gallery should read the proposed law. It allows splitting only up to 50 mph (bike's speed) with a maximum speed differential of 15 mph.

If you can't handle a speed difference of 15 mph (fast running speed) between lanes and can't be arsed to signal 5-10 seconds before a lane change, you should have your license taken away.

t walgamuth · #35 06-04-2015, 08:27 PM

15 mph is a lot.

spdrun · #36 06-04-2015, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

15 mph is a lot.

15 mph difference between lanes isn't unusual. Again: if you can't deal with it, you shouldn't be driving. Signal and pay attention like a human being, and lane-splitting within the new CA law won't be an issue.

t walgamuth · #37 06-04-2015, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

15 mph difference between lanes isn't unusual. Again: if you can't deal with it, you shouldn't be driving. Signal and pay attention like a human being, and lane-splitting within the new CA law won't be an issue.

You're in your own little world there sp. I'd no more depend on the average driver not to wander in their lane than anything. And 15 mph is a lot of difference no matter what you say. Now, if the cars are sitting still maybe 15 mph would work.

Lucas · #38 06-04-2015, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

15 mph difference between lanes isn't unusual. Again: if you can't deal with it, you shouldn't be driving. Signal and pay attention like a human being, and lane-splitting within the new CA law won't be an issue.

You can lane split previously. Its a dmv vehicle code not a law. Totally legit. To an extent. Its on the test. And in the handbook.

Interesting about the broken finger. I try not to keep my fingers in there. Practice from going high speed off road. But never heard it actually happen. Sorry about your little piggie.

cmac2012 · #39 06-05-2015, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Unless extremely lucky, hitting something going 70 mph usually results in limb detachment and fatalities on a motorcycle.

He must have had a lucky sequence there. He struck my left side just behind the front edge of the door and sailed over the hood, doing big somersault - the boys told me - and landed on his back in some really dense ivy on a parking strip. I think he braked a good deal. He had veered to the left. Might have missed me if he'd gone to the right.

I felt bad about it but all in all didn't feel at fault as much as he. The fact of the single headlight and it being dusk made it difficult to discern speed. He was a good ways off when I entered the intersection.

cmac2012 · #40 06-05-2015, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

The peanut gallery should read the proposed law. It allows splitting only up to 50 mph (bike's speed) with a maximum speed differential of 15 mph.

If you can't handle a speed difference of 15 mph (fast running speed) between lanes and can't be arsed to signal 5-10 seconds before a lane change, you should have your license taken away.

If that's what it stayed at - 50 mph - would be a different matter. I see guys doing a lane change at maybe 70 to 80 while I'm doing 60, this as the car next to me and I are about to pass. They'll shoot the gap startling the crap out of me. Suddenly some rocket passes a foot or two from my side mirror. I'm amazed I don't see accidents more often. I've only seen one that came from lane splitting.

Angel · #41 06-05-2015, 09:52 AM

I have heard from a number of CA riders that only 'filter' - when traffic is stopped at a light, they ride their bike to the front of the line, and when the light goes green, they ride away as normal. A 'cage' that is stopped can't wander sideways - this seems like a good compromise that doesn't hurt rider/car safety and still lets bikes get places faster, consume less fuel and reduce congestion.

Personally, I hate the idea that, in order to drive somewhere, I need to bring 2500lbs of car with me. Its a necessary compromise.

(cagers isnt a derogatory term, I've been on more than a few bike forums where someone "had to cage it" because they had luggage or children with them...)

ALL THAT BEING SAID...

I dont object to lane-splitting, BUT I do object to shoddy science

exhibit 1 - the AMA article bullet points

Quote:

1- Lane-splitting is safe if done in traffic moving at 50 mph or less, and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 mph;
2- 69 percent of lane-splitting motorcyclists were exceeding the traffic speed by 15 mph or less; speed differentials up to 15 mph were not associated with changes in the frequency of injury;
3- Compared to riders who were not splitting lanes, lane-splitting motorcyclists were markedly less likely to suffer head injury (9 percent vs. 17 percent), torso injury (19 percent vs. 29 percent) or fatal injury (1.2 percent vs. 3 percent);
4- Lane-splitting riders were significantly less likely to be rear-ended than non-lane-splitting riders (2.6 percent vs. 4.6 percent);
5- Lane-splitting motorcyclists were more likely to be wearing a full-face helmet than other motorcyclists (81 percent vs. 67 percent);
6- Compared to other motorcyclists, lane-splitting riders were more often riding on weekdays and during commuting hours, were using better helmets and were traveling at slower speeds;
7- Lane-splitting riders were less likely to have been using alcohol.

items 1 and 2 - does not establish that the practice of lane splitting is safe. It only sets nice, semi-enforceable boundaries...which is fine, but doesn't advance a safety argument.

item 3 - Does not control for when the accident occurred, or roadway conditions. Leaving your bike at 70 wont kill you, but running your helmet-less body into a tree at 65mph (after you leave the bike and slide down the road) probably will

item 4 - Can you tell me what % of motorcycle fatalities come from rear-end collisions ? I'm guessing its not that much (but welcome more data).
my impression is that most mcycle fatalities are from high-speed events where the rider leaves the bike...and alcohol is involved. if rear-end collisions account for 10% of mcycle fatalities, and we are only reducing that by a few % ? thats not a big help. I love your museum AMA, but I need more.

Item 5,6 and 7 - so more lane-splitters wear better gear and ride in a safer manner, this doesnt make the practice of lane splitting safer, it just means that those who currently do it are safer riders. Mr. midlife-crisis Harley trying to look badass is still increasing his injury chances by wearing a half-helmet (asumption: full-face helmets are safer than half-shells, but am still open to more data...)

and all that being said, it still sounds like everyone's mind is already made up

-John

t walgamuth · #42 06-05-2015, 11:39 AM

The statements about lane splitting at less than 15 mph in AMA point two seem very unscientific. How do you get that data? Only way I see is to ask the person who did it and I don't think they have instruments on their bikes to measure such a thing.

I'd like to see that AMA article please if you can show a source, please?

iwrock · #43 06-05-2015, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

I have heard from a number of CA riders that only 'filter' - when traffic is stopped at a light, they ride their bike to the front of the line, and when the light goes green, they ride away as normal. A 'cage' that is stopped can't wander sideways - this seems like a good compromise that doesn't hurt rider/car safety and still lets bikes get places faster, consume less fuel and reduce congestion.

That's what I do - the main reason being to keep air moving through the radiator as much as possible. Seems the Italians couldn't figure out cooling all that well when they designed the 848, and it like to run REALLY warm if it's more than 80*F ambient (like will be at 180*F moving and 220*F idling).