Is riding a motorbike on a LA freeway suicide? (felony, lawyer)

[CESpeed]

I wouldn't call it suicide, but I would strongly recommend staying in a specific lane when traffic is light. Only ride between lanes during heavy (stop and go) traffic. You will tempt those of us sitting in traffic to open our car doors and send you flying, but I've never heard of it happening in over 30 years of living in L.A.

[Slauson Rosecranz]

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

I would hit that TWO times. Where do I sign?

Are you guys serious?

She looks like she got hit by every branch of the oogly tree...then the tree fell on her!

My God, the woman's a gargoyle! Kimmel could put her on his roof to ward off evil spirits!

I don't know. I guess I just don't see what you guys and Jimmy are seeing.

[motoman]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

I wouldn't call it suicide, but I would strongly recommend staying in a specific lane when traffic is light. Only ride between lanes during heavy (stop and go) traffic. You will tempt those of us sitting in traffic to open our car doors and send you flying, but I've never heard of it happening in over 30 years of living in L.A.

I have heard people talk of opening their doors, but I have never seen it either. I believe that would be called attempted manslaughter or something like that. So what you are saying is not that motorcycles are dangerous, but rather a$$hole drivers are?

[CMYK]

It's not suicide, but the odds are higher that something will happen to you eventually, and if it happens to you on a bike, the odds are higher that something more catastrophic will happen than when in a car with airbags.

I split lanes 100 miles/day everyday for 3.5 years straight and have seen a lot of bikes down, but have also seen a lot of cars crunched up, some needing air med (like this morning on the 210). However, most of the bikes down needed an ambulance...

Thankfully, I was never in an accident and never dropped my sportbike despite a lot of close calls. But I also realized that I was playing the odds and wasn't looking forward to the day when something WAS going to happen, so I quit commuting on a bike.

[madillect]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

I wouldn't call it suicide, but I would strongly recommend staying in a specific lane when traffic is light. Only ride between lanes during heavy (stop and go) traffic. You will tempt those of us sitting in traffic to open our car doors and send you flying, but I've never heard of it happening in over 30 years of living in L.A.

Glad you haven't heard of it happening, but that is really scary that you would be tempted to attempt to kill or brutally injure a rider simply out of jealousy that he is able to get where he's going sooner than you without waiting in jam packed traffic.

Most riders are really nice people with families and friends just like everyone else. Just because you don't see their face since they're in a helmet makes you dehumanize them. Kind of like how the military only refers to the enemy as "the enemy" or the "bad guys".

[Glitch]

The way it was explained to me by the California Highway Patrol is that it is okay to split lanes if 1) the traffic is moving at 25mph or less; and 2) you do not drive more than 5mph faster than the surrounding traffic. I'm not saying that injuries couldn't occur, but if a biker adheres to those conditions it is hardly "suicide."

In fact, under those circumstances, if a biker stays in the lane like every other vehicle, they are more likely to be injured by being bumped than if they split lanes.

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

I wouldn't call it suicide, but I would strongly recommend staying in a specific lane when traffic is light. Only ride between lanes during heavy (stop and go) traffic. You will tempt those of us sitting in traffic to open our car doors and send you flying, but I've never heard of it happening in over 30 years of living in L.A.

If you open your door on me, or edge into the centerline to block me, you tempt me into removing your mirror for you, or giving you a taste of these:

http://www.delvabikes.be/icon/icon_timaxgloveblac.jpg (broken link)

I have had people try to "box me in." I consider it an attempt on my life, and take appropriate countermeasures.

Happy commuting everyone!

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by Glitch

The way it was explained to me by the California Highway Patrol is that it is okay to split lanes if 1) the traffic is moving at 25mph or less; and 2) you do not drive more than 5mph faster than the surrounding traffic. I'm not saying that injuries couldn't occur, but if a biker adheres to those conditions it is hardly "suicide."

In fact, under those circumstances, if a biker stays in the lane like every other vehicle, they are more likely to be injured by being bumped than if they split lanes.

Individual officers often time have their own ideas on what the law is.

Unfortunately they are usually wrong.

CA Vehicle Code (http://www.calhsta.org/ca_vc.htm - broken link)

LaneShare.org

etc.

The only thing that actually states anything about vehilces SHARING lanes is in the DMV handbook. Do a search on this site to see where I've mentioned it previously.

[Slauson Rosecranz]

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

If you open your door on me, or edge into the centerline to block me, you tempt me into removing your mirror for you, or giving you a taste of these:

http://www.delvabikes.be/icon/icon_timaxgloveblac.jpg (broken link)

I have had people try to "box me in." I consider it an attempt on my life, and take appropriate countermeasures.

Happy commuting everyone!

Wow.

Those gloves are badass!

It's like something Darth Maul would wear...if he were a biker.

Seeing those gloves, I can't help but think of the psycho killer from No Country for Old Men!

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by Slauson Rosecranz

Wow.

Those gloves are badass!

It's like something Darth Maul would wear...if he were a biker.

Seeing those gloves, I can't help but think of the psycho killer from No Country for Old Men!

I consider them more like the gloves the wraith riders from LOTR would wear...

$150/pair cheap! (That's titanium on the knuckles by the way)