by "Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
Published 11/15/2017 at 12:33
by "Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
Published 11/15/2017 at 12:33
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STARS: 1
Today as I commuted I tried to filter between an Jetta and a Nissan Murano at around 20km/h and the Nissan abruptly turn towards me, to which I pressed the brakes and the horn, she immediately retracted back into her lane, flipped me off and honked then as I ran past her she changed from the first to the last lane of the road in an abrupt motion just to eventually line up with me again and pretend I didn’t exist.
Now, whose fault is this? Its mine. Lane splitting is illegal in Mexico City, but its an un-enforced law, everyone lane splits, transit cops actually prefer bikes lane splitting because it eases congestion.
what I wonder is that with so many careless drivers, should motorcycles be given this permission? Should drivers be taught to check their mirrors often? Is it fair to filter through a line of traffic if there’s a clogged toll booth ahead?
So many questions raced my mind as the two ton SUV approached my left leg.
More edits: I think most of the commenters agree on filtering or lanesplitting at very low speeds.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
11/15/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 9
Lane splitting should be limited to bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions, or other congested slow conditions without merging lanes.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/15/2017 at 12:40, STARS: 0
It was bumper to bumper and she could’ve killed me still! What speeds do you recommend? should I turn on my hazards or high beams as I lane split?
"RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z)" (redline350z)
11/15/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0
Lane splitting should absolutely be legal. Like you said it eases congestion. As long as it’s done at reasonable speeds there’s nothing wrong with it.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
11/15/2017 at 12:43, STARS: 2
I don’t think you should be lane splitting if traffic is moving, because that gives drivers the opportunity to change lanes, which they tend to do abruptly in heavy traffic. 10mph? If it’s day time your high beam should be on anyway for better visibility. Possibly pick an outside lane or shoulder as well.
"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
11/15/2017 at 12:43, STARS: 1
I’d agree with this, and add that once legally permitted, there needs to be a broad education campaign to inform car drivers to look out for this behavior from motorcyclists.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
11/15/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 0
Personally I’ve got no issue with sport/naked motorcyclists that filter up to the front of a light as well, since they’re usually off from the light very quickly. Now, cruiser riders I do have a problem with.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
11/15/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 4
“Filtering”: yes. “Lanesplitting”: no.
What I mean by that is that the line between lanes should not be considered a full-time valid “lane” of travel for motorcyclists to use anytime they wish. HOWEVER, I believe that motorcycles should be allowed to filter forward in stopped or very heavy traffic where other drivers are moving too slowly to be a safety risk.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/15/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
20mph is about 16kmh, and I have heard about the highbeams being something that should be on all the time (in daylight), I will change that about my riding style.
But still I think that for lanesplitting to be legal, at least here in Mexcio we’d need to have tougher drivers ed courses so that people understand what a fucking turn signal is!
"facw" (facw)
11/15/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 2
As a car driver I do not like lane splitting. I’m fine with filter at lights or in basically stopped traffic, but if I’m just driving in a lane, I should be able to trust that I have the whole lane without someone intruding in the space. I shouldn’t have to check that there is no one in my lane if I need to shift where I am in the lane.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/15/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 0
Well as a driver of all urban kinds of vehicles I agree with you!
But I think there’s a difference between changing position inside your lane and changing lanes without doing a blindspot check.... when I’m using my car I actually often block motorcyclists out of my lane when going 40km/h or higher because I don’t want them there! But, as soon as I have to slow down and maybe stop at a light I tend to shove my car as far to the edge of a lane so motorcyclists have an easy filtering path.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
11/15/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 1
It’s legal in california. I’ve had moto’s lane split when I’m going 60+ mph. My friends who ride say it’s not a mater of if you go down, it’s when you go down. My buddy got taken out by a Jeep and I see moto-car accidents all the time. And then there are the fucking Harley riders on bikes wider than a Honda Fit lane splitting between semi’s. Now I’m all worked up.
https://www.ridetowork.org/files/docs/lanesplitting_guidelines.pdf
"Spoon II" (Spoon_II)
11/15/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 2
We’ll let the science do the talking here. If you search for studies about lane splitting, you’ll find that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. It’s safer for the riders and it eases congestion, thus allowing everyone to reach their destinations faster. If it’s made legal, people just need to get used to it. It’s the same as roundabouts. They’ve started installing them where I live, and people just hate them because they’re new. Once you’re used to them, they’re faster and safer than traffic lights and stop signs. These decisions can’t be made with opinions or emotions, because humans suck at making decisions like that. They have to be made with facts.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/15/2017 at 12:58, STARS: 1
fucking Harley riders on bikes wider than a Honda Fit lane splitting between semi’s.
