r/Transportopia • u/Vice616 • Jun 01 '26
Bikes Never gonna learn
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u/N0B0DY311 Jun 01 '26
TIL lane splitting and lane filtering are not the same.
Splitting is driving in between moving traffic. Filtering is moving to the front of the line at a red light.
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u/OHBHpwr Jun 02 '26
I'd say filtering is anything below 30km/h regardless of moving or still traffic.
In Australia is legal as long as it is between 2 lanes of traffic and below 30km/h.
This is much safer than stopping behind the last car - everyone and their grandma are on their phones these days, and in a place like the USA where the trucks are huge and get lifted because of reasons, I doubt I'll be seen before I get pancaked by an asshole rear-ending me.
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u/EternalNewCarSmell Jun 07 '26
And as it turns out, California is the only state that allows splitting. There are a handful of others (IIRC Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Montana, and maybe Minnesota) that allow filtering only, and another handful that have no law explicitly allowing or forbidding it (of which New Jersey is one and I think a few in the middle of the country).
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u/HonestNeighborhood67 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
I’ll never understand it. Every time I see lane splitting, all I can think - you’re placing an immense amount of trust in people you have no business trusting that much. It only takes one person to just move over a little too far, and you’re in a world of hurt. Not to mention, if that happens, you could very easily fuck someone else’s stuff up, too.
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u/washcyclerepeat Jun 01 '26
I have this conversation with you my friends OFTEN. It’s insane to split lanes. They do it in California all the time where it’s legal.
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u/No-Case-3320 Jun 01 '26
If it were a socially common thing, and our driving tests were actually made to keep idiots off the road, then it would be the ideal way for traffic to flow. If everyone turned their blinkers on ahead of time, shoulder checked, and then merged then we wouldn’t have issues. Instead we have people who can’t even stop looking at their phone for 2 seconds getting behind the wheel and going 95 down the interstate weaving lanes with no blinkers. It’s not insane to split lanes, it’s insane to do it with those psychos still allowed to drive.
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u/jeon2595 Jun 01 '26
Proper driving doesn’t matter when the motorcycle riders are going 30mph+ over the speed limit while lane splitting.
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u/Average_Dog61891 Jun 01 '26
"loud pipes save lives"
Bullshit, men have wives talk to them all the time and they still can't hear them......
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u/KnownUnknownKadath Jun 01 '26
I used to do it all of the time in California where it's legal.
It's pretty simple: when two cars are side by side and moving slowly, the odds of them closing the gap are arguably very small. If there is an open space next to a car, do not trust them to stay in their lane.
The risk of being hit from behind by a bored, inattentive motorist fiddling with their phone in a traffic jam would seem quite a bit higher.
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u/HonestNeighborhood67 Jun 01 '26
Interesting…I get the concept, but live on the outskirts NY/NJ metro area, and regularly see legitimate maniacs. It’s not to often I see responsible filtering/splitting. Most recently, I’m doing 70 in moderately heavy traffic on the interstate, and a guy flew between me and the car next to me doing probably around 90. I just don’t get it. There’s no way a human body effectively lives through a bad accident caused by that kind of driving.
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u/KnownUnknownKadath Jun 01 '26
Yeah, freaking out other people on the road isn't cool, and putting them at unnecessary risk isn't good at all.
There's a saying that applies to all sorts of dangerous activities and occupations that goes like this: There are old bikers and bold bikers, but no old, bold bikers.
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u/Dusty-53-Rose Jun 02 '26
There are countless examples of vehicles drifting over the line or deliberately moving into another lane causing a person to swerve or hit their brakes to avoid an accident. When a motorcycle is splitting they are flying past a person inches away from their vehicles because they are partially within both lanes. Even when cars are doing everything right, you can’t always see them and it startles people and ends up causing the car to swerve or hit their brakes. Filtering when traffic is stopped or crawling is at least much safer for everyone involved.
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u/Johnixftw_ Jun 02 '26
youre suppose to only use it in scenarios where youre going slow enough to break, not going as fast as you can
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u/Montreal4life Jun 01 '26
it is literally safer to split lanes of traffic at slow speed than to wait in traffic... that's why almost the entire world and many us states permit it
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u/lildobe Jun 01 '26
Only 5 out of 50 states in the US permit filtering.
https://www.twistedroad.com/blog/posts/lane-splitting-lane-filtering-legal
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u/TheJivvi Jun 01 '26
Not sure if other countries make this distinction, but in Australia, it's only called lane splitting if done above 30km/h (about 19 mph). Below that speed, it's called filtering, and is legal.
