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From: hodges@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Letter in net.auto
Message-ID: <9306@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 23-Feb-86 00:09:16 EST
Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.9306
Posted: Sun Feb 23 00:09:16 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 24-Feb-86 01:32:42 EST
References: <192@copper.UUCP>
Reply-To: hodges@ucla-cs.UUCP (Jack Hodges)
Distribution: na
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 33

A number of years ago I was riding on the ventura freeway
with a woman and the temperature outside was maybe 105, and
we were in b/b traffic.  Being a basically considerate
driver, and not too experienced on a bike at the time I was
sitting there in the traffic.  The WOMAN finally said to
me "if we don't get going soon both us AND the bike are going
to burn".  She was right, and slowly but surely I began to split
lanes.  Many years later, I can only say to those who criticize
lane splitting: fine, don't do it.  But to REALLY criticize the
practice you have to experience it, and you have to know what
you are doing when you make that criticism.  All this blind
b.s. doesn't make it.  There are dangers in EVERY aspect of
biking, and splitting lanes has some I suppose.  But think of it
this way: we all know that they aren't looking for us anyway,
so being where they don't expect us to be is no more dangerous.
In L.A. the roads are good enough to trust some of the time, and the highways
are conducive to this type of practice.

Another point, which is basically unecessary is that I hate traffic.
Riding the line enables me to stay cool-headed in a high stress
situation.  I agree that drivers hate you for lane-splitting,
because they are stuck in traffic and you are not, or because they
are frightened by your proximity, or because they've had a bad day,
or whatever.  I have certainly had my run-ins with these types.  But
that doesn't get me off a bike, or out of the lanes.

I agree about lane splitting in town.  There is a lot going on and
usually more than can be handled easily.  I none-the-less split in
town as well; sharpens my senses.  But this is borderline and I
admit it.  Not for novices!

By the way, I ride an '83 interceptor (blue) w/ burnt sport elites
to the rim, but not from riding in town.