Drunk trucking: Protected?

[Darky]

Yep. Our interstate system was designed for 75mph travel,.. In 1950s technology automobiles. What mainly goes into speed limits now is politics.I know about the active read light sensors. My point was, if a motorcycle can pull to a stop light,(red) observe the intersection, then safely move through the intersection without waiting for the signal, a driver in a car could do the same maneuver successfully and safely.
Lane splitting isn't a perk. It should be illegal. While there may be a safe way to do it, I don't know what it would be. "Safely" running the lane divider between 2 cars at any speed would require driver/biker/driver communication, so that everyone involved would know what everyone else involved was doing. That isn't going to happen, so it can't be done safely. Getting through a traffic jamb quicker might be a perk, but it's no excuse to do it.
If they wanted to put a speed limit on lane splitting, I'd vote in favor of 7-10 MPH below current traffic conditions.
And bikers are people.

Oh yeah, trust me, I've seen some gross abuses of lane splitting. That's why I'd vote in favor of a fairly low speed limit. No need for it at speed going down the road. If we're at a light, or in a SoCal style traffic jam where traffic is averaging 10 or so mph on the interstate, I don't see the problem.

With the sensors, a car won't be sitting long enough to need to go through. Any car out there is heavy enough to trip the sensors and make the light change within a minute or two if there isn't traffic on the cross street.

In regards to bikers being the occasional idiot, very true, and I would not be averse to heavy punishment if they abuse the red light rule.

 

[5-90]

The point behind allowing a motorcyclist to go through a light after stopping is that the lights out here are triggered by weight, somewhere around 800lbs. Unless you're a big fatty on full dress Harley, you're not likely to trigger the light. Rather than make you sit in 120 heat on top of a chunk of exploding metal for what could be upwards of 15-30 minutes in some areas out here, they allow you to go through.

Funny - most places, the lights are triggered using magnetic sensors, not weight. Unless it's a truly exotic bike, the frame is still steel and there's still plenty of iron in the engine, no? If they're relying on weight, they're being silly - because detection of iron/steel should be rather easier to work with than weight, and no moving parts.

Lane splitting has nothing to do with being air-cooled. It has to do with the fact that a bike can fit through and done properly, can be safe and a nice perk. Mind you, most don't do it properly. Properly doesn't mean doing 80 in between a line of cars doing 65. I wouldn't mind putting a speed limit (uh oh, there's that word again) on lane splitting, ie, maybe at speeds below 25 or so. Get through the traffic jam, get to the front of the line, but don't appear out of nowhere when I may be wanting to change lanes on the I10.

Perhaps - but I keep seeing splits between traffic doing the limit already, and it's even worse on the freeway - traffic is going 70-80, and bikes split between them going even faster. I don't think that's doing it properly - and it's being done improperly far more than it's being done properly. This isn't - at least to me - a case of punishing everyone for the acts of a few. This is more a matter of gross abuse of a privilege, and that privilege should therefore be revoked.

Even given your explanation - I can vaguely understand the rationale behind allowing a light to be run (although that's because the lights aren't set up correctly, I think,) but I still can't figure out how "lane splitting" is meant to be any help at all.

 

[tbburg]

Actually, I didn't correct Darky on it, but the sensors for lights are magnetic. However, there is a legitimate problem with bikes not having a big enough signature to trip the sensors. It's a known problem, which is why many states have the exception allowing motorcycles to drive through reds after coming to a complete stop.

The last incident of lane splitting I was involved in was with a Phoenix PD bike cop, who almost splattered himself between my Cherokee and the car on my left. I was doing about 70. It was apparently easier for him to go between us then to slow down and turn in behind me, since all he did after getting past was go down the next off-ramp about a mile down the road.

 

[Darky]

Actually, I didn't correct Darky on it, but the sensors for lights are magnetic. However, there is a legitimate problem with bikes not having a big enough signature to trip the sensors. It's a known problem, which is why many states have the exception allowing motorcycles to drive through reds after coming to a complete stop.

The last incident of lane splitting I was involved in was with a Phoenix PD bike cop, who almost splattered himself between my Cherokee and the car on my left. I was doing about 70. It was apparently easier for him to go between us then to slow down and turn in behind me, since all he did after getting past was go down the next off-ramp about a mile down the road.

My mistake, after looking further into it, there are indeed weight sensitive sensors, but they would appear to be sensitive enough to pick up bikes (even pedal powered) and also fairly uncommon. The induction loop is the most common and is generally calibrated to pick up small cars, but not necessarily motorcycles. Apparently, when made sensitive enough for a biker, they also pick up large vehicles in the other lane such as buses and semis.

Here's a link to a post regarding how to turn the tide in your favor if you're on a bike:
How to Beat the $#%! Red Light Sensor (and how they work!)

Jon, reread my thoughts on lane splitting. I fully agree that lane splitting is being misused and gave my opinion of what a proper usage would be. I think you'll find it's fairly in line with your thinking.

 

[OutkastBoss]

Here in Saint Louis Theres a few intersections that late at night ( and one time mid day) Doesnt seem to pick me up im my jeep ,, I was lightly buzzed one time (i know please just let that one slide guys) and really didnt want to go through i waited like a half hour LOL

They should make a law for shit like that too if cycles get one ..

i even tried pulling up further before backing up a bit ,, and flicking the brights n stuff i heard one time (in Tn) that some may have a light sensor for emergency vehicles.. (not shure if thats true)

i've had a few other people say it has happened to them and it a specific couple of ones.. most ofen they seem to function fine..

