A guy riding his motorcycle was nearly killed a couple months back by another guy – in a car – who doesn’t like motorcycle riders. The attempted murder happened in California, where it’s legal for motorcycle riders to lane split, which means they can legally ride in between cars waiting at red lights and such to get to the head of the line.
Naturally, this enrages certain people for essentially the same reason that there are people in prison who will alert the guards to an attempted escape by another prisoner. If they can’t escape then no one can.
They are the same people who will clap when someone else gets put into prison for not paying “their” taxes.
In this case, it was a guy imprisoned in his car who decided to try to kill the motorcycle rider for having the audacity to pass him. Clovers get triggered by this. Sometimes, tot he extent that they will try to kill you.
It began with a berating, apparently because the motorcycle rider had the audacity to shake his head at the driver of the car, who had just tried to cut him off for lane splitting. “So I get off the bike and say ‘what’s going on, what’s your issue?'”
“I go first,” the driver told the motorcycle rider.
“You’re behind me.”
The motorcycle rider explains “that’s not how it works,” suggests therapy, gets back on his bike and proceeds on his way. Shortly, he pulls up to another signaled intersection and lane splits to the head of the line. Which – again – is as legal as passing a slowpoke in a passing zone. The extremelt triggered Clover in the car chases him down, lane splits with his car – and then rams the motorcycle from behind, knocking the rider off his bike onto the pavement.
It doesn’t end there. He tries to run the rider over, dragging him for several yards before finally backing up and taking off.
Luckily for the rider, he was wearing armored leathers and only suffered relatively minor injuries, including road rash and a knee gash that required stitching up. Even more luckily, he had a video camera mounted on his helmet that recorded the whole thing, so there’s no disputing what happened. Specifically, that it was not an “accident” but deliberate attempted murder – which is what the psycho Clover in the car, Gary Delandro, was ultimately charged with.
“It was a few seconds,” the rider said later. “It felt like forever. I started slipping, and I could see the undercarriage of the car . . . and I went from being mad to being scared.”
And almost dead.
Several things come to mind, the first of which is that legalities are often irrelevances. It is perfectly legal to lane split in CA. Just as it is perfectly legal to ride a bicycle (which is basically a motorcycle without the motor) on most roads everywhere else. But does being right insofar as the legalities mean you won’t end up on the road and possibly dead? When you’re riding a motorcycle or a bicycle you are in more or less the same position that an infantryman is in vs. a tank.
Being geared up helps. But it doesn’t equalize.
Perhaps the most dangerous thing, though, is the implicit vulnerability of the motorcycle rider and the cyclist. They are very much at the mercy of anyone in car, including those driven by people who do not have murderous intentions. Who run into them inadvertently. When they do that, they are in the wrong as far as the law is concerned. But who’s the one who ends up in the hospital?
Or the morgue?
And then there are the car drivers who do have murderous intentions. Who know they have the advantage and for exactly that reason take advantage of it. They use their car to bully the motorcycle rider or the cyclist because they feel they can. They are the kind of people who would otherwise never confront/attack someone else but because they feel armored up in their car, they feel strong – because they feel invulnerable. These are dangerous people for exactly that reason.
Lane splitting is legal – in CA. And it’s legal to ride a bicycle on most roads everywhere else. But it’s important to keep in the relevances and to ride accordingly. Assume ever car is driven by someone with murderous in intentions, even if most drivers are well-intended. One of the most common ways to get killed on a motorcycle is to assume you won’t get hit because you have the right of way – as for example when you proceed through a green light that a driver coming the other way didn’t notice has turned red. Or didn’t care that it did.
Will it matter – when you’re dead – that the car that turned left in front of you without signaling was in the wrong, legally?
Having a camera to record what happens is excellent insofar as far as establishing the facts.
But it won’t bring you back from the grave.
Riding paranoid might prevent you from being put there, though.
