Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => General Monster Forum => Topic started by: il d00d on March 02, 2009, 07:35:08 AM

Title: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: il d00d on March 02, 2009, 07:35:08 AM
Senate Bill 506. (http://www.statesurge.com/bills/451626-sb-506-texas)  w00t!
Strangely, this (http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1235780269) is the only news article I could find on it...
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: Howie on March 02, 2009, 08:34:08 AM
Let's hope this bill passes in Texas and sets a pattern for other states.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: ScottRNelson on March 02, 2009, 09:38:53 AM
Maybe if a few other big states change the rules, the rest of the country will follow.

I expect that it will take a long time to educate the public in Texas if it passes.  I would be hesitant to split between a couple of rednecks in big pickup trucks.  Actually, I'm hesitant to do that here in California where lane splitting (oops, I mean "sharing") has been legal for decades.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: Porsche Monkey on March 02, 2009, 09:49:01 AM
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=18710.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=18710.0)
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: AfroStar on March 02, 2009, 10:40:25 AM
Dang! I just left Texas..... :(
hope Mass. will follow... i may doubt this due to Texas being a Republican and MA being a Democratic...
I also hope that there is not a lot