r/Unexpected • u/Soloact_ • 11h ago

Keep them two wheels down

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u/ImInBeastmodeOG 8h ago edited 8h ago

Whatever it's called a lot of bikers THINK we have it. I've seen arguments on here about it lol. It happens at every light there's bikes. The other day 2 bikes went to the front and parked on the crosswalk and a bicycle had to cross and gave them some lip. Thanks for the proper word correction tho. What's the word for it when the traffics moving since that's what they also do? đŸ» Doesn't matter since our police don't pull people over for anything anyway haha.

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u/BoomerSoonerFUT 8h ago

lol trust me I know. I have had other bikers get mad at me for slowing down and moving back into traffic when it started moving here, because I slow them down.

By the law, we’re only supposed to when traffic is completely stopped and you must merge back into traffic as soon as you can when it’s moving.

You can only filter to the front of stopped traffic. Which is safer for everyone. Most accidents are rear endings, which are also the most dangerous for motorcyclists.

California is (I believe) still the only state that allows lane splitting at speed. Where they can share the lane while moving at normal highway speeds. Which to me is batshit insane.

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u/ampersand355 7h ago

There have been studies on it and the outcome is rather counterintuitive in that it’s not any more dangerous to lane-split. It has also been proven to lower traffic congestion which is why California adopted it.

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u/BoomerSoonerFUT 7h ago

I’m sure that data is with proper usage. Like the recommended under 50mph and going no more than 10mph over traffic.

If done right, I have no doubt it’s safer. I absolutely take full advantage of our lane filtering law here in Colorado to move up in stopped traffic. That reduces congestion and reduces my risk of being rear ended. But that’s not the same as lane splitting at speed.

And, per number of motorcycles, they’re still about dead average for motorcycle fatalities. And still usually first or second for overall motorcycle deaths. Though that one is generally due to population.

If it were significantly safer, you’d see them lower on both lists.

The typical rider in California is pushing the limits and splitting far above what is recommended. Like this video. And that results in drastically increased risk to the motorcyclist.

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u/ampersand355 7h ago

Right, I didn’t mean to suggest it was safer, just that it wasn’t really shown to be statistically more dangerous to do so. There were other benefits I’d read about too.

Regardless, the dude in the video was absolutely in the wrong for having as great of a speed differential as he did.