Moving to Arizona from California the 2 things I missed most were all the awesome canyon roads (I lived at the base of Angeles Crest Hwy) and lane sharing / splitting. I've now learned it is only legal in California. All the other states have laws prohibiting it though I know Washington has been trying to change the law. California law states you can only occupy one lane at a time and because a motorcycle is a single track vehicle it can only be in one lane. Other states say you can't be next to another vehicle in the same lane or stuff like that which prohibits lane sharing. If traffic really irks me, sometimes I'll do it anyway. What we need to do  ( I have) is email and bug the AMA and ABATE to push those issues instead of fighting helmet laws. Lane sharing is safer at intersections since you eliminate the potential of being rear ended and motorcyclists can flow through congestion which eases the overall traffic buildup.

Copy Nick and Stimpy on their remarks.

Lane splitting is quite normal in Europe, consider that up to a few years ago all MCs were aircooled anyway,
there's NO WAY an air cooled bike will sit still in stationary traffic, moving means survival at least in terms of engine mechanicals etc.

As for "Look out ahead" I learned one fundamental rule:

DRIVE BY LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR IN FRONT

In other words, if you can see what he sees, you will understand what's on his mind.

Also

NEVER EVER SPLIT BETWEEN TWO TRUCKS (especially the big rigs !!!)

STAY AWAY FROM Q-TIPS

STAY AWAY FROM WEEKEND TEENAGE DRIVERS

STAY AWAY FROM MINIVANS WITH SOCCER/HOCKEY/SPORTS TEAMS (Mom will be outta her mind)

And remember... your kneecaps are your bumpers, your collarbone is your roll bar, and if you're not convinced, YOUR A$$ IS GRASS !!!

I wonder when that was taken and if that guy is still alive..

I don't even like it when another biker is beside me in my lane

same for two lanes with a car, don't like being beside other vehicles

Never done the lane splitting, since as Kim says, it's illegal here and in OR.  Not that it stops some people.  More power to 'em, if they do it safely, but especially with my new wider bike, I'm not going to try it.  I just don't trust the bonehead drivers around her enough for them not to do something stupid when I'm squeezing through.

good thing he was a friend.

Southpaw wrote on 09/30/10 at 20:20:02:

Oooh, those people drive me closer to roadrage than anything!
I seriously fantasize about running them into the ditch.
(well, not seriously, but it's a fun way to kill time in traffic!)

Just because it is illegal in Wa you won't do it? Must be nice to not have to deal with Seattle metroplex (check a map, Seattle runs from milepost 206 to milepost 116) idiocy. I'll split it in town any chance I get. And if Granny Bluehair is following me, I'm taking to the sidewalk. They may not see a motorcycle as anything other than a targeting dot, but that fireplug will at least slow her down.

Speaking of lane ending crowding, try it in a heavy haul tractor trailer. I'll be in the correct spot a mile or two before the lane ends, watching the fools stack up in the one that tapers away to nothing. I get to where they have to merge in, and I straddle the shoulder line. I've had 2 cages and a cement mixer come around me and end up in the creek because, horror of horrors, god forbid you get stuck behind a semi...

I've had Bubbas, Achmeds, Pacos, Apus and Changs all open doors or throw something at me while I was splitting. I carry BIG knives or BIG spikes when I'm riding...taking off mirrors and popping their tires is good clean fun. They were just lucky I rarely carry anything more dangerous anymore...