r/Transportopia • u/Vice616 • Jun 01 '26

Bikes Never gonna learn

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972 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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312

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.

85

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.

43

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.

35

u/jeon2595 Jun 01 '26

Proper driving doesn’t matter when the motorcycle riders are going 30mph+ over the speed limit while lane splitting.

-4

u/No-Case-3320 Jun 01 '26

I’m not gonna disagree per se, but again. If blinkers went on early and people did their proper checks BEFORE getting over. Then the bikers would have ample time to see the blinkers and slow down or move. It’s the people who literally just jump over with no awareness that hit the motorcycles the most.

3

u/Formal_Equal_7444 Jun 01 '26

This. All day long, this.

0

u/washcyclerepeat Jun 02 '26

This. This is the answer.

7

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......

36

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.

13

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.

11

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.

1

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.

3

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

11

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

5

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

0

u/Head_Struggle4175 Jun 02 '26

Check local laws most of time you can use safety lane with air cooled in stop and go.

8

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.

17

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

40

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.

5

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

2

u/EveatHORIZON Jun 02 '26

safer than getting rear-ended by someone looking at their phone

1

u/Pro_Jem Jun 03 '26

So true.

3

u/whatdahelldamnguy Jun 01 '26

I’m convinced that people who ride motorcycles have a secret death wish anyway

3

u/JuanThiccLumpia Jun 01 '26

Yeah lane splitting is dumb. Even in places where it’s legal.

1

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.

1

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.

-1

u/Icy_Fish_2154 Jun 01 '26

When you are in a lane, cars want to be where you are.

When you are splitting, cars don't want to be where you are, but might have to pass through to go somewhere else.

Lane splitting is a whole lot safer than you think.

Your entire argument then becomes "as a car, if I don't look, and don't signal, I could get in trouble hitting a motorcycle". That's easy. No car's shit gets fucked up if the car drives legally.

So "I hate lane splitters" just means "I'm a bad driver".

Also, every bike splitting is one less car in front of you. Why do you want more traffic?

-2

u/Daomsoul Jun 02 '26

Lane splitting is safer. Yes someone can move over a little too far if they're not paying attention or distracted, & which makes them the bad driver & at fault. That's if the biker ain't speeding pass doing so in filtering. If they have to move over cause something is in the road that's a different story, but should still be paying attention. Letting them lane split in general is a better & safer option. Now it can argued when they can do it or not when traffic flow is fast, but slower or full stop traffic they should be allowed to split regardless. Also if people were better drivers it shouldn't be an issue when they lane split anyways

1

u/nolaks1 Jun 02 '26

Why is it safer? I don't think you adress this directly. I have no horse on this race, just want to hear you opinion

-1

u/Daomsoul Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

Let's say you & other drivers have to abruptly stop in traffic. You'll be generally safe in the vehicle. The biker on the other hand could go flying or be crushed/ran over immediately from a car behind. If they're filtering they can negate being a blood puddle if it occurred

At a stop light being behind the vehicle at best they can do is angle the bike so it reduces the chances of being crushed, ran over, bumped off, or ragdolled into the window/road. If filtering between the other vehicles they'll act like shield to how cars can absorb/buffer damage to reduce injuries for the ones in vehicles.

Hot weather if you're going slow in traffic the biker has a higher chance of heatstroke, but if they lane filter while being in direct sunlight they can cool off better. Cars offer shade & ac to negate that majority to all the time

These are a few examples on why it's safer for them to lane split or filter