Using the shoulder, what's the big deal?

Hey

HEY, they're pissed off because they all think they're all law abiders sitting there like Everyman going Nowhere, and they'd get busted doing what you're doing, and they don't approve of your freedom, that's why they get mad and because they don't have the BALLS to ride a motorcycle!!

 

Hey

Those dolts are upset because they think they'd get busted doing that but mostly because they're jealous of your freedom and don't have the baLLS to ride a motorcycle!!!

 

At the end of a hot days ride hit a nasty peak hour traffic jam on the way home, with me cooking and the VFR at 227f I decided to follow an outlaw bikie on the shoulder around the main stoppage. With this thread in mind thought I'd look for hostile re-actions from any car drivers but didn't observe anything of note and when it came time to merge back with traffic flow a driver automatically let me in without problem...

Maybe this is a non issue with only the odd Loon bothered by it or maybe they just took pity on a hot day ?

 

I tend to avoid the shoulder, mainly because I have replaced 4 rear tires in less than 2 years due to nails and screws, but I will split in heavy traffic. I don't think it's fair that it is legal there and illegal here, you are just making your way out of a jam and avoiding thermal issues.

 

I've never had a reaction like that before, and I've done it probably 10 times in the past. Yeah, it was actually 2 loonies in the same jam, pretty weird. Just to clarify, it wasnt a breakdown lane - that's on the right side of the interstate. What I ride on when I do this is the half lane on the left, which is big enough for pedestrians and motorcycles only.

 

There are a lot of motor vehicle drivers that get mad when motorcyclist splint lanes and pass on shoulders to get around stopped traffic. Probably because they are waiting in line and seeing someone getting around them make them feel that someone is taking cuts by breaking the law. This may be subjective, but I have seen others than just motorcyclist do this.

Each state has deemed what is an unlawful act. It can be written in a "grey area" of explanation and many times the law is up to the interpretation of law enforcement of what is considering unlawful.

While not all roads have shoulders, those roads that have shoulders are designed for a purpose. If a vehicle breaks down, it will have a place to pull over or if an emergency is approaching, this gives vehicles a place to pull aside without chocking the main routes. On some interstates, some shoulders are designed for slow truck lane on up hill grades.

If you decide to use the shoulder for a pass, please consider safety first. Some cars do not have right sided mirrors and lots of debris tends to accumulate on the shoulders of roads.

 

Acutally yesterdays was only on a half lane shoulder and not big enough for a car to use, its not legal here but seems tolerated although with my slow speed (5-10mph) and scanning for traffic and road crap if a Police was up ahead I wouldn't pass it mind with yesterdays heat and stoppage getting off a pushing would have been my next option.