awyala
Guest
The fired one? Or the current one?
The fired one...I couldnt contain my driving ego any longer and had to write a tell all book.
The fired one? Or the current one?
"filtering" as colloquially understood is proceeding between two lanes of occupied traffic which is either stopped or at slow speed.
"lane splitting" is understood to be at slowish to regular moving speed.
I would argue "lane splitting" would begin when traffic exceeds 20 kph IMO. However for the sake of simplicity and due to the controversy it causes in this forum and Ontario, go with the simpler definition. If traffic is moving around you, you're splitting. We need to play with semantics here to intiate this awareness campaign. Shun the word splitting and promote the new and improved "filtering"
I would also argue "filtering" in moving traffic (cars moving to the left) is actually illegal, as this contravenes HTA passing rules. The passing lane must be clear of oncoming or overtaking traffic. So unless you filter past moving cars exclussively in the right lane, which reduces the amount of "safe" distance, you really are splitting hairs.
However if you see a car turned out to the right, or parked in the right lane, and you filter past, either a stopped or slow moving car (yourself in the right lane with enough room), then this is legal. The legal line comes when you cross into the left or oncoming lane to make a pass, and it is NOT clear of overtaking or oncoming traffic.
I repeat, it is stated in the HTA, unless the car in the left lane is signalling left, or is not moving, you cannot share a lane with a vehicle to your left!
So an instance where a full on moving filter would be legal is the following:
2 lanes in one direction. Car in right is slow moving, or indicating a right hand turn. Car in left, is moving slowing but signalling to make a left turn. You are NOT within 30 m of a pedestrian crossing!!!!
In this case it would be within the law to "filter" past these 2 moving vehicles to either side....IF there is sufficient room and the action is "safe"....which is of course subjective.
If however the 2 cars are stopped, then you can "filter" past them both even within 30m of a pedestrian crossing.
There are some subtle nuances to legal "filtering" in Ontario.
I would like to see numbers to show how many bikes are out there on a given day and if it would actually have any impact in congested areas. Some countries/cities have HUGE 2 wheel traffic every day. Does the GTA really have that many riders on a road in a given day to really change or help with congestion? I personally would not do it myself, cars don't see me as it is, and I ride where I should be riding, not in places they are expecting me to be even less.
I would like to see numbers to show how many bikes are out there on a given day and if it would actually have any impact in congested areas. Some countries/cities have HUGE 2 wheel traffic every day. Does the GTA really have that many riders on a road in a given day to really change or help with congestion? I personally would not do it myself, cars don't see me as it is, and I ride where I should be riding, not in places they are expecting me to be even less.
Very few here actually commute as well. I work for a company of 100 people, 40 have motorcycle license, and over 20 actually have bikes. but on any given day you will find between two and five bikes outside in the bike parking area. the most I have seen is eight.
The only numbers that I can give you are what I posted in another thread; that in 2008 the number of motorcycles (less than 200,000), that were registered in Ontario, represented less than 3% of the number of passenger vehicles (almost six and a half million), alone, that were registered. Total number of registered vehicles, of all types, was in excess of 8.6 million.
Personal observation tells me that nowhere near that percentage actively commute on their bikes.
Not very high numbers, don't think that would really hold in an argument saying it would help with the flow of traffic.
from the perspective of someone just rear ended by a driver who was not looking (40kph aprox) i like the idea of filtering at least one or 2 cars to get out of the danger zone
lane splitting not so much but more because i don't think drivers are ready to have to look for and pay more attention to bikes in canada
Nice start to putting something together. Now it is the represenitives that need to be convinced or all this is just talk. Forums like this have the power of numbers and can draw people together for a cause that benefits the community as a whole. It is in our numbers that we can make changes. If we do nothing nothing will ever change.
Are you saying that I am not entitled to having an opinion on the matter? You wouldn't be the first.
No of course not and you know it..gotta run right now but will check back when can..
Actually no, I didn't know that, after having read your comment. Let me clearly state my position then. It's not as simple as a yes/no answer. No truly thoughtful position really ever should be, when dealing with a complex issue. It's not a 'biased' opinion, it's 'my' opinion.
I would love to be able to do it, myself.
If the California model is followed, it could be done safely.
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I think this is because there they take driving seriously and here most cage drivers and some bikers do not. It starts with education and better training.