SB 288 - Motorcycle "lane splitting" bill

[bnc]

I can see opponents of this bill using the "blood in the streets" argument, which is as silly here as it is with gun laws. Splitting lanes when traffic is going 20mph or less and the bike is going no more than 5mph above traffic is perfectly safe and quite tame.

I doubt you will find too many people who disagree with the part that I bolded. The problem arises when irresponsible bikers lane split while travelling at speeds which are significantly greater than 5 mph over the speed of other traffic, as happens in places like California. I am envisioning somewhere like Houston on the Westpark Tollway where you have frequent elevation changes in the roadway and resulting blind spots just after each one. A motorcycle would have to be going at a pretty low speed to safely stop if a car was in the middle of two lanes just over that ridge (as frequently happens while trying to change lanes in stopped traffic). If bikers overall are going to be responsible with this, then I think it is fine. But I have personally seen a not insignificant number of very irresponsible bikers out there (including the moron who passed me on the right shoulder while I was going 75mph and then turned and pointed a camera inside my car).

Net-net, I would be in favor of this law with the restrictions noted (20 mph max speed, and a differential of 5 mph or less), and a presumption of liability on the biker who is doing this for any collisions with vehicles.

The problem I see? It will be extraordinarily difficult if not impossible to enforce the 20mph/5mph criteria. And therein lies the rub.

I will freely admit that I can't cite the California law at the time I lived there, but I have hundreds of thousands of miles logged on Southern California freeways and can state, without reservation, that speeds as low as 35mph routinely saw lane splitting, and that lane splitting at only 5mph above ambient traffic speeds would have been an absolute joke. At 20mph/5mph, the rider would have had other bikers on his tail leaning on their horns for him to speed up. And if he didn't speed up, the impatient rider would cut between the gap you left between you and the car in front of you in order to get an empty...er, semi-lane.

From what I understand, California law did not criminalize lane splitting, nor did it legalize it; it was unregulated. Just recently the CA legislature finally passed a bill that would make it officially legal, but I don't know the details of it.

As far as the 20/5 criteria, you're right, but I don't see how that differs from the inability to enforce regular speed limits and all the other traffic laws.

[PBratton]

As a life long biker, I see this to be an incredibly dangerous thing to do.

No offense meant, but that's an opinion and not correct. It's been proven to be safe in multiple studies. It's safer for the biker and increases traffic flow for all.

Note the restrictions on lane splitting. We're not talking about overtaking someone at highway speeds. Overall speed of traffic must be under 20 MPH and speed differential of bike to cars must be less than 5 MPH.

Think stop lights or bumper to bumper freeway and the bike idles by in first with little throttle, if any.

You are correct sir. It is my opinion. I still disagree with the practice. However, I respect your view. I'll keep to my lane.

[hankintexas]

The biggest problem I've seen in Kalifornia is the idiots riding bikes (not all riders, just the idiots). Traffic will be crawling and here comes some idiot that thinks he can line ride at 60 or 70 mph. I've seen a few get splattered that way. Speed differential can be a killer.

I believe the law in Cali only allowed 15mph over the stalled speed of traffic, not to exceed the posted speed limit if I remember correctly. I used to do it all the time when I was stationed there. The only problem I had was when people in cars did not know the law and thought they would block or close the lanes.

[treadlightly]

I hope this bill passes. A few weeks back, I started watching every motorcycle "how to" video I could find. Lane-splitting, counter-steering and braking are popular videos. I see the advantage of lane-splitting for bikers and motorists.

BTW, my quest to return to riding after decades away is over.

Chas.

Bikes are fine things. My wife talked me into a Gold Wing because of the back seat. I had Traxxion Dynamics "Full Monty" suspension mods installed. She got the luxury bike she wanted, I got the sporty bike I wanted.

Ride safe, y'all.

[thatguyoverthere]

I've been riding on the road since I was 13. That was exactly 50 years ago. I've seen it done, but I don't do it. Don't plan on doing it if it becomes legal. Oh, I trust my abilities just fine. It's all you other folks out there driving on the road that I worry about.

Just remember: half the drivers out there are below average!

[RHenriksen]

I hope this bill passes. A few weeks back, I started watching every motorcycle "how to" video I could find. Lane-splitting, counter-steering and braking are popular videos. I see the advantage of lane-splitting for bikers and motorists.

BTW, my quest to return to riding after decades away is over.

Chas.

