Lane Splitting vs 'Filtering'

[Chaosratt]

I know that lane splitting is illegal everywhere except Vegas and Cali, but how about this filtering at stoplights?
I'm rather conservative for a sportbike (no squidding/wheelies for me), but I find myself doing this all the time here in Tampa at one intersection.
A single left turn lane tuns into a double turn lane when the median gives way, problem is no one ever uses the outside lane and fewer cars than should make the light. I've gotten into the habit of filtering up and moving into this lane.
For TBA riders out there, think Dale Mabry @ MLK.

I did this next to a cop :shock: who didnt do anything about it (he was actually the 'bastard' car, the one that should have moved into the new lane, but didnt). Was it an isolated incident and he chose to ignore me, or is it legal in FL?

[marke14]

I always wonder about riders outside of California. I would have to say that personally, I would split lanes at a red light a lot even if I lived elsewhere.

I think the main issue with this is that people in other states tend to get REALLY PISSED OFF when they see you do this and could potentially try to do something stupid to you, whereas in CA it's so routine (like in Europe and Asia and pretty much everywhere else on the planet that has roads, cars and motorcycles) that people just sort of disregard it and put up with it.

When you get down to it, it probably depends on these variables:

1) is there a cop around?

2) do they feel like giving you a ticket?

and, to a much lesser degree,

3) does some civilian who sees you doing this really care enough to try to write down your plate number and call it in, or do something stupid like move over to block you.


I've heard ******* drivers complain that they'd like to "open their door" on someone but I've never actually heard of this happening to a motorcyclist.

I do 90% of my lane splitting at red lights. Good luck, be safe and watch those mirrors!

[hunterfz6]

I was stopped at a signal light. There was a car in front of me who was 3 car lengths behind the car in front of her. It was in a left hand turn lane, so I moved into the right hand lane to move in front of her. Filling in the gap. She was soooo pissed. She laid on her horn and when the light turned green, she just about gave my bike anal sex. Dang crazy lady. If you live in a conceal deadly weapon state, and someone attempts to kill you with their car, is that enough probable cause to shoot them? I sure felt like it.

[trailblazer87]

Originally Posted by hunterfz6

I was stopped at a signal light. There was a car in front of me who was 3 car lengths behind the car in front of her. It was in a left hand turn lane, so I moved into the right hand lane to move in front of her. Filling in the gap. She was soooo pissed. She laid on her horn and when the light turned green, she just about gave my bike anal sex. Dang crazy lady. If you live in a conceal deadly weapon state, and someone attempts to kill you with their car, is that enough probable cause to shoot them? I sure felt like it.

No but its enough to drop a spark plug or two while at speed

[reiobard]

i have been thinking more and more about doing this, but i really think that people around here have sharp sticks up their......never mind... they would get upset and i think that some would retaliate.


road rage is rampant in the northeast, although the people are very nice.... go figure...

[keira]

I have also been tempted to do this, but the places where I would feel safe enough to do it aren't bad enough to warrant doing it. I figure if a bicycle can do it, so can a motorcycle, but cagers don't think like that. They see something with a motor getting into a safer position and want to open their doors on them. Maybe it's a New England thing...

How about the views of a rider that grew up in the traffic of SoCal and split that traffic for over 40 years before moving to a place where it is a really bad idea most of the time. For the most part in splitting a few times here and in Tennessee I have come to understand that folks here don't know what the hell I am doing and because of this they seem to think I am in a hurry so they will constantly try to cut me off, pinch me in or one guy launched a soda out the window only to have the guy with the nice Beamer get pissed off when it landed on his beautiful black hood while missing me.

Folks in California know what splitting is and while you may run into a driver from time to time that doesn't, the lanes are wide and conditions for splitting are what I consider good. In contrast the folks around here must have got their licenses from a box of Fruit Loops because they haven't go a clue how to drive in traffic and they make some really dumb moves which makes them very dangerous the the splitting rider. If they are stopped, conditions get better but the gap is narrower because the lanes aren't as wide. I still split from time to time but conditions must be perfect or forget it because these folks could care less about running over a bike.

[marke14]

That's insane. Good to know if/when I ride to another state, or move.

People suck. They see you going past at a stoplight, on a motorcycle where you have to TRY TO SURVIVE EVERY SINGLE TRIP (whereas they can be lazy, half asleep, while talking on their cell phones and applying makeup) and they HATE you for getting in front of them! This isn't like cars driving on the shoulder or across someone's lawn to cut the intersection!

On second thought, maybe I'll split lanes in other states just to piss all the cagers off, LOL!

In Europe it's as common as the sun coming up in the mornings, and equally accepted.

[VEGASRIDER]

I like to consider "filtering" and "lane splitting" as not the same. I think filtering is a better term used to inch your way up to the front at red lights or when traffic is pretty much stopped or at a crawl. And lane splitting when you're moving at a much quicker pace. That's just my opinion though and other riders may disagree and consider the two as the same. FYI to Chasratt, lane splitting or filtering is not legal here in Vegas, but it's a neccesity along the strip on every weekend and many times during the week. I also filter to the front of the intersection when I think I will miss a rotation of the stop lights. I find myself looking at my mirrors more and more evertime I'm stopped making sure people coming up from behind see me. But even if I see them coming, I'm not sure if I would be able to get out the way in time. But when I'm stopped, I will always favor one side of the lane, meaning I'm not in the middle, giving me easier access to split the lanes if I had to in a hurry. Plus, favoring one side may possibly give the driver who is about to rear end you to steer towards the opposite side of you because he or she will see that there is more open space

Originally Posted by VEGASRIDER

Plus, favoring one side may possibly give the driver who is about to rear end you to steer towards the opposite side of you because he or she will see that there is more open space

Add me to this list of favoring one side or the other. Sitting in the middle make us a nice target....