Lane splitting is legal in California . As I ride a bike daily the right to ride between cars while in gridlock is not only a great time saver, it is a very dangerous skill to acquire. I have lost many a friend to freeway deaths! It's not the fall that gets you.
While some would say it's better to lane split, rather than sit in traffic and be susceptible to being rear ended and crushed. I'd like to say there is a certain degree of control over your environment if you stay in traffic. First you can dictate the distance between your bike and the tin can in front of you, as well as position yourself in a section of lane ready for evasive action if need be. However to do this you MUST be diligent about looking in your mirrors and the "cans" around you. Otherwise you're a sitting duck, waiting to be pressed, get it (you'll never see me still on a bike). The drivers of these tin cans will crush you and blame you later for it, that is a fact you need to know as a rider.
To lane split one must slowly acquire the knowledge if you want to last, so to speak. My second bike was a Yamaha Fazer 700 back in '87; it was named" The Jet", rightfully so. I commuted for the first time "riding" rather than driving, from two hours to forty five minutes of my life, I sold my truck. Since then the freeways have grown as well as the amount of idiots driving their tin cans, multitasking at all but the wheel at hand, our loss... in many ways. This also means there are more bikes in the lanes, a good thing... right?
Probably one of the most dangerous places to lanesplit is the "The Bridge", drivers in their "cans" are looking at the view, or slowly stewing in their collective thoughts angry at the gridlock. At the wrong time of year the sun blazes down into the faces of all involved, blinding and very very hazardous. If it's windy and your bike is light or tall you can be blown sideways a lane, if's it's raining you're very brave to be out there. As in all traffic it's hard to see anything fallen off a truck or car until almost too late, constantly scan ahead and be aware.
While commuting it's hard not to notice the classes (if you will call it that) of lane splitters, as usual I'll call them, "The Newbie", "Squid", "Racer", and "Vet", which seems to divide the rider types in most of my articles. Someday I'll write about the forgotten cousins, The Reckless, Careless, and Hopeless, my brethren.
It's easy to spot "The Newbie", slowly inching their way from car to car, a slight wobble of uneasiness, ever timorous yet willing . Nice to see most of them in gear, I try not to spook ‘em (being a pirate and all), while I ride by, giving a wave of encouragement, sometimes clearing a path. Rider's remember to look ahead into the lane and not get tunnel-vision. Set mental parameters in your field/lane of vision, anything that enters it gets attention, always ride as if ready for the worst, plan evasion tactics. Keep the bike in the" powerband", you don't want to wait a second while your bike "winds-up" and that missile is getting closer, a second is an eternity when your life is at stake, you want your bike to be able to hit the afterburners on command, it may save you from peril. Just remember to look where you want to go, you are in control.
Of course "The Squid" is easy to spot, "Liter Bike", high tops, "urban" baggy shorts, and the "latest look" jacket. A new one for me is they are now wearing Shorty helmets, gloves with the tips cut off. I imagine if it weren't for them I would have a lot less luck, statistic wise. Usually zooming by in something bright or baggy they dart across from lane to lane in between the cars while making way exaggerated moves as if going for the WSB title. In the end they crash, get gear, crash again, sell the bike, or crash until no longer able, though you gotta admire their spirit, to a certain extent.
A worrisome one is "The Racer", not in the form of a track racer, these dipshits go faster between lanes to "get" the working stiff riders in front of him that's just trying to survive the daily battle splittin' home, probably has had years under their belt, now this. The racer see's stalks and surpasses the rider in front and in doing so is a great danger to all involved. Flying thru traffic at 60 mph is nothing but a game of Russian Roulette! There will be no future for this rider. Get two riders flying thru two separate lanes and the danger is at an extreme, you have now put three bullets in the gun. As dipshit #1 fly's by Grandma's car with pipe a blarin' she'll veer to the right closing the gap on dipshit #2. Grandma has the car her late husband bought after the second war, true iron. Dipshit #2 hits Grandma's car not even leaving a scratch, he fly's into the car on the right and from there mimics a towel in a washer before he meets his maker, tragedy for all involved. Dipshit #1 unknowing of the havoc wreaked rails off to meet his fate another day. These riders need to get wise, seek Jesus, read, drink, do drugs, anything but resume this way of life, if not for you for the rest of us.
The Vet usually in full regalia of Aerostitch or Johnson's Leather's, most always in "proper" gear, who know's maybe one or two vets out there are in ratted Levis and a tattered "Senor Lopez" pullover (surely insane). All riding bikes of an experienced sort, the Vet flows through traffic as if a fish in water. Profile serious, upright and loose, looking ahead and scanning all areas, levers at the ready, speed at a constant and in control of the motor. There is an aura of tranquility and confidence, someone you'd follow into battle. Well earned after years of constant traffic and the adventures of the day. Many close calls and stories of friends lost and found. A great source of information, a pint is a small price to pay for good advice. If you're worried tail these riders.
Lane splitting is a daily battle for all involved. Like S.F. bike messengers doing their job in the city streets, we're all "Bombers" on a daily run, a safe return at the end of the day and a full pint of ale with your mates is all one can ask and hope for. To survive one must always be alert, aware and prepare for the worst. In the meantime, have fun.
Cheers, Alx