Just to clarify the legality of lane splitting in California:
There is a provision of legality in the law seen here :
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html
Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
The key is that "safe and prudent" is left to the interpretation of the police officer. An officer might feel that 5mph is safe if traffic is at 0mph. Another officer might feel 15 over the flow of traffic at 35mph is prudent.
Is there a provision to make it legal? Yes. Can you be ticketed for something that seems fine to you and the general motorcycling public, absolutely.
Is it 100% legal and defined with limits that you can defend easily? No.
I have spent considerable time California from the Northern Red Woods to the Tijuana border. Everybody splits, even some CHP MC officers are splitting you at 45mph at 55. I've also had a couple of instances where a civilian splits me in my car and 20 minutes down the road he's on his back, bike on the side and a car has some new concaved door panel or alternative body styling. Accidents happen and when there are that many bikes on the road, MC accidents will be daily. Oh and splitting in Cali with the Bots Dots....takes a little to get used to guys.
Here in the east:
Do I split lanes in traffic? Gladly. I rarely have incidents besides the general jerk blocking my path. I love to pull up to their drivers side and knock on their window and ask "Hey buddy, since I'm stuck here now, can I hop in your car and enjoy the air conditioning, I'm fucking dying out here."
Or if my "lane" gets a little tight and I stop somebody might say to me, "Where do you think your going?" and I usually tell them "I'll be home in 5 minutes". Nothing too outlandish that makes them hate me, but I'm not looking to make a friend out of the situation either.
On the other hand others move over to make my journey run smoothly. Obviously some of these cagers are also riders and extend the courtesy and others are simply logical people that have an ounce of humanity left in their genetic composition. I'll give them a quick wave
, beep beep on the horn or if I am on their drivers side simply shout out "Thank you" or "Thanks buddy".
As far as police enforcement, I have never been stopped for splitting in any state. I have had a few cops roll down the shoulder as I split and I just keep on going and eventually an on-ramp or a narrow bridge blocks their path and I just keep going. The cops never had their lights on or anything, I guess they were just curious.