Georgia Lane Splitting

[henzilla]

Here in rural west Texas we don't exactly have lane sharing/splitting. But we do have "drive friendly" as explained on the DOT maps. Pull right to expedite passes of quicker vehicles. So onto the shoulder they go to permit passing. In the Urban areas of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin I don't know what happens - I simply avoid the places - but suspect a modicum of manners even in urban areas. Texans are encouraged to respond.

p.s. My frame of reference is rural Brewster County by the National Park.

Been to CA a few times and only filtered as my GSA seemed a bit to wide to play. On another bike, I followed the locals, even the CHPys.

Learned to ride in traffic in Houston, re-introduced in Austin and sometimes find myself in San Antonio and A-town regularly.
Commuted 80 roundtrip miles daily into Austin for a few years until retirement. I rarely put myself in the position to be on a lane splitting interstate if legal when secondary roads took me the same location quicker.
I do recall some younger days on a Honda 350 coming home from Galveston on IH-45 and later on a Superglide riding between stopped cars and trucks and not going well. Swerving cars and opening doors were the norm.A Colt revolver one trip made me not be the lead dog at age 17.

Fast forward to current practices and experiences have had folks wave me by, wave me in, and if paying attention to their driving rarely a bad day in most metro encounters. Eye contact and a wave back makes things work for me. San Antonio is just insane inside the "loop" and anywhere on IH-35 for the timid. I avoid it unless I have no other choice...which is rare

[csochin]

If possible, I wave "thanks" at those folks as I pass. On many rides, my shoulder gets tired from all the waving.

And I do the same! Always give a wave or a thumbs up, when safe, for those cars that give extra room.

[Shabba]

Lane splitting or filtering has been tabled here in Virginia many times, led by a group of riders here in Richmond. It always gets shot down and never makes it to a vote which is a shame tha the public isn't given the opportunity to see the benefits. In areas like Northern Virginia, a place as hot as the hell that is Atlanta rush hour traffic on a Friday (I know, I grew up around Atlanta and lived it), filtering would be hugely beneficial. Alas, like other states, Virginia is more concerned with amassing monies from traffic "enforcement" and less concerned with actual safety and common sense.

[chrisinsc]

I split lanes every day. I would not work where I do unless I could. Hwy 1 in santa cruz is a parking lot southbound every day. I save 20 minutes and it takes me 35 mins door to door on the way home and its a great thing to focus on the task and ride the bike while everyone else sits in a metal box in a line. I spend most my time below 30 mph and the ratio is 25% actively make room if they see you. 10% just stay left or right in their lane by habit. 50% are in the middle of their lane paying as little attention to anything as they can get away with. 10% if they see you coming and they are moving will do the half hearted slow drift to pinch you off. Luckliy 90% of the people next to these folks move over to compensate. 2% if the see you will more obviously close the lane but you can just go around them legally in the space they make in the other side of their lane. Less than 1% truly eff with you. I slow and readjust mirrors or kick the ocassional door but its rare and pointless. I wave or toot and wave at EVERYONE who does even the slightest move to make more room. In general people really woukd rather be seen as helping and being nice. I now wave at more people every week because most want to be in that club and due to my cummute schedule I pass the same people all the time. A hells angel neighbor of mine passes me while im splitting slowly about once every few weeks. He waits patiently until I have a spot to make room and then roars past with a wave like hes in a different universe. Today I followed a chp bike while he split much like me. Below 30 or above with very little speed differential and then like a car at 45 mph or less depending but never more then 40 or 45. Not worth it. At 30 you can stop the bike in a very short distance and if you hit something you are very unlikely to die. 50 and above and the physics are very very different.

I worked in atlanta for two years. Worst drivers anywhere I have been in the usa. The mixture of old, dumb, angry, and anti flow people all trying to block the fast lanes while adept fast drivers try to establish a flow has to be seen to be believed. Its like playing cuttthroat pool on a freeway.

[rangerreece]

HOV lanes on I85 are your friend. Motorcycles are allowed, and though the signage doesn’t indicate it, peach pass lane (also HOV) is good for motorcycles... I’ve used this several times, effectively.

Every where I ride, I have to adapt to the “culture” of riding in the demographic I find myself in. In Iowa during the rally, I noticed that cars just pulled out in front of you and “expected” you to slow down to accommodate them. Once I figured this out, in the first day, I learned to accommodate it and expect it.

[saddleman]

HOV lanes on I85 are your friend. Motorcycles are allowed, and though the signage doesn’t indicate it, peach pass lane (also HOV) is good for motorcycles... I’ve used this several times, effectively.

Every where I ride, I have to adapt to the “culture” of riding in the demographic I find myself in. In Iowa during the rally, I noticed that cars just pulled out in front of you and “expected” you to slow down to accommodate them. Once I figured this out, in the first day, I learned to accommodate it and expect it.

The Peach Pass lane is a HOT lane. It is free for motorcycles but you still need your motorcycle to be registered. The pass is free. If not registered you might be sent a toll bill.

[cajunrph]

Here in rural west Texas we don't exactly have lane sharing/splitting. But we do have "drive friendly" as explained on the DOT maps. Pull right to expedite passes of quicker vehicles. So onto the shoulder they go to permit passing. In the Urban areas of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin I don't know what happens - I simply avoid the places - but suspect a modicum of manners even in urban areas. Texans are encouraged to respond.

p.s. My frame of reference is rural Brewster County by the National Park.

