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Maxj
 Junior Member
35 Posts
Warner Robins, GA
USA
Suzuki
2008 C50T Red/White
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 Posted - 08/03/2009 : 8:30 PM
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I am curious how other riders handle being stuck in multi-mile traffic back-ups on the interstate that were caused by an accident or narrowing down the number of lanes. Do you keep your position in the traffic (even in 90+ degree heat)or do you take advantage of your smaller size and either lane split or ride on the paved shoulder
I haven't had this happen on a bike yet, but I'm sure it is just a matter of time.
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Axiom2000
Moderator
974 Posts
[Mentor]
Georgetown, Delaware
USA
BMW
R1200RT/ R1200C
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Posted - 08/03/2009 : 8:44 PM
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| Lane splitting is not legal in my state and although not positive I doubt riding on the paved shoulder for no reason other than to avoid a back up is either. More than likely I am going to do just what everyone else is doing and that would be sit, sweat and wait. If it got bad enough I would pull well over to the side and find a nice shady spot to wait it out. |
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gdickelman
Moderator
1191 Posts
[Mentor]
Annandale, VA
USA
Moto Guzzi
California Vintage
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Posted - 08/03/2009 : 10:41 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Maxj
I am curious how other riders handle being stuck in multi-mile traffic back-ups on the interstate that were caused by an accident or narrowing down the number of lanes. Do you keep your position in the traffic (even in 90+ degree heat)or do you take advantage of your smaller size and either lane split or ride on the paved shoulder
I haven't had this happen on a bike yet, but I'm sure it is just a matter of time.
Unless you are in California and in areas where it is acceptable, do not lane split and do not use the shoulder. Consequences: A ticket, another accident (...with you as the victim, caused by an irate driver). Too often I see a police officer flying along the shoulder to get to the scene and/or to pounce on those who are using the shoulder inappropriately.
In such situations, I watch the temperature on the Ducati and shut it off at a stop if it starts climbing too high. I will also turn the Guzzi off rather than idle for too long without moving (...it doesn't have a temperature guage).
And, as Axiom2000 said, find a nice shady spot to pull over and wait it out. |
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Baggsy
Advanced Member
662 Posts
[Mentor]
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Suzuki
09 Wee & 01 Concours
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Posted - 08/03/2009 : 11:58 PM
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Here I've heard of people being charged with stunting.
You would then lose your bike and license for a week on the spot. |
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Night Train
Moderator
1336 Posts
[Mentor]
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Canada
Harley-Davidson
03 Electra Glide Std
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Posted - 08/04/2009 : 5:33 AM
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Depending on the circumstances, I may do one of several things when faced with a stop in a line of traffic due to construction or an accident. Once there are a couple vehicles stopped behind me, I will normally shut down my bike and dismount, stretch my legs a bit and try to get a look ahead to assess the cause of the delay. I'll exchange pleasantries with the drivers of the vehicles near me and engage in some friendly converstation. This helps pass the time and also adds some personal interaction with people who will have you surrounded when the traffic starts to move. It may not mean a whole lot but I've noticed that when traffic starts rolling after a delay, a lot of drivers seem to want to make up for the time they've just lost and take the first opportunity to pass as many vehicles as possible. By the personal interaction while stopped, I guess I am hoping that those closest to me will be a bit more tolerant of my presence ahead of them if and when they decide to pull out and pass.
Other times, I may just idle down along the paved shoulder keeping a close look out for anyone disembarking from their vehicle on the passenger side. When I do this, I normally am looking for other bikes in the lineup and will pull in with them for some comraderie.
Other times, I'll simply pull over to a shady spot if it is handy, and wait until traffic moves and let most, if not all, of it go ahead of me before I continue on my way.
On a multilane highway, you may not have a lot of choices, depending on which lane you find yourself in.
A thought to be considered is that a lot of drivers will be losing patience the longer the delay so it is best not to do anything that could cast a negative light on you. Lane splitting to gain a few positions in traffic could tick someone off supremely and I'd sooner not want to have to deal with someone who has a "grudge" against me when traffic starts rolling again. |
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SkootchNC
Advanced Member
607 Posts
[Mentor]
raleigh, north carolina
USA
Harley-Davidson
road glide
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Posted - 08/04/2009 : 6:10 AM
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I'm surprised no one mentioned this..... but the shoulder/break down lane, is often full of debris, so not only do you risk a ticket, more importantly you RISK tire damage.
