Lane-splitting in Beverly Hills

Does this video make you jealous? Frightened? Angry? It shows a motorcyclist cutting through the gridlock of Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills -- like butter -- by "lane splitting." Essentially, the biker squeezes between lanes of traffic -- with a few very close calls. And he does make good time.

On YouTube, reaction was mixed. One viewer posted: "dude you are crazy..isnt this illegal? If i was driving one of the cars you cam across i would have boxed you in to a crashing halt." Many others reacted like this guy: "wow intense for sure what kind of bike are you on?"

Lane splitting is legal, according to the CHP, "but must be done in a safe and prudent manner." But some fellow drivers don't like it.

What do you think of lane splitting? Hit COMMENT below and speak out

Comments

[Michael Ballard]

Lane splitting when the lanes are narrow is even worse. If you're on a motorcycle, within inches or less of a car, its on you to not hit the car. Not the car. Legal or not, it shouldn't be done in the manner that most motorcyclists do it. You want to call yourself a "cage hater" well, I do enjoy the protection the car gives me, as I understand the lack of protection a cyclist has (I do bicycle frequently in the city). However, you need to earn the respect of others on the road, it isn't just given. Riding at high speeds between other cars, just isn't right. Its stupid, and could land all in the hospital. Additionally, bicycle lanes, aren't to be "split". They are for bicycles only. Not motorcycles, nor cars. Show more courtesy doing your "legal" maneuver, you might get more respect for it.

[Laurence Lewin]

I am looking for a photo of the nostalgic semaphore traffic contol, with arms that swung up and down. They were in use in the early '50's. Can anyone help?

Laurence Lewin
tinkll1@cox.net

[donut]

many car accidents during rush hour is due to drivers dozing off, and a motorcycle getting caught in one of those sure won't be pretty. i'd rather trust my own fate in my own hands and split in a prudent manner.

[Mauricio]

As many posters accurately cite, many countries around the world encourage motorcycle use and the use of lane-sharing. Some countries even having specialized boxes in front of intersections just for motorcycles and scooters to facilitate traffic flows. I believe that most people's frustration is to their "Surprise" when, engrossed in their song, reading the paper, a cyclist appears almost out of nowhere. When in fact he's been moving along and the driver didn't expect him. The word envy has popped up a few times here and I think that it comes from a sense of unfairness that the driver feels that motorcyclists shouldn't do this. They have a sense that it's illegal when in fact it's LEGAL. I've been with friends and they get whopping mad seeing a motorcycle lane-share and or use the HOV (carpool) lanes. When I say it's legal, they look at me like I'm a nut. As an avid world traveler and motorcycle rider for the past 20 years I would encourage a few things.

1. Strengthen DMV motorcycle awareness at the test level about sharing the road and what a cyclist is allowed to do, lane sharing, and using HOV lanes. I would also advocate doing this in the county and city level too as riding a bike is more friendly to the environment and is an excellent way to reduce traffic congestion.
2. Revisit the DMV motorcycle test. It is outdated and in need of revision to incorporate the changes in the urban landscape.
3. Institute a graduated motorcycle licenses that's dependent on the size of motorcycle. For example, there would be one license for those riding bikes under 250 or 400cc and another for those above the threshold. I have seen too many people go to the motorcycle DMV test with a small 125cc and go out on road with a 1000cc monster. Many countries utilize this and have very low accident rates among bikes.

[cageh8r]

The speeding motorcyclist roaring up the lane is a valid concern. He/she is breaking the law and like any other person on the road breaking the law, you have to be aware of those instances, because they happen every day. It's part of driving on a road system that thousands of others are sharing with you. When I'm riding my motorcycle I am thinking that everyone, and I mean everyone is out to kill me. Not intentionally, but through their inattention to what is happening on the road around them. Living in CA, and knowing that during slow and stopped traffic on the roads, there are going to be motorcycles lane sharing, you have to add that information to the rest of data that is coming at you while you're in your vehicle and take the proper steps needed to avoid possible complications.

I also agree that loud pipes are an annoyance. The feds and state are already in the process of eliminating after market pipes because of the fact that most after market pipes compromise the amount of emissions a particular motorcycle is allowed, along with increasing the decibel level that is allowed by law.

There will always be a small percentage of any group that stands out in a negative manner due to their behavior. That doesn't mean you should paint everyone in that group with the same brush. My bikes are stock, they are properly registered, insured, and maintained. I wear proper protective safety gear, and unlike the governor, I have the proper license to operate a motorcycle. Most motorcyclists are the same.

And like barb, I also hate SUVs.

[Barbarella]

I believe the rule for motorcycles is they may do this "lane splitting" or "lane sharing" (let's not split hairs...!) as long as they are going no more than 15mph more than the bulk of the traffic. So if everyone's stopped, they may only go 15. Certainly with the noise a bike makes, at 15mph, you can adjust for its passage. I think most of us, however, have had the unfortunate instances where bikers scream between cars at high rates of speed. This puts everyone at risk; most of us need a second or two reaction time & if we decide to make a lane change with someone coming up between us at 70, there's no way to anticipate that.

