Yep, exactly Ron! 5-10MPH faster than than traffic IS what I'm talkin' about here, NOT to mention how much SAFER it is to be able to run up between cars at a red-lighted intersection, and then take off and leave all this possible hazards(cars) in your dust when the light changes to green. This second example is especially a good reason to allow lane-splitting...it provides far less instances of being caught in a cager's blind spot, AND less chance of being rear-ended at a stop light or stop sign. Coincidentally, something of which I recall has happened to a couple of our fellow members here at BA.com within the last year.
And re passing on the right shoulder: That is illegal in CA because the idea is that cagers would not think to look in their outside right rear-view mirror if they're already in the right lane, and thus they could turn right into a motorcyclist traveling on that section of road when the cager would wish to either exit the Freeway, OR on a surface street, if he were going to make a right turn. One can NOT count on cagers using their turn-indicators all time, ya know. And, that in CA, the right shoulder is considered solely for the use of disabled vehicles.
And yep, re your "forming opinions": Those kinds of videos DO tend to give the ERRONEOUS impression to people who aren't familiar with the idea of lane-splitting that it's "dangerous"...which, as I mentioned above, it can sometimes actually be more safe a maneuver than strictly adhering to "Lane Discipline", IF once again, it is performed correctly.
(...and the very reason I called those guys with the cameras on their helmets, "MORONS"!)
