The question: Can motorcyclists share lanes with other vehicles on the freeway, and if so, can they still drive the freeway speed limit?

Several Acorn readers are concerned that motorcyclists create a safety hazard by driving too fast between vehicles that are stuck in traffic on the freeway.

The answer: Motorcyclists can share the road with other vehicles, even in stopped traffic, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Motorcyclists can't, however, drive on the shoulders of the road, DMV officials said.

"Lane splitting is permissible as long as it's done in a safe and prudent manner," said Steve Reid, California Highway Patrol spokesperson.

But how fast can a motorcyclist travel while splitting lanes in traffic that's either stopped or moving very slowly?

"Would it be prudent for a motorcycle to be going (the speed limit or close to it) in stopand-go traffic?" Reid asked. "No, it wouldn't be. If an officer thinks (a motorcyclist is splitting lanes in slow moving traffic) at an unsafe speed, the officer could issue a citation and he'd have to certainly articulate that in court."

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers SQUEEZE PLAY-A motorcycle prepares to scoot between cars in traffic on the northbound 23 Freeway. Such lane splitting is legal, although many motorists find it irritating. This shot was taken from the Avenida de las Flores overpass. Still, several motorists said they've had close calls with motorcyclists when changing lanes in slow-moving traffic. Motorcyclists who split lanes often seem to come out of nowhere.

"When we look at collisions, we look at what factor-if you took (it) away-would have prevented the accident," Reid said.

"In this case, where motorcyclists are splitting traffic, it's not always a given that the motorcyclist is at fault if a collision occurred. There are two dynamics we look at. One: the lane splitting has to be done in a safe and prudent manner. And two: Motorists have an obligation to make a safe lane change."

Have a traffic-related ques- tion or concern? Send it to "Acorn Traffic Man" in care of the address on page 4 or by e- mail to pic@theacorn.com. We'll try to respond as soon as pos- sible.