I have seen no lane splitting in Houston. But I mostly avoid the area during rush hour. I’m thinking the drivers would be caught off guard and no telling what they’d do. We have many left lane hoggers who think they own the left lane and it’s their right to drive at any speed they choose. My guess is those same folks would not take kindly to a motorcycle sharing their lane and may just pose a potential problem. If it’s ever legal here it will take some adjustment period before it’s safe enough to do.


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[Wethead]

The lane splitting part is going fine, I just don't do it. Big part of the reason is because they have, literally, the WORST drivers I've ever seen here in Atlanta, and I've been throughout much of this country. They're dumb and dangerous. Best just to stay as far away as possible, I've reached the conclusion.

You are just saying that cause you never been to Hawaii.

[rangerreece]

You are just saying that cause you never been to Hawaii.

I’ve ridden in Hawaii, Atlanta is worse. At least in Hawaii, any traffic jams you could at least put her in neutral, flip up your visor, look to the Koalau mountains, and find your happy place. There is no such happy place on I85 in Atlanta.

[Wethead]

I’ve ridden in Hawaii, Atlanta is worse. At least in Hawaii, any traffic jams you could at least put her in neutral, flip up your visor, look to the Koalau mountains, and find your happy place. There is no such happy place on I85 in Atlanta.

I stand corrected!!

Once I got caught in the traffic on the Round-About in Baltimore on the way to Jessup (Bob's).

...on top of that, I had to pee...there isn't even a bush you hide behind and take a leak.

I swore I would never travel through there ever again; Lo and behold, the following year I got lost looking for lodging place and ended up in that dreadful traffic again. I was so mad at myself...for being so dumb!!!

But really, the matter of fact is: travelling through any metro area is a nightmare, particularly in traffic. IE: the corridors between Seattle and Portland, NY anytime, Houston is really bad, Last time I went through Dallas there was so much construction and detours even the Garmin GPS lady just said: forget it pal, you'r on your own, Los Angeles,...OMG, when I pass through LA, I camp out right outside, preferably on a Fri night, then next morning I take off at 4am hauling ass and hoping to pass through NOT at the same time as the Second Coming of Jesus happens...cause I am afraid the motherships wills miss me if I am inside LA when the Lord comes back. When I drive through LA it seems to me, even God done gave up on that place.

...at least in CA you can take your life in your own hands riding between lanes, which is better odds than dying sitting in traffic coming into WA from OR on the I-5. In the latter, you just sit in traffic inhaling fumes until you fall off your bike--hopefully, someone will have oxygen in their car along with the impetus to revive you and not just drive around your body.

[crna59]

I stand corrected!!

which is better odds than dying sitting in traffic coming into WA from OR on the I-5. In the latter, you just sit in traffic inhaling fumes until you fall off your bike--hopefully, someone will have oxygen in their car along with the impetus to revive you and not just drive around your body.

Now that's funny!!

[Pauls1150]

They won't stop, but they'll take a picture with their cellphone...

[WWeldin]

The Peach Pass lane is a HOT lane. It is free for motorcycles but you still need your motorcycle to be registered. The pass is free. If not registered you might be sent a toll bill.

The HOT lanes on I-85 are free for motorcycles, AF vehicles, 2 or more people (no-toll mode,) however, the new HOT lanes on I-75, both on the north side and south side are not free. Only buses and law enforcement vehicles are not charged. The I-75 toll lanes were built without using existing lanes of travel; the ones on I-85 were. Hence, the free usage.

All HOT lanes require registration for use. My older Peach Pass on my R1200C is not associated with any financial account due to I-85 had the only HOT lanes when I got it. Fast forward a few years and I want one for the new RT. I was asked which HOT lanes will I be using, I said both (mainly 85,) but was told it was not free on 75. I ended up puting a charge on the CC for the pass as I will occasionally use the one on I-75 on the south side. I live in NE Atanta (off I-85) and frequent those HOT lanes more than the one on 75.

On the lane splitting note, I would love to be able to do so, but Atlanta area drivers are not ready for that; never will be. I do what I can to split, but it is mainly called moving in and out of slower traffic. Some folk may consider it "cutting them off," but I beg to differ. It is like I am the only one who wants to get to speed. Most times on the road I travel to work, slower traffic will not keep right. They actually accelerate slowly then end up matching their speeds with others in the adjacent lane and no room to pass. Or so they think. I have seen sport bikes split lanes on I-285 in bumbper to bumepr traffic. I always think "must be nice," but doubt i will ever do it on the RT. It just does not seem like enough room for me to do it.

In the mountain roads TN, VA, & NC area, I found that people are courteous and will move over to allow motorcycles to pass in the twisties, even if I am far enough back from them. Georgia? Not so much. I called GA home since '78, so I got tht going for me, which is nice.

[weschmann]

I would suggest lane splitting works in California due to a different culture of more open minded citizens who understand the dynamics of traffic management. Completely different culture in George or for goodness sake, Missouri where I live. The amount of jealousy of someone getting a better break than someone else is always at a high level when negotiating a path on the road and to interrupt that jealousy with lane passing is tantamount to asking Daryl from the walking dead to string up his bow and put you down as the snarling walking dead that you are. YEMD😀

[Visian]

On the lane splitting note, I would love to be able to do so, but Atlanta area drivers are not ready for that; never will be.

Lived in Atlanta for 36 years and you could not pay me to ride in that traffic.

Living in WNC now, where drivers are polite and will (on occasion) use turnouts.