That means assuming every car is driven by a possibly murderous Clover. It means assuming the worst – and anticipating it. Never assume they see you. Never assume they care. And never make the mistake of assuming that being in the right as far as the law is concerned means a thing insofar as whether you live to ride another day.
. . .
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There are many stupid things which are legal in californy, one being lane splitting. It is not only asinine it reverses the accountability/responsibility relationship formerly observed, ie now with lane splitting the driver being passed becomes responsible for the safe passage of the bike rider.
That’s the law.
Just as with downhill skiing, the one passing is responsible for doing so in a safe manner, this should be the same for motorcycles. In addition, imagine a skier behind you immediately appearing alongside seemingly from nowhere and then blasting an air horn in your ear, similar to a roaring bike – very disconcerting, especially so in fast, heavy traffic.
I say this as a bike rider, and driver.
Lane splitting is another moronic CA practice.
Ahem,
Are you JOKING?? If some biker wants to lane split on me, I have NO problem….
If I’m supposed to be RESPONSIBLE?? WE have a HUGE problem!!
That is all I will say.
Lane splitting may only be legal in full in California, but it is my personal opinion that it is a fundamental matter of survival (absent the feels-seeking nutjob missiles) to do so, as engaging in it prevents the most fatal type of collision for a motorcyclist, the one they otherwise have the hardest time avoiding, being rear-ended by an inattentive motorist. Also
Filtering = Going to the head of the queue at a traffic light by traveling between car lanes.
Lane Splitting = Going between cars in traffic, preferably when the general flow of traffic is <20mph and you're going around 30mph. I know it happens at all speeds, but I am trying to avoid being rear-ended by inattentive drivers coming upon a significant traffic jam or slowdown.
I'd also point out that every motorcyclist that lane splits in traffic is occupying one less space in traffic than a car would be. Lane splitting should be encouraged as a means of reducing traffic congestion!
I agree with you, Dyno!
On a bike, having a way out (an escape) is how you stay alive. And – you’re right, again – about it helping to ease congestion, especially at lights with short signal timing. But there are those who disagree…
How could lane splitting even bother anyone at all? That’s nuts. That car driver guy should be executed. That was murder. Death penalty should be the law.
I rode a cruiser motorcycle for 10 years in my 30’s. It made me a better driver for sure. I was in my Firebird on my way home from work last week and narrowly avoided ending that Bird’s 50 year accident-free life. Was able to anticipate a driver not seeing me and pulling out in front of me. She did it and I was able to stop about a foot from her fender.
Some people have this mental issue to control others…you ride up behind someone turning left and instead of getting more left in the lane while waiting, they go more right up to the curb so you cant pass to the right.
I’ve been riding a long time, nearly daily, and there’s no doubt it’s turned into Mad Max out there on the roads. I hope the attempted murderer enjoys his prison boyfriend.
Lumping motorcyclists (bikers) with bicyclists (cyclists) is a bit off the mark. The two seem to be entirely different in the riding philosophies.
Cyclists seem to think all other vehicles must make way for them. They want to be treated as equals with cars, etc. by taking up an entire lane and expecting people to stay behind them while they pedal their sorry ass at 15mph in a 55mph zone. (talk about Cloverific!) But, when they come upon a red light they become pedestrians and cross lanes and streets as they see fit.
Bikers can be just as annoying. Although they seem to have the attitude that everyone is trying to kill them they still act with arrogant superiority, particularly in groups. More than once have I been following such a group trundling up the mountain on a two lane when a passing lane opens up they spread out to block both lanes to prevent anyone from making a legal pass.
And, of course, you have the Clovers.
It seems that Asshole Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
then you have scooter (vespa type) riders who make no changes from driving a car, taking the same risks without knowing the dangers
I think this kind of thing probably explains why motorcycle gangs evolved. Either stupid drivers who “didn’t see you” or assholes who will fuck with you, run you over, or run you off the road are going to be intimidated by a bunch of hairy, tattooed dudes riding in a pack on loud bikes, carrying weapons, and if you’re still stupid enough to run one of them over their buddies will beat the fuck out of you.
