Is lane splitting illegal in San Francisco / California?

3	Lane splitting is riding your two-wheel vehicle between two lanes. Is this legal? If not, do you have to go a certain speed? motorcycle law california roads driving asked 22 Dec '09, 17:39 ashbury ♦♦ 5.7k●2●7●22 accept rate: 22% edited 27 Jan '10, 18:21 Mr. W ♦♦ 4.2k●6●23

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per the California Highway Patrol website

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

Update: per officer.com forum

I have a question in regards to California motorcycle lane sharing. According to California CHP web site www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html, lane sharing is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner. Traffic was flowing at a stop and go at about 5 mph I was lane sharing in carpool and proceeding at 35 mph, max at 40 mph, not forcing cars to move out of my way or riding on and off the double solid yellow lines, and not maneuvering my motorcycle from side to side. Would this be in violation of VC 22350 for unsafe speed? The reason is because a CHP officer tickets me and stated that I can not lane share at a speed of no more then 25 mph in traffic or 5 miles above the flow of traffic conditions. How is this possible when there no law/vc stating a speed limit for lane sharing for motorcycles? I travel in a safe prudent manner, and not at high speed. I ask the officer the same question but he kept stating I can not travel faster then 25 mph or 5 mph above traffic conditions and that he’s not going to say it again.

I can verify this, as I have been pulled over on my scooter for un-safe lane splitting (going to fast)

link

answered 26 Jan '10, 22:55

ashbury ♦♦
5.7k●2●7●22
accept rate: 22%

edited 27 Jan '10, 20:52

Lane splitting is dangerous. Be careful.

(27 Jan '10, 18:21) Mr. W ♦♦

I'm really surprised that it's legal. I thought that it was always considered unsafe because it sure seems to violate the principle of driving predictably.

(28 Jan '10, 00:10) Sharon ♦

yes.. I know! My friends in Ohio would think I'm crazy with some of the spaces I squeeze through ;)

(28 Jan '10, 00:51) ashbury ♦♦

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Asked: 22 Dec '09, 17:39

Seen: 220 times

Last updated: 27 Jan '10, 20:52

Is lane splitting illegal in San Francisco / California?

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