I know! The report says what I often tell harley bros here:
“If you can’t fit, don’t split.”
I only wished harley bros here in Mexico actually knew how to read, or write, or speak, or ride, or walk with fully erect posture...
Anyway, I see your point.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/15/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0
Yeah, its all a thing of adapting, but Its kind of hard because imagine that lanesplitting is legal in california but some tourist from another state or country doesn’t know about the rules?
"victor" (victor)
11/15/2017 at 13:02, STARS: 1
I drove 25k miles a year commuting in California for dozens of years. Lane splitting never bothered me because for every bad biker, there were 50 good ones. They fuck up, they die (and we known some whom have) , so it’s their prerogative.
That said, at one point, you saw and heard about alot of gruesome fatality crashes near the marine bases in San Diego and oceanside because of all the young enlisted kids.
I agree with the don’t split if you don’t fit idea. But, if splitting is legal, it becomes the norm and people stop trying to do stupid stuff like that.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
11/15/2017 at 13:04, STARS: 0
I just wished moto riders would use a bit of common sense and self preservation. It makes me sick when I see them down and injured.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/15/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 0
I think its the adrenaline, you get heated up quite easily, specially when there’s traffic because sitting still in a bike is horrible, the engine warms you up, your helmet becomes a condensation tank and you need to hold it up/press the brake all the time!
"jonny11quest" (jonny11quest)
11/15/2017 at 13:57, STARS: 0
On a slightly related note, I think motorcycles should be allowed to park in the hatched areas of a parking lot if there aren’t any motorcycle-specific spots. Makes no sense to take up a full spot. Also very frustrating pulling up to suspected empty spot only to find it taken by a scooter.
"Spoon II" (Spoon_II)
11/15/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 0
True, I’d be mostly worried about people from North America. Lane splitting isn’t legal in Canada either, but a good chunk of the rest of the world is used to sharing the road with bikes and scooters.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
11/15/2017 at 14:38, STARS: 1
This is my rough feeling on splitting in general.
If traffic is stationary, you’re splitting lanes to filter to the front of the queue, and you fit: Absolutely should be legal, with the following requirements:
Splitting must be performed at a relatively low speed - somewhere in the ballpark of 20 mph or less I’d say
Motorcyclist is liable for hitting anything that isn’t moving
Other vehicles are required to check for motorcyclists splitting before initiating a movement that would affect a motorcyclist’s path
If traffic is moving slowly (<15 mph or so), and you’re splitting lanes to filter to the front of the queue, and you fit: Legal but at your own risk (which AFAIK is the California doctrine for all lane splitting), and again, speed must be kept low (<20 mph is still a good guideline for this I’d say - extra vigilance is required with people moving, too). Note that a motorist intentionally colliding with a motorcyclist should still be treated as a criminal act - “at your own risk” only applies when everyone’s acting in good faith.
If traffic’s moving any faster, I’m inclined to say either not legal at all, or at your own risk.
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
11/15/2017 at 15:12, STARS: 0
For me it is all about speed differential. If the bike is doing... well pretty much anything a lot faster than surrounding traffic, seems like the risks go way up. In general if traffic is moving, for example, 40 MPH, you don’t think to check for a small obstacle going 60+.
Sadly, as with all rules/ laws/ regulations, there is always going to be someone who makes it suck for everyone else.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
11/15/2017 at 21:27, STARS: 0
Filtering yes. Heavy traffic is not good for bikes. Both for heat exhaust, the mechanicals, and retard cagers texting and rear ending ppl.
Once I can let the clutch all the way out in 2nd and not have to ride clutch in 1st or 2nd i stop splitting.
"StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8" (stndibnz1)
11/16/2017 at 09:46, STARS: 0
Yes, it should. Why should bikes have to wait in traffic when we fit between cars? Also, filtering up at stop lights is safer for us so we don’t get rear ended.