I was in California for work a couple of years ago. I was sitting at the front of the line for the left turn onto the freeway when a motorcycle filtered up beside me. He looked to be in a hurry, so I was going to wait for him to go when the light changed. As he was turning, someone in a Kia Soul ran the light and t-boned him. She hit him hard enough to ride up onto his bike. On the video you can see him realize she there right before she hit him. Keep your eyes open when you ride, folks.
“Lane splitting is not legal in Virginia. Lane splitting, also known as lane filtering, is the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes of traffic, and it is considered a form of reckless driving in Virginia”.
These guys get all the extra space, and if you get into an accident with them you’re an automatic murderer. So I give them like 2 extra car lengths beyond the proper following distance, and when pulling up to a light behind them, brake extra early and pull up slowly, and don’t “close up”, rather leaving them way more than 3 feet.
I don’t think it should be legal, given the consessions we make for their toys. But I resist the temptation to open a door in gridlocked traffic on them when they lane split anyway.
We’re in a prison planet, and yes, it’s annoying when they cut the jailhouse lunch line.
If I were on the bike, and it was legal, I’d think twice about cutting everyone up, riding like a supposed badass, for the reasons discribed in this article!
Looks like he’s about 5′ 4″. Little man with a Napoleon complex.
Hold on Eric, if motorcycles were invented today, they would not be allowed for saaaafety reasons.
A motorcycle rider assumes the inherent dangers. Just as the big rig driver knows it is not a miata.
Further, where one rides their bikes means everything. If you are gonna ride a sport bike in any metro city, you will inevitably have a problem. From law dogs to road ragers. But hey, I lived a long while at the foot of the Appalachians, and it was common to see a Life Flight helicopter every weekend go flying to a field near Neal’s Gap. I love that path. Had a supercharged Miata at the time, it was why I moved there, to be where the best curvy roads in GA were. However city bikers weren’t necessarily mountain bikers and they took their own selves out. There is a curve on Blood Mountain that I call Dead Man’s Curve. You will know it if you drive by, it has lots of crosses by the roadside. That wasnt road ragers, not even a cager looking at their sail fawn. Just idiots who thought they were invincible.
Inevitably, the fun police showed up more often and the Life Flight sightings decreased.
But the point here is that anyone can be in a cage and anyone can be on a bike. Sometimes I think a biker has a sense of superiority due to being more engaged with the operation of their vehicle. Indeed, a biker does have to be more aware, head on a swivel, etc, but that does not mean that me in my truck doesn’t do things to let the biker know that I know the biker is in my vicinity. If a bike is in front of me, I leave more distance than I would another vehicle. If the bike goes down for any reason, I want to stop and not run over a human being. When a bike comes up beside me, I make sure to let them see me looking at them in my side view mirror. I want the biker to know that I see them. I am aware of them.
However, I do not get any thanks or acknowlegement of my driving from bikers. Even if a biker was an asshat to me, I would never think about running the biker over because that would damage my truck. I love my truck, fuck the biker.
Now back to story at hand…. suggesting therapy to a likely liberal in Cali is not being an ambassador for motorcyclists. Catching the first bit of flack from a cager, I would have turned off, backed off, etc, for exactly the reason of this article, you do not know who you are gonna piss off. I carry a gun everyday and for the same reason, I try to identify situations that could lead to a confrontation and avoid it all together. If a situation does arise that force could come into play, I am always de-escalating the problem. I leave my ego at home. I need to be able to say without a doubt that I did not contribute to the problem.
No, this biker should not have been mowed down, legally, and morally. But the reality of pissing off the wrong person, can cost you your life, as well as other realities when one rides a bike. When you get on the bike, it might be the last time you get on a bike, even if you do everything right.
And further, the reality that i could look down at my sail fawn for a sec and run head on into a moose could take me out in my truck. It is all relative. Just as the DMV gave the mouth breather a license, the moose doesnt care about a license at all.