If bikes do it safely, w/signals & appropriate pre-cautions, at the appropriate speed, I don't have any problem. Motorcycles aren't for me but I appreciate those who do ride them because they're keeping cars off the road & using less fuel. I will always give leeway to a bike. On the other hand, if you're in an SUV, I don't care you can forget about me letting you make a lane change in front of me, come out of a parking lot or anything else. I've had more SUV's cut me off, nearly hit me, race out from parking lots without looking - by far, the worst, scariest, most dangerous moments I've had on the freeway & city streets have come from over-aggressive, arrogant SUV drivers. They apparently feel because their vehicle is huge, I'll get out of THEIR way when they want to make a left turn from the far right lane. But while my car may be small, my family is huge and filled with lawyers. So in my world, the motorcyle gets the right of way; the SUV will not be allowed to lane change, merge, or otherwise get a break of any kind.

[Russell Miller]

I don't mind so much if it's done in a safe manner. Unfortunately, most of the time I see it happen, it is not done in a safe manner.

To the poster above who made the comment "use your mirrors" - that's not exactly easy when you are stopped on the PCH and some idiot cycler comes roaring through with inches to spare at 30mph. I got news for you - I had no warning you were coming through and I didn't even know to look until you were past.

Cyclists have a responsibility to drive safely as well, and they means not rocketing through two lanes of nearly stopped traffic, scaring the bejeebers out of drivers like me who never even saw you coming. If one of you hits one of me in that circumstance, especially if I'm otherwise driving safely, I'm pretty sure *you're* the one who'll get cited for reckless driving.

[David P.]

jeff, i is actually just as necessary on the freeway. the way current motorcycle engines are constructed leave them susceptible to overheating in stop&go use. if you want a deluge of overheated motorcycles clogging up the freeway by curtailing their lane-sharing practice on the highway, then by all means get rid of it. its better for them, and for you. that's why it was adopted.

[Jeff M.]

It's one thing to do it on city streets but it should be banned on freeways. The risks are too great and the consequences are not only injury but accidents result in more traffic that hurts the region.

[tom]

Thanks for the article that states it is LEGAL for motorcylists to split traffic. Most of those who are angry about it do not know it is legal, and are upset because they think we are "getting away with it". Make no mistake, it is a dangerous practice, and those of us who do it are on full alert while riding. Its not enough that motorcyclists have to encounter distracted drivers due to cell phones, morning makeup application, and blasting stereos. We also have to deal with cowards who want to block us, or use their vehicle as a weapon against us. If you dont like the law change it, but my advice is to build all future freeways with a "bike" lane.

[Kevin]

If you're lane splitting, you're not taking up space in a regular traffic lane. So the way I see it, each lane-splitting motorcyclist is one less motorist contributing to traffic congestion. So the more motorcyclists who (safely) lane split, the better.

[Camilo]

As an automobile driver, motorcycles in Beverly Hills don't bug at all compared to the cars that run or roll through the stop signs, don't yield the right of way, and don't let you turn although you've waited patiently with the turn signal light and your arm out the window. If a biker wants to weave through parked cars on Santa Monica, fine, they aren't the one creating the road rage, angst, and nightmare traffic. It's disrespectful car drivers that ruin it all for us!

[cageh8r]

Most of the world allows "filtering" of two wheeled vehicles. The US is one of few places on the planet that does not. CA is, once again, ahead of the curve on this. In this state it is called "lane sharing", not "splitting". "Lane sharing", when done within the limits that the law allows, helps the flow of traffic and reduces congestion. Those that find "lane sharing" scary probably don't ride motorcycles. As a motorcyclist, I find it more scary to be surrounded by cars and will almost always move between cars so that I don't get rear ended, which happens more frequently than you can imagine.

Those that deem "lane sharing" unfair or dangerous, need to either learn how to ride a motorcycle or pay more attention to what is going on around you while you are driving. Those things on the side of your vehicle that reflect stuff back at you are called "mirrors", and they're used when you decide to change lanes.

Motorcycles use less gasoline, damage the road less (due to their weight), have less impact on the environment than four wheeled vehicles, and are a cheap form of transportation that the rest of world utilizes more than the US.

Instead of being jealous when a motorcycle is "lane sharing", you should appreciate the fact that the person is keeping traffic flowing and getting to his/her destination quicker so he/she can be off the road sooner.

As for people who think they can cut off a person while they are "lane sharing", the police will be having a conversation with you if you are caught engaging is such vicious behavior. You are driving in a 3500 lb. + vehicle attempting to impact a 500 lb. vehicle who's operator has no protection except the gear they are wearing. What a stand up citizen you are huh?

[David P.]

I don't mind if they are going at a safe speed. I do this all the time on my bicycle. It's one of the rare priveleges you get for being a more environmentally friendly mode of transport, and more nimble to boot.

Hopefully other people let their envy get the best of them and join us.