Posted on 03/31/2010 7:29:11 AM PDT by Dick Holmes
One barrier to widespread adoption of motorcycles as transportation in the USA is that of practical advantage. In most places, two-wheeled transport offers few advantages over the four-wheeled kind. That's partly because unlike almost every other country on Earth, the practice of "lane-splitting"-riding in between lanes of stopped or slow-moving vehicle traffic-is outlawed in what is allegedly the Home of the Free. That means that in every state but California, not only do motorcyclists have to endure the privations of motorcycle travel, they also have to bump along at the maddeningly slow pace of traffic-snarled trucks and automobiles, even though there is little evidence that the practice of lane-splitting (if done in a safe and reasonable fashion) is particularly dangerous.
So kudos to the Arizona legislature for honoring the Goldwater legacy of personal liberty tempered by individual responsibility with Arizona House Bill 2475. Introduced by Harley-Davidson-riding Representative Jerry Weiers (say "wires," R-District 12), the bill will legalize, for a one-year probationary period beginning January 1, 2011, lane-splitting in stopped traffic. It will only apply in counties with populations greater than 2 million (according to 2006 population estimates, this is just Maricopa county, with the Phoenix-Glendale-Scottsdale megalopolis). The bill sailed through the Transportation committee (which Weiers chairs) and the House Rules committee, and has been read to the State Senate as well. It's looking like there is little opposition to the bill so far, which makes sense: those who lean to the left should like the message of encouraging the lower environmental impact of motorcycle transportation, and those on the right should appreciate the individual-rights angle.
(Excerpt) Read more at motorcycledaily.com ...
Yep...In Cal many times ya see drivers moving over slightly when a bike is approaching from behind, on the line...No big deal, and shows the drivers here are paying much better attention.
The country is full of AHs.
That would be correct.
Sitting there in traffic while illegals get as close as possible with their bumper seems to be a sport.
But, yes, I don’t care for idiots, in general. Especially nanny-state idiots.
“Sorry, but I don’t believe your “Studies””
Facts do hinder people with agendas.
What you fail to understand, is that on any freeway there are curves. One of those bikes can come up on you in a split second out of a blind spot. Unless I keep my eyes continually in the rear view mirror, or have my head turned toward the back, I can’t possibly catch them.
I’m having to deal with stop and go traffic, trying to keep from rear ending someone in front of me, or a split second chance to change lanes, and you want me to solely concentrate on the traffic behind me.
That’s unrealistic, and a terrible dangerous mindset from you. It causes you to unrealistically think someone else will catch that glimpse of you in time, when it simply isn’t always possible.
Look at you. You blamed this on me, which clearly isn’t the case. You need to come to terms with that.
LOL, hey...
“There is evidence that traveling between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars (i.e., lane splitting) on multiple-lane roads (such as interstate highways) slightly reduces crash frequency compared with staying within the lane and moving with other traffic. Although lane splitting is allowed in just a few areas of the United States, notably California, it appears to be worthy of further study because it offers a means of reducing congestion in addition to possible safety benefits. It is widely used in many other countries.”
United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Motorcycle Safety Foundation (2000), National agenda for motorcycle safety, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
I agree that when a road becomes a parking lot, it's okay to split lane on a cycle. I've done it in CA, very nerve wracking, but less so than sitting there with high heat coming off the engine, sweating, and surrounded by cars/trucks driven by increasingly agitated/annoyed/*issed off drivers.
“Can’t figure out why you responded to my FJR picture with that.”
Because you were the first person from the bottom that wasnt a cager.
Those who defend lane splitting in the overwhelming majority of the states where it is currently illegal (and crow about disobeying current law) cannot be relied upon to respect any aspect of any other traffic law - current or future.
Present behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Why should I support additional privileges so they can pick and choose the ones that suit them?
Reminds me of bicyclists who demand more bike lanes because of the danger in riding among cars, but who at the same time ignore their repsponsibilities to pedestrians. A pretty consistent picuture of selfabsorption emerges almost immediately - in both cases.
“Freedom to put other’s lives at risk and make them liable for the stupid actions of the bikers given the insane liability laws that exist right now.”
I don’t ride a motorcycle. I have driven in California for 46 years.
From my experience, I have no problem with lane splitting.
There are safe, skilled motorcycle riders, and the opposite.
Motorcycles lose in collisions with four wheel vehicles, so I don’t feel threatened by them.
Who am I to deprive a safe motorcyclist from saving a few minutes in the morning going to work?
Conversely if a lane splitter is unsafe, that violates the law, just like unsafe driving in a four wheeled vehicle.
Reckless biker lane splitting isn’t what’s being legalized. What’s being legalized is lane splitting in stopped or very slow traffic. All those guys doing 80 between cars doing 30 will still be illegal, this is only legalizing guys doing 5 to 10 between cars doing 0 to 5.
Yeah, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is so agenda driven.
You’re a fool.
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