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It is not illegal to do so in California. I do this on my bike (and I do it on my motorcycle). Does this piss off the VC camp? If so, why? I don't see why it is efficient to wait behind a long line of cars when I can pass them on my bike. Sure, they may pass me later, but I can't help that. To me, riding a bike means using advantages available to cars (e.g., use of lane when that is safest), motorcycles (e.g., lane splitting), and pedestrians (e.g., walking my bike on the sidewalk or in a crosswalk if that that is the fastest way to get where I'm going).
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Yes.
IMHO, few but the teminally anal retentive wouldn't.
But, then, this is the VC lunacy forum. And Forester-worshiping terminally anal retentive nutcases probably represent the majority of card-carrying VC-ists.
But, then, that's just a personal opinion.
I have no doubt that a true believer will assert that I'm wrong.
Zealotry knows no uncertainty.
Yeah, but how do you really feel?
Yeah, but how do you really feel?
Forester believing card-carrying VC-ists are the salt of the Earth. :D
Good job JRA, jumping right in to declare what others believe, rather than listening for their answer.
sometimes yes, sometimes no. its very situational.
but that still doesn't change the reality JRA alludes to-
VC holy book thumpers ARE full of zeal, pomp and circumstance about their riding style being the true faith of bicycling.
We've talked about this many times. Even Forester splits lanes.
The main differences seems to be in terms of when (in what circumstances) it is done, and where (how far forward, and positioned exactly where) you end up.
Many cyclists seem to always split lanes, it never even occurring to them to stop behind the last car in line, even if there was only one car stopped in front of them at the light. Most of them will stop off to the side even when there is no one else at the light yet, instead of stopping in the center of the lane, where, again, it wouldn't even occur for them to stop. When they do lane split to get to the front, they seem to pass everyone, including the first car in line, and stop in front of them, ahead of the stop line or in the crosswalk. They seem oblivious as to how this causes delay to those who got there first when the light turns green.
The vehicular cyclists I've seen and talked to seem to take a more measured approach, stopping behind the last car in line, at least when the line of cars is short enough that they know they won't miss a cycle if they wait there. If they do choose to split lanes to get ahead, they seem to stop before the first car. What i like to do is find a gap between the first few cars, always looking back and acknowledging the driver I'm stopping in front of. If some cyclist goes by and stops in front, I usually end up passing him very shortly after the light turns green. Being a few cars back means I can see the light turn green and be prepared to go as soon as the car in front of me starts moving, getting some draft advantage from it to boot, while the guy at the front hesitates before starting when the light turns green, then moves out of the way and gets no draft advantage.
sometimes yes, sometimes no. its very situational.
but that still doesn't change the reality JRA alludes to-
VC holy book thumpers ARE full of zeal, pomp and circumstance about their riding style being the true faith of bicycling.
:rolleyes:
Good job JRA, jumping right in to declare what others believe, rather than listening for their answer.
VC antagonists are mind readers, don't you know?
I do it very rarely. I figure, what's the point of stressing out about a few extra seconds spent on the road? That's a disease for car-people. I don't need it. I do filter occasionally when I'm in a particular hurry if there is enough space to do it safely. I don't want to be too close to the side of a car when the light turns green and I certainly don't want to be in someone's blind spot when the light turns green. I very much prefer to do it when there room to pass on the left and when I can find a spot to land in advance.
why do the "VC" stop behind the first car? is that some solidarity gesture to the drivers?
and why does the rider at the front of the pack 'supposedly' hesitate at the green?
what a bunch of conjecture.
Some riders, riding according the the vehicular rules of the road, have NO compelling need to stop a few cars back, head.
not every 'vehikular cyklist' rides just like you, head.
tonight, I split, but was on a big basket bike, so when the cruch got tight, I hopped onto the sidewalk, advanced past a bus, then smoothly curbed it back into the road, to make a right on red ever so gracefully. probably got ahead of three blocks of stopped traffic.
there are evangelical VC who insist in staying behind cars under the 'same roads same rules' slogan.
Well, I split lanes all the time :D
Actually, it really is situation-dependent, like a couple of other posters said. If there are like 3 cars in a line, then I take my place at the back. If there's a total traffic jam thing going on, I'll filter to the front and go through the gridlock at the green light.
I'm a CA resident, too, so I'm not breaking any laws here (yet).