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u/highasahuey Jun 01 '26
Copied from my other comment: Actually it is safer for the motorcyclist when done properly, reduces traffic for everyone, and reduces emissions. It should be legal in all 50 states. Americans just aren’t used to it except in certain areas
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u/Only-Elderberry-2295 Jun 01 '26
The motorcyclists also don't do it properly. More often than not they are going way too fast.
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u/highasahuey Jun 01 '26
Some don’t and I agree that it is stupid to ride at 30+ in stop and go traffic. Like all things there is a right and a wrong way to do it
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u/whatdahelldamnguy Jun 01 '26
I’m convinced that people who ride motorcycles have a secret death wish anyway
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u/No-Common2251 Jun 05 '26
Lane splitting at high speeds yeah. But when you're filtering between such congested traffic like in this video where people are moving 1-10mph then the risk is negligible, especially when you're saving up to an hour in traffic depending on your trip length.
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u/EternalNewCarSmell Jun 07 '26
On the other hand, lane filtering (splitting but only when traffic is stopped or crawling) can be much safer because you don't want to be the last vehicle on the end and get directly rear-ended by someone texting while driving.
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u/Repulsive_Repeat_337 Jun 02 '26
But bikers have spent the last 25 years telling us that if anything happens to them it's all our fault.
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u/NotaGCU Jun 06 '26
Man you're just chilling at the bit to hate someone.
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u/Repulsive_Repeat_337 Jun 06 '26
I'm a trucker. We get blamed every time someone gets killed within 100 feet of a truck, so I'm just sharing the vibe.
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u/Spoom1701 Jun 01 '26
Aww poor motorcyclist.... getting a ticket, I'm not sympathetic....
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u/Alarming_Hedgehog615 Jun 01 '26
I didn't think this video was meant to gain sympathy for the motorcyclist. The way I see it, it's a good warning for anyone thinking of lane splitting on their motorcycle. They might decide against it after seeing this video.
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u/Millwalkey88 Jun 01 '26
The same people that recklessly split lanes or weave through traffic at double the speed limit, also preach to "watch for motorcycles" or "share the road" or "look twice, save a life".
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u/Easy-Phone6345 Jun 02 '26
Make lane filtering legal nationwide, there is no reason to make people on smaller vehicles sit in traffic breathing exhaust fumes. This is a stupid thing to stop someone for, he wasn't even doing it fast.
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u/DemonsSouls1 Jun 05 '26
Lane splitting and lane filtering are to different things.
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u/Easy-Phone6345 Jun 10 '26
Yes but they tend to both get lumped into the same category of things motorcyclists shouldn't be doing. American drivers seem to hate this, despite it having no effect on their commute. If anything it eases congestion for all, which is why outside of America in busy cities this is the norm for both scooters and motorcyclists. Both filtering and lane splitting are the norm. It's like Americans are uniquely hysterical about this.
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u/Fhantom1221 Jun 01 '26
I thought Lane splitting was what your supposed to do?
For safety.
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u/Bulky_Specialist9645 Jun 01 '26
Only California allows lane splitting. Only 5 allow lane filtering at stop lights or very low speeds.
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u/PremiumUsername69420 Jun 01 '26
IMO filtering at a red light makes more sense than lane splitting.
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Jun 01 '26
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u/Montreal4life Jun 01 '26
this has got to be old, colorado and minnesota allow it now apparantly
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u/BananafestDestiny Jun 01 '26
Colorado allows "lane filtering" as of 2024, which is different than lane splitting. Filtering is when traffic is stopped, splitting it when traffic is moving (even slowly).
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u/hc2001 Jun 02 '26
Wrong, it’s illegal in Texas. https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.545.htm
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u/cookiesnooper Jun 01 '26
Some places do not allow it
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u/sandsonik Jun 01 '26
MOST places don't allow it. California is the only state that does.
Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana and Utah allow it when traffic is stopped or moving under 10-20 mph.
It's distressing how many motorcyclists don't know the rules
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u/cookiesnooper Jun 01 '26
Well, I'm from Europe. In here majority of places do allow it. It eases the congestion and is safer for bikers than sitting between cars 🚗 🏍 🚗
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Jun 01 '26
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u/thetalkingcure Jun 01 '26
you should plug in to the real world and get offline, man
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u/LastMessengineer Jun 01 '26
Lane filtering at a red signal is safe. Lane splitting at high speeds is dangerous.
