Modern Vespa

I just saw this on TV. It's good that the state is getting the word out to all drivers.

Cool!

I split every day in my commute, and I have very little problem. Like the video points out, you really need to only be going 5 - 10 mph faster than the traffic; that gives you time enough to assess every car driver's intentions and get their attention.

I also drive a very quiet bike and manage to ride without revving needlessly, so I don't seem to startle anyone.

Good for the CHP for posting this. Now if we could just get it out to the other 49...

Cheers!

John

Nice vid...is that Jon or Ponch?

It was Poncherello.

I dig it!

I am a super cautious lane splitter so have avoided cars suddenly lane changing. Dogs and cigarettes are not my friends though! I also understand the law has changed in that you cannot go over 30 miles per hour splitting...or a certain number of miles over the speed of traffic. Not sure, since I don't split except in nearly stopped traffic. Either way, this could really increase safety.

I also have to remember to check for motorcycles coming from behind when I pull in the lanes to begin my split...honestly it is not a a natural instinct to do that.

You are dating yourself, Mr. Boulty.

To the best of my knowledge there is no law to change as the subject is not mentioned at all in CA law. The CHP has always allowed it as long as they did not view it as reckless "riding" and now they have come out with guidelines of how to do it responsibly and how not to do it if you don't want a ticket or possibly get hurt. Even though they are just guidelines I'm glad they are taking steps to educate people.

Reruns on NZ TV...I'm only 30 something....honest

I was horrified the first time I saw lane splitting in CA.
Our training teaches us to keep a safety buffer between us and other vehicles, and lane splitting is the exact opposite of this.

Since I ride my scooter for pleasure, I am not pressed for time to get from point A-to-B.
If I rode my scooter for business commute, and it helped me to shave off some time in traffic....I would be an expert at the practice

Not quite opposite, it gives you an almost infinitely large buffer ahead and behind you while reducing the buffer to the sides by 5/6. In heavy traffic a bike is already at risk of cars switching lanes into the gap left by the bike as well as the risk of being rear ended. The gap between the lanes may be a safer place to be in these conditions.

Not saying anyone should/must split lanes, just that splitting is not always a net increase in risk.

I avoid lane splitting unless I am really rushed. I've bonked a few sideview mirrors in my day riding a MC with a faring. I think DMV should put questions in their drivers examinations/renewals to remind people.

I completely agree it can be safer in heavy/stopped traffic. Getting to the front of the line at traffic lights is the best as you can sprint ahead of all the mess behind you in addition to the aforementioned risk of being rear ended.

In many cases cars are really cooperative and move over a little to let you through. I think they either realize we actually ease congestion or they are riders trapped in the cage for the day. For me lane splitting safety seriously breaks down on the freeway because cars tend to drift around in their lanes without looking for a little narrow scooter/mc coming behind them 2x the speed of traffic. I only do it if it is completely gridlocked.

This weekend I heard a public service announcement from the CHP on the radio about lanesplitting! The message was something like "Many drivers don't realize that lane splitting by motorcycles is legal in California. Motorcyclists need to do it safely, and motorists need to look out for motorcycles. Search for "lane splitting" on the CHP web site for more information."

Pretty cool!

-Dan

i heard one a couple days ago as well.

I was lane splitting with the Moto Guzzi on the 405 recently during a major traffic jam and saw another bike coming up behind me really fast and pulled over with the cars in the left lane to let him by. As he passed he gave a wave of thanks and then I saw he had a baseball bat sticking out the end of his backpack and was wondering if he used it on the mirrors of cars that deliberately blocked him...

Is it me, or do the mirrors stick out farther on a Vespa than on a motorcycle? I wondered about that, since it seems motorcyclists' width is equal to their shoulders. Doesn't seem so for us.

Awareness is good!!

It is much easier to lane split with the Moto Guzzi than with the LX150. The mirrors on the LX150 stick out further on each side and are the exact same height as mirrors on most SUV's, vans, and pickups. It is the large vehicles like those with their mirrors that sometimes stop me from getting through to the front while at a stoplight. Wish I had mirror stalks with a hinge that could fold backwards and flat and then raise them again when I get to the front.

Do the mirrors stick out the same on a 2013 GTS 300?

I lane split all the time with a full on cruiser with hard bags. Been doing this for years and I have had only one car try to squish me. I hit my brakes and he hit the other car. But I've had more cars than I can remember not brake in time so if I was directly behind the car in front of my bike, I would have had my bike shorted by a foot or two. Lane splitting saves lives.

ROD

The GTS 250 lane splits just fine too. You do have to watch for the mirrors some times..

Scared me when i was in CA recently. Sitting with my window down and a MC came whizzing by. I'm allowed to ride on the side of the road here(where we have a side) or in the bike lanes. People aren't as nice as they should be. Going down the coast a few miles from here there's a beach that EVERY tourist has to stop and see the turtles. Really, because the turtles are everywhere not just that beach. Problem is the parking is on the opposite side of the road from the beach. It sometimes backs traffic up for an hour. A few times lately i've had people run me off the side just because i could go and they can't. Odd behavior tho because people really do let one another go etc. However not on that stretch of road. I worry about my mirrors there to. They do stick out quite far.

I lane split on the scooter and on my heavy cruiser when space permits. I don't do it when traffic is moving and I do keep it to about 5-10mph. Never had an issue.

I hate California for many of its stupid laws, but this is one thing the Golden State got right.

These should fit your scoot as well as the GTS; I've enjoyed mine very much.

http://www.scooterwest.com/items/?_pageCCS=t#page=/item_details/NOS-Pair-of-TOYO-Japanese-Sport-Styled-Mirrors-for-Modern-Vespas/9004

Every time I see this thread title I think to myself...

"Take Wilshire, then the 405, get off at Santa Monica Blvd, then make a right on Pico, then get on the 10."

Having ridden CBRs on 101 b/w the Penninsula and downtown SF I can definitely say that lane splitting saved a lot of time during jams. But man, every time I did it I felt like I was gambling with my life. Most of the drivers out there just don't look and many drivers out there can't stand to see someone lanesplit and get ahead. The latter types do a good job of looking so they can be sure to have plenty of time to crowd the lane divider if they see a motorcycle coming.