What If We Did Not Lane Split?
There are exactly 865,000 registered motorcycles in Istanbul traffic alone. If we lined all these motorcycles up back to back it would create a road stretching all the way from here to India. Imagine if all these motorcycles stopped lane splitting and waited in their own lanes just like cars while leaving a safe following distance. In such a scenario your entry to the bridge in Istanbul would start on average 3 kilometers further back. In Izmir you wouldn't even be able to get from Bornova to Alsancak in 45 minutes and your evening traffic in Ankara would turn into an absolute nightmare. Motorcycles smoothly flowing through the gaps actually reduce the waiting time for cars incredibly.
Safety First and Rear-End Collision Risks
This is not just about traffic density because there is also a highly critical safety aspect. We do not have a protective steel cabin surrounding us. When we wait like a car in stop-and-go traffic a distracted driver approaching from behind and forgetting to brake can have fatal consequences for us. We have to use the safe gaps between lanes to avoid getting crushed between two-ton vehicles and to eliminate the risk of rear-end collisions. This maneuver is not a luxury but a pure survival reflex.
Lane Filtering Laws and Mutual Understanding
Riding between lanes known in the literature as lane filtering is legally permitted in many parts of Europe and America. In Turkey while this issue has not yet been put into an exact legal framework it is not strictly banned either. We can easily handle this situation in traffic among ourselves with respect and understanding. Never forget that every motorcyclist gliding past you is actually shortening your journey. Perhaps next time you see us you will offer a silent thank you instead of getting angry. We wish everyone a safe and smooth commute.