Look Who it Was Random video

Lanesplitting Chicago Rush Hour @ 20F (Civil Disobedience)

675 views · Published 15 January 2011 · 9:27 · Indexed 27 September 2026

Channel: LJ: The Friendly Hooligan · 2011 · Autos & Vehicles

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Legalize Lanesharing!  Until then, civil disobedience!  Do your small part to help alleviate the congestion, and be a safer rider.  Don't get squished; don't get trapped in the pack.

Earlier today when I didn't lanesplit, I ended up between cars where the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes (on a 50mph road) and the guy who was tailgating me almost hit me.  In the cold weather, my tires locked and had to swerve up the double yellow to avoid being an LJ sandwich.  The guy who was behind me came within inches of hitting the car ahead of me.  I had to ride the double yellow between opposing lanes of traffic (with a locked rear wheel) to avoid an accident.

If I had lanesplit at the last light and been ahead of all of them, this close call wouldn't have happened.  Bikes accelerate faster, and bikes are safer when not "in the pack."  It also allows the other cars to move forward, as I'm not taking up that space in the lane.

This video is meant to serve as an example of what I mean when I talk about lanesplitting/lanesharing. I am not talking about the idiots who weave in and out of traffic at high rates of speed.  What you see here is cautious, alert, and courteous.

Think of it as standing in line at the grocery store and you only have two items. Every else in line has a full cart.  The express lane is opened and you step over there.  "HEY! That's not fair!" says a lady with an overflowing cart.  "You're cutting!"  But you're not cutting.  You're forming a new line, one designed for people with fewer items.  She should be glad there's one less person in her own line.  Her line will move faster, too.  And if she has fewer items next time, she can use the express lane, too.

Motorcycles are not cars.  Do not expect them to pretend that they are.  It's like closing the express lane and making everyone wait in the same line, regardless of how many items they have, in the name of being "fair."  It's silly.

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