Modern Vespa

I knew I was close, but I kept forgetting to check and figured I was past the big number. So today I'm riding and, all of a sudden, I remembered to look. Wouldn't you know it, a one and four zeros were looking back at me. I figured that, under the circumstances, a pic from my iPhone was in order.

The traffic around here can be "horrenjus" at rush hours , especially now with many intersections closed due to construction of a new streetcar line. I'm way way back and the light turned red. So I look and there seemed to be way more room between the cars than I'd need for my handlebars. (It was a wide street with no parking and just two lanes each way). I knew it would be a long light so I just aimed for the middle and lived to tell the tale.

Congrats.

Surprised you held off so long before lane-splitting for the first time. You are more patient than I! You've been riding for 7 years and you just now lane-splitted? that is impressive!

Congratulations Robert. You were one of our very first clients years ago and alway been one of our favorite people. From new rider to 10K miles of joy, makes me proud of what I do for a living.

Happy Holidays pal and here is to 20,000.

Best,
David

I've certainly done this and that to beat the traffic, but today was the first time I went between a looong line of cars (with mirrors sticking out to clip me).

Thanks David, I'm grad you remembered that I was an early customer without me reminding you (like I usually do) Other things being equal, now that my scooter is my principle way of getting around, the next 10,000 will be a lot faster. P.S. I would call myself a returning rider, although I hadn't ridden my last bike was stolen in 1969.

Your riding, if proactive, is about to get a lot more.....adventurous.

Oh, but you're a long time rider? I don't know, then? Report back and tell us how you find it. And split on the move, too. Good things happen.

Awesome congrats

Congrats on the mileage.

There's no need to filter or split the lane -- if you, well, don't feel the urge. I feel the opposite all the way. Why buy a scooter to stay behind the cages, that overwhelms me.

Just stay safe, take care and wish you many more happy miles in return.

I just think that if you don't lane-split or filter, you might as well just be in a car anyway.

Having said that, in London at least, it does scare me sometimes, and when it does, I just don't do it.

Congratulations on the mileage. I'm closing in on 13,000 in 6 1/2 years, took delivery on 6/9/07.

I've never lane split either. It's against the law here.

Good for you. Rack them miles up. I have 24,507 on mine right now.

I agree. One of the reasons I ride my ET4 in almost all kinds of weather is to be ahead in traffic, and not sit around in rush hour in a line of cars.

Split the lanes and weave in between bumpers to get where you want to go.

Car drivers expect it of you.

I don't have the long experience that you do- but I agree that lane splitting can be nerve-wracking, but I've done it carefully between lanes of stopped cars -usually as a result of something as stupid as peer pressure. I feel like a dork when I'm sitting behind a row of stopped cars and a chick twerks by me on a scoot happily making her way through

Agree, it's the great benefit we have to beat the traffic around here- I usually work late and then go to the gym, leaving around 8 pm when things have calmed down. But if I ever attempt to get home at a decent hour, like 6 or 7, Pico and Olympic are practically parking lots!

I have like 40+ years of motorcycle riding and while I've never been known to make all good choices, I do not as a rule ever "Split Lanes". Now I know in some places it is fine, even normal, one would be a rather odd ball not to lane split or filter, most of Europe comes to mind. Here in the Mid-West USA it is just considered "rude" and cager's are dangerous enough when they aren't pissed. Filtering here is probably punishable by death, if not from a firing squad just your average everyday CCW guy. I don't mean this as a judgement of any kind as motorcycle/scooter riders we choose a level of risk. So, 10,000 miles, you my friend have been "round the block" enjoy!

Congratulations! Lucky you noticed-it would rather suck to miss it by some miles. It's just not the same.

Congrats on the 10k!

I'll catch you one day!

Been doing it since I found out I could...Day 1

That was a very informative video.

Thanks for posting

Interesting video though I wonder about the safety. I see cars intentionally closing gaps to keep people from passing them around here so it's hard to imagine them suddenly being thrilled about motorcycles splitting lanes. In the college town where I live there is an ongoing battle between cars and bicycles.

Still, I would like to experiment with lane splitting. Often my preconceived notions about safety are just wrong. Like with winter riding I may find lane splitting safe and manageable.

And congratulations on your lane splitting!

Hard to imagine that that one guy got a bunch of lanesplitting tickets in New York. Just about everyone does it here on a regular basis, and never seems to bother anyone.

Brendan

Depends if he was doing it London or Barcelona style perhaps.

In Europe lots of school kids ride 50cc Vespas, especially girls. They know how to split lanes and weave through the traffic. I learned a lot by watching these chicks ride in the city. They are good!

The best way is to keep up the momentum once you start. You'll soon realize how easy it is to get through heavy rush hour traffic.

Maybe you could start by splitting when the cars are standing still, when you get close to the light, slow down and wait till the cars move then slip right in front of the bumper of a car and keep moving.

A strange thing I've noticed, women drivers usually leave almost a full car length in front of them at the traffic light! I can usually count on it. Plenty of room at the front of the line. Plus trucks are slow, get in front of a truck and the cars stay off your back for a while.

In the morning on my ride to my workplace, There is a line of about 50 cars to negotiate. Keep up the momentum and pass while they're rolling, and while they're sitting still. I have my blinker on and just press forward. The cars often move over a bit.

I'm on a scooter, no way will I sit behind a stinking car in traffic.

