lane splitting -- when to and when not to ?? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

12-01-2004, 12:46 PM

Hi,

I was riding on Nevada Hwy 93 East (towards Hoover Dam). At about 4
miles before the dam, the traffic going East started to backup. This
road had one lane in each direction. Since, this was on Black Friday -
lots of visitors to the dam and beyond. I had two options:

1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.

since i was also a visitor in Vegas, I was unaware of the any bicycle
laws that prohibit lane splitting - but i am sure that some of the
cagers would not have appreciated me doing it. but hey, i was riding
slow - whilst you (cagers) were doing 65/70 mph until this point

On this situation, I rode on along the shoulder (Option #2) - and here
is my justification:

it was about 3pm, so if i were to follow all the cars, it would be dark
during my return

--- so i decided to continue riding on the shoulder
and overtake most - i was slow and cautious. When there were climbs
where, i was as slow as the car traffic i would not overtake anyone -
just climb slowly. also, partly my fault also about not planning to take
a headlight on the ride. I just had two tail light only with me.

when i was nearing the bridge, the cars were even slow, i was a little
worried about overtaking the cars on the right, so i went on and
overtook the last few cars near the bridge on their left - i called out
'Passing on your left' like you would normally - some had windows rolled
down, some didn't.

In such a situation what would be a good samaritan way of riding and
what is the practicable method ?

At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.

riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
splitting' ??

your comments/concerns/criticism welcome,
+ravi

12-01-2004, 01:25 PM

On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 12:46:46 -0800, Ravi <toravir@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I was riding on Nevada Hwy 93 East (towards Hoover Dam). At about 4
>miles before the dam, the traffic going East started to backup. This
>road had one lane in each direction. Since, this was on Black Friday -
>lots of visitors to the dam and beyond. I had two options:
>
>1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
>2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.
>
>since i was also a visitor in Vegas, I was unaware of the any bicycle
>laws that prohibit lane splitting - but i am sure that some of the
>cagers would not have appreciated me doing it. but hey, i was riding
>slow - whilst you (cagers) were doing 65/70 mph until this point

>
>On this situation, I rode on along the shoulder (Option #2) - and here
>is my justification:
>
>it was about 3pm, so if i were to follow all the cars, it would be dark
>during my return

--- so i decided to continue riding on the shoulder
>and overtake most - i was slow and cautious. When there were climbs
>where, i was as slow as the car traffic i would not overtake anyone -
>just climb slowly. also, partly my fault also about not planning to take
>a headlight on the ride. I just had two tail light only with me.
>
>when i was nearing the bridge, the cars were even slow, i was a little
>worried about overtaking the cars on the right, so i went on and
>overtook the last few cars near the bridge on their left - i called out
>'Passing on your left' like you would normally - some had windows rolled
>down, some didn't.
>
>In such a situation what would be a good samaritan way of riding and
>what is the practicable method ?
>
>At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
>would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
>situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.
>
>riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
>splitting' ??
>
>your comments/concerns/criticism welcome,
>+ravi

????

I'm not a car, I'm a bike. Both vehicles but not the same. If I can
safely pass cars I will always do so.

12-01-2004, 01:25 PM

On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 12:46:46 -0800, Ravi <toravir@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I was riding on Nevada Hwy 93 East (towards Hoover Dam). At about 4
>miles before the dam, the traffic going East started to backup. This
>road had one lane in each direction. Since, this was on Black Friday -
>lots of visitors to the dam and beyond. I had two options:
>
>1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
>2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.
>
>since i was also a visitor in Vegas, I was unaware of the any bicycle
>laws that prohibit lane splitting - but i am sure that some of the
>cagers would not have appreciated me doing it. but hey, i was riding
>slow - whilst you (cagers) were doing 65/70 mph until this point

>
>On this situation, I rode on along the shoulder (Option #2) - and here
>is my justification:
>
>it was about 3pm, so if i were to follow all the cars, it would be dark
>during my return

--- so i decided to continue riding on the shoulder
>and overtake most - i was slow and cautious. When there were climbs
>where, i was as slow as the car traffic i would not overtake anyone -
>just climb slowly. also, partly my fault also about not planning to take
>a headlight on the ride. I just had two tail light only with me.
>
>when i was nearing the bridge, the cars were even slow, i was a little
>worried about overtaking the cars on the right, so i went on and
>overtook the last few cars near the bridge on their left - i called out
>'Passing on your left' like you would normally - some had windows rolled
>down, some didn't.
>
>In such a situation what would be a good samaritan way of riding and
>what is the practicable method ?
>
>At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
>would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
>situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.
>
>riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
>splitting' ??
>
>your comments/concerns/criticism welcome,
>+ravi

????

I'm not a car, I'm a bike. Both vehicles but not the same. If I can
safely pass cars I will always do so.