Yep (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_zhU22kjpk&mode=user&search=)
sometimes yes, sometimes no. its very situational.
+1.
but that still doesn't change the reality JRA alludes to-
VC holy book thumpers ARE full of zeal, pomp and circumstance about their riding style being the true faith of bicycling.
yawn
Yep (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_zhU22kjpk&mode=user&search=)
A classic example of cycling being faster than motoring in gridlock (Allister, you've got bigger nutz than I do! I'd bypass some other way...)
A classic example of cycling being faster than motoring in gridlock (Allister, you've got bigger nutz than I do! I'd bypass some other way...)
There aren't really any alternative routes that are any less chocka with traffic. There's the footpath, which many cyclists do use, but where's the fun in that?
Really, it's less dangerous than you probably think.
yeah, you're obviously deficient ;) in traffic cycling ability, allister.
your video makes me think mr. head would be left in the dust, quaking in his cycling shoes, cursing your recument, if he had to follow your lead traffic splitting. (being that he's more of a weekend/club rider, I suspect head is likely a bit of a neophyte at that type of riding.)
yeah, you're obviously deficient ;) in traffic cycling ability, allister.
your video makes me think mr. head would be left in the dust, quaking in his cycling shoes, cursing your recument, if he had to follow your lead traffic splitting. (being that he's more of a weekend/club rider, I suspect head is likely a bit of a neophyte at that type of riding.)
I'm just waiting for him to tell me how I'm doing it wrong. :lol:
Allister, is that a recumbent you're riding? Just curious.
Oh, and in answer to the question you posed on your video, I would go, go, go! Definitely, in a situation like that :D
Filtering is for people who think the bike lane isn't really a lane.
..I bet that's helmet head's take on bike lanes, Diane. Although using a bike lane to move past traffic is simply use of preferred class lanes to advance on stopped traffic. Having seen pics of HH's commute, he gets to use bike lanes a lot. No real splitting going on in a bike lane :D
filtering lane splits, like allister's Youtube video, is an altogther different animal.
Yep (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_zhU22kjpk&mode=user&search=)
Please excuse me if anyone finds this offensive ...
Allister ... you must have a pair of coconuts in your pants.
How do you stay visible when weaving in and out of traffic on a bike so low? (how low are you?)
Does slower traffic stay on the left when you drive on the left-side of the road? I never thought about it. But I guess it makes sense.
-G
Allister, is that a recumbent you're riding? Just curious.
Yes
Oh, and in answer to the question you posed on your video, I would go, go, go! Definitely, in a situation like that :D
You'd be silly not to, really. :)
How do you stay visible when weaving in and out of traffic on a bike so low? (how low are you?)
I'm not that low. It's a dual 26" wheel highracer that puts me on about the same eye level as motorists. A bit lower than a regular bike, but not that much.
Does slower traffic stay on the left when you drive on the left-side of the road? I never thought about it. But I guess it makes sense.
Yeah. Basically, it's exactly the same as driving on the right, only opposite.
yeah, you're obviously deficient ;) in traffic cycling ability, allister.
I never said that. Frankly, Bekologist, I always thought of Allister as a comrade commuting cyclist.
You really have sunk low to try to turn me against Allister.
I'm just waiting for him to tell me how I'm doing it wrong. :lol:
How can I tell you you're doing it wrong, when I've never done it myself?
;)
I never said that. Frankly, Bekologist, I always thought of Allister as a comrade commuting cyclist.
You really have sunk low to try to turn me against Allister.
????????
dude, get a grip. allister knows how to split.
I made no alludes to your comments in this thread.
I couldn't see myself doing any lane splitting in my area of Allister's style, my luck, some good 'ol boy would open up his door to spit out some chew.
I never said that. Frankly, Bekologist, I always thought of Allister as a comrade commuting cyclist.
You really have sunk low to try to turn me against Allister.
Check your sarcasm detector, Pete. I think it may be malfunctioing. ;)
How can I tell you you're doing it wrong, when I've never done it myself?
;)
I was referring to Helmet Head there, and from what I've seen, lack of experience has never prevented him from commenting at length on a subject.
Are you still commuting on that Actionbent? How's it going?
I couldn't see myself doing any lane splitting in my area of Allister's style, my luck, some good 'ol boy would open up his door to spit out some chew.
LOL. Yeah, that is a risk, but in all the time I've been doing it, I've only ever had one yahoo try to open a door on me. The idiot messed up his timing though, and I had plenty of time to simply ride around it.