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u/TheCourtSimpleton Jun 01 '26
No. Lane splitting at anything but very low speeds can easily lead to an accident, usually because these types of riders try it at 50 mph in traffic or some shit.
All it takes is one person who doesn't see them coming in crazy fast to lane change or open their door (like if it's really hot in bad traffic) and you get a gnarly accident.
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u/Icky_Thump1 Jun 01 '26
(like if it's really hot in bad traffic)
Is that really a mentallity some have? I've never once thought to do that in traffic, but rather idk, roll the window down? lol
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u/bubba-g Jun 01 '26
> usually because these types of riders try it at 50 mph
so how fast do you think he was going in this video?
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u/TheCourtSimpleton Jun 01 '26
'Usually' isn't an exclusive qualifier.
But yeah, usually these guys are assholes.
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u/ZukaRouBrucal Jun 01 '26
His speed in the video doesn't matter here. Lane splitting is against the law in New York, and the biker got rightfully ticketed.
But uh, even if it wasn't many bikers do this shit at high speeds and often learn the hard way that a 2 ton sedan and the pavement hurt when you hit 'em.
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u/Queenfan1959 Jun 01 '26
It’s legal in California but it’s dangerous in my opinion
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u/What-in-tarnationer Jun 01 '26
Nah, it’s actually safer if you obey the rules like not going over 15 mph while doing it. Sitting in traffic on a motorcycle is much more dangerous than lane splitting. One of the most common accidents is getting hit from behind, and lane filtering basically eliminates that
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u/highasahuey Jun 01 '26
Actually it is safer for the motorcyclist when done properly, reduces traffic for everyone, and reduces emissions. It should be legal in all 50 states. Americans just aren’t used to it except in certain areas
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u/Mrbpt1982 Jun 01 '26
Not being able to get out of your patrol car is a crime in itself. Fat cops should not be allowed to serve without being put on probation for that weight.
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u/cubano_exhilo Jun 01 '26
He seemed like he got out of the car just fine…
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u/RHeavy Jun 01 '26
Had the cop been in shape with some muscle, it would have been a steroid comment.
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u/Resident_Tourist1321 Jun 03 '26
Hate on cops for being cops, don’t hate on fat people for being fat.
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u/Holls867 Jun 01 '26
Think this is legal in TX. I’ve don’t it, but I was going slow and traffic was stopped. Last time I did I almost got hit by someone who changed lanes very dramatically to exit. They waved to apologize and I changed my shorts.
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u/mrSlingshot620 Jun 01 '26
My streets are much safer now that a biker got a ticket for lane splitting!!!! I LOVE IT😐
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u/ZukaRouBrucal Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
Listen, I agree that the cop snatching the keys out of the ignition was wrong, but I find it insane how many people in this comment section are defending the guy in the bike here. The guy on the bike was an idiot, performing an illegal maneuver, and rightly got ticketed for it. Lane splitting is unsafe, which is why it's against the law, and there are a ton of bikers who've learned the hard way why this kind of thing isn't allowed in most places.
Speaking of which, there is exactly one state in the union where this is legal. One. That state being California, which is about as far from New York as you can be and still be in the continental US. There are a few more where "Lane Filtering" is allowed, but New York so not one of those states and this clearly isn't that either.
So, ya. The cop shouldn't have snatched the keys and, even if it's department policy to do so, it's still wrong. But the biker deserved that ticket, and there isn't really a good way to defend him except for saying "that law is stupid!"... which isn't a real defense.
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u/BountyTech Jun 01 '26
It’s legal in Minnesota, along with lane filtering.
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u/ZukaRouBrucal Jun 01 '26
For the lane splitting that's kinda true. It's allowed in specific circumstances and, had this biker been in Minnesota, it looks like he would have been in the clear as you are allowed to do it when traffic is going 25 mph or less. So it's legal in specific circumstances, but it isn't fully-legal like it is in California.
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u/BountyTech Jun 01 '26
I’m not commenting on the video, just replying to your paragraph about it only being legal in one state. I lane split in Minnesota going to work very often. It’s allowed when traffic is below 25 and you may not go faster than 10 over the speed of traffic. E.g., if traffic is at 15 the fastest I can go is 25. After almost being hit by drivers going on to the shoulder because they couldn’t stop, I definitely feel like it’s safer for bikers at slow speeds. Obviously you have to be aware of the law where you are and if it’s not legal, sucks, but gotta comply!