 

[Darky]

Here in Saint Louis Theres a few intersections that late at night ( and one time mid day) Doesnt seem to pick me up im my jeep ,, I was lightly buzzed one time (i know please just let that one slide guys) and really didnt want to go through i waited like a half hour LOL

They should make a law for shit like that too if cycles get one ..

i even tried pulling up further before backing up a bit ,, and flicking the brights n stuff i heard one time (in Tn) that some may have a light sensor for emergency vehicles.. (not shure if thats true)

i've had a few other people say it has happened to them and it a specific couple of ones.. most ofen they seem to function fine..

If you know it's wrong and will get you crap, why mention it?

 

[OutkastBoss]

If you know it's wrong and will get you crap, why mention it?

allways been more honest than i should've, but people know where i stand on stuff at least.

Everyone makes poor decisions here and there . i knew i was good to drive and probably under the limit but even so a breathalyzer wasnt sounding like a great time (wouldnt if i was dead sober)..

to be clear i dont suppot drinking and driving (who does) and dont really like people that drink on the trails either .. wait untill your back at camp for the night. (i see alot of guys drinkin at my favorite wheeling spot on busier weekends)

 

[5-90]

Jon, reread my thoughts on lane splitting. I fully agree that lane splitting is being misused and gave my opinion of what a proper usage would be. I think you'll find it's fairly in line with your thinking.

I do agree with you - more or less.

But, the problems I have are not only that it is done improperly on a wholesale basis, but that I don't see what makes them so special. "Sane sandbox, same rules." If we don't all follow the same rules on the roadways, why have any at all? As Ron White said when he was talking about the "bracketed" speed limits in Texas - "... I'm surprised we have them all driving in the same direction."

It's bad enough that people can't all follow the same rules when they're all in cars (believe me, "merge" is most often taken as an invitation to copulate up here - I haven't driven extensively in SoCal since the one time I drove around in LA - and chain-smoked an entire pack of Luckies when I escaped...) but changing the rules for different vehicles is silly.

Especially when people then abuse the changes in the rules, just to make things worse.

 

[iwannadie]

Which leads right into the argument I have with bicyclists as well - if we're all going to play in the same sandbox, we all have to play by the same rules.

- If I have to stop for a light, you have to stop for a light.
- If I have to stop before making a turn, you have to stop before making a turn.
- If I can't go through light after waiting, you have to wait for it to change as well.
- If I have to respect lane markings, you have to respect lane markings. A lane is one vehicle wide - not one and one-half, not two. I don't care that your engine is air-cooled - I couldn't "split lanes" when I was driving my Bug...
- If I have to yield to traffic and let it pass because I'm going too slow, do do you.
- If I have to stay out of a bicycle lane, you have to stay out of the automobile lane.

"Share the road" cuts both ways - and bicyclists and motorcyclists, from what I've seen, seem to think that "give and take" means "I give, you take."

Which I find infuriating.

I had a guy on a bicycle almost hit me today. I was waiting at a red light waiting to go straight through the intersection and the light turns green and as I start to go a big SUV next to me stops suddenly. I decide whatever made them stop is enough to make me hesitate because I can't see around the SUV in my low car(not in the XJ).

A good 3-5 seconds after we had the green light the guy comes across in front of us on his bike running the red light. Had I just proceeded as normal he would have hit the middle or back end of my car and I would have never seen him.

Best part, we were in the bike lane by the time we stopped, he looks over at us as he goes by like we are doing something wrong blocking his lane.

 

[iwannadie]

My mistake, after looking further into it, there are indeed weight sensitive sensors, but they would appear to be sensitive enough to pick up bikes (even pedal powered) and also fairly uncommon. The induction loop is the most common and is generally calibrated to pick up small cars, but not necessarily motorcycles. Apparently, when made sensitive enough for a biker, they also pick up large vehicles in the other lane such as buses and semis.

I have a center stand on my bike and found if I just tap the center stand on the ground it gets most lights to trigger here. I have been stuck at lights and went through them countless of times also. I wait a reasonable amount of time and them make sure I can see things are clear and I will go. I've done it in front of cops many times with no problem. I do no pull up to the light and make it a stop sign, if a cop sees that I could see trouble waiting for me.

 

[5-90]

I had a guy on a bicycle almost hit me today. I was waiting at a red light waiting to go straight through the intersection and the light turns green and as I start to go a big SUV next to me stops suddenly. I decide whatever made them stop is enough to make me hesitate because I can't see around the SUV in my low car(not in the XJ).

A good 3-5 seconds after we had the green light the guy comes across in front of us on his bike running the red light. Had I just proceeded as normal he would have hit the middle or back end of my car and I would have never seen him.

Best part, we were in the bike lane by the time we stopped, he looks over at us as he goes by like we are doing something wrong blocking his lane.

Yeah - bikers out here are elitist, solipsistic, and just plain annoying (I know those first two are contradictory, but they just crank me off that bad.)

I had one time where a guy didn't want to unclip his "widdle feeties" from his pedals, so he leaned on my car instead.

I tapped the horn to get his attention, he turned around and looked at me like "What are you going to do about it?"

So I checked the review, dropped into Reverse, and backed up 20 feet. He didn't - he fell on his side.

He picked himself up, gave me the ol' stinkeye (like it was my fault?) and then unclipped a foot to stand on.

Sorry - if you had asked, I'd probably have said Yes. But, you didn't ask, so you deserved it. (JFTR, I don't even have clips on my pedals, and I ride in street shoes. So, when I stop, I stick a foot on the pavement. Is that so damned difficult?)

As far as I'm concerned, leaning on my vehicle without even looking first is roughly tantamount to bumping into me for whatever reason - it just isn't done. If you ask (it's happened - I get a questioning look, I'll usually nod,) it's not a problem. But, Thou Shalt Never Assume.