lane splitting

axeinhand · 08-17-2009, 01:03 PM

there is a good story about lane splitting on ocregister.com

vegaseric · 08-17-2009, 01:07 PM

ummm... link? copy/paste? Help us out man!

nm... I found it: Motorcyclists reflect on lane-splitting after man's death | motorcycle, lanes, california, deisley, lane - News - OCRegister.com

Motorcyclists reflect on lane-splitting after death
Motorcycle deaths are on the rise in Orange County.
By SERENA MARIA DANIELS
The Orange County Register
Comments 83 | Recommend 6

A Garden Grove man was killed last week while apparently riding his motorcycle between lanes on the I-405 freeway, prompting The Orange County Register to ask local motorcyclists and safety experts about the practice known as lane-splitting.

The number of motorcyclists killed in Orange County rose to 36 in 2008 from 25 a year earlier – a jump of 44 percent, according to National Traffic Safety Administration data released last month. The increase in motorcycle deaths came even as the total number of traffic fatalities in Orange County dropped to 163 last year from 194 in 2007.

Common causes of motorcycle collisions include unsafe speed, improper turning, improper passing, and unsafe lane changes, the California Highway Patrol said.

"Lane splicing is a contributing factor in many (collisions), although there are no statistics" readily available, said CHP officer Gabe Montoya.

Robert Gladden, who manages the California Motorcyclist Safety Program for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, said California is the only state that does not explicitly ban motorcycle riders from splitting or sharing lanes – driving between established lanes of traffic.

"For many motorcyclists throughout the country, from that standpoint, we're the envy of the nation," Gladden said.

Still, the Department of Motor Vehicles motorcyclist's handbook says the practice is not safe and that vehicles and motorcycles need a full lane to operate safely.

On Wednesday, Jason Richard Doerr, 31, was riding to work at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Harbor City at about 8:40 a.m. when his motorcycle collided with a silver Toyota Matrix on the transition road from the westbound 22 to the northbound 405, California Highway Patrol officers said.

Doerr tumbled off his motorcycle in front of a silver Buick sedan and was trapped beneath the car, CHP officer Jim Hetrick said.

Hetrick, the first officer to arrive at the scene, said early reports indicated that the motorcyclist was splitting lanes. The collision remains under investigation, CHP officer Ray Payton said on Friday.

Before working at the Harbor City dealership, Doerr spent about 10 years at Harley-Davidson Anaheim-Fullerton as a service parts manager.

Fred Deisley, 57, of Cerritos, was at the Fullerton dealership Thursday getting parts for his 1992 Harley Heritage. He has been riding motorcycles since the early 1970s, but said he doesn't make it a habit to split lanes.

"When you're riding a bike, man – you really have got to be on the ball," Deisley said. "You can't just cruise around, day-dreaming like they sometimes do in cars."

Deisley said when traffic's heavy, he shares lanes, but said he has had a few close calls when cars sometimes unexpectedly merge in front of him.

"When you get out of town – geez, there's nothing like it, but when you're in town, you've got to be defensive," Deisley said.

Mark Ruffalo, owner of California Harley-Davidson/Buell, where Doerr worked, believes that if done properly by experienced riders, lane sharing can be safe.

He said it's inattention by automobile drivers that tends to contribute to motorcycle-involved crashes.

Under the new state law prohibiting the use of cell phones without a hands-free device, Ruffalo, also a longtime rider, said he has noticed a drop in the number of distracted car motorists, although he still sees drivers apply makeup, even read the newspaper, while on the road on occasion.

Steven Rosenthal, 53, a rider and a full-time commercial truck driver who lives in Lakewood, drives between 1,500 and 2,000 miles a week on the job. He mostly drives in California, sometimes in other states.

"It never ceases to amaze me how people tend to drive so competitively – they tend to pinch you right off," Rosenthal said, referring to Southern California drivers in particular.

Rosenthal said he's been a motorcycle rider for more than 30 years. And, like Deisley, he said he splits lanes when traffic is really bad, but he tries not to do it all the time. He also avoids it when his wife is a passenger, he said.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3795 or sdaniels@ocregister.com

axeinhand · 08-17-2009, 01:58 PM

i cant type let alone cut copy and paste lol

VEGASRIDER · 08-17-2009, 02:06 PM

Thanks for posting, a great reminder to us all.

Leave it to a Harley to ruin a good thing. Seriously, setting aside the joke, I'm all for it and when done safely, it benefits everyone.

We don't know how experienced the rider was. But definately not a riding technique for the less experienced.

RIP

Got2Go · 08-17-2009, 02:24 PM

I dig lane splitting, and do it when I can in CA...But, I'm not sold on the safety factor.
(maybe some very specific scenarios, but not as most people utilize it)

VFRChick · 08-17-2009, 09:22 PM

If done properly, lane splitting is safe and enjoyable for everyone!!

vegasbiker · 08-18-2009, 07:14 AM

Having ridden in So-Cal for 30+ years I really miss being able to split traffic to be at the front of long lines. When done correctly it's as safe as riding in a lane by yourself.

Got2Go · 08-18-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VFRChick

If done properly, lane splitting is safe and enjoyable for everyone!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegasbiker

Having ridden in So-Cal for 30+ years I really miss being able to split traffic to be at the front of long lines. When done correctly it's as safe as riding in a lane by yourself.

That's my point...I think most people do it in an unsafe manner, and to feel the thrill (instead of doing it for safety reasons, and in an safe way).

Cougar · 08-18-2009, 02:13 PM

Living in Orange County CA my self and for many years, lane splitting is soooo necessary on some of our freeways and congestion. It sucks to have your bike sitting and heating up in traffic. I find I have to lane split at times. Thing is, I believe the economy plays a part in this elevated bike vs car fatalities and so forth as well. With gas going up and everyone being tight budgeted more this past year or so, more and more are investing in commuting on motorcycles now a days. I know soooo many people who have bought a bike for this very reason. Seems there are new riders on the rise ! Sad but true. I just hope they keep it safe.

VFRChick · 08-18-2009, 02:36 PM

Good point... I think the "newbies" on the road are causing many of the "bad" motorcycle statistics to jump of late.

One thought... while I definitely support lane splitting, one negative aspect about splitting here in Vegas is the tinted windows. I used to lane split every day on my way to work when I lived in the Bay Area, making a 1.5 hour commute in the car, a 30 minute commute on the bike. Something I always do, is look through rear windows to look in rear view mirrors or look at the side view mirrors so I can see where the drivers are looking. I like to see them look at me... or sometimes I can see their eyes shift to check traffic before changing lanes. If they look like they are going to move to the side I'm about to travel on, I slow down until I see them settle down. With all of the tinted windows here in Vegas, it's really hard to get that advantage of seeing the drivers' eyes.

No, this is not an indication that I lane split in Vegas, but some old habits die slow... I'm just used to watching the eyes of drivers in front of me and I have found it very frustrating that most times the tinting keeps me from doing that and anticipating their moves here in Vegas.

vegasvideo · 08-18-2009, 03:34 PM

It is an acquired skill, but then again, so is everything else we do on a bike. Being a Cali native, I can say I see it done safely more than I do recklessly. It is no different than successfully making a tight turn. A lot of riders go down doing that. I think this falls under "it's the rider, not that activity that is dangerous". Just my 2 cents.