I can't tell if this means your quest has been abandoned, or completed w. a new scooter in the garage?

I lived in CA for a year in the 80s, with a motorcycle as my only means of transportation. Rode 17,000 miles on that bike in a single year! Did plenty of lane splitting, and loved it.

I'm always puzzled by the people who oppose a very restrictive bill legalizing splitting (traffic moving 20 mph or slower, speed differential no more than 5 mph) because some idiot riders exceed that. By this logic, we shouldn't set freeway speed limits at 60 mph, because some people will drive 90?

Another canard is that because somewhere, someone, might get hurt splitting (regardless of the offsetting benefits), we shouldn't allow it. The same one-sided arguments are used by MDA - because sometimes unfortunate things happen to good people w. firearms, we should throw the baby out w. the bath water.

Yet another is that because one person wouldn't personally feel comfortable splitting, it shouldn't be legalized. No matter that legalizing it... does not somehow make it compulsory! If you don't want to, by all means don't. But let other adults make their own risk/reward decisions for themselves. Just like we do with the exercise of your second amendment rights.

Sure, it *can* be done incorrectly. Sure, it *can* be done in an unsafe manner. That applies to driving a car down an 8 lane highway as well; but we don't make that illegal.

The benefits of splitting flow to *both* riders, *and* cars/trucks. The rest of the world has been doing it since the internal combustion engine first came into being! Let's pull our heads out of the sand & give it a try

[ScottDLS]

...
I have even been told that it's illegal to ride a bicycle while intoxicated... Unlike operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a bicycle puts virtually no one at risk.... And this also begs the question... if you get your DL license suspended or revoked for BWI....can you still ride your bicycle...

In Germany your DL will be suspended if cought riding a bycicle on a public road or pedestrian walkway while intoxicated. The additional fines and fees are steep too. Their reasoning is simply the fact you could hurt yourself and cause issues for others. I am certain the same aplies for other EU countries as well.

I've been told it constitutes DWI in Texas too, if you are bicycling on a public road.

[Man from Nantucket]

It seems reasonable, as long as the lane splitters accept all liability for any consequences of using a lane that's already in use.

[uthornsfan]

Can we please call it filtering.

[OlBill]

I disagree. I think this is a bad law.

[jason812]

So I guess this guy does it wrong?

[uthornsfan]

I disagree. I think this is a bad law.

Everybodys wrong everyonce in a while :)

[NNT]

I have been in Texas for 10 years and miss lane splitting. I had an urban commute for about 5 years of 25 miles each way. I split lanes almost daily, and by far (when done correctly) felt safer between cars than behind them. Most cars never knew I was there until I was past, at reasonable speeds. Watching for gaps that cars can jump into was the biggest thing. I have friends who were rear-ended on bikes while not sharing lanes. I saw one nasty accident when a bike tried to shoot a gap and missed... My first 5 years here I commuted 40 miles a day. I gave up commuting on the bike when traffic got so congested I no longer felt safe in line with the cars.

I don't know the current law in CA (the only state I know that it is legal) but it used to be worded on the CHP website:

there is no law against sharing lanes, as long as it is done safely and prudently.

Very often you would see a moto-cop splitting lanes with up to 5 bikes right behind like a mini parade.

No speed requirements, etc. But any LEO could site you for wreckless riding any time they felt the need. bikes that fly through traffic and cut in and out give the rest of us a bad name.

[bmwrdr]

I generally don't think motorcycles should have any more rights on the road than any other vehicle. I would be curious to see the sources for this idea that it is a help to safety.

Also, as much as I see people jumping between lanes in Houston traffic, I can see this causing more traffic problems in heavy traffic than it solves.

MechAg94 - It's not about having more rights (although as motorcyclists we must watch out more carefully for ourselves since we are not protected by a cage). This lessens traffic for EVERYONE. It doesn't slow car traffic by moving to the front and it eases congestion by taking the number of vehicles out of the line.

... motorcycles also have a smaller carbon footprint and if one splits lanes he may make it to work on time while the car driver is late. Because there is no A/C on a motorcycle moving is essential to avoid a heat stroke and therefor it should be allowed to split lanes.

[Liberty]

... motorcycles also have a smaller carbon footprint and if one splits lanes he may make it to work on time while the car driver is late. Because there is no A/C on a motorcycle moving is essential to avoid a heat stroke and therefor it should be allowed to split lanes.

I've heard people complain about the bikes themselves overheating due to lack of airflow.