Here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAym5TPIOdk)another clip I shot this morning. I was following another rider that was lanesplitting. I almost never see anyone else doing this on my route, so it was kind of refreshing to see one today, especially one that kept up a reasonable speed.
Seeing an actual rider doing it gives a better perspective on how much room there is, and as you can see from his fairly relaxed riding style that it's really not all that scary.
I usually do not split lanes on my commute, waiting behind the last car in line at lights, however last week I was out on a ride and came to a place where there was a long backup because of a large number of cars wanting to make a left turn, and a short LTOL (2 lane rd). Traffic had backed up for a little over 1/2 mile behind the light. I was proceeding straight through the intersection.
I posted a crash report on the other side of A&S, but briefly, I was moving forward on the very wide shoulder to the right of the stopped cars, there was a small intersection and the line of cars had opened up a gap to allow a driver to merge in from my right. As I approached the intersection, I slowed (from the 12mph that I had been going), and since none of the cars were moving at all, the driver of the merging car waved me across in front of her - and I proceeded across the intersection, at which point a car coming from the opposite direction made a left turn through the gap between the cars to my left. I made a left turn to evade the left turning car, and sideswiped him. He did not stop.
Going back over the scene in my head, obviously I should have looked left before entering the intersection, my lack of attention there was a contributing factor, but I also ask myself if I should have been moving forward to the LEFT of the stopped cars, rather than in the wide shoulder to their right.
Here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAym5TPIOdk)another clip I shot this morning. I was following another rider that was lanesplitting. I almost never see anyone else doing this on my route, so it was kind of refreshing to see one today, especially one that kept up a reasonable speed.
Seeing an actual rider doing it gives a better perspective on how much room there is, and as you can see from his fairly relaxed riding style that it's really not all that scary.
For a short moment near the begining there was a third rider splitting.
Later you pass some motorcycles/scooters - do drivers of them ever split?
At 2:20 there was a fourth cyclist riding far left. Looked like no space for them. I wonder if they hopped on your splitting line.
Al
????????
dude, get a grip. allister knows how to split.
I made no alludes to your comments in this thread.
Bekologist,
Your posts are definitely not, "dolphin safe."
;)
I was referring to Helmet Head there, and from what I've seen, lack of experience has never prevented him from commenting at length on a subject.
:lol:
:eek: (sorry...it was genuinely funny...)
Allister, I have resolved my next recumbent will be a Bachetta, probably the Cafe.
Man, those vids are something wild.
H.H.--man, it's ok. Go ride your bike until you burn, then enjoy the best beverage your money can buy.
:beer:
For a short moment near the begining there was a third rider splitting.
He'd come out of a side street on the left and was heading for the footpath on the right. The majority of riders seem to use that path. It's not too bad as far as footpaths go - few peds and crossings - but I prefer the road.
Later you pass some motorcycles/scooters - do drivers of them ever split?
Sometimes. They're usually a bit slower, but they're usually a bit wider too.
At 2:20 there was a fourth cyclist riding far left. Looked like no space for them. I wonder if they hopped on your splitting line.
He didn't. I was tempted to say 'there's more room over here' as I passed, but who am I to tell anyone where to ride?
Going back over the scene in my head, obviously I should have looked left before entering the intersection, my lack of attention there was a contributing factor, but I also ask myself if I should have been moving forward to the LEFT of the stopped cars, rather than in the wide shoulder to their right.
I probably would've been riding exactly where you were. If there's room on the kerbside, that's where I go. Wherever you were riding, gaps in stopped traffic are a big red flag, and you need to look out for cars coming from either side, and be aware that cars entering lanes from the side tend to overhang the line unitl they straighten out. I probably would've ignored the wave-through, slowed or stopped, and waved them through. Let them hit the other car ;)
Chances are if you'd been splitting you'd have still hit the car, but maybe broadsided rather than sideswiped it. Who knows?
Don't beat yourself up over it, but do learn from it.
Wow, Allister. That's honest-to-goodness lane splitting. Not the lane-splitting lite that's really just riding in the bike lane to the intersection. Certain members of this forum fret about that as though it was akin to what you are doing!
I couldn't see myself doing any lane splitting in my area of Allister's style, my luck, some good 'ol boy would open up his door to spit out some chew.
:rolfmao:
:roflmao:
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