Comments on: Lane Splitting

By: LycanR1

LycanR1 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:32:14 +0000

I’m all for it as long as traffic is stopped or in an emergency. Just be extremely cautious, especially for bicyclists that are completely disregarding he traffic laws they are supposed to follow. To all the bicyclists here, the reason there are so few fatalities is that we all have heart attacks and nearly kill ourselves when you guys run red lights, turn across several car lanes at a light just turning green, and come beside my motorcycle while i am already occupying the lane and then running a red light.

I think the rule should be, if lane splitting was legal, bicyclists should not be eligible. Exhibit A: Bicyclist lane splits, runs a red light and now rides in the right lane resulting in impeded traffic. Classic, “I get across DC faster than the traffic” excuse. It’s one thing to have a fast zippy motorcycle run around me, but a bicycle? Stick to the law, follow it, it saves lives and for goodness sakes:

STOP AT RED LIGHTS. PERIOD.

By: Frank Eggers

Frank Eggers — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:34:00 +0000

According to what I’ve read, lane splitting is not legal in Texas. However, I’ve never ridden a motorcycle where lane splitting was legal.

Riding on the shoulder is illegal, but what is one supposed to do when there is an accident on the freeway that has the traffic totally stopped, the temperature is 95 degrees F, the sun is beating down, and one is wearing (hot) full protective gear? If one did not ride on the shoulder, one would probably die of heat stroke!!

By: Serge Issakov

Serge Issakov — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:59:15 +0000

Tom, you write that lane splitting is legal in California and some other states. What other states? And by “legal” do you mean there is no statute that explicitly makes lane splitting illegal, or what? I’ve seen claims that lane splitting is illegal in all states but California, even states that don’t have explicit statutes prohibiting lane splitting, because courts have ruled that lane splitting violates some other more general statute (like recklessness, or basic speed law, or unsafe lane change). In others, lane splitting is legal in California when it is done safely and prudently. But in other states, apparently, lane splitting is considered to never be safe, and, so, always illegal. If you could shed some light on this topic, it would be very helpful.

By: Dom

Dom — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:22:51 +0000

I love that Outside says only motorcylists breathe exhaust, because of course, car drivers are protected by their magical shiny box. Cabin filtration, if you have it, only eliminates soot, not carbon monoxide. Nice try though. I don’t lane split much - it’s under 30mph here in Cal with conditions permitting essentially, and those that are opposed are usually quickly smacked down by CHP - I’ve seen them pull people over who intentionally impede motorcyclists. Since many of the CHP are on motorcycles, this seems logical. A few years ago a bay area morning show encouraged ‘taking out’ lane splitting bikers - they were just imported to Cal; their show had originally been airing in Philadelphia. It became a national incident when Leon Penetta, a former transportation secretary got the FCC involved in maybe bringing a fine against the station for endangering peoples lives while they try to lighten the load on infrastructure. I’m patient with cars as a rider, but not politically - it’s very hard to understand why there are multiple perks for buying a ‘green’ car - carpool lane, no tolls, tax breaks… motorcycles generally egt better milage, way less (again with the infrastructure thing), take less parking space but still it’s nearly impossible to get a loan to buy a scooter to commute on, and insurance is outrageous, and if you can afford 6500-12000 dollas outright, you are probably hyper responsible, regardless of whether you look like a hooligan. And I have to say, I think that is why the east coast problmes with it - it’s also possible it’s a good idea since with snow, people would be even less prepared for smaler vehicles in their blindspots as it would be only part of the year when it would be happening.

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:35:54 +0000

Those of you that are members of Facebook, please join the Legalize Lane Sharing group at:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/113221/17952148?m=f9d0788c

This will help raise awareness with the AMA which has thus far not been very helpful.

By: MikeOnBike

MikeOnBike — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:13:12 +0000

Note that most states have a bicycle “far to the right” law which requires cyclists and motorists to split lanes, with some exceptions.

In many situations, such as near intersections, forcing cyclists to split lanes is riskier than allowing cyclists to use the full lane.

No other vehicle drivers, not even motorcyclists, not even slow vehicle drivers, are required to split lanes. Only bicyclists.

So for motorcyclists, we’re fretting over whether they’re even allowed to split lanes.

But for bicyclists, it’s the opposite problem. It’s assumed that bicyclists are required to split lanes in many situations, unless they can convince a police officer or judge (or honking motorist) that one of the exceptions applies.

By: Carlton Reid

Carlton Reid — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:55:14 +0000

Thanks for that, Joel. I’m amazed.

I sought clarification on the UK situation from Roger Geffen of the UK’s cycle advocacy org, CTC. It used to be a grey area but now very much isn’t. Lane splitting is allowed in UK. In latest Highway Code, drivers switching lanes are warned to watch out for cyclists.

Full details now updated in this article:
http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_law.php

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:53:27 +0000

Carlton:

I believe California is the only state in the U.S. that allows lane splitting/filtering. You might check around to verify, but I know it’s definitely illegal on most of the east coast.

And tom:

Thanks for reading your comments. cheers.

By: Lee Watkins

Lee Watkins — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:20:57 +0000

I should add that in 4 years driving in DC I’ve had 3 accidents (none were my fault) 2 of those cars were totaled. I’ve been nearly killed several times in crosswalks as well, mainly by trucks and buses. In my experience the bicycle is by far the safest way to get around so long as you stay out where your are visible, yield at signals, and proceed casually. If anything lane splitting makes you more visible - lots of people will take notice of you! while you can easily be overlooked over in the shoulder/bike-lane and catch a right-hook - like that dump truck that killed that 22yo Amherst college student who was interning at a non-profit. She was in the bike lane where she was “supposed to be”.

By: Lee Watkins

Lee Watkins — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:07:30 +0000

I both ride a bike and drive in DC and Baltimore on a regular basis. On a bicycle I can make it all the way from one side of the city to the other during rush hour in 15-20 minutes, provided I lane-split and treat all the signals as a yield sign. Meanwhile driving a car would take over an hour in rush hour, and I would be tempted to speed the parts that weren’t congested. Certainly the bike poses less danger to others, slows everyone else down less, saves me money, and still gets me there faster and in a better mood. I definitely always lane-split as much as possible. Thousands of people are doing this in DC every day, and you only get on average one cyclist fatality a year. The last cyclist who was killed in DC was in a marked bike lane in a door zone - not lane splitting. The one the year before that was using a side street divided by the main part of K street by a lane separator. In fact I can’t recall anyone killed lane-splitting here in recent history. Whenever I’m driving in traffic, I scoot over as far out of the way of cyclists as possible to make a good path for them. Wouldn’t want to spoil their happy ride. Sometimes motorists will do that for me as well, although many of them go absolutely crazy - luckily they are stuck in traffic! I figure the angry ones must not get out on a bicycle very often. The solution is to get more people out on bikes.