Splitting Lanes

[gromit]

--Forwarded Message--

Subject: BMW: A mobile warning
Date: Tuesday 04 May 2004 11:09 am
From: Jerry White <jerrywhite518@yahoo.com>
To: BMW List <bmwmc@lists.ibmwr.org>, CCBR <ccbr-forum@ccbr.org>

Or...Why I Love Riding in California

During yesterday's evening rush hour I was toodling along I-580 in
Oakland. Traffic was heavy and I was splitting lanes between the #1
and #2 lanes in second gear. I saw a CHP on a BMW RT-P merging in
from the right shoulder. He picked a spot splitting lanes between #2
and #3, a little ahead of me. I was slowly gaining on him, and
eventually I passed him. Thought nothing of it.

A few seconds later I heard someone yell, "Hey!" I looked over and
saw the CHP occupying the #2 lane next to me. He was looking at me. I
merged into the #1 lane and lifted up my visor so I could hear what
he had to say.

"You can split as long as it's a safe speed. When you see me
splitting, that is a safe speed. If you pass me, I can give you a
ticket."

I got a chill as I realized I almost got busted but instead I got
away with it. I yelled back, "I didn't know that." He said, "Now you
do," gave me the thumbs up, and sped on ahead.

That was the coolest warning I ever got from a cop.

Jerry White
San Leandro, CA
96 R1100RS

[Frenchmillerlover]

Re: Splitting Lanes

"Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner." [Official CHP website]

Some advice from http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mclaw/split.html
:
Top Ten Things We Learned:
1- Yes, they are trying to kill you.
2- They hardly ever sue for broken rear-view mirrors.
3 -'Accidently' obscure your license plate.
4- BMWs are really wide bikes.
5- Carry 10 #4 ball bearings (ask some old biker what to do with them).
6- Try to watch 10 cars ahead.
7- Use the lower gears to keep your bike in the power band.
8- Watch for motorcycle cops.
9- Have Fun!
10- Motorcycle mirrors get the best of a collision with a car mirror.
11- Try not to sneer at the cage-drivers as you pass, it annoys them.
12- Our survey goes to 11.

[goose]

Re: Splitting Lanes

"Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner." [Official CHP website]

I have heard a rumor recently that lane 'sharing' is only permissable if traffic is moving. If you split up a lane at a light than you are 'passing on the right' and that is illegal. No verification one way or the other on this. Also no word on whether passing on the left in the left lane is permissable.

[elfboy]

Re: Splitting Lanes

A: I've seen moto cops do it.

B: Passing on the right code is...

21754. The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the
right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:
(a) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left
turn.
(b) Upon a highway within a business or residence district with
unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of
moving vehicles in the direction of travel.
(c) Upon any highway outside of a business or residence district
with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and clearly marked for
two or more lines of moving traffic in the direction of travel.
(d) Upon a one-way street.
(e) Upon a highway divided into two roadways where traffic is
restricted to one direction upon each of such roadways.
The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a
slow moving vehicle from the duty to drive as closely as practicable
to the right hand edge of the roadway.


b: applies to the lane splitting issue I believe

[Frenchmillerlover]

Re: Splitting Lanes

What I always wondered. Splitting lanes seems to be OK on Highways... But how about Expressways? Regular multi-lanes roads? (within the city?) Multi-lanes highway on-ramps? .. I split lane on Oak Street in SF, on the Bay Bridge, at the metering lights, everywhere... :
Another thing.. 17 CHPs pull over people for unsafe passing. Can they apply that to lane splitting?..

[elfboy]

Re: Splitting Lanes

What I always wondered. Splitting lanes seems to be OK on Highways... But how about Expressways? Regular multi-lanes roads? (within the city?) Multi-lanes highway on-ramps? .. I split lane on Oak Street in SF, on the Bay Bridge, at the metering lights, everywhere... :

Anywhere there is two lanes and you go down the middle of them (safely of course) There are mixed things about lane sharing single lane roads. Some people have been busted for driving on the shoulder, driving in the breakdown lane and others have gotten away with it.

Another thing.. 17 CHPs pull over people for unsafe passing. Can they apply that to lane splitting?..

Yes. That is how they will nail you when they deciced you need to be taxed. One Moto-LEO said, if you see me splitting, that is a safe speed. If you pass me, that is an unsafe speed.

[lugnut]

Re: Splitting Lanes

Anywhere there is two lanes and you go down the middle of them (safely of course) There are mixed things about lane sharing single lane roads. Some people have been busted for driving on the shoulder, driving in the breakdown lane and others have gotten away with it.


Yes. That is how they will nail you when they deciced you need to be taxed. One Moto-LEO said, if you see me splitting, that is a safe speed. If you pass me, that is an unsafe speed.

I got nailed for driving on the shoulder on hiway 9 last fall. Changed my commute route to BCR in the mornings so I avoid the SLE drop off traffic. Also used my traffic school eligibility for 18 months :-[

[Frenchmillerlover]

Re: Splitting Lanes

Shoulder driving... well.. good to know. Reminds me... my traffic school 18 months must be up sometime soon... jeez pulled over at 70mph on Highway 1.... in Half Moon Bay where it is limited at 40mph.. 1am on a Monday night (box...) and when the cop told me he had to ticket me because that street was highly frequented by farmers and students.. i was like.. doh?... there is NO ONE crossing at 1am on a Monday...!!! ..

[u_cant_prove_it]

Re: Splitting Lanes

Shoulder driving... well.. good to know. Reminds me... my traffic school 18 months must be up sometime soon... jeez pulled over at 70mph on Highway 1.... in Half Moon Bay where it is limited at 40mph.. 1am on a Monday night (box...) and when the cop told me he had to ticket me because that street was highly frequented by farmers and students.. i was like.. doh?... there is NO ONE crossing at 1am on a Monday...!!! ..

Which county were you in? Did you know the traffic courts do not communicate with each other. So, like I learned, if you go to traffic school in Santa Cruz, did you know that it doesnt count in lets say Redwood city. You can do traffic school every 18 months, in each county. Hint Hint! Just dont disclose than info to the courts. the ticket never makes it past the court, that means the DMV never gets the ticket info, that means keep the tickets in different counties and you can go as much as you want.

[Frenchmillerlover]

Re: Splitting Lanes

ooh la la.. I did not know that.. Half Moon Bay was in San Mateo county. So I am ok for Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties?.. 17 just re-opened!!!!!!!!!!!!

[u_cant_prove_it]

Re: Splitting Lanes

I learned that in traffic school. I knew it was good for something, lol :

[Frenchmillerlover]

Re: Splitting Lanes

Well... I would maybe have known had I been a good traffic school attendee but I did it in an hour online at work... ;D shhhh don't tell!!!... Anyway that's good to know. I got pulled over 3 times with the Mille but did not get a ticket yet (never was for speeding).

[u_cant_prove_it]

Re: Splitting Lanes

I get it for speeding every time, I think something is wrong with my bike, it doesnt like to go slow. That and the fact I cant reach the ground, I cant go slow because the bike might fall over.

[mouth]

Re: Splitting Lanes

. I got pulled over 3 times with the Mille but did not get a ticket yet (never was for speeding).

Yeah, I know, dude. I've ridden behind you before. *NEVER* will you get a ticket for speeding. YOu don't want to run the risk of scratching your favorite plaything.

!mouth!

[Frenchmillerlover]

Re: Splitting Lanes

hahahaha shhhhhhhhhhh Mouth.... don;t tell everyone! As Kel would say "I might not be fast but I look fast"... hahaha...