Lane splitting study

[Arizona Wayne]

You put into words readable that I'm not capable of, Mike.  Those that have not BTDT don't understand. It's a sphere of knowledge they have no experience of so they automatically don't know it exists.  In Europe it's accepted.  Here only in California.  And now some know nothings are trying to stop it from existing there due to their ignorance on the subject.

Kind of reminds me when those in charge believed the earth was flat. 

[Moz]

lane 'filtering' is legal here in Oz in some states - lane 'splitting' isn't 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWh0t1fX_EY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJaXE191nj4

http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/motorcyclists/lanefiltering/
What is lane filtering?

Lane filtering is when a motorcycle rider moves alongside vehicles that have either stopped or are moving slowly (less than 30 km/h).
What motorcyclists need to know about safe lane filtering

    Motorcycle lane filtering laws now apply in NSW, with strict conditions
    Motorcyclists must only lane filter when travelling less than 30 km/h
    Motorcyclists can lane filter through stationary and slow moving traffic
    Motorcyclists caught moving between traffic at over 30km/h  face heavy fines and three demerit points under a new offence called ‘lane splitting’
    It will be illegal for motorcyclists to lane filter:
        next to the kerb
        next to parked vehicles
        in school zones
    Motorcyclists should always look out for pedestrians and cyclists
    Motorcyclists should not lane filter around heavy vehicles and buses
    Only fully licensed motorcyclists are allowed to lane filter
    Motorcyclists must only lane filter when it’s safe
    Motorcyclists must comply with all existing road rules when lane filtering. This includes stopping before the stop line at a red traffic light or stop sign, never in front or over it.

Safety information for other road users
Motorists

Motorists should always check twice for motorcycles.
Motorists should not deliberately move into the path of a motorcyclist who is lane filtering.
To ensure safety, motorcyclists:

    Are only allowed to lane filter when they are travelling less than 30 km/h
    Are only allowed to lane filter when they do it safely
    Should not be lane filtering around heavy vehicles and buses.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians should always check twice for motorcycles.
Pedestrians should always cross at pedestrian crossings or traffic lights where they are available.
To help protect the safety of pedestrians, motorcyclists:

    Are being advised to always look out for pedestrians when lane filtering
    Should not lane filter near buses
    Should not lane filter near parked vehicles
    Are not allowed to lane filter in school zones
    Are only allowed to lane filter when it’s safe.

Cyclists

Cyclists should always check twice for motorcycles.
To help protect the safety of cyclists, motorcyclists:

    Are being advised to always look out for cyclists when lane filtering
    Are not allowed to lane filter next to the kerb
    Should not lane filter near heavy vehicles or buses
    Should not lane filter near parked vehicles
    Are only allowed to lane filter when it’s safe.

[Arizona Wayne]

In Calif. it's already illegal to 'filter' on the shoulder of a road.   18 km is less than 20 mph.  We can go faster than that 'lane sharing'(AKA lane splitting).   Glad to hear not only Europe countries allow it. 

[rocker59]

  'lane sharing'(AKA lane splitting).   

There is a difference in "lane sharing" and "lane splitting".

If you're on the white dashed line, you're splitting.

If you're on either side of it, your sharing.

I'm pretty sure California is discussing lane sharing, which means you are within the lane with the cars.

[Chuck in Indiana]

The way I read it.. it has never been "legal" to lane split or lane share in California.. it just has not been "illegal" and not enforced unless someone was being crazy doing it.
All they are doing is establish limits on speeds that it can be done, *and* legalize it. Except for the occasional squid, everyone I've seen pretty much follows those rules instinctively anyway. I'd say it is a good thing. It will give other states something to hang their hat on, too.

[ITSec]

Yeah. I mentioned it to an ABATE guy and he was totally clueless even with the meaning of the term.  I really don't think ABATE is any use to riders.

I think ABATE has done more harm than good for the safety of riders, let alone their reputation. In most states, the ABATE definition of 'freedom' and 'motorcyclist rights' starts and ends with helmet laws, and I've never seen an ABATE officer wearing proper riding gear (there may be some, but I've never seen one). BTW, 'proper' gear means armored jacket, DOT or better helmet, long pants, at least hard leather foot gear, and gloves - you know, ATGATT.

California's debate is useful simply because it clarifies something from being 'not illegal' to being specifically sanctioned. Adoption by other states is usually based on positive legislation rather than CA's historic pattern of allowance by omission - see the website for the Council of State Governments, where state legislators trade copies of bills, etc.

[oldbike54]

Well, if me old mucker Dusty can have 13.9 remarks per day, and I'm only half as useful as him (a conservative estimate), then 7.2 remarks per day doesn't sound so bad.   

 WTF ,  have been out of town , how the hell did I get drug into this 



 Besides , a quick word count comparing my posts to some of the novels posted here might be revealing 

 Dusty

 

[kirkemon]

There is a difference in "lane sharing" and "lane splitting".

If you're on the white dashed line, you're splitting.

If you're on either side of it, your sharing.

I'm pretty sure California is discussing lane sharing, which means you are within the lane with the cars.

From the CHP website: "California law does not allow or prohibit motorcycles from passing other vehicles proceeding in the same direction within the same lane, a practice often called "lane splitting," "lane sharing" or "filtering."
https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/programs/california-motorcyclist-safety

A little confusing

[jas67]

I hope other states like Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Tennessee will considered and approve lane splitting too.

I wish PA would legalize it too, but, that'll never happen.   Heck, 2-lane road passing zones are disappearing rapidly.
Every 2 lane road around me that has been repaved in the last two years has then been striped double yellow, end-to-end.   In many cases the "No Passing" pennant signs at the end of the former passing zone remain as a reminder of where the it was. 

[Tom]

 :1:  After repaving, they drop the speed limit by 5 too.

[jas67]

:1:  After repaving, they drop the speed limit by 5 too.

I haven't seen that yet, but, a section of US22, that I travel daily, which runs parallel to a section of I-81 had it's speed limit reduced from 50 MPH to 40 MPH and strictly enforced during an I-81 construction project to discourage the trucks from using 22 instead of 81.    When the I-81 construction project was done, only a portion of that section of 22 returned to 50 MPH, the rest has been 40 every since.