Motorcyclists revved up about removal of lane-splitting guidelines

A motorcyclist splits lanes during the evening commute on Highway 24 in Oakland last year. Riders say the maneuver saves time and fuel and also increases their safety. A motorcyclist splits lanes during the evening commute on Highway 24 in Oakland last year. Riders say the maneuver saves time and fuel and also increases their safety. Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Motorcyclists revved up about removal of lane-splitting guidelines 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

One of the most debated and least understood maneuvers by motorcycle riders - zipping between lanes of stalled traffic, or "lane-splitting" - got a little dicier when the California Highway Patrol acknowledged Wednesday that it had removed safety guidelines for the practice from its website and tossed all printed materials.

Motorcyclists, some of whom might not own a bike if they couldn't split lanes, got revved up about the pullback.

They said it will cause even more confusion about lane-splitting, which remains legal and saves riders time and fuel, but often puzzles - and sometimes outright angers - drivers of four-wheeled vehicles stuck in gridlock. Some motorcyclists, too, aren't experts on the concept.

"I'm disappointed. A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into creating those guidelines," said Nick Haris, the Western states representative of the American Motorcyclist Association. "It's a pity to see it so quickly removed."

Guidelines, not laws

The CHP removed the guidelines about two weeks ago under orders from the state's Office of Administrative Law, after complaints from a Sacramento man that they could be misinterpreted as enforceable laws. Lane-splitting tips have been banished from materials distributed by the CHP as well as the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Office of Traffic Safety.

"People liked the guidelines and appreciated them," said CHP Officer Mike Harris, an agency spokesman. "But some people had thought they were given as rules or laws that can be enforced by the department."

To learn lane-splitting safety tips, he said, motorcyclists should talk to a CHP officer or sign up for a course with the CHP-administered California Motorcycle Safety Program, he said. In general, lane-splitters are advised not to drive more than 10 mph faster than surrounding traffic, and avoid the practice if traffic is moving faster than 30 mph.

Lane-splitting, a particular time-saver on Bay Area bridges and other traffic choke-points, has been around about as long as motorcycles. For decades it was necessary because bikes could overheat if they stopped moving. Newer motorcycles have more advanced cooling systems, but lane-splitting is still considered a safety tactic to prevent being rear-ended.

In early 2013 the CHP published its safety tips on its website, and motorcyclists hailed it as a breakthrough in traffic safety. California was the only state in the country with legal lane-splitting, but state authorities had never, until then, told motorcyclists how to weave the white line safely.

"Really, it has been limited anarchy out there," said Sgt. Mark Pope, statewide motorcycle safety coordinator for the CHP, at the time. "Nobody has provided any guidance, so we decided it was time to figure that out."

'A confusing issue'

The guidelines applied to city streets, highways and freeways across the state, and motorists as well as motorcyclists relied on them, said James Holter, managing editor of the magazine for the American Motorcyclist Association.

"Lane-splitting is a confusing issue. The guidelines from the CHP were very helpful for everyone," he said. "To see them come down is a disappointment."

Another concern is that lane-splitting could lose favor among lawmakers. After all, some motorists like Manu Khosla of San Francisco, who works in music publishing, think the practice shouldn't be legal at all.

"They should have to follow the same rules as everyone else," he said Wednesday as he pumped gas near the Bay Bridge.

Khosla, 33, said he's seen cars get scraped by lane-splitting motorcyclists who then look at drivers like it's their fault. "It's not just about the cars, though," he said. "It seems like somebody could easily get hurt."

Possible dangers

Robert Buckley, a 45-year-old contractor from El Cerrito, drives a truck for work but also rides a motorcycle. He said lane-splitting "should be legal, but there should be some limits. If a cop sees you doing something unsafe, they can pull you over regardless."

Buckley said the guidelines were a good idea. He said he has split lanes but bristles when he sees more aggressive riders doing so at high speeds.

"If traffic is stop and go, I have no problem with it," he said.

However, he said, there have been times when he's been riding at the speed limit and another motorcyclist zips between him and another car.

"For one, it seems unnecessary at that speed," he said. "But also, all it takes is a driver looking out the window or down at their phone - and smush."