motorcyclebloggers.com

Driving a car in California stop and go traffic and having a motorcycle come past me has scared me many times. Driving only a few miles per hour you expect everyone else to be driving at the same speed and will move right or left to see what is slowing traffic. Having a motorcycle come up behind you at a much greater speed is very unexpected. And with the majority of riders lacking in basic rider skills this is a recipe for disaster. Of course loud pipes save lives.

Should be legalized as its a safe way to travel in heavy traffic. Did it nearly every day living 15+ yrs in Calif. Still do it time to time here in Phx.

We’re one of the only countries in the world that haven’t embraced this energy and time saving philosophy in some form.

The only “real” reason people are against it, is the childish “no cutsies” excuse.

California statistics prove the risk no greater than normal (in-lane) riding …. but the general public doesn’t like it because it “scares” them. Also, see “no cutsies” above.

We take many risks while riding, but where’s the reward? The only one I know of is HOV lane privilege.

The AMA needs to lay off the over zealous persecution of helmet laws and start investing some of it’s resources in something that will truly benefit riders ….. Lane Splitting.

All we need is a federal law and education.

Rhino

Lane splitting in California is legal. The reason lane splitting is legal in California is; (a) It is safer for an unprotected biker to be able to split lanes in bumper to bumper traffic rather than being exposed to traffic which is a danger to bikers in those conditions; and (b) due to the fact that many motorcycles are air cooled, keeping motorcycles sitting in bumper to bumper traffic poses a safety risk to the motorcycle rider and other traffic by way of the motorcycle overheating and potentially catching on fire.

I was just staying in Kingman for the Laughlin River Run. I did not encounter any situations where I needed to lane split except on Casino Row in Laughlin. However I support lane splitting and sharing laws for all States.

Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.
http://www.bikerlawblog.com

[…] at motorcyclebloggers.com posed this question to his readers, and asked others to do the […]

I think this is a recipe for disaster. Traffic in Phoenix is made up of stressed-out, underpaid (Arizona is a “right to work” state.) crazy motorists that do NOT see other vehicles as having human beings in them. All the average Phoenix cager wants to do is get home, RIGHT NOW.. after a stressful day.

Now, add some young squids that will take such a thing to then scream between cars at 80+ mph. toss in the inevitible accidents..

And watch our insurance rates soar.

Not to mention that the local gov’t here has hinted that enacting a lane-splitting law will come with a helmet law included. I wear mine but believe in freedom of choice.
Chip

I’d support lane splitting. I would prefer it not tied to any pork legislation. I am a ATGATT kind of guy, but would veto a lane splitting law if tied to a helmet ruling. Keep separate issues separate! I think about the only time I’d be using a lane split is in rush hour when all the cars are already stopped for a light and I would be stuck for two or 3 red light cycles. I am in gear on an air cooled bike, just for the record. I am not too trusting of the average Phx area driver, my life depends on it!

Erich

Been riding for years both in states and Europe courtesy of US Army.
Lane splitting at a crawl while cars are stopped or moving very slowly is the safe way to go. AND it should be legalized! As other have noted, riding in Phoenix AKA Hell is painful while the car lemmings have A/C on freeze and trucks and cars pollute more that a bike.
Trying to keep rant down as I just got a ticket on a 112 degree day. So am now looking to see whats available w/Abate and the “elected” representatives on how to effect change.

Thanks,
Rey

I myself have been riding since I was an early teen. Even with the extensive years that I have been in the saddle, I would not feel comfortable splitting traffic and I don’t think it should be legal anywhere, ever. I hear all of the excuses like my bike gets hot, I get hot, I don’t want to wait in traffic, and my favorite, my bike might overheat and catch on fire. We chose to ride… That does not give us any special rights or privleges. When you chose to ride in Socal or Phoenix or where ever, you knew what the weather was. Don’t sit there and say you shouldn’t have to breath exhaust fumes. Those guys in the cars are the majority by a huge margin. Stop whining and get over it……You made the choice, everyone else should not have to adapt to your needs.

Frankly, I think “lane splitting” NEEDS to be adopted along with a helmet law. I have been riding in California for 15yrs and I do Lane Share only when traffic is stopped or lower than 20mph. I will only go over traffic by 5-10mph and always with both brakes covered. I have been in a few accidents where someone who didnt see me pulled in front of me to change lanes without warning… and the only reason that I am here to tell you about it today is because I was wearing a full face helmet and riding gear. Don’t kid yourselves, “lane sharing” isn’t a right of motorcycles, it’s a privilege granted by a handful of states, but protecting yourselves with the right gear (helmet mostly) and education for undertaking this dangerous driving strategy IS your right and responsibility. Happy, and Safe riding to you all.

Why is it that a bicycle can pass me in traffic and go to the front of the line at a stop light, but I can’t on a motorcycle?

I would love to be able to freely and safely cut through gridlock traffic at 10-15 mph and not sit stoppped on my bike roasting my chestnuts on the tank in 115 degree PHX summer weather, or more like 130-140 sitting on the new black rubberized asphalt surfaces of the freeways we have now. Of course it will always get abused as everything does, but if a law was written correctly and not vague, it could be an excellent opportunity for motorcyclists all through the valley. If anything, it helps the environment by not having that many more vehicles sitting and idling on the freeways for hours per day… 40mpg on my 2 wheeler in AZ summer isn’t such a bonus when I have AC in my truck and have to weigh saving a few bucks in gas against being fried on the 101 griddle twice a day, sucking exhaust fumes and CO the entire time… It would probably be healthier to be a smoker in that sense…

This is something that really needs to be put into place. I to am from California and I have always yielded to motorcycles splitting lanes, even before I started riding. I mean, who cares, it’s not like I was going anywhere anyway. I ride an air-cooled bike (katana) and there is no way I can sit in traffic for an hour in the middle of summer. Everyone should be wearing a helmet anyway, so if it comes attached with a helmet requirement, even better. Yes, there is an added risk, but if it can work in California…it can work here.