Lane Splitting INTRO; The complete guide to Motorcycle Lane Sharing & Filtering - Pt 1. Pros vs Cons

[@nathanofftopic]

To all the motorcycle hates out there, just remember you have never been sitting in traffic because of too many motorcycles on the road.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Very, very true. People complain about the traffic without acknowledging that they in fact are the traffic.

[@theDayOfAccount]

Hah, I laughed out loud, True and funny.

[@jonwingO5187]

I have ridden for over 40 years, there have always been those who have pushed the envelope. There is a speed limit for lane splitting in all states that allow it. I'm just saying, there are plenty of ways to kill yourself just don't take others with you. If you want to go 100 mph plus do it on a closed track NOT public streets.

[@indyjones7550]

Remember your MC weight is 750 LB my truck weight is 8000 LB. Guess who wins.

[@eddieingalls534]

Lane splitting or filtering as it is called in the UK, is taught and expected by the police on their courses.They call it 'making progress'. However, we do not encourage high speed filtering and you can be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving if you do so. Many still do it at speed. I was told it is expected in stalled traffic (think of Formula 1, the safest position at the start is in P1 and then away and gone, the accidents tend to happen to those bunched up behind) but you slip back into line in slow moving traffic around 15-20 mph. Sensible, low speed filtering is indeed something you should do. I remember when visiting the States it was impossible for me not to do so - not least as your roads are so wonderfully wide, you could filter a London Double Decker bus on most of them. Incredible roads a plenty. I quickly found out drivers outside of California went nuts about me doing it, though.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks for sharing. At least two more states are considering legalizing it here statewide thankfully. I wouldn't want to live anywhere i have to suffer through traffic and such fumes all day long.

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

You present it very well. I've ridden in Mexico city, Manila, Paris, Berlin, and most of other European cities. I feel more confident to weave in and out of traffic or lane splitting as you call it in any of these other countries. Here in the States I just don't trust people in cars. Just my own personal experience. Thanks for recommending I check this out. It should be legal nation wide. Or at least a better public awareness of bikers on the roads.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks for watching. I too was surprised by the data. It's legal in Arizona as of last month, and more states are now looking into it.

[@kevinhutter9992]

Lane Filtering passed here in Colorado a few months ago & finally took effect August 7th. I might have been training the public for the past couple months. 😅

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

It will take years for drivers to get used to it. Safe riding.

[@just_another_Joe]

I’ve been lane filtering here in Colorado since it started. So far so good. I’ve seen videos of some folks “lane filtering” here in Colorado, but they aren’t doing so within the limits of the law (i.e., filtering while cars aren’t actually stopped). In order for the public and government to buy into this, we should all keep within the limits of the law. Remember, as it is currently, this is just a temporary allowance to be considered for permanency later. Let’s not screw this up, people. I can only hope that one day we may be allowed to do lane splitting here in Colorado. I’ve done that while visiting in California, and it’s a game-changer.

[@Magicinstalls]

My 2018, Gold Wing is one of the most comfortable stable lanes putting motorcycles I’ve ever owned

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

I couldn't agree with you more. I have two in my garage now.

[@ababbit7461]

The lane splitting law in CA is why I moved back here from NV... I lived for 5 years in the Reno area and saw a few rear ended motorcyclist. In fact, a guy on a Harley Electra Glide Ultra was hit on his bike one car behind me. His bike "FLEW" over the right rear corner of my Corvette. He, unfortunately, went through the windshield of the kid's car that hit him from behind. A cop had pulled out into traffic with his lights on and traffic came to a halt. The biker stopped, but the kid with his "cell phone eye" did not and hit the bikers going 45 mph. If the biker was in CA, he would have "slipped" between the cars when they all came to a sudden stop. The car behind me would have been rear ended, not the biker. But, because of Draconian state laws, the biker followed the law and was killed because of his obedience. I always split the lanes, at a stop, in NV... I never left my rear end exposed to "people with cell phones" not paying attention to the traffic....

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thank you for that - crazy story. I too have seen cars rear end other vehicles right next to me - I can't even imagine how a biker survives getting hit from behind even at 20mph. I feel so much safer between vehicles and well ahead of them when the light turns green. Thanks for sharing - Cali moto laws were a huge pull factor for me as well moving from Michigan. If you liked this video please stay tuned for part two where I discuss the tactics for safe lane splitting. Much appreciated.

[@ababbit7461]

@@pegasusmotorcycletours I will be watching. My cousin, who lives in San Francisco, was hit from behind while on his HD Road King. He was a "fake helmet" rider until that day. From then on, he rode with a full face helmet, which as you know is "not cool" with Harley wannabee 1%er riders. He ended up on the hood of the car behind him. And yes, the girl, who was texting, was only going about 20 mph when she hit him... He now rides with All the Gear, All the Time. I will watch for your next video on lane splitting. Thanks.

