Lane Splitting For Motorcycles … Good Or Bad [VIDEO]

If you're a biker, you've done it. Whether it's legal or not!

You're on 10 and as you get to the spaghetti bowl, traffics moving at about a mile an hour.   What the heck? Just ride between the cars and you're on your way.

(At a safe rate of speed!  Not doing 70 and/or pulling a wheelie as you go.)

Lane splitting is a simple enough solution right?  Except it's illegal in pretty much every state. I think it should be allowed though.

For one thing, it prevents overheating.  Harleys (and certain other makes and models) are air cooled. No radiator, just wind for cooling.  So, if you're just sitting there, your engine is getting hotter and hotter and hotter.  (Not to mention your legs and butt on a pleasant 110 degree summer afternoon in El Paso!)

For another, you may be wearing a helmet and those things aren't air conditioned either.  (In winter, when you stop and sit, the visors start fogging up.)

Certain weather conditions suck to just sit in also.

These "stop and go traffic" situations are also where many rear end collisions occur. If you're on a bike sitting still and you (or the car behind) get rear ended you're doubly screwed. If the impact is hard enough, you're going to be a biker sandwich.  (and the cars in back and front of you are NOT going to be as soft as bread is!)

Anyway, California allows lane splitting (Unless you're a Marine!) but no other states do.The office of traffic safety condones lane splitting (sorta) if, according to them, it's done;

in a safe and prudent man n er, being cognizant of overall traffic speeds, speed differences, spacing and lane changing patterns of surrounding traffic. Riding too fast is one of the most common things that motorcyclists do to make lane splitting unsafe.”

The fact that even they "get it" still doesn't make it legal though.  Check out the video and then let me know what you think.  It's kinda long but, every now and then, you glimpse a hot chick.  That should help hold your attention! (Do I know you guys or what?)

I'll be the first to admit that, here in El Paso, we bikers are lucky the "cagers" let us use a lane period without killing us but ... in certain situations ... this should be legal!!

What do you think?