This Is the Gyro-Stabilized, Two-Wheeled Future of Transportation • Hacker News Board

Re: This Is the Gyro-Stabilized, Two-Wheeled Future of Transportation

#161

Post by jack-r-abbit » Wed, May 30, 2012, 5:18 PM UTC

barrkel wrote: post #144

jrockway wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I split lanes (San Francisco) to avoid being rear ended by an inattentive driver. Isn't that statistically the least likely way of getting hit on a two-wheeled vehicle? Drivers may be distracted, but even the most inattentive look in front of them.

It's more than that. Between myself and my girlfriend, both 100% powered two wheeler riders, the only times we've been hit by cars was rear-ending - my girlfriend twice, me only once. The typical situation is a junction; looking to make sure the way is clear, the car driver - for whatever reason - expects you to have already pulled away, and they pull away while not looking ahead, and instead looking for approaching…

I've come to understand there is a difference between "filtering" and "lane splitting". 100% on board with filtering to the front when traffic is stopped at a light. It is the weaving in and out of traffic that is still moving at a good clip that bothers me. When I'm driving in 40mph traffic it is quite unsettling to suddenly encounter a vehicle moving in between other vehicles at 50mph.

Re: This Is the Gyro-Stabilized, Two-Wheeled Future of Transportation

#162

Post by webnrrd2k » Wed, May 30, 2012, 6:04 PM UTC

jack-r-abbit wrote: post #61

jff wrote: post #32

All the seating and cargo capacity of a motorcycle, with the visibility of a car! There's no way in hell I'd split lanes on that thing; when I'm on my motorcycle, I have no obstructions and can see all around me, and definitely know where the edges of my bike are. This looks like a low-slung claustrophobic nightmare. Even if it is a very technically cool thing.

As I understand it, lane splitting is illegal in many U.S. states, but is considered lawful in California (though there is no law for or against it... it is simply "allowed"). I might be wrong but I thought the main justification for lane splitting was due to the air-cooled aspect of motorcycles and the harm that can come from sitting in stalled/slow traffic (although, where I live I see this get abused everyday by m…

It's been a long time since I rode motorcycles, but I believe that, legally speaking, it works like this: In California you can split lanes, but you can't pass on the right in the same lane. In other words, if you pass on the right side of a car in the same lane then you might get a ticket, but it's legal to pass on the left side of a car in the same lane.

Re: This Is the Gyro-Stabilized, Two-Wheeled Future of Transportation

#163

Post by ktizo » Wed, May 30, 2012, 7:42 PM UTC

tmuir wrote: post #157

ktizo wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lever attached to a hinged stand is all the necessary complexity required to stop it falling over when stopped.

Are you talking about an automatic kickstand? What if you stop next to a pothole?

I'm thinking about some metal tubing welded a bit like a splayed out capital 'H', that is the width of the bike and hinged along the middle bar of the 'H', which you can push forward with your foot and has a spring on it. Attach rubber ends if you want to make it fancy.

Re: This Is the Gyro-Stabilized, Two-Wheeled Future of Transportation

#164

Post by jack-r-abbit » Thu, May 31, 2012, 5:40 AM UTC

webnrrd2k wrote: post #162

jack-r-abbit wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I understand it, lane splitting is illegal in many U.S. states, but is considered lawful in California (though there is no law for or against it... it is simply "allowed"). I might be wrong but I thought the main justification for lane splitting was due to the air-cooled aspect of motorcycles and the harm that can come from sitting in stalled/slow traffic (although, where I live I see this get abused everyday by m…

It's been a long time since I rode motorcycles, but I believe that, legally speaking, it works like this: In California you can split lanes, but you can't pass on the right in the same lane. In other words, if you pass on the right side of a car in the same lane then you might get a ticket, but it's legal to pass on the left side of a car in the same lane.

ha... I saw at least 5 violations of that one on my drive home this evening.