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 ...
Used to ride a M.C. too....
I split lanes now and again....Only when traffic was near grid-locked.
And you better be on your toes...because I had people see me coming and "squeeze me" on purpose..and crack their doors open like they were going to open them.
Those were exceptions....but it happened.
Riding a M.C. made me a much better defensive driver....that's for sure.
FRegards,
As far as being elitist ... yeah I would rather be seen pushing my Harley than be seen riding a Honda ... :<)
The nation needs more organ donors; I am in favor of this going nationwide.
My 25 year old, 16 valve V-4 shaft drive Honda motorcycle is probably as quiet as any car you drive (and much quicker & nimbler too) but I don't want your sympathy.
When are you going to start wearing a helmet? You car drivers with your head injuries, are causing my insurance rates to be higher than they should!
If you don't ride, or never have, maybe your opinions on the subject ain't worth squat? Since you really don't know [squat].
I agree with you there ... but once the drivers understand that it is legal and to expect it then they become more aware to it. In Ca a lot of drivers actually make room for the upcoming bike. In about 10 years of lane splitting I've only have had one or two near misses. Those were avoided by my greater awaremness and ability to get out of the way. If I had been in a car .... they would have hit me. BTW it's a felony to open a door in front of a lane splitting bike. Remember that that upcoming bike could easily be and very often is a CHP motorcycle cop. We actually get behind the CHP motorcycle and use him as an escort.. Usually at higher speed than we normally would split lanes
When driving, it’s important that EVERYONE play by the same rules. Don’t surprise us “cage drivers” by doing something we have no reason to expect or know about. If cars can’t split lanes, don’t expect us to expect someone else to.
My 25 year old, 16 valve V-4 shaft drive Honda motorcycle is probably as quiet as any car you drive.
Sort of an obsession with making fart noises that can be heard miles away.
I don’t claim to know squat about riding, but I do know a public nuisance when I hear one. All those Hondas and BMWs prove what crap the Harley riders are full of.
You call us biker ... we call you cagers ... sounds better than car'ers doesn't it? In any case ... it's not meant as a derogatory name.
As far as being elitist ... I guess you drive 55MPH on roads where the truckers have to ..right?. And you stay in the trucker lane when they have to ... right? After all using that "special priviledge" that is afforded cars to go 65 MPH and use the left lane when the truckers have to stay in the right lane would be "elitist"
I saw more accidents in my year in Cali than I have seen total in the other 21 years of driving.
Cali is so full of people who should not have a license its rediculous.
I didn’t even commute on the interstates there, I lived less than 3 miles from where I worked, so most of my commuting was along city streets, and el camino real, and I can tell you, I saw more accidents in that 1 year than anywhere else... At least every other day there was one. Most were minor, but still, the sheer stupidity of many drivers out there is amazing.
Then put your helmet on
There's the catch. We're talking American roads, where it takes little more than parallel parking right once to get a driver's license. In Germany, it takes about $2500 in formal training, plus a five-part all-season all-weather driving test to get a license; in addition, the culture there adheres to a very precise, orderly, mechanical driving style. Driven there myself, and was struck by how it resembled a well-oiled machine: people would merge so long as there was an inch to spare, EVERYONE _stayed_right_ if they weren't passing, and nobody got sloppy or obnoxious or stupid. Germans know how to DRIVE. "Lane splitting" makes sense there, where all drivers are fast but not stupid; here, 99% of drivers don't even know what it is, think it's illegal when they find out, and otherwise make it dangerous to do.
I do. My whole dang body fits in it.
Well then by your metaphor my awareness and mobility is my “helmet”
It's legal to "split-lanes" in CA.
he takes his changes who does that.
BTW CA drivers are required by law to be aware of lane splitting being that it is legal and it is even mentioned in the DMV drivers instruction handbook. So you have PLENTY of reason to expect it .. and not just for bikes ... blows that “special priviledge” argument all to hell ... but for cars as well if there is room. On wide residential streets you can make your own lane IN A CAR in Calif.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.