Building Confidence - So Cal Diamond Lanes

[finless]

So cool.... First commute into work today since getting my Spyder.
I commute 32 miles from west Orange County to El Segundo (1/2 mile from LAX airport) up the 405 freeway.

Since we have a diamond lane on that freeway (lane is for use only if 2 or more are in a car or motorcycles), the spyder is allowed in the diamond lane, this was one reason I wanted a spyder!
It cut my commute from 1 hour + to 35 minutes! :yes:

However I have to say it was a little freaky at first. I probably should have practiced riding in the diamond lane this weekend rather than doing it first thing this AM. I just did not think to do that while riding around Sunday.

Anyway the diamond lane on the 405 is a "add-on" lane. That is they took an old freeway and used the left shoulder to make the diamond lane. Thus it is not the same road bedding. They simply paved the shoulder to make it a lane. Thus there is a "groove" running down the right 1/4 of the lane. In a car if your right side tires are running on that groove, it will mess with you a little. So most people either run with the right tires near the double yellow separator line, or better drivers hug the divider wall (it's a solid wall that separates north vs south bound traffic).

Now 2 wheelers like to split lanes and use the section between the groove and the next lane to the right (standard traffic left lane), thus running up the double yellow seperator line. They do not like it much when cars are hugging the double yellow separator line to avoid the groove, as they cant get by easily.

OK so this AM I get in the diamond lane and figure out how to ride in it and avoid the groove. At first being timid I rode the right front tire between the groove and the double yellow line. However as standard traffic started to slow and then stop, this made me nervous to be passing them at 65 hugging the yellow line. So I went over the groove and started hugging the wall. Well "stupid me" kicked in with the death grip and micro managing the steering again :banghead:
After a little time I realized I was doing that and relaxed again. Over more time I started being comfortable hugging the wall so that is where I stayed the rest of the way except in areas you cant. Under some over passes the wall sticks out farther and thus the lane moves a little causing you to have to ride the groove a bit.
THE GOOD NEWS! Unlike a car, the spyder had no issue with the right front tire in the groove! I guess on a car when both the front and rear right tires are in the groove, it tosses you left and right a little. It did not do that on the spyder surprisingly. So while I will still avoid the groove anyway, it is good to know you're not going to get that left and right tossing around

Anyway another little learning story. It's all about building skills and many times the only way to do that is to just get out there and do it!

Only thing that did TICK me off a little..... I was doing 65 and a lady in a minivan was riding my rear end! She wanted to do 80. I kicked it up to 70 and said.,.. sorry that all I am going to do! I do not need my first ticket in 20 years to be on my new Spyder. She just kept riding my rear end even when I tapped the breaks a couple times. Finally at a diamond lane opening she went around me. I gave her a dirty look but really felt like giving her the finger and shooting some spyder venom on her

Bob

 

[TicketBait]

When I ride in the Diamond Lane and most everywhere now
I ride with High Beams on during daylight hours. Have seen
cars pull across double yellow to get in the carpool lane:yikes:

Oh and one more thing in CA you can not be pulling your trailer
in the diamond lane, had a friendly CHP let me know it was a
no-no with out pulling me over and giving me a ticket.

 

[finless]

I don't have a trailer yet but thanks for the tip! I will remember that.
Weird though they would have that law.

Bob

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Congratulations on your first run in the fast lane. I thought that Spyders weren't allowed in the diamond lane since they aren't considered motorcycles in California?

 

[finless]

Congratulations on your first run in the fast lane. I thought that Spyders weren't allowed in the diamond lane since they aren't considered motorcycles in California?

Right now they are considered motorcycles (HOV lane permitted) yet the DMV does not require a motorcycle license to ride a Spyder. Go figure! I think one day Ca. might catch on to this little loophole.

Bob

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

Right now they are considered motorcycles (HOV lane permitted) yet the DMV does not require a motorcycle license to ride a Spyder. Go figure! I think one day Ca. might catch on to this little loophole.

Bob

Ssssshhhh! Best to delete this post, before someone reads it and changes the law on you. :roflblack:


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[daveinva]

I used to work in El Segundo, but I lived MUCH closer, just down the road in Hermosa Beach. Didn't need to do the 405 for THAT commute, thank goodness.

Still, here in the D.C. area they have HOV lanes *and* some of the highways go *all* HOV during rush hour. Spyder goes anywhere anytime though, it's a great perk. :2thumbs:

 

[finless]

Dave, you didn't work for Xerox then did you?
I knew a Dave that worked there and moved to Va.

Coincidence?

Bob

 

[mcaccamise]

Bob it sound like you have taken the leap into the fast lane and improving your skills glad your enjoying the

:spyder2:

 

[daveinva]

Dave, you didn't work for Xerox then did you?
I knew a Dave that worked there and moved to Va.

Coincidence?

Bob

Nah, worked aerospace stuff. Only lived there a year and a half, long enough to learn that while I loved living on a SoCal beach, I hated working at my SoCal job :joke:, and thus moved back to this area.

Still love to visit, though!

 

[MRH]

I completely agree that it can be a bit scary to ride in the diamond lane, but I'd also say that if I do choose to ride in it I'd expect to go at the speed of traffic. Perhaps not 80, but not right at the speed limit either.

I've been there (and am still there from time to time), but if you ride in the fast lane, I personally think you have to be ready to ride at those speeds. I always helps if there is a way to pull over and let faster traffic by, but sometimes that isn't the case.

I say this with respect, and as my personal opinion.

 

[AWEInCA]

yep

I completely agree that it can be a bit scary to ride in the diamond lane, but I'd also say that if I do choose to ride in it I'd expect to go at the speed of traffic. Perhaps not 80, but not right at the speed limit either.

I've been there (and am still there from time to time), but if you ride in the fast lane, I personally think you have to be ready to ride at those speeds. I always helps if there is a way to pull over and let faster traffic by, but sometimes that isn't the case.

I say this with respect, and as my personal opinion.

:agree:

 

[finless]

Yes I agree on the go at speed of traffic thing. Same thing I do when driving a car. But 80 is just too crazy.
The cars a little farther up in front of me were not doing 80 either. I was keeping up with them while holding distance in case of the usual 405 panic stop. Once the mad mom in a minivan passed me she proceeded to ride the other cars rear ends!

But I agree not to be the slow idiot in the left lanes.

Bob

 

[MRH]

Yes I agree on the go at speed of traffic thing. Same thing I do when driving a car. But 80 is just too crazy.
The cars a little farther up in front of me were not doing 80 either. I was keeping up with them while holding distance in case of the usual 405 panic stop. Once the mad mom in a minivan passed me she proceeded to ride the other cars rear ends!

But I agree not to be the slow idiot in the left lanes.

Bob

It sounds like we are largely on the same page.