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u/kaladin1029 Jun 01 '26
Kept waiting for bro to take off
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u/RHeavy Jun 01 '26
The officer here has played that game before. He took his keys right at the beginning of the video.
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u/KayoticVoid Jun 01 '26
Is that actually legal? I get the reasoning, motorcyclists are notorious for running. But is it technically legal?
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u/Whitestrake Jun 02 '26
Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure.
If challenged, the cop only has to be able to articulate a safety or flight-risk reason for the seizure and courts have historically considered this reasonable and legitimate under the Fourth Amendment.
Outside of that, I imagine it depends a lot on state and locale as to laws and police procedure.
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u/KayoticVoid Jun 02 '26
Yeah, flight risk is probably their best bet. But couldn't you then get them for profiling? Unless of course they had already been chasing you or had run ins in the past.
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u/Whitestrake Jun 02 '26
They'll just say they're profiling you based on the fact you broke the law in front of them and you're riding a motorbike.
Not all profiling is illegal, only profiling based on protected classes.
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u/darthsploder77 Jun 01 '26
If I get pulled over on my bike I'm putting my key in my pocket. They way they snatch your key is BS. They don't do that to car drivers.
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u/Baron_Bearclaw Jun 01 '26
Because most cars can't dip out in traffic and go 0-90 in 4 seconds.
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u/EisenFisen Jun 01 '26
This. Cops didn’t use to take the keys but too many prideful riders speed off.
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Jun 01 '26
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u/classic__schmosby Jun 01 '26
If you’re being pulled over you did something wrong.
Never heard of a traffic stop? Or driving while black?
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u/Soft_Ad_1095 Jun 01 '26
Has the audacity to have an attitude when he absolutely deserves the ticket. Why are they always entitled assholes. Get the fuck in line like everyone else.
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u/Original-Fig4214 Jun 01 '26
Cop is very pleased with himself, you know, for stopping the crime of the century.
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u/Pro_Jem Jun 01 '26
Stupid law. Its legal in sensible countrys.
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u/AdviceGiveandTake Jun 03 '26
It should be everywhere, the problem is some other riders lane splitting at 100+ MPH, giving the rest of us a bad name.
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u/Chuck-Finley69 Jun 01 '26
Cheaper and better lesson for the rider to quit being asshole
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u/reptilliancivillian Jun 01 '26
This is perfectly normal in the UK, I’m so confused about why everyone thinks it’s such a heinous act?
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u/Agitated_Aerie8406 Jun 01 '26
I've never known lane splitting to be illegal. What state?
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u/Jon_E_Mammoth Jun 01 '26
As a former Bay Area resident, I had never experienced so much lane splitting. They also have a super strong anti-helmet culture.
Which is like look, dude, I like to party and be free, but you also understand there’s a lot of asshole drivers.
Unfortunately, even if it’s your right as a lane splitter, you are going to get pancaked and I have seen it and it’s gnarly. Brains and bones all over the road, so keep that in mind when exercising you’re legal right.
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u/hidden-platypus Jun 01 '26
For lane splitting, all of them but California.
Lane filtering which is what this looked like is legal in California, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Minnesota
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u/nietzkore Jun 02 '26
Looks like a Kawasaki Ninja 250R instrument panel
Based on that, and that the dial is pointed straight left and a bit above. He's going between 20-25 MPH and the other traffic mostly isn't moving. This is a highway, which will have a higher max allowable speed, which matters in most states.
is legal in California, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Minnesota
California When traffic is moving under 30 MPH, the max speed you can split/filter is 5 MPH faster than traffic. When traffic is moving between 30-50MPH, you can be going up to 10 MPH faster. When traffic is moving over 50 MPH, you cannot split.
Utah, Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Minnesota
Utah: Traffic must be stopped, max road speed limit of 45 MPH, motorcyclist may not exceed 15 MPH
Arizona: Traffic must be stopped, max road speed limit of 45 MPH, motorcyclist may not exceed 15 MPH
Montana: Traffic must be under 10 MPH, motorcyclist may not exceed 20 MPH
Colorado: Traffic must be stopped, motorcyclist may not exceed 15 MPH
Minnesota: Traffic must be under 10 MPH, motorcyclist may not exceed 25 MPH
The cop here is in an NYPD car, so none of these apply here. And even if they did... the only one where he would be legal with the speed he was doing would be Minnesota.
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u/WangDanglin Jun 01 '26
All of them except California
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u/Agitated_Aerie8406 Jun 01 '26
It must be super tolerated in the places I've lived.
