I too grew up in Calif. and spent a lot of time overseas. I always lane share when legal. So for more than 35 years I split lanes, but now being in Virginia I can tell you it pisses people off here because what I read it as they are stuck in traffic and why should I be able to move on when they can't. Second issue for the longest time bikes were all air cooled and it just wasn't real good for them to set in traffic and heat up.