I don't doubt that it can, and is done safely in most cases. I don't agree that it is a safety (providing safety for bikers) issue as much as it is a convenience issue. I've had lanes split between myself and other cars, and I am often startled by the bike doing the splitting (usually loud) and I see it as a nuisance. Fie for Cali I guess, but I'm glad it isn't legal here. Too many jackasses that can't navigate a full lane, let alone going in-between cars.

 

EGGS ACT LY!

 

This may sound cold, but if the story is accurate, I have no sympathy for the rider. If you do stupid and reckless things and die because of it, there's no one to blame but yourself. I do feel bad for his friends and family, though.

This guy won himself a Darwin Award. I'm just glad he didn't take anyone else with him.

Cheers!
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I agree lane splitting is safe when done correctly. Getting rear ended can happen easily when traffic first comes to a halt, but if the bike can go between stopped cars it is quite safe (well except for the doofus that opens their door to spit on the ground or empty their ashtray). When I was commuting down the good ol' 91 freeway between Corona and Orange, I only split lanes when traffic was not moving at all or maybe at 10-15mph. Above that, there wasn't much time saved by splitting and the bike is moving fast enough to keep it cool. Much less tensing of the neck.

 

Yep.....same here.

 

F the 91 freeway! Nothing but crappy drivers on that road. split lanes for a half mile or so. Not bad...definitely a new experience. I usually try to stay in the carpool lanes if Im trying to get somewhere on the interstates.

 

You will always have these kinds of accidents.Think about the inexperience on the roads today.

 

Lane splitting (we call it filtering) is legal here, at appropriate speeds. That is 10 -20mph above the speed ofslow or stationary traffic. On the Met (London) Police "Bike Safe" days (rider evaluation), filtering is actually part of the curriculum.

 

I split lanes here in No. Ca. on a daily basis when I commute on my bike.I have not seen any accidents involving lane splitters.What I do see is sportbike riders splitting lanes trvelingmuch faster faster than I do.
Yesterday I hada sportbike rider following me on a two lane roaduntil I had to come to a stop with about 15 cars in front of me waiting to make a left turn onto Hwy 156.The sprtbike rider decided to to pass everyone in the left lane.When he got up to the stop sign guess what?,there was a Hwy. Patrol car in line!On came the red lights and siren.The rider kept going.Never did seem him pulled over.I think he tried to out run the cop!

 

I think there are two factors at work here, not just the speed of the rider. Sure he was going way too fast for the conditions, which in itself is against the law and warrants a reckless driving charge, but he was also illegaly splitting lanes. VA does not allow lane splitting and therefore the drivers in VA don't expect to see a motorcycle driving between them and the car in the next lane. CA drivers on the other hand see it all the time on the freeways and therefore expect it at least a little.

I'd be willing to bet that he was cruising along and someone drifted in their lane to get a view of what was holding them up closing the gap between him and the car in the next lane...Instant accident.

Sorry to rant, but motorcyclists that don't obey even the basic rules of traffic really annoy me. If you want to be equal to the other vehicles on the road, obey the same laws.

I'm sorry, I have not sympathy for this guy, but I do have empathy for his family. He rode beyond the conditions of his environment and broke laws at the same time. Just because we are more maneuverable doesn't mean we can flaunt the laws of traffic flow.