MOTORCYCLES! And should they ride between the cars? That was our topic today! But before we get to the emails, here’s a website you should check out:

On May 14, they’re riding from Rancho Cucamonga to the Viet Nam Memorial in DC.

Gary, I tried contacting you this morning, but was told that I could only offer a 30-second "sound bite," on you question this morning on whether or not to allow motorcycles to split traffic. The responses you were getting, although showing a good spectrum of public comment, were wrong when it came to the facts. Just so you know, here are some of the basics: Lane Splitting is neither legal nor illegal in the state of California. There are no laws in the Vehicle Code that address MOTORCYCLES sharing lanes, only vehicles. The "law" about how fast a bike can go between the lanes does not exist. The California Highway Patrol has SUGGESTED that a safe speed to conduct this act is no more than 5 mph over the flow of traffic. There is nothing stating how fast/slow traffic has to be going at that time. They also SUGGEST this is done between the Number 1 and 2 lanes of traffic as, generally, the space beween those lanes is larger. Also, brace yourself, YES, the act of lane splitting is grudgingly supported by the California Highway Patrol to ease congestion and to make it easier for their motor officers to move through traffic. Should these riders be doing this at high speed? Absolutely not. Would it kill a motorist to move over to the right or left just a few inches to allow more space? Absolutely not. In over 30 years of riding I do split lanes, however, I am also better trained than most riders. The month of May has been designated as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the U.S. What needs to happen is that we need more driver training for both cars and motorcyclists. We need more vehicle drivers to live by the motto: Look Twice, Save A Life. Of course, we also need some of these "bikers" who ride above their experience level to slow down and stop all their "stunts" when they have no idea what they are doing. Just a few thoughts and info for you. Always enjoy your show, by the way. Scott McCool Managing Editor Easyriders magazine

Hi there! I was listening and heard your discussion regarding lane sharing. There is NO CA Vehicle Code that addresses lane splitting directly, Mr. McCool was right. I am a Certified Rider Coach for Motorcycle Rider Education in Camarillo CA. We conduct the CHP administered "Basic Rider Course" through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. This question has been brought up by numerous students and I have asked the CHP rep at our annual updates what the code is (as I myself could NOT locate in CVC). The CHP's official answer is this: Q"Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?" A "Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner." You can actually find this same answer on chp.ca.gov The bottom line is you must use proper judgement and accept the risk of lane splitting. It should only be done when necessary & safe. More often than not I see motorcyclists splitting lanes when traffic is moving in excess of 30 or 40mph. It's just not necessary...and more importantly, not safe. For more information on motorcycle safety, classes, laws and discussion folks can visit: www.motorideredu.com (local safety school for Ventura County) ca-msp.org (California Motorcyclist Safety Program) msf-usa.org (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) chp.ca.gov (CA Highway Patrol) Thanks! Corinna in Oxnard