Is it lane splitting if ...
 

Is it "lane splitting" if one of the lanes is filled with parked cars ? :)


Thanks

l voted no, but it depends a lot on the available space. There's a parking lane by my house that is wide enough to safely ride in, so I do. But if you can't clear the door zone and still stay out of the driving lane, you need to ride in the driving lane.

A picture for refference
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...7&d=1283646297

Probably not, but I wouldn't do it. Getting doored is probably one of the worst things to get hit by and going there seems like you're begging for it.

Absolutely begging for it.

Sorry but I'm perplexed.

It's my first posting in this forum and fwiw, I commuted a major northern city for 22 years, 4 seasons if that gives me any street cred.

Where, in the picture, are you going to ride if not where the arrow indicates? Anything that is stationary or slow moving gets passed on the left. n'est ce pas? Doors are a fact of bike life. You can take the full lane and follow cars if you want but personally I feel more in control of my destiny watching for doors rather than trusting traffic to not run over me from behind. Also you'll never get anywhere quickly by acting like a car. What's the point?

Maybe there's a new commuting philosophy that requires a borg-like adherence to arbitrary, predictable and uniform behavior but it's not for me. I've been door-free for over 30 years of riding. It's a jungle out there so keep those brakes dialed in.

The times they are a changin'. Thirty years ago I didn't worry too much about being doored and would not hesitate to ride where the arrow in the picture indicates. I don't know why, but the carcissits are opening their doors without looking much more often now than I have ever seen in the past. Maybe it is because the cars don't stay parked in one place as long now as in years past, or maybe it is because our nation is getting fatter and less able to look around, but I NEVER ride in the door zone anymore. I've seen too many doors open unexpectedly as I ride by to ever put myself in their path.

It is also my experience that the driver who will run you over in cold blood when you take the lane is a rare bird indeed. However, most drivers will buzz you if you share a lane that is too narrow to share and a noticeable percentage of the buzzers will make contact if you don't take action to avoid it. Thus, if you ride near the door zone you are likely to be buzzed into it, which means focusing on both the passing cars and the parked ones. No thanks. I'd rather anger a few impatient drivers.+

^^^^^^^
+1!
I have become much less "freeform" with my commuting.
Boring and predictable are sometimes life preserving.
Taking the lane will also reduce the likelihood of being right hooked.

Me, I will take as much lane as I need, to be safe from parked cars (doors), and moving cars in the only travel lane.

If the movers don't give me enuf room, I take it all away from them. If they are making an effort, so do I.

First, and answer; Yes. Then, two thoughts: 1. There is nothing wrong with lane splitting. 2. I agree with those who say that the arrow is in a good riding spot, It is just outside of door reach yet provides room to share the lane. However, I would still keep an eye on the cars as I am passing to be ready for erratic movement.

If I understand the OP, he wants to know if passing between parked cars and the travel lane is ok. I think it is, but it's really asking to be doored. If traffic is slow or stopped, people waiting to get out of their parked cars will be much more likely to open them carelessly. I say look where motorists drive near parked cars and go there. No reason to give yourself less room than they do.

I'd rather take the lane than wind up like this poor fella:
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-05-2...ransit-cyclist

I've installed a battering ram on the front of my MTB, just in case someone opens a door in my path...

I answered no, because to me, lane splitting is riding between two rows of moving (or stuck in traffic) cars. I do pass on the right if traffic is slower than me, although, when there are parked cars, i'll take the lane with the cars as long as they're moving, and if I do feel the need to pass them with parked cars on the right, i'll only do it if I can go slow enough to stop on a dime if a door opens, which would only be worth it if traffic is almost completely stopped in that situation.

to me, lane-splitting is when you make your own lane. so i voted yes. this is also how i ride a good portion of my commute..

No, ride in the Right tire track of the Red Van.

It's not lane splitting if you're not riding between two lanes. A parking area is not a lane.

That said, in the photo I wouldn't be riding where the arrow is. It's too close to the doors.

No, unless you start passing traffic on the right.

The only time I've been doored was in stopped traffic - passenger just decided to get out and walk the rest of the way I guess... practically rode right into her lap.

I'm a lot smarter about stupid people now.

thats actually a couple blocks from my house.. sometimes i pass by seeing a white bicycle locked up to a stop sign and i'm guessing its for him..

That looks like a slow, main-streety stretch of road with lots of stop lights. I'd just take the lane. What's the posted speed limit - 25?

Looks like a door zone to me... *wam!*... all it takes.

I'd take the lane (the street appears to be a 20-30mph type zone) and actively try to find a better route on nearby roads.