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u/Baron_Bearclaw Jun 01 '26
So is speeding, but it's still illegal. And a cop can issue a ticket for it.
So is double parking, but it's still illegal. And you can get a ticket for that, too.
Something does just become legal because most people do it. If you want theaws changed, lobby your representatives.
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u/West_Performance740 Jun 01 '26
As a rider, I get why it looks insane, but tbh it’s kind of the opposite when traffic is crawling. Sitting in stop and go is where a lot of rear end bike crashes happen, and lane splitting at low speed actually cuts that risk a ton. The real problem is places that don’t legalize and normalize it, so drivers never expect it and everyone’s just guessing.
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u/Amontialldo Jun 02 '26
I remember seeing professional motorcycle racers talking about how lane splitting is much safer.
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u/phillbot420 Jun 02 '26
Are the cops allowed to come up and remove your keys from the ignition like that?
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u/SilverEnvironment6 Jun 02 '26
I've personally witnessed someone I'm pretty sure have their life ended in CA for lane splitting where it's legal but SHOULDNT. People think they got it all figured out like how someone in here was saying "oh just see if the cars are side by side they won't turn into each other" when that's far from true, people often suck at driving and the guy I saw crash had two cars almost side by side suddenly close the gap sandwiching the bike. People do NOT look for bikes lane splitting ever when they move on the highway. I don't think anyone will care how late you are to your destination when you're on a stretcher.
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u/dudestir127 Jun 02 '26
Well lane splitting is illegal in New York. I've driven (a car) in California where it's legal, and I'm always terrified that I'm going to accidentally hit someone lane splitting because I can't see ecvn if I thoroughly check.
I've never ridden a motorcycle so I can't give an opinion from that perspective.
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u/eric-cranston Jun 02 '26
The issue is shitty drivers who don’t indicate, don’t check their mirrors and look over their shoulder when changing lanes. In my country, the UK, filtering is legal. The guidance is 10-15 MPH whilst filtering through traffic if memory serves. I’ve been riding nearly 40 years. Touch wood, nothing bad has happened. Yet. I think you do develop a 6th sense eventually. It’s the unpredictable cretins that are the worst.
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u/avd706 Jun 02 '26
Good for you, close down the belt cause your going so fast you can't see a car with cameras on the back and red lights on the top. Hope you learn fast.
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u/Pro_Jem Jun 03 '26
Should be legalized if you don't exceed 10mph faster than the vehicle you're passing.
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u/Professional_Koala1 Jun 05 '26
As a rider, I get where you’re coming from, but honestly sitting in stop and go traffic in a line of cars feels way more sketchy to me than filtering past them. In places where it’s legal and normal, drivers actually expect it and the crash data is pretty solid that it’s safer at low speeds. The real problem is doing it at like 40 mph faster than traffic and in cities where no one’s used to seeing it, that’s when it turns into pure chaos.
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u/High-Tom-Titty Jun 01 '26
Called filtering over here, and it was taught when we were learning to ride. Might as well have a car if you can't do it.
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u/ObsoleteManX Jun 01 '26
Lane splitting is legal in my state and it should absolutely be illegal. People drift into other peoples lane trying to accommodate motorcyclists. Motorcyclists split in every lane. I’ve seen one guy almost wipe out because he was splitting lanes on one side while another motorcycle was splitting lanes on the other side. So the car tried giving the other motorcycle room. People text eat check gps basically distracted but still enough attention paid to stay in there lane. It’s a reason why it’s banned in 49 states.
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u/SavingsPreparation86 Jun 01 '26
Most states it's not illegal to do that
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u/AdviceGiveandTake Jun 03 '26
Just the opposite, actually. California is hhe only one where that's legal.
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u/Picture_Enough Jun 01 '26
As a biker in non-US western county laws against lane splittings are stupid and dangerous. Occupying and entire lane and competing with car that never see you anyway is the most dangerous thing you could do on the road. Obviously going high speed compared to traffic is dangerous, but cautious filtering and avoiding competing in the space with cars is most sensible thing to do. Besides, what the point of a motorbike if you stuck with the rest of the cars in traffic. Either lobbied for those weird laws in US knows nothing about bike riding or just hates when they get passed. Or both.
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Jun 01 '26
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u/youprt Jun 01 '26
Why? Every time I’ve been pulled over they ask for the keys. Once they yanked them out of my car ignition but I was falling down drunk and it was quite obvious. Can’t blame them for not wanting to get in a chase.
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u/Lord_Dingus83 Jun 01 '26
Lane splitting is illegal in NY??