There are some inherent benefits to riding on two wheels. You're faster and more nimble. The motorcycle tends to be more economic when it comes to gas consumption, and, of course, you have a much slimmer profile while in traffic.

Which is great when you live in a state or country where it is perfectly legal to filter, or split lanes. But it can also be a negative, when you consider how often car drivers fail to see what's plainly in front of (or behind) them. In Motorcycle Safety Foundation BasicRider Courses we are taught about such inattentional blindness, and because motorcycles are much smaller, and mostly unprotected, they should be given special considerations while riding in traffic. But make no mistake, lane splitting isn't just advantageous to motorcyclists.

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Filtering Relieves Traffic Congestion

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Vyacheslav Argenberg
Rider sitting in traffic

Car drivers in the US, or anywhere motorcycles are primarily a hobby rather than a mainstream way of commuting, seem to have an adversarial role with motorcyclists.

They see motorcyclists as cheaters, when they get around traffic by lane splitting. It is a dangerous frame of mind, that can result in accidents and acts of road rage. But what car drivers fail to see is that when motorcycle filtering happens, there's one less vehicle backed up in front or behind them. Legal lane splitting moves traffic forward faster, but yes, the way some riders lane split can be perceived as negative. They smack mirrors, ride dangerously fast in slower traffic, and act with complete disregard for safety and traffic laws. And though they are a minority, they are a loud one, which gives the rest of the motorcycle community a black eye. But there are some places in the States where lane filtering has become law, like California. And when something becomes common, with widespread education policies in place, the roads become safer. Cars move out of the way, to let riders through, and in return, riders don't behave aggressively toward cars. There's a mutual give and take, because everyone knows that when filtering works, L.A. traffic is a little more bearable.

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Lane Splitting Is Safer For The Rider

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love krittaya
Crashed motorcycle lying on the road after an accident

If a motorcycle isn't in front of you when it crashes, does it still make a sound? Yes it does, but if it had filtered to the front of the line by the time you slammed on your brakes there wouldn't have been an accident in the first place. Bottom line is, motorcycle riders are extremely vulnerable in traffic. We can wear all the protective gear in the world, but we'll never win against a four wheeled vehicle.

As much as lane splitting benefits everyone in traffic, there's no getting around the fact that motorcyclists have the most to gain from these legislatures. Their lives are on the line, and any additional legal help that can be given to them, would be most welcome. In a world where autonomous cars are more prevalent every day and distracted driving is on the rise due to smartphone use, legal lane splitting can make a life or death difference. Once these laws become commonplace, and drivers get used to riders next to them, motorcycles will be more visible. And visibility is the key to safety.

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Motorcycles And Riders Won't Overheat

Motorcycle_engine harley davidson
Bengt Nyman
Closeup of motorcycle engine in chrome.

OK, this one's mostly for riders with older, air-cooled bikes. But to be fair, there are a lot of them, and it's not like they don't make air-cooled motorcycles anymore. There are plenty of newer models on the market, and there's nothing like sitting in traffic, on a hot summer day, blasting your legs with engine heat that could cook you an omelet in under a minute.

It's not exactly great for the engine either. They can overheat and seize, effectively leaving you stranded in the middle of the road. Now you're dehydrated, your legs have third degree burns, and you have to push a 600 lb Harley-Davidson to the side of the road without getting hit by a car. It's not an uncommon scenario. It can happen to any air-cooled bikes and those water-cooled ones with faulty cooling systems.

Gets More People Riding

Group of bikers with Kawasakis in a meeting
Ford Carson via Flickr
A group of bikers with Kawasakis in a meeting

Have you ever sat in traffic in your car and had a motorcycle ride past you, between lanes, to the head of the line? Were you angry or envious? Probably both. Well guess what, there's no reason why you can't ride a motorcycle too. Motorcycle beginner classes are offered for free through the department of transportation in multiple states. You also have the option to take a class through Harley-Davidson and various other private schools. And it's a good thing that they're so readily available, because if lane-splitting laws go into effect in more places, people will undoubtedly see the benefits of commuting on two wheels.

People will see that riding will get them to work or home much faster, and with the introduction of such laws, there will inevitably be an official push for driver/motorcycle awareness education. That type of domino effect can only be a good thing for everyone on the road. And let's not forget the number one reason why it would be great to have more riders on the road. It's obvious. Riding a motorcycle is just more fun, and with legal lane filtering, it can be a lot safer too.