I think Mr. Goldsman (‘“Lane sharing’ isn’t illegal”) might have missed the thrust of my July 23 letter. I only wanted to make the point that “splitting traffic” by motorcyclists is not, per se, illegal. On that point we seem to agree. Many car drivers, and maybe a few motorcyclists, may not have been aware of that fact.

However, like all motor vehicle maneuvers, it must be done within the confines of the law and, frankly, common sense.

With a 350-word limit, I thank Mr. Goldsman for expanding on some of the additional concerns that a motorcyclist must be aware of when splitting traffic.

I agree that the responsibility for safely passing cars rests solely with the biker. It therefore behooves the biker to avoid tailgating, blindspots and radical lane changes. If a motorcyclist is involved in an accident while splitting traffic, the fault will rest with him in almost every case.

Relative speed is also of major concern. Splitting traffic at 15 or more miles per hour above the speed of surrounding cars will eventually result in a collision. No biker’s reaction times are that good. And, as I pointed out, under the best of circumstances, car drivers do not see motorcycles.

Motorcyclists should never ride or split traffic as if other motorists do see them.

When I bought my first bike in 1973 the dealer made me watch a movie put out by Honda that stated simply that you should always ride as though you’re in the middle of a moving, 50foot diameter circle, inside of which everything is invisible.

My experience has shown that premise to be true.

Mr. Goldsman’s extensive legal treatise was incomplete, however. He omitted the most important cite: VC 22350, Basic Speed Law: “No person shall drive a vehicle . . . at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent . . . and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”

When a motorcyclist gets cited while splitting traffic, that’s the one most commonly charged.

It’s the traffic officer’s call, and he’s probably right. Chad Smith Newbury Park