New lanesplitting Laws proposed for Cali AND Study shows Lansplitting can be Safe

I hope it catches on in other states.

Here's what the Texas DPS web site says:

19. Can I ride my motorcycle between cars in traffic?

The law doesn't specifically say one way or the other, but there are several statutes that may come to bear depending upon the circumstances, i.e. right of way, obligation to drive in a single lane, signal intention, passing with safety, etc. Motorcycles are considered equally as cars regarding traffic laws, so the single lane, signal intention and other statutes in the Transportation Code could come in to play.

The main statute that makes "lane splitting" illegal is Transportation Code Section 545.060, entitled "Driving on Roadway Laned for Traffic."
An operator on a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic:
shall drive as nearly practical entirely within a single lane; and
may not move from the lane unless that movement can be made safely.

The catch is the last part of the last sentence. While one could read in that lane splitting is "safe" "may not move from the lane unless that movement can be made safely", I don't think a judge would let you off unless one could prove they were in a dangerous situation.
 
Love California. LOL. I really like them upping the max mph to 50mph instead of whats in the DMV handbook of 35mph.


And I know that even if this battle still rages on, I am sure every Cali rider will still ride as they would. Its already deeply rooted for us to just stop. Even if it ever becomes illegal.
 
It's legal here in NSW Australia but you can't do it faster than 30 kph and you're not allowed to pass on the kerb side of a car.
It's called lane filtering here as the traffic needs to be either stopped or moving very slowly.
Personally I think they have it right, I'm not a fan of lane spitting at speed.
 
Love California. LOL. I really like them upping the max mph to 50mph instead of whats in the DMV handbook of 35mph.


And I know that even if this battle still rages on, I am sure every Cali rider will still ride as they would. Its already deeply rooted for us to just stop. Even if it ever becomes illegal.

You wont find anything like that in the California DMV handbook because there has NEVER been any sort of law about the speed in which you can lane split. The CHP used to have guidelines that said not above 39mph, meaning the traffic was going 30mph and you were only 10mph differential. However a lawsuit forced the CHP to take that down because it was being interpreted as law when it was only suggestive.

And yes, I won't change my habits if this law passes.

It's legal here in NSW Australia but you can't do it faster than 30 kph and you're not allowed to pass on the kerb side of a car.
It's called lane filtering here as the traffic needs to be either stopped or moving very slowly.
Personally I think they have it right, I'm not a fan of lane spitting at speed.

How many freeways with 12 foot wide lanes do you have there? I noticed it is much scarier to filter or split on surface streets where the lanes are more narrow, but on the freeway the lanes are 12 feet wide (in California). Most vehicles on the freeway are about 6 feet wide at most.
 
How many freeways with 12 foot wide lanes do you have there? I noticed it is much scarier to filter or split on surface streets where the lanes are more narrow, but on the freeway the lanes are 12 feet wide (in California). Most vehicles on the freeway are about 6 feet wide at most.

Unfortunately our freeways and surface roads tend to be narrower than the ones in California and most of the US. They are more like 10 feet wide and in some places down to about 8 feet wide. Some of the lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge are notably narrow as bus mirrors overhang the lane markers on each side. Buses can't overtake each other in adjacent lanes.

There is a section of 3-lane highway on my way to work that I think is too narrow for safe filtering unless you are on something narrow like a scooter. Trucks, buses and off-centre cars make filtering very difficult. It is illegal here to filter beside a truck or bus anyway.
 
Texas has massive shoulders on road. "Everything is bigger in Texas." Sometimes I'll ride down them to go a 1/4 mile to get to my turn. Inevitably some douche will pull out and block the shoulder. Then I go off road.
 
It's legal here in NSW Australia but you can't do it faster than 30 kph and you're not allowed to pass on the kerb side of a car.
It's called lane filtering here as the traffic needs to be either stopped or moving very slowly.
Personally I think they have it right, I'm not a fan of lane spitting at speed.

I think filtering increases safety, as it lessens the chance of a motorcyclist being rear-ended. It also would get me to the front of the line...
 
Unfortunately our freeways and surface roads tend to be narrower than the ones in California and most of the US. They are more like 10 feet wide and in some places down to about 8 feet wide. Some of the lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge are notably narrow as bus mirrors overhang the lane markers on each side. Buses can't overtake each other in adjacent lanes.

There is a section of 3-lane highway on my way to work that I think is too narrow for safe filtering unless you are on something narrow like a scooter. Trucks, buses and off-centre cars make filtering very difficult. It is illegal here to filter beside a truck or bus anyway.

yeah, that would sketch me out, that is super narrow.
 
Texas has it back on the radar this year. I'm all for it IF riders don't abuse it. This is for traffic under 30 mph although this bill is being introduced in Texas for under 20 mph which makes even more (safe) sense to me. This would allow us to filter to the front at lights to avoid being rear-ended as well as move through stopped rush-hour traffic. The scary part is getting drivers here on-board with it via awareness. Many will pull out today to stop you if you try, but it is also not legal here.

https://www.mcminnlaw.com/texas-motorcycle-law-lane-splitting/

SB00288I


85R4692 JAM-D By: Watson S.B. No. 288



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles on certain
highways during periods of traffic congestion.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 545.060, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(a) An operator on a roadway divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for traffic:
(1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within
a single lane, except as provided by Subsection (e); and
(2) may not move from the lane unless that movement can
be made safely.
(e) The operator of a motorcycle operating on a
limited-access or controlled-access highway may operate the
motorcycle for a safe distance between lanes of traffic moving in
the same direction during periods of traffic congestion if the
operator operates the motorcycle:
(1) at a speed not more than five miles per hour
greater than the speed of the other traffic; and
(2) in traffic that is moving at a speed of 20 miles
per hour or less.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
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Getting any form of lane splitting on the books is still better than no laws on the books. Once the laws are there and people get used to them, adjustments can be made to alter them to be more efficient.

Once the Law Enforcement starts doing it, they will see the benefits of allowing it at speeds over 20mph or 30mph. The California Highway Patrol is the group that got that 2014 study going.
 
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