I think riding offers a sense of superiority. If I'm not going to the front of the line, then I'm consciously not doing it. Sadly, it is illegal in NSW in Australia and I did get a firm warning from a police motorcycle...who incidentally had to lane split to get over to me. We have an extended licensing program and it is easy to loose your licence. 3-12 months on L's, then 12 months on red Ps, then I think 18-24 months on green P's...but I'm skipping the greens as I have a full car license and am over 25 years old.

Still that's just about 3 years from when you start riding and getting pulled up for it can throw a spanner/wrench in your who ability to ride. No, you wont get pulled up for it everyday....but every 6 months...every 18 months? It is likely to happen at some point on your P's...so that forces you to think about it everytime you do it.

I would only filter, never split. I also only tend to do that when there are less than 10 cars in front of me, so I can see if there is a cop. I've had to pretend I was just passing a couple of cars and pull into some random driveway because I saw a cop in the line of cars I was passing.

Oddly, totally legal in Victoria...and they have these mega sidewalks they built back in the day...so parking on the sidewalk is legal provided you're not blocking pedestrian flow. So any sensible park is fine. In Sydney it is a constant battle with motorcycles and the few lots and parking they offer are overflowing...people find all sorts of sneaky parks and park WAAAAY to close. I know it is a dick move to leave a half bike space between you and the next PTW, but I swear people get off and push them in from the front with the side stand down to get them 2 inch clearance on either side.

Melbourne...europe, california, asia...doing it right!

I did it again today. Otherwise I'd still be out there. But I continue to find it nerve-racking.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/lanesplitguide.html

A public awareness campaign is a requirement in any state that deems lane splitting to be "not illegal". Cagers will be cagers, so driver education is very, very important. Heavy fines and/or some type of punishment (community service) can help reinforce this.

If you're going to do it, I think the guidelines posted on the link above are excellent.

GOOD! When is stops being nerve-racking and you start relax -- that is when you will crash.

Not feeling you at all bro. It is also ILLEGAL to split/filter in all states except Cali over here, so there is that.

I will go around a car or two on the right side of an intersection to turn right at a light, but that is it. I have enough cagers trying to kill me. If I started to filter I would also have to bring a weapon in my parts. My 0.02.

This is true of many city riders. Or how we feel. But I remember the time before I started splitting and still got around much better. But yes "going back" to that would be hard. Not everybody rides to split lanes, however. For me it's just a fact of life so I do it. I happen to like it so that helps. It will pass. You have enough riding experience to know that. However still might not be your cup of tea. When splitting stopped traffic the "nerves" will go away. When splitting moving traffic they are somewhat good to have at times. The "good fear" of riding. I feel it as energy as I am never worried or scared, just "on my toes" so to speak. Getting close to cars is not so dangerous, really. Making contact of course, is.

It's illegal here in Utah. However, in Bangkok, lane splitting is not only allowed, it's necessary. Seriously, the continuous gridlock traffic makes it impossible to survive in that city without lane splitting. I used to do it all the time and was only hit once. A guy changing lanes tried to move over as I was passing. He clipped my daughter lightly and I gave him a look that could kill. He smiled and apologetically waved (clearly he didn't see me). I let it go...but my daughter was a little shaken from the scare. No injuries or anything though.

Up until now, when I was third in line at the light I didn't worry because I knew I'd make it through the intersection. What I think I'm going to do is start going to the front when I'm third in line and then 4th and so on until I'm comfortable doing a long line. Of course I'm talking about stopped cars. The guys in that tape above are wild men

Congrats on 10K!!

I have lane split a few times. Mostly in the city to get up to the front of the light. I like it in the city at a light.

I tried it during rush hour on the parkway and that was nerve wracking. Drivers in the D.C. area do not like it when you are getting ahead of them in stop and go traffic.

In my first several thousand miles of riding i never split. I was nervous about the cars beginning to move before I got to the front of the queue and I'd be "stuck" between them or go bouncing off of them like a pinball.

But it did not take long before I found that not true. When the cars begin to move we just keep riding past them, not with them. That is the important part. "Lane sharing" is riding beside someone in a single lane. Dangerous. But lane splitting is passing cars, not riding along with them. Big difference.

So when the cars start to move you can continue your split or just slide right in behind one. Remember you are small so you fit lot's of places cars don't. Sooner or later you'll be moving through traffic with the greatest of ease, slipping and sliding by cars before they know you are even there

All at your discretion, of course.

It seems that this practice depends on other drivers to respect your safety. I'll pass.

Congrats on your 10K!

Definitely +1

When I got my new SYM I was hesitant to filter for the first couple of months until I was confident about handling the machine. It is big and has long wheelbase. Now I fly past hundreds of stationary vehicles every day and I love it.

I've only ever lane split once on a dual carriageway. The traffic in both lanes were doing less than 30mph on a 70mph road so I rode between them.

I hope you're not feeling me...don't want upset my wife, not this close to Christmas!

I'm aware it's illegal in the majority of States in the US. Here in the UK, filtering is entirely legal and written into our Highway Code.

Horses for courses my friend. I still won't do it if I don't feel safe doing it. But it seems that the majority of riding in London is more for transportation and commuting, as opposed to the US, where it seems as though the majority or riders ride just for sheer pleasure.

It's just different on both sides of the pond.

Now stop trying to feel me, bro!

Dave is getting felt, uh oh! I hope no one tells at home.

I feel kind of sorry for the US Vespa fans. Such wide roads and slow cars, and they can't even ride a scooter like a scooter.

Let's split some lanes now guys!

They did make it a law in my city that scooters are no longer allowed to ride the wrong way down one-ways.

Danged laws!