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Why split city traffic when moving?

Janna said:
So then, based on all the "car hit me while I was minding my own business in my own lane" threads or "I went down through my own damn fault in a solo vehicle crash" threads, I should then stop riding completely?

If you split, you might get hit. If you don't, you might get hit. If you don't get hit, you might fall down go boom anyway.
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Do you split 100% of the time?
 
Hey, I split more than I don't.

I just say "choose your battles." If you're gonna split, you might as well do it meaningfully and with purpose, instead of just being the first one at every red light.

Just 'cause you're not splitting 100% of the time, doesn't mean you're not watching your mirrors either.

Thanks for some of the more honest responses. I understand "sometimes you feel like a nut", for sure. I'm sure some people watch me and think "wtf is he doing." On the flip side of that, I see others splitting like they're on crack, not really going any where faster than if they'd just split up to the red light, and I think "wtf, does he have a bee in his helmet or something?" Seeing people do it sometimes reminds me of how idiotic cagers look on the freeway when they're switching lanes all over the place, only to be slower than if they just chilled in the same lane.
 
I split because the longer you stay behind a car...the more likely he'll do something asinine.

Not to mention on my ride to work from the Sunset, cars will (not always really on purpose, but just because they don't really think when they drive) crowd the lane so as to make splitting impossible. I guarantee you it is faster to split in SF than not during rush hour.
 
Deciding when to split and when not to is like making any other decision while riding. It's about deciding whether conditions are safe.

Dudes/dudettes split through slow moving traffic at 40 mph. That's their decision, but to me that seems stupid. I've been passed in the cage by people splitting by me at 80 mph. Also seems stupid.

There is no question in my mind that it is safer to split in stop and go traffic than to sit there with a big target on my back waiting for an SUV to be crammed up my tailpipe.

But then, I'm a conservative rider.

I can EASILY shave off 30 minutes from a bad day on 880/80 by riding my bike. The day that tanker caught on fire on 880 it took some people 2-3 hrs to go 30 miles. I got to work (30 mi away) about 10 minutes later than normal. All splitting.

To split or not to split? Up to the rider...
 
corrupt said:
Sometimes I see people splitting through traffic on city streets, faster than the 30-40 mph flow of traffic. They're not just threading through tight traffic, but actually splitting while everyone is going 30-40 mph. I never understood this
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You can't stop the process of evolution: Darwin's work is never done.
 
corrupt said:
Sometimes I see people splitting through traffic on city streets, faster than the 30-40 mph flow of traffic. They're not just threading through tight traffic, but actually splitting while everyone is going 30-40 mph. I never understood this, because they've got to realize they'll just hit a stop light, where they can then just filter up to the front to the red light.

I've had people split by me in moving traffic, and 100% of the time, they'll hit a red light, and I'll split up to them at the same intersection. Or when the road opens up, they'll be maybe 100 yards ahead. Is it really worth the risk?

So I'm wondering why? Just excited? Does anyone do this here? Do they want me to look at their ass? Should I yell, "yeah, you do have a nice ass, brah!"
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I have IBS. Sometimes I gotta get home quick. :)
 
riding a motorcycle is dangerous as it is. lane splitting or just riding in traffic is even more dangerous. you can be rear ended while idle in traffic. its a choice. what you described is dangerous, illegal and not really necessary but a choice none the less.

i lane split (if I'm in a hurry) if traffic is moving less than 25 mph on city streets, 40 mph on hwy
 
atoyf said:
i dont like to sit in traffic period, i like to keep moving
i dont want to get accidently tapped from behind
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It's safer to a point.. ???

It never fails.. I mean never fails..

If you've ever had cars 360ing behind you.. because they didn't pay attention and slammed on the brakes and spun out and hit the guard rail where you were a 10th of a second before that.. (happened more than once to me.)

You'll share, split...and fucking FLY through cars the second your 6th sense tells you to.

when cars get on the brakes.. I get on the gas..
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Exactly. Safer IMHO to be going at least slightly faster than the flow. Better to have things coming at you from the front as opposed to from behind.
 
I split city traffic. Been rear-ended a few times when I get lazy and stay in a lane... just nudges on the rear tire so far. City drivers are idiots. Between the lanes is about the safest spot I've found on city streets, unless you're into riding on sidewalks... which I am not.

Split if you're comfortable. Don't if you're not. The less city splitters, the less people in my way :twofinger
 
I split whenever I can because I feel much safer seeing whats ahead and to the side of me than being surrounded by cars with nowhere to go. Whether its safer or not, its all a perception thing because hell lets face it, motorcycles are dangerous.

Most important part is that you ride however YOU feel safe...
 
+1 on split b/c i want to. Ride your ride.

Corrupt if you want to sit in traffic fine. I'll see you in my mirror stuck at the light.
 
Cuz rational or not, it's not about how efficiently I arrive at my destination, but the delta in speed between me and everyone else at any point during my journey.
 
dwarf said:
If traffic isn't going the speed limit or am at a red light I'll share lanes. I love to share lanes every chance I get but there's no reason, or benefit to sharing when traffic is already moving the speed limit, overtaking a car is going to be speeding.
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+1
 
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