new freeway rider

[heisjasian]

so today was the second time i've taken the freeway to get to work. i live in southern california so the freeway is the fastest way(and scariest way)to get around. when i first got my bike back in july i was pretty much set on just tooling around on surface streets and avoiding major highways. last week i was on my way to work when i just said "eff it, i'm gonna have to do this sooner or later" so i hopped on the freeway. i was pretty surprised to find out it was not as scary as i thought it would be. what did kind of surprise me was the vast size of the freeway itself. i feel like a speck riding among all those cars, but having that feeling also made me very aware and cautious of the cars on the road. with time i hope i become more comfortable with this kind of riding, getting around on surface streets can get kind of monotonous hitting all those red lights.

[gbw]

Did you do any lane splitting? We don't do that hear and I always wonder what it feels like to zip past all the slow traffic on the dotted white line.

[heisjasian]

yeah i did a little bit of lane splitting. for the most part it was kinda weird just wizzing by everyone in the carpool lane. i did pass a few cars when traffic built up a bit, but since it was in the carpool lane i had extra space to get by (2 double yellow lines). i'm used to sitting in traffic and seeing bike fly past me in that lane.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Be careful splitting lanes!!! People will cut out of the car pool lane over the double. Not legal Technically passing on right in the car pool is illegal too, but not enforced. If anything happens you will be at fault.. I have been told Its actually safer to split between the #1&2 lanes. Either way don't go more than 10-15 mph faster than the traffic and you will be ok. I have split lanes, not on a reg bases as I don't commute.

[Billy Ricks]

It's probably safer on the highway than surface streets. Just keep the front brake lever covered with a couple of fingers so you can react quicker. If you have to do any hard braking be aware of what is coming up behind you. You should be able to stop your bike in less distance than most cars on the road. Sometimes you have to regulate your braking to keep from being rear ended.

[chef1366]

I think splitting lanes in SoCal is a hoot.
I was sitting in a traffic jam and saw a CHIP pass me splitting lanes. I said FI and followed him. I do it all the time now even in Bako.

[Big T]

Aren't motorcycles allowed in the HOV lane in Cal??

They are here in OR and WA

[chef1366]

Aren't motorcycles allowed in the HOV lane in Cal??

They are here in OR and WA

Why yes, yes they are.

[C.V.]

Be careful splitting lanes!!! People will cut out of the car pool lane over the double. Not legal Technically passing on right in the car pool is illegal too, but not enforced. If anything happens you will be at fault.. I have been told Its actually safer to split between the #1&2 lanes. Either way don't go more than 10-15 mph faster than the traffic and you will be ok. I have split lanes, not on a reg bases as I don't commute.

I second this, but don't agree with lanes 1 and 2. there are too many cars merging across those lanes, esp, in so cal to make it comfortable.
FWIW I hate splitting lanes, I NEVER feel safe or comfortable doing it (maybe its the luggage?) but it do it most of the time 'cuz it beats waitin', and i commute on my bike. I try to time my trips to avoid peak traffic.
I have also found So cal drivers to be very rude, and get indignant when they see you cruising along while they wait. I have been squeezed to a stop on several occasions but some A hole who thinks I don't have the right to get where i am going before he does!

[not a biker]

i made the mistake of entering the car pool lane across the dbl yellow line about 100 yards in front of a bike CHP. cost me 400 bucks. traffic was not moving and it was a about a mile before their was a opening to the car pool lane . i would never do that in my car ,but on a bike it seemed harmless. DOOOOOOOOOOO

[Big T]

i made the mistake of entering the car pool lane across the dbl yellow line about 100 yards in front of a bike CHP. cost me 400 bucks. traffic was not moving and it was a about a mile before their was a opening to the car pool lane . i would never do that in my car ,but on a bike it seemed harmless. DOOOOOOOOOOO

So did you get an HOV violation, or a double yellow?

I'm sure, as Chef confirms, that you can use the HOV lane on a bike when you're one up. Just ride over there as much as possible

[chef1366]

I second this, but don't agree with lanes 1 and 2. there are too many cars merging across those lanes, esp, in so cal to make it comfortable.
FWIW I hate splitting lanes, I NEVER feel safe or comfortable doing it (maybe its the luggage?) but it do it most of the time 'cuz it beats waitin', and i commute on my bike. I try to time my trips to avoid peak traffic.
I have also found So cal drivers to be very rude, and get indignant when they see you cruising along while they wait. I have been squeezed to a stop on several occasions but some A hole who thinks I don't have the right to get where i am going before he does!

Take their mirrors down.

[salty_monk]

Why yes, yes they are.

It's a FEDERAL Law not a state one... You have a right to go in any HOV in the United states. There's just been a big case in NY where the fed law got upheld on this.

Dan

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!

Hi Mr. heisjasian,

So, whereabouts are you in the Southland? North County? The OC? LA? The Valley? The IE? I split lanes quite often on the freeway, especially between the HOV and #1 lanes, where we have our own little "motorcycles only" lane.

But I rarely split a lane up to a traffic light at an intersection. Somehow I don't feel justified going to the head of the line just because I'm on two wheels. Yeah, I'm weird.

Azuza Canyon, Glendora Mountain, and Glendora Ridge Roads are in my back yard. Are you anywhere close? There's a few of us in this immediate area and we'd be happy to add you to our motely crew. For now, let me roll out the welcome wagon....

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff