Topic: Monday Rant: Motorbikes Could Solve Traffic Woes

[johngenx]

Contrary to what car drivers think, lane splitting speeds up the traffic for everyone, not just the bikes.  And if you have a car and don't like bikes getting there first, get a bike.

[JohnM]

I'd call that line-jumping.  The only way it isn't is if there are no further stops for miles down the road.

Cheers,
John M.

So what's your issue with that?  Someone comes past you, waiting in line.  They accelerate away, you never see them again.  So what, it didn't interrupt your journey or inconvenience you in anyway, why would you have an issue with someone else getting to their destination faster if it didn't affect you?  Or should we all just wait in line because that's the way it's always been done?

Lane splitting (slowly) in slow moving or stopped traffic is very effective, doing it fast (as on youtube) is just plain stupid, and most motorcyclists wouldn't be that stupid, they value their lives too.

I'm for it, but if the law changed I would be very careful doing it.

If there is open road ahead, then there is no problem.  If there is a stoplight ahead and I end up behind you, then you just pushed me and everyone else back.  That is line jumping.  Same as using the merge lane to jump a bunch of cars.  Very slimy.

Cheers,
John M.

[dkaz]

People line jumped me every minute when I had a scooter. *shrugs*

[rrocket]

People line jumped me every minute when I had a scooter. *shrugs*

They weren't line jumping you.  You scooter was just too slow and they were merely driving.   

[dkaz]

People line jumped me every minute when I had a scooter. *shrugs*

They weren't line jumping you.  You scooter was just too slow and they were merely driving.   

Haha yup. But my point to JohnM is, it's the same thing.

[Triple Bob]

I'd call that line-jumping.  The only way it isn't is if there are no further stops for miles down the road.

Cheers,
John M.

So what's your issue with that?  Someone comes past you, waiting in line.  They accelerate away, you never see them again.  So what, it didn't interrupt your journey or inconvenience you in anyway, why would you have an issue with someone else getting to their destination faster if it didn't affect you?  Or should we all just wait in line because that's the way it's always been done?

Lane splitting (slowly) in slow moving or stopped traffic is very effective, doing it fast (as on youtube) is just plain stupid, and most motorcyclists wouldn't be that stupid, they value their lives too.

I'm for it, but if the law changed I would be very careful doing it.

If there is open road ahead, then there is no problem.  If there is a stoplight ahead and I end up behind you, then you just pushed me and everyone else back.  That is line jumping.  Same as using the merge lane to jump a bunch of cars.  Very slimy.

Cheers,
John M.

If the motorcycle is decently quick, you either won't see it again, or it will overtake you at some point anyways.  It's not the same as using the merge lane at all.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I'd call that line-jumping.  The only way it isn't is if there are no further stops for miles down the road.

Cheers,
John M.

So what's your issue with that?  Someone comes past you, waiting in line.  They accelerate away, you never see them again.  So what, it didn't interrupt your journey or inconvenience you in anyway, why would you have an issue with someone else getting to their destination faster if it didn't affect you?  Or should we all just wait in line because that's the way it's always been done?

Lane splitting (slowly) in slow moving or stopped traffic is very effective, doing it fast (as on youtube) is just plain stupid, and most motorcyclists wouldn't be that stupid, they value their lives too.

I'm for it, but if the law changed I would be very careful doing it.

If there is open road ahead, then there is no problem.  If there is a stoplight ahead and I end up behind you, then you just pushed me and everyone else back.  That is line jumping.  Same as using the merge lane to jump a bunch of cars.  Very slimy.

Cheers,
John M.

He's not pushing you back at all.  Don't forget, he'll be lane-splitting the light up ahead, and the one after that, too.  So the impact on you personally is nil.

[dkaz]

Is that just it? People take things personally?

[JacobBlack]

I think people do, yeah. Last night I had to shoot a gap again to avoid being rear-ended by a muppet on the 401. The honking started immediately.
Canadians will wait for 35 seconds at a door so they can hold it open for you, but ask for a brief hesitation of any kind on the road and we all lose our minds. It's wild, the world's friendliest, most polite people are also among the most road ragey.

[X-Traction]

I'm ok with lane splitting if it's done between cars and trucks that aren't moving but are not stopped for a traffic device such as a traffic light.  So this would apply to let motorcyclists get past traffic jams.

I'm not understanding. Traffic jams are usually slow moving but not completely stopped. The only reason traffic usually comes to a complete stop is for a traffic light. What you are describing means you are ok with lane splitting only when traffic comes to a complete stop for something like a serious crash / road closure.   Or just a spontaneous "hey let's all come to a complete stop for no reason" scenario.

I gather you don't live in the Vancouver area.

[johngenx]

Traffic jams are slow moving with little lane changing - hence why lane splitting is very effective in those instances.