Im a journeyman. I understand that life is a journey and that all problems in life are on that journey. Literally and figuratively. You dont get robbed by the highwayman if you stay home.
Ironic. The prick in the car lives in Kommifornia, which is one of the least free places on earth; but rather than being enraged against his abusers, he is instead enraged against someone who has done him absolutely no harm, and who appears to be somewhat freer than he is….
I don’t see why people get so pissed over this. I did it when I used to have a bike. Drivers who overreact have impulse control problems, or perhaps its a bigger sign of a micro-penis issue.
The only problem I have with it, is its sometimes startling when they race up between you and the car next too you. Always worried they’re going to take off a mirror. But thats not a reason to go psycho-clover on anyone.
I don’t mind them doing it. It’s illegal here but it’s a stupid law.
It’s highly uncomfortable when they do it at a speed that is so high that they are already in front of me by the time I hear them coming up behind me & glance over. And this applies at 70+ mph, too. I’ve seen people do some really stupid stuff. If you want to do 150 I want to be going at least 125.
Basically I don’t want to accidentally kill them, or watch someone else do it, and it is far easier for me to make sure of that when our speeds are not grossly different. I’d say it starts to get a little dangerous at a differential of about 20mph, and borderline suicidal at ~30-40 mph.
Yeah it’s your funeral. I’ve been to those funerals. I can’t & wont stop you but I strongly advise against it & I don’t want to go to another one.
Same here. It makes me more nervous now than it did when I was young. I’m always pretty aware of them, even if they’re rocketing up out of nowhere. I never really rode my bike much past 1OO. Just too little room for error when it was just me and the pavement.
Was behind a guy once who was going sixty+ through some curvy roads that were 35mph. He hit some gravel, slid out, and went down into a ten foot deep rock filled ditch. We were first ones there. It took his riding buddy a minute to circle back. When I got down to him, his skull was split on top, [no helmet] and his lower leg was grossly disfigured. I tried keeping him calm but all he could do was swear and worry about the damage to his Harley.
I have no issues with splitting at reasonable speeds. I have a serious issue when an idiot on a zoomsplat goes whizzing past me and the guy I’m passing with a 40+mph overtaking speed between lanes.
Lane filtering just became legal where I live, although lane splitting is not. The state patrol I think asked, and the legislature maybe in a momentary lapse of intelligence, said you can’t open the flood gates all at once. Filtering is where you move up at stop lights with cars not moving. Splitting is like what this rider did. There is a huge need to trust each other splitting at speed, which I do not see happening. I’ve filtered a few times and drivers mostly fall into 1 of 3 categories. One is they understand, probably ride a moto themselves. Two is they are surprised and panic. Three is they are anti-motorcycle and try to squeeze you. It’s about 5%/60%/35% in my experience.
Wow. My grandfather used to get really angry at people who didn’t turn their headlights on in the rain (It is Florida state law!), and he’d flash his lights so much that once he broke the switch. The mechanic asked my grandmother if the grandkids broke it when they were playing…
But he’d never harm anyone, just complain bitterly for the next 5 miles. Turning the roads into Deathrace 2000 is a step up I never would have expected. I have to wonder if the old man in the second example has early dementia, I know my father is becoming very angry with people as he progresses.
Amen, RK –
I’m a non-confrontational guy by nature but had that been me in either of the two cases detailed in the article, I’d likely have ended the bastards. Legitimate self-defense.
I don’t trust car drivers or motorcycle riders even when I’m walking/crossing the street.
Never trust the other guy when on the street. Yes we are turning into a low trust society. This will occur more often especially when our population increases even more.
I ride a motorcycle and a bicycle. Looking at the quality of the car drivers out there; I’m not going to split lanes even if it’s legal. They should throw the book at the car driver though.
Having retired I’ve taken up cycling again to keep fit.
So far the traffic has been OK. I try to use cycle paths and shared paths or do some MTB when possible. We have a lot of these where I reside , Ayrshire Scotland.