At least for me, I split lanes when it is safe.

Norm

Norm

In most cases, the only witnesses are in bumper to bumper traffic and they don’t see anything except for the biker or motorcyclist “riding fast” between the cars. The is the bias and prejudice against bikers that I always write about.

The general rule is you should only be riding no more than 10-15 mph when traffic when lane splitting. It won’t matter if there is an accident. The CHP will always write in the report that biker was riding at an unsafe speed and was at fault. I take these case and win these cases, because the CHP report is hearsay and not admissible as evidence for any purpose. Since the CHP did not witnesses the accident, they can only testify as to what they were told by witnesses. If the witnesses are not formally trained to estimate speed, their testimony is not competent, so you therefore usually end up with the bikers word against the cager who hit them. Since lane splitting is legal, well you get the picture. Also with expert testimony it is pretty easy to see what the speed of the motorcycle was.

Normal PI lawyers do not understand how to win these cases. I do!

Norm

Educating people as to why lane splitting was made legal was not the point of my article. The point of my article was to let people know that it is.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on here. I will no longer allow your bash comments. If you want to debate a subject on an intellectual level, we can do that all day long. Resorting to name calling or personal insults does not need to be done to disagree with someone. All you need to do is argue your point and leave it at that.

Sanity is a state of mind. I guess the State Legislature, the CHP, and every other biker that lane splits is insane according to you, because they are engaging in a completely legal activity, that is allowed for legitimate reasons. I guess you could call me insane too because I also engage in the completely legal activity of lane splitting.

The more likely answer is that you are either insane or have some bone to pick for whatever reason.

I do agree with you that there are legitimate safety issues for not lane splitting on motorcycles. However, there are also legitimate safety issues for lane splitting. The key is that civil debate will hopefully in the end raise everyone’s awareness and increase safety for all bikers. I think that you may have legitimate motorcycle riding experience that could help the 1000’s of visitors to this Blog each day. I invite you to write a motorcycle safety article and I will publish it and give you full credits!

I hope you take me up on my offer. Other than that, cut the bashing and insult shit and just stick the facts.

Just and FYI, I deal with motorcycle accidents on a daily basis, and the vast majority of them are caused by bikers being hit by cars (“Cagers”). Others are caused by rider error, and/or riding with alcohol impairment.

When you see a dead bikers brains all over the road because grandma’s phone call on her cell phone was more important than paying attention to the road, you will kind of understand where I am coming from. When you see a biker all fucked up with broken bones, and a punctured lung in the hospital with half of their skin off of their body because some idiot decided to switch lanes without looking, than you will kind of understand where I am coming from. I deal with the aftermath of Cager negligence for a living. I am one of the lawyers that injured bikers turn to when they get taken out by cagers. Seeing a guy that has no face due to no fault of his own tends to make you a little biased.

So step up to the plate and write a motorcycle safety article, or sit in the grandstands and have your laugh.

Keep Both Wheels on the Road.

Norm

Bikers and Motorcyclist should know that we are difficult to see in many circumstances. It is part of our training to get into positions where we are seen. I have written many articles on this subject.

I really do appreciate your comments because maybe the bikers who visit here will hear the prospective of a CAGER 🙂

We all have to be careful on the road. More people are killed in motor vehicle accidents each year in the country, than were killed in Vietnam in 10 years!!

Thanks for your comments Patti, and keep coming back!

Norm

When you are changing lanes you are supposed to look over your shoulder and not just rely on your mirror. As far as I know this is the law in all 50 states. The mirrors are for a convenience but you are technically supposed to look over your shoulder.

Now that you have read this article, maybe you will at least have it in your mind that a biker could be there when you change lanes!

My article has nothing to do with whether lane splitting is safe. My article is to inform everyone including you that it is legal! I am sure I have another article on here somewhere that talks about safe lane splitting.

Norm

Thanks,

Norm

I have to ride France one day!

Norm

Cagers don’t like it when a bike sticks to the lanes when there’s heavy traffic. It makes the traffic jams bigger, so if bikes split lanes, there’s less traffic.

Cars will move out of the way when a bike comes up, giving them space to ride in between. If the bike does split, they’ll hit the brakes, forcing you to split….

Its fun though innit?

Best regards, Mike

I found this site earlier this evening and posted about the hilarious proposition that loud pipes save lives. Our family had a good laugh over it at dinner. Thanks for the fodder!

Lane splitting is LEGAL in France? My dad got a good laugh over this ignorant statement – where did you get this junk?

In general, lane splitting is for idiots. Your life is in danger when you lane-split for two important reasons. One – you are altering the flow of traffic in an unpredictable way that creates unpredictable situations on a small vehicle. I typically see lane splitters speeding as well, which doubles the risk. Second – you are attempting to usurp the territory of other drivers who are in a state of stress. This is also dangerous to your health. Do not underestimate the potential for violence of individuals who are in a state of extreme stress due to traffic problems. This behavior also stigmatizes the perception of others toward motorcycle riders as being selfish and lawbreaking fools, which many are.

I started riding motocross when I was 13 and am now almost 50 – an age where I’m getting too old to ride a motorcycle safely because my reflexes are diminishing. I’ve never understand this stupid yarbling about “rights” and putting the blame on “cagers” for accidents. With most of the fools, it’s a matter of substituting “rights” for “responsiblity”. But no, the last thing that most dickie bikers would EVER do is take responsibility for their own actions.

The easy excuse, Esquire, is made of the stuff that you say on this blog – big brother is trying to stop us from doing this-and-that. Well, ya know, if there weren’t so many stupid people riding motorcycles, it wouldn’t have come to this! If I were you, I’d spend more time trying to change behavior than trying to fight restrictions. If behavior changes, then restrictions will no longer be necessary.

The bottom line – if you’re going to ride a motorcycle, you need to have your head screwed on straight – REAL straight. You’re on a small vehicle and you’re exposed to the elements. Judgement is much more difficult because of exposure to stimulation not found in a closed vehicle. You need to RESPECT automobile drivers instead of acting like they are your enemy! All of this “cager” crap reeks of them/us mentality. Bikers are responsible for most of their own accidents that occur on the road, but they’d rather put the responsibility on cars.

My belief is that if you want to make things better for motorcycling and motorcyclists, quit being a dickie. Real men don’t make excuses. Take responsibility for yourself and for the risk of riding a motorcycle. The loud pipes don’t make you a badass and they don’t save you from accidents – stop fooling yourself.

There is a certain nobility to riding a motorcycle. It would really great if the host of this blog would emphasize this instead of the poser crap that goes with it.

This may do it for me…I feel like I’m the only sane one in the asylum here…

Thank’ee for yur time,

CMyIP