I travel on interstates and in my local area, I know where the lane reductions are, and can avoid getting "wedged", Construction, and wrecks are often unavoidable. If I can exit the interstate for "surface roads" I will do so.... if I can't, then it's pull over find a shady spot, and relax.
Frank |
Edited by - SkootchNC on 08/05/2009 6:57 AM |
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RichC10
Standard Member
127 Posts
Summerville, SC
USA
Kawasaki
EX500
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Posted - 08/04/2009 : 6:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Maxj
I am curious how other riders handle being stuck in multi-mile traffic back-ups on the interstate that were caused by an accident or narrowing down the number of lanes. Do you keep your position in the traffic (even in 90+ degree heat)or do you take advantage of your smaller size and either lane split or ride on the paved shoulder
This has happened to me at least three times in the last few years. Lane splitting isn't legal here, so I just kick it up on the center stand and wait. There is usually enough time to take off the helmet and jacket and get comfortable. It's a great time to catch up on cell phone calls... The only exception to this that I would recommend is if there is a turn around in sight. I did think about cutting thru the median, but decided against it. A street bike cutting thru potentially wet grass seemed to have too much potential for embarrassment.....
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Alaric
Junior Member
25 Posts
St. Louis, MO
USA
Suzuki
Marauder 800
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Posted - 08/05/2009 : 3:51 PM
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I've only hit the shoulder and got past the scene once, and that was because I was watching a huge black cloud coming right towards me that was about to dump 2 inches of rain on us while we were sitting in traffic.
Normally I just sit and wait - if its a long wait, I shut the bike off, crack the helmet, light a cigarette, talk to the truck drivers', etc....
I hope you don't have an air-cooled bike though, because unless you shut it off or keep moving decently, you will overheat your engine in fairly short order.
Most bikes these days are oil cooled or radiator cooled, though, so it isn't as much of a problem as it used to be for bikers. |
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Maxj
Junior Member
35 Posts
Warner Robins, GA
USA
Suzuki
2008 C50T Red/White
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Posted - 08/05/2009 : 4:16 PM
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Thanks folks for your replies. Good advice - just chill and make the best of it.
Max |
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dogfish
Standard Member
100 Posts
Ashburn, VA
USA
Yamaha
Stratoliner
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Posted - 08/20/2009 : 11:15 AM
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Luckily, this hasn't happened too many times for me, but what I usually do is just stop, shut down the bike and throw out the kickstand.
As SkootchNC said, the shoulder is a bad idea, especially on a highway, due to the debris. It is also often a right of way for emergency vehicles. Definitely illegal unless you're being directed onto the shoulder by law enforcement to pass around an accident.
Lane splitting is not legal, as in most other states, and would be very difficult to do safely anyway on my large cruiser. |
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SloppyJalopy
New Member
10 Posts
Los Angeles, CA
USA
Ducati
08 Hypermotard
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Posted - 09/29/2009 : 8:00 PM
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| I'm in CA, but the ONLY time I split lanes is in these scenarios. It's one thing to zip through moving traffic, but I've seen guys who use the lax law to edge up to the front of traffic at standard stoplights. Unless I've got at least a 1/4 mile I can make up quickly and the cages are idle or barely moving, I sit and wait with the rest of the normals. |
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nedj10
Starting Member
5 Posts
Alpharetta, ga
USA
Yamaha
XS400 Seca
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Posted - 11/01/2009 : 1:58 PM
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As someone who routinely gets stuck in Atlanta stop n go traffic due to too many people trying to make not so legal left turns the one thing I would note here is, dress appropriately for your ride. Here in Atlanta we crest 90 degrees for 5 months out of the year during those months I wear a fully mesh jacket to keep all my armor in place but to keep my self from melting. With temp out of the way the only real problem is how long your left hand can deal with pulling and releasing your clutch lever and I am all for pulling to the side and resting if you find yourelf stalling the bike because your hand is too tired to release it slow enough(think moving a car length stopping for 2 minutes and repeat for 1 hour). Having not had more than an hour of stop n go to deal with yet that hasn't happened more than once and when it did I pulled into a gas station, had a coke and gave my left hand a rest.
ride comfortable, ride safe
Ned
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