[@TheChromeRonin]

Number One reason why I lane split or filter: To keep out of the crush zone between cars and trucks. Here in NZ, there's no laws that specifically forbid Splitting and Filtering, it's an interpretation of the passing rules. We drive on the left, so pass on the right. In two lanes this means just being to the left of the median line. However, Kiwi drivers just love hugging the right side of their lane. This means that you very often, more than 70% of the time in heavy traffic, have to pass the car in front on their left side in their lane. As long as you aren't being a dick, the cops seem to let this slide. However, don't speed, make sure your reg and warrants are up to date, don't weave in and out around cars and the cops will let you on by. Also remember, that anything that happens is YOUR fault. That car changes lanes infront of you without indicating and you hit it? It's YOUR fault, you should have been going slow enough to swerve or stop. Caution on lanes where one lane is almost stopped, and one lane is moving much faster. Cars under pressure will pop out of their lane into any gap. Treat those gaps as extrememly dangerous. If a bike behind me is also filtering or splitting, but going much faster, don't block them, move over in a gap and let them by. Everyone has their own tolerance to risk. If Im filtering, and get stuck behind someone else filtering, it's OK, I'll wait for them to move. I'm sill going faster and making better progress than the poor cars around me.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Well put. Thank you for sharing. Would love to visit NZ.

[@Joe-fi4hv]

Cant say its dangerous in one sentence then safer in the next. Confuses the uninitiated. I dont split because its illegal in TX, but Lord knows it's so tempting sometimes.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks for your comment. I mean to say - yes it's dangerous (overall, as motorcycling in urban environments is in general) but it's safer than not having the option. I regret if that wasn't clear. Greetings from San Diego.

[@stanallen1072]

@@pegasusmotorcycletours I disagree. It is a different set of rules for a vehicle on the road. It's always more dangerous and should not be allowed. You are another motor vehicle on the road, you should act like it.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Different vehicles have different rules - semi trucks for example. Lets agree to disagree. @@stanallen1072

[@reptilesgamers00]

Great video! Main issue is: Up in motorcycle sales - Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha. Aka Japan Down in car sales - every unreliable american brand wanting more $$$ (Nobody wants a $20,000 Harley) Once car companies start sending money for bills to disappear, we you will hear a lot more on how dangerous lane splitting is. Specifically from those who don't own a motorcycle.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

That is a very interesting analysis - I think there is a ton of thrush in it. On the flip side, every crisis brings with it higher fuel costs, or at least higher costs of living, so folks might be taunting to motorcycles (like they do in Europe) - LEt's see what the future brings. Thanks for the comment! Nik

[@PIIII9]

Good content only starts at 7:20. Get to your point!

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Fair enough. Thanks for watching. Part two is all about how techniques.

[@kevinhutter9992]

I miss Lane Splitting in SoCal!

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

I love it. Thanks for watching.

[@AdrianM1k]

the reason why its dangerous because its the way the rider does it. Here in Malaysia lots of riders lane split at high speed. This is why here we have the highest accident rate involving motorcyclist and most riders don't even have proper skills cause we don't have a motorcycle school. If you ride recklessly sure its dangerous

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Excellent point. I've been there and was amazed at the road etiquette. I don't doubt the danger of riding in places like that. Thanks for watching.

[@thealternativevlog]

Adoption of lane splitting laws all across America can be sped up with help from the federal gov't in the same manner, right on red laws were spread in the 1970's. Also motorcycles are allowed in all HOV lanes because the federal gov't requires it, to be permitted, if states want to get federal transportation funding.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks so much for sharing that history. I see Arizona considered the law recently and it's bound to spread.

[@theDayOfAccount]

This should have more views.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thank you. I honestly get that alot :) The youtube algorithm is brutal though. Cheers. Nik

[@BodyRocker9]

What if you split lanes at a stop light but the light turns green before making it to the front. Do you slow down and merge or speed up while vehicles are moving to try and get to the front? Happens to me all the time.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks for the question. I typically speed up if I am a few cars away from the front. If it's getting hectic, I merge until the front line has matched speed and it become a bit more organized. What I always do though is pull up in Friday not of a car.on either side, I don't stay in the middle at the red light cause sometime.of.you.moss a shift or are distracted, they start moving on both sides while you are struggling to take off. And I always keep it in gear. Cheers.

[@tonymartinez7205]

Stay behind the car in front of you and pass when is safe.

