Filtering through traffic

[canuck]

The question:
When traffic has stalled or jammed, there is usually opportunity for
motorcycles to filter through the stalled traffic and move ahead.
Is it safe and should it be allowed to be done ?

My opinion:
I have done this my whole life as a motorcycle enthusiast, and I think it should be instructed on all drivers ( cage hounds ) that this is allowed and should be aware of it.
I bring this question to the fellowship as on this past weekend this very scene played out, while filtering through the traffic on the shoulder, a fine gent cut me off and blocked me intentionally.
This was more bothersome for my wife as he almost put us in the ditch. I kindly stopped beside the car and what appeared to be his female companion, and let my wife verbally rape him. Very interesting how he just stared blindly forward and refused to acknowledge his actions with her.
Me I just smiled at his lovely passenger, tipped my hat ( nodded ) and watched her look embarrassingly at the floor.
Please let me know your thoughts.

[davidc]

I will make use of the motorcycle's small size to move ahead rather than wait behind a line of cars, some waiting to turn left. If it appears all are going straight, I do not generally position myself to get to the head of the pack. It depends.
As far as railing at azzholes, I have pretty much given that up - for the most part; every now and again a situation just begs for a string of cuss words. But so often do car drivers put me in a tight spot that I ignore it, accept it, and go on my way with my eyes open for the next butthead.

[BluesRider]

I hate all those nanny laws,like against lane splitting(as we call filtering here),and helmet laws.

Unfortunately,in California,where LS is legal and common,and the caging populace should be aware of bikes sharing their lanes,LSing riders still get taken out with regularity.

I shudder to think what would happen in states that suddenly had lane splitters,where they didn't before.Regardless of what kind of publicity,or info campaign was mounted.

Do I think LS should be legalized?I'll say a cautious yes.Do I think it should be encouraged as an everyday part of every riders arsenal?No,but it should be available to us if we need it.Just like we should have the right to ride bareheaded,if we need,or want to.

[Jimi X]

After what just happened to JBG here in Calgary, you still think it is a good idea?? Yesterday heading west on Glenmore Tr. a moron to my right changed lanes directly into my lane! No signal, didn't look!, Just Here I come deal with it. I don't usually come as unglued as this time, but this was 2 rides in a row some moron had just about run me off the road. Other cagers seen what happened, seen my reaction and gave me lots of room. I pulled up to his drivers window and gave a bluff kick to it. Well that got his attention,...He swerved to the right and fuking near hit the retaining wall. I then braked and waited for him. He pulled up onto the painted island where you would exit right to head north on Crowchild Tr. and parked. I cursed him out and with finger gesture I was on my way. No cager came within 5 or 6 vehicle lengths of my bike until I exited and headed north on 37 St. Good thing we can't carry sidearms in Canada. There would one less dumb prik in this world and I would be locked up in remand.

A rider wouldn't last one season in Calgary lane splitting. With the "Me First" "It's never my fault" attitude of the dweebs and pencil necked geeks in this city, some $hit for brains, text messager in a BMW or Audi would make you an organ donor in short order.

[canuck]

Jimi,

I can agree with your rage on this incident, as for me It has happened several times on our city highway's and bi-way's
this summer alone.
I do not agree with lane splitting as is done in California what I am speaking of is being able to filter through traffic when the traffic is at a stand still.
Two thing's seem to be brought attention to in your tale, one is lack of attention of other drivers and secondly is experience.
I think that since obtaining a licsense you need a test, unfortunately you only need to meet minimum requirements to pass this test, that is a problem of its own. It should be that people are retested every five years or so, both written and road test this would help with idiots not getting back on the road. We can also hope that Alberta passes a law about cell phone use and such while driving.
Only thing is, I wish I could only be speaking about cager's, I was passed on the inside shoulder on 22x last week by an idiot on a HD, his two companions stayed back and rode like respectful motorcycle enthusiasts. Not that I was going slow, doing 100km.
I also see all to often fellow motorcyclist doing stupid shite on the roads like deerfoot, things like dodging through traffic at break neck speeds during busy times, one of my personnel peev's is seeing riders in the wrong lane position, I hate this exspecially when I am driving the van or car, as you cannot see the motorcyclist and they tend to be in your blind spot at that point. We can rant and rant about the stupid thing's like deelerships selling 1200cc GSXR's to 16 year old kids who never road more than a moped or scooter before and etc..but we need to bring more awareness to everyone who is on the road.
I saw something a few weeks ago that made me smile deeply, heading north to red deer just before Airdrie there is a huge road sign that spans across all the lanes, it read in four foot high letters, be aware and share the road with motorcyclists. I didnt feel any safer going up QE2 but I said well they are trying.
Jimi, just be thankful you didnt become a meat sack spread across the road, and hopefully your message to the idiot will be imprinted in his mind forever, and he learned to shoulder check and be aware of others on the road.

[Jimi X]

Ha! The HD rider that passed you on the shoulder has $hit for brains. I have had it done to me as well. Then the pickle diks will stay just in front of you. Seems to be that some HD riders don't like looking at the brand "TRIUMPH" in front of them.

I wait for a safe place and make them look stupid as I pass them,.... with their tassels, streamers and fringes flapping in the air. Some of these guys belong in a circus.

[canuck]

Yes Jimi, I agree they do look stupid.
Maybe it was the sound of my BC pred's thumping hard against his eggshell ego while behind me..
Thouhgt the deep sounding base might fracture his fragile mind and in a move of panic or
self preservation he opted to act even stupider than he thought was possible.

Ya it was the second time for me that an HD "dude" pulled that. I was coming down 27 and three HD's one complete with tassels on the handle bars, were merging from Three Hills on to highway 27. they raced up to me and one pulled around rode in front of me while the other two rode side by each behind me. soon as we got into some corners I leaned over and throttled up and left them behind. I guess leaning a motorcycle and speeding up to exit a corner was new to them.

[Lake]

Filtering is 'legal' over here but it's often a grey area and only legal if you adhere to a number of conditions - most of which people ignore or don't know about.

I do it at low speed only (less than 20mph) and never pass at speed on the inside.