To answer OP: it all depends on one's judgment. You need to observe your local traffic patterns, and ride the way that feels safe to you.


I thought they were riding very well, if a bit slow; there was plenty of space and I haven't noticed them being in any obvious danger. Notice that they were always faster than traffic.

My only doubt was at an intersection, which I thought they crossed between lanes - I generally try to merge in and take lane when crossing one. But a lot depends on the local conditions - I guess that felt safe to them.

In other words: if you thought this was stupid, you probably don't support lane splitting under any conditions - just say so.




It all depends on local conditions, but where I've ridden, there's always time to find a hole between cars and merge in when they accelerate. You really don't have to split lanes while being slower than traffic flowing around you, if that does not feel safe to you.

Yes: you can get in trouble when passing something long, like a truck towing a trailer, that will accelerate to a higher speed than yours. When it takes off, there might not be enough time for you to overtake it and merge in front of it (or it might seem too risky), and by the time it passes you, the vehicle behind it might be already tailgating it.
But it comes back to knowing local conditions. If there are a lot of trucks, buses, etc - then perhaps merge behind one when it's still stopped (and wait). If the traffic accelerates too quickly for you - sure, don't split lane. And if the traffic drives too fast after certain point, and you don't feel safe even taking lane - by all means, find another route.


Your example of splitting lane while climbing and turning does not look at all like the video we saw, right?


Others may know more though.