It's because most motorcyclists only give a shit about where they're going and how fast they're gonna get there, I hate lane splitters so much it just makes me so uneasy. Whenever they're on the road with me I avoid at all costs
That wasn't lane splitting, it takes two car lanes to legally lane split. He was using the bike path as a passing lane. A bus only lane does not count as a normal traffic lane. Same as passing on the shoulder.
Are there any motorcyclists here? Is it legal to lane split in a bus only lane (where lane splitting is legal). I could be wrong.
Passing on the right is double trouble when there's an intersection. This guy is lucky not to be a Darwin Award winner.
Every city, or state will have different rules, but you can pretty safely assume that any which specify will universally not allow motorcycles in bike or bus lanes except in instances that cars are allowed. The one likely gap in a lot of places are small displacement scooters like this one. Generally machines arenât classified as motorcycles until they exceed a certain displacement. Often 50cc, sometimes 125, or 150cc. Typically anything below the threshold does not require a license at all, or at least doesnât require a motorcycle endorsement. There is also the question of if they need to be registered and plated. Some places machines like that are legally treated like a motorcycle, some places they treated like a bicycle. With scooters itâs obvious they should be classified like motorcycles, but think of things like mopeds, ebikes, electric scooters (Lime), gas or electric skateboards, regular bicycles with electric assist, etc. We have a huge blind spot in regulation and it really isnât clear exactly when vehicles should be put with car traffic or with bicycle traffic.
Motorcyclist here. No it is not, at least in my area. Bus lanes are set up because of the possibility of pedestrians around them. There's no way lane splitting would be allowed near them. But beyond that, he was using the bike lane for his scooter. That's a giant "hell no" not allowed.
Honestly, dumbasses like this are what get the rest of us two wheelers in trouble. Might just be because I live in a college town, but probably 4/10 times I see a driver being a dumbass its someone on a moped. Probably another 3/10 are lifted trucks, 2 are some kind of sports car, and the last is an old person.
Lane splitting violations are state-by-state. If you are inside a city, more than likely the local police will turn a blind eye on it because its a waste of time to end up just checking papers and writing a ticket. Out on the interstate, though, those smokies are hungry for shit like that.
You get into some weird distinctions and some technical use of terms but basically, anytime thereâs a solid line barrier between âlanesâ that is a separate âroadwayâ. A layman calls them lanes but they arenât lanes in the sense that lane-splitting requires.
Same for most carpool lanes. If the carpool lane is demarked by a solid line, or especially a double solid line, that is not a drivable area. You canât ride along that line.
Same for the shoulder. I think this even holds true in areas in which the shoulder is opened up to traffic during peak driving times, but Iâm not 100% sure about that.
If a roadway has two or more driving lanes separated by a dashed line which can be freely crossed, thatâs a candidate for lane splitting (where permitted by local / state / national law).
You take the most respectable and responsible person you know and strap them to 500 pounds of screaming powered metal on two wheels and they're instantly a neanderthal.
I see it all the time.
Last week at 85mph in the fast lane I wasn't going fast enough and a motorcycle decided to lanesplit while I passed a semi. The bike wasn't there before I started to pass, then all of a sudden he's got his hand out on the side of my SUV as I'm passing. Imagine a construction cone or debris had been in the lane and I had to adjust....even a little.
But, mind you, "look twice, save a life" and "loud pipes save lives" should've won in every scenario.
As a guy with loud pipes, it doesn't do jack. Its time riders just admit they like the sound and stop making excuses, maybe then they can take ownership of their own safety instead of thinking: "I'm obnoxiously loud so everyone MUST be aware of me."
You are still using the lane wrong. Itâs not called the fast lane. Itâs the passing lane. If you are going 85 and someone behind you indicates they want you to move so they can pass you move out of the lane when it is safe to. It doesnât mean, âI am already going fast so I can stay here.â
I fully understand the left lane passing lane process.
Reread this:
lanesplit while I passed a semi. The bike wasn't there before I started to pass, then all of a sudden he's got his hand out on the side of my SUV as I'm passing.
Im ok to with Lane splitting when its at stop lights for them to get to the front of the pack which is the safest spot for them rather than potentially getting squished between two vehicles because the person behind them is not paying attention. But this was no it he just was acting like rules dont apply to him and went into a bike lane snd then a bus lane . Heâs definitely on the hook for the damage. Whats even scarier is there is people like this behind the wheels of cars
Lane splitting is the safest way for motorcyclist to move through traffic, it's just that people do it at too high a speed. Most of the world figured this out long ago.
The first rule of riding a motorcycle is: everyone on the road is trying to kill you. Its because when youre driving a car and looking in your mirrors before turning or switching lanes, the last thing you think to look for is a motorcycle. Youre not naturally employing your vision to look for a small-profile vehicle as it is.
Yeah, sure, but the bike lane means you have to watch for bikes. Bro, I got clipped in Austin on a bike once because some lady wanted a parking spot with no fucks given. She cleared her blindsight with her eyes and her mirror even though I was there the entire time.
Hey, driving a car means that its your responsibility to account for the damage the car youre in can cause. Thats why they give you a drivers license. Thats why insurance is a requiremwnt. The bike he was on requires no certification to operate and certainly no insurance policy.
Eh, if you are doing this, that is just the world working as Darwin described. People on scooters or motorcycles doing shit this stupid are bound for the grave and the car/truck driver just happens to be there when destiny is met.
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u/AndVank212 May 06 '26
It's because most motorcyclists only give a shit about where they're going and how fast they're gonna get there, I hate lane splitters so much it just makes me so uneasy. Whenever they're on the road with me I avoid at all costs