12-01-2004, 01:25 PM

On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 12:46:46 -0800, Ravi <toravir@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I was riding on Nevada Hwy 93 East (towards Hoover Dam). At about 4
>miles before the dam, the traffic going East started to backup. This
>road had one lane in each direction. Since, this was on Black Friday -
>lots of visitors to the dam and beyond. I had two options:
>
>1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
>2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.
>
>since i was also a visitor in Vegas, I was unaware of the any bicycle
>laws that prohibit lane splitting - but i am sure that some of the
>cagers would not have appreciated me doing it. but hey, i was riding
>slow - whilst you (cagers) were doing 65/70 mph until this point

>
>On this situation, I rode on along the shoulder (Option #2) - and here
>is my justification:
>
>it was about 3pm, so if i were to follow all the cars, it would be dark
>during my return

--- so i decided to continue riding on the shoulder
>and overtake most - i was slow and cautious. When there were climbs
>where, i was as slow as the car traffic i would not overtake anyone -
>just climb slowly. also, partly my fault also about not planning to take
>a headlight on the ride. I just had two tail light only with me.
>
>when i was nearing the bridge, the cars were even slow, i was a little
>worried about overtaking the cars on the right, so i went on and
>overtook the last few cars near the bridge on their left - i called out
>'Passing on your left' like you would normally - some had windows rolled
>down, some didn't.
>
>In such a situation what would be a good samaritan way of riding and
>what is the practicable method ?
>
>At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
>would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
>situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.
>
>riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
>splitting' ??
>
>your comments/concerns/criticism welcome,
>+ravi

????

I'm not a car, I'm a bike. Both vehicles but not the same. If I can
safely pass cars I will always do so.

12-01-2004, 01:25 PM

On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 12:46:46 -0800, Ravi <toravir@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I was riding on Nevada Hwy 93 East (towards Hoover Dam). At about 4
>miles before the dam, the traffic going East started to backup. This
>road had one lane in each direction. Since, this was on Black Friday -
>lots of visitors to the dam and beyond. I had two options:
>
>1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
>2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.
>
>since i was also a visitor in Vegas, I was unaware of the any bicycle
>laws that prohibit lane splitting - but i am sure that some of the
>cagers would not have appreciated me doing it. but hey, i was riding
>slow - whilst you (cagers) were doing 65/70 mph until this point

>
>On this situation, I rode on along the shoulder (Option #2) - and here
>is my justification:
>
>it was about 3pm, so if i were to follow all the cars, it would be dark
>during my return

--- so i decided to continue riding on the shoulder
>and overtake most - i was slow and cautious. When there were climbs
>where, i was as slow as the car traffic i would not overtake anyone -
>just climb slowly. also, partly my fault also about not planning to take
>a headlight on the ride. I just had two tail light only with me.
>
>when i was nearing the bridge, the cars were even slow, i was a little
>worried about overtaking the cars on the right, so i went on and
>overtook the last few cars near the bridge on their left - i called out
>'Passing on your left' like you would normally - some had windows rolled
>down, some didn't.
>
>In such a situation what would be a good samaritan way of riding and
>what is the practicable method ?
>
>At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
>would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
>situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.
>
>riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
>splitting' ??
>
>your comments/concerns/criticism welcome,
>+ravi

????

I'm not a car, I'm a bike. Both vehicles but not the same. If I can
safely pass cars I will always do so.

12-01-2004, 01:36 PM

Ravi <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> 1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
> 2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.

for me it depends entirely on the probability of those cars having to pass
me immediately afterwards (ie, a traffic light -- i would never filter up
to the light when the cars will be passing me immediately after the light
turns green anyway). applies not just at a light ..

> At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
> would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
> situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.

but yep.. i say go for it.

> riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
> splitting' ??

it is for a motorcycle. so yep.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

12-01-2004, 01:36 PM

Ravi <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> 1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
> 2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.

for me it depends entirely on the probability of those cars having to pass
me immediately afterwards (ie, a traffic light -- i would never filter up
to the light when the cars will be passing me immediately after the light
turns green anyway). applies not just at a light ..

> At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
> would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
> situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.

but yep.. i say go for it.

> riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
> splitting' ??

it is for a motorcycle. so yep.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

12-01-2004, 01:36 PM

Ravi <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> 1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
> 2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.

for me it depends entirely on the probability of those cars having to pass
me immediately afterwards (ie, a traffic light -- i would never filter up
to the light when the cars will be passing me immediately after the light
turns green anyway). applies not just at a light ..

> At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
> would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
> situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.

but yep.. i say go for it.

> riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
> splitting' ??

it is for a motorcycle. so yep.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

12-01-2004, 01:36 PM

Ravi <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> 1. Wait behind the cars and go when the cars do at the car's pace.
> 2. Continue riding on the shoulder and so would overtake lots of cars.

for me it depends entirely on the probability of those cars having to pass
me immediately afterwards (ie, a traffic light -- i would never filter up
to the light when the cars will be passing me immediately after the light
turns green anyway). applies not just at a light ..

> At traffic lights, i do not overtake the cars and go to the front. I
> would wait behind the last car and move on just like a vehicle, but this
> situation is a little different, because the backup was almost 3/4 miles.

but yep.. i say go for it.

> riding on the shoulder when the traffic is backed is it called 'lane
> splitting' ??

it is for a motorcycle. so yep.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

12-01-2004, 02:15 PM

"Ravi" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1101934273.870798@sj-nntpcache-3...

> On this situation, I rode on along the shoulder (Option #2) - and here is
> my justification:

Riding on the shoulder is not lane spitting. The shoulder is part of the
roadway, and the law is specific that bikes should be as far to the right of
the roadway as practicable.

You just need to be careful about (a) getting doored by passengers when
traffic has completely stopped and (b) getting hit by drivers who decide to
drive on the shoulder.

RichC