To lane split or not, that is the question?
Whitby, On, Canada
From time to time Canadian riders come up with this question suggesting that we need jurisdictional laws adjusted to allow for this movement through traffic. In many cities worldwide this is allowed (either legally or just ignored) to happen. In the vast majority of times the movement may have no consequences but when things do go wrong then it's usually the 'biker who comes off worse, physically and at the wrong end of the law.
What are your thoughts? Pro or against? Short concise replies are appreciated to assist data collection. You can include your Province, age, sex, riding experience and any other information that will give a clearer picture of how you come by your decision. Thank you, with this information perhaps we can come to a logical decision to forward to those who make our laws.
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99 months ago
@BrianLiljestrand Thank you for taking time to offer your opinion on lane splitting. I have passed the comments onto the group from which the question of a rider came to them. There have been many times - mostly in hot weather - where I too have had similar thoughts as you have expressed here but remained sitting behind other traffic. I believe we should console ourselves in these situations by remembering that drivers behind us stuck in traffic see us "with a way out" must surely think better of us as responsible road users. In the same way you know what they are thinking when they see 'a squid' zipping in and out of stopped traffic. Thank you for acting with responsibility an setting a great example!
99 months ago
I have had similar reactions from angry drivers honking or swerving trying to 'punish' me for riding at walking pace through the parking lot that is the QEW. Although i like the idea of slow,cautious, responsible lane splitting I realise that as a society we have to go at the pace of our slowest person. and they are intent on making everyone as miserable as they are.
101 months ago
@Raineyfan Thanks for taking the time to reply, hope there's more we can get. I too also agree with many of your thoughts and although it's aggravating to sit bunched in traffic when a move may be made I have seen the results in injured riders who have done so. I often wondered if any of them tried the same movement after they recovered.
101 months ago
@Lowry; My first initial reply would have been "HELL YEAH". But after giving it some thought, a disappointed "NO". On a very hot day last summer, I got stuck in a traffic jam caused by a major accident. We were moving a few feet at a time so, clutch in, clutch out non stop. The inside of my thighs were starting to burn from the engine heat (Yamaha R1). Then I fondly remembered my days growing up in Montreal where lane splitting was a national sport. Feeling extremely guilty for doing so, I started rolling along side the curb at no more than 15 km/hr. On a couple of occasions, car drivers that were actually paying attention to their rear view mirrors, made a point of moving closer to the curb to prevent me from passing them. It's as if they were telling themselves " if I can't go anywhere, neither can you". Absolutely retarded. Countless countries around the world allow two wheelers to this. As a rider, I much prefer to be the first off a red light and have the traffic in my rear view rather than being stuck in the middle of the pack where I may get cut off. If lane splitting was allowed here, the amount of education needed to let other road users know that this is legal and that they should pay particular attention, probably wouldn't work.
I'm afraid "lane splitting" is some story I'll tell my grand kids about. I'm a 55 year old male with 41 years experience living in Ontario.