[@lanetaylor3900]

So there are now 5 states in the US where lane filtering (only at lights, with certain other restrictions, not lane splitting through moving traffic) is legal. I have lived and ridden in 3 of them. When traffic starts moving, I always just merge into the moving traffic. I signal, shoulder check to make eye contact with the driver, and merge. I have only once had an issue with it when the driver thought he would move even close to the car in front, so I merged into the other lane where the driver gave me room. (Car) drivers being against lane filtering/splitting are shooting themselves in the proverbial foot over a 6 year old child's argument of "not fair". Lane filtering helps reduce traffic for them too.

[@RobotLegJim]

My prosthetist told me, “If I wanted to be a millionaire, I’d move my business to a lane-splitting state. There’s 5 times the work in those states.” “Let that sink in……”

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Sounds about right. Bit also, Southern California has a huge population, and a ton of sunny days for riding so at any time there are many more bikers on the road.

[@lanetaylor3900]

Your prosthetist is wrong. Per Capita, the states with the highest motorcycle accidents and fatalities are not states that allow filtering. We will have to wait a few years for the data to catch up, since some states only passed their laws recently, and accident statistics are usually about 3 years behind. Looking at fatalities and not just accidents (for some reason this statistic is much easier to find), CA is 27th, which means motorcycling is more dangerous in at least 26 other states, none of which allow lane filtering. AZ legalized it a few years ago and we don't have statistics for that year yet. UT legalized it in 2019, and they are down around 35th on the list, where this data would also be relevant. The lesson here? Look at the data.

[@jonwingO5187]

Foreign countries use more scooters than 1000RRs.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

I never liked the scooters. Feels so unsafe.

[@choppergirl]

Lane splitting is like playing Russian Roulette. You can spin, you can win, you can spin, you can win, you can spin, you can win. Keep on spinning though, and the mathematically probabilities are stacked way against you, you'll end up dying. All those motorcycles you're coming up on, you're totally invisible to them. YTsearch Lane Splitting gone wrong bad.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

But data shows its safer to lane split in city traffic. The rules are not over 30mph more than the cars, and never over the speed limit. I feel safe away from cars than being stuck behind them. And all of motorcy Ling in general is Russian roulette, wouldn't you agree? Thanks for the input.

[@gadgetsgeek3]

I think the concept has merit but infrastructure needs to change to accommodate the practice before it becomes commonplace. Lane specifically for MC should be added on one side or the other, or down the middle to keep larger vehicles out of that buffer zone. If you Split or Filter near me and hit me because you're trying to fit through a space you misjudged I have a serious problem with that, or a child that reaches out of the window just as you roll part where you weren't expected and loses its arm. Currently, the lanes as set up allow a car or truck to be in any part of the lane so it isa real risk. We all know many bikers will push the limits of the law, many already Split and Filter in states is illegal, this just may add many more without the skill to try to do it too. I just see it without a bike only half-lane somewhere on the road as a recipe for disaster. I say the states should build it then allow it, for the safety of the bikers and motoring public in general.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Excellent argument you raise there. States new to the practice ought to do exactly as you prescribe. Ita becoming a bit disorderly in CA and even I get mad at bikers that do it aggressively and all over the highway without order. Thanks for watching.

[@codyhannigan6322]

14 lanes each way... where is that?

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

A junction of two major freeways in Southern California

[@MyKidzFuture]

Too much talking not enough showing. Couldn’t get through it all.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks for the feedback. Part 2 is how to do it and shows the relevant clips more. This first part is what it is and why it's good.

[@jacobmullet290]

And you wonder why you get killed riding motorcycles doing stupid things like this

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

More riders get killed by slamming into the back of vehicles, or having others slam into them when stopped, than by lane splitting. In my first part of lane splitting video part 1 I talk about the common misconceptions and how much safer the data shows this is for riders. Please take a look, you'll be surprised.

[@bmkolb]

Lane splitting is not safe only at all. And cost after the motorcycles get caught in a accident

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

But the data shows it actually helps avoid accidents. Thanks for watching.

[@stanallen1072]

@@pegasusmotorcycletours No, the data does not show it helps avoid accidents. The data shows that it CAN be safe. Unfortunately, that isn't how it's used.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

@@stanallen1072 I feel much safer riding in states that allow for lane splitting, and the data explains why.

[@lanetaylor3900]

@@stanallen1072 this is a bad argument. We don't, as a rule, base laws on the assumption that people won't follow them. There are far more automobile drivers who break the law consistently (talking on cell phones, speeding, etc.). Motorcyclists who speed or otherwise break the lane filtering laws should be ticketed just as any other motorist. That doesn't mean we should allow it for those of us who follow the law and make things safer and better for all drivers.