To what extent is lane splitting legal in california?

Question

My main concern is jumping to the front of a line at a stop light, and then speeding in front of the rest of the traffic when the light turns green. I know lane splitting is legal but has anyone ever gotten cited for doing what I just described.

Answer 1

there is no problem splitting the lane the only thing is that you need to be careful as to not ride way to fast or you can get pull over for reckless driving. we had a CHP officer give a briefing to everyone that ride sport bike.

Answer 2

That is completely safe and legal in California I do it all the time just don't go faster then 5 mph over what the traffic is doing and they leave you alone for doing it ,main thing to keep in mind is if a cop or highway patrol sees you doing it if they feel you have done it in an unsafe manner they can and will site you for it ,I haven't been sited yet for doing it and I've done it to Sheriff's so ride safe and keep the rubber side down

Answer 3

Lane splitting is a gray area. It's not expressly legal or illegal.  If a cop sees you do it in a way he doesn't like, he'll give you a ticket for 'unsafe lane change'.

BUT jumping to the front at lights is okay. I used to do this all the time and I see it done all the time.  Drivers don't even really seem to mind it.  I've never seen anyone get a ticket for it.

There is only one thing that makes it unsafe.  At a crowded intersection, where there are cars on both sides of you, when the light changes you have to pop out there, get out in front of the cars on either side.  Of course most motorcycles can accelerate any car, so you don't have to worry about not being able to get out of the way of the cars in either lane.  But you may be jumping out into the intersection before it is clear.  There might be some a$$hole coming the other way who sped up to beat a yellow light.  You really have to be sure there's no oncoming traffic.

That's the danger, not getting a ticket.

A friend of mine got t-boned in an intersection.  He popped out into the intersection when the light changed, and didn't look both ways.  He got broadsided by a car who had sped up to beat the yellow light.  Smashed his leg all to h**l and bent the bike almost in half.  I saw the bike afterwards and it was painful to look at.  He always walked funny after that.  That was when I stopped lane-splitting at intersections.

Answer 4

Copied from the CHP website Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?

Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.

Answer 5

r u talking about blocking 2 lanes with your car, at a light, to keep other cars who are just going to use the lane to pass the line of cars who have been patiently waiting?

Answer 6

Not only is lane-splitting totally legal here in CA., a mc can ride in the diamond lane, with no passenger.  How cool is that?

And at a light, the people in cars normally let the scooter go first when green shows.  I've been riding motorcycles in this state since the sixties.  I still go to work in N. Hollywood on a bike...couldn't get me to sit in that traffic for an hour on the Ventura fwy.  I split lanes safely and have never had a problem.  Mostly I use the diamond lane if its light.

Good question!  Stay on top, brother.

Mean Mike

Answer 7

Lanes spliting is legal in California.  The traffice must stop or stand still or you will be cited for doing unsafe lane changes.  

As for jumping in front of the line, it is also legal, although I have a habit of looking both ways before entering the intersection.  There seem to be a car that always trying to make the yellow light.  You don't want to be in front of that car.