How motorcyclists can more safely split lanes: Roadshow

Q: My question regards lane sharing. Frequently motorcyclists are traveling much faster than vehicular traffic, and are not always easy to spot when changing lanes. Which vehicle (car or motorcycle) has the right of way in the “shared” lane, if there is an accident between them when changing lanes?

Jan Jurnecka, Aptos

A: Lane splitting is legal in California, but it can be very dangerous. Motorcyclists have the right to drive between cars here, but that doesn’t mean they can do so in an unsafe way which could lead to accidents.

I checked the California Driver’s Handbook and the California Motorcycle Handbook to see what they say about lane splitting. The motorcycle handbook was more valuable in this case.

The motorcycle handbook places great emphasis in all sections on motorcyclists’ responsibility to keep themselves safe. This handbook says of lane splitting, “Riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane can leave you vulnerable. A vehicle could turn suddenly or change lanes, a door could open, or a hand could come out a window.”

The motorcycle handbook advises that motorcyclists choose a lane position that:

• 
Increases the rider’s ability to see and be seen
• Avoids others’ blind spots
• Protects the rider’s lane from other drivers
• Communicates the rider’s intentions
• Help avoid wind blasts from other vehicles
• Provides an escape route

“Position yourself in the lane that allows the most visibility and space around you,” the handbook advises, in summary. For more information, read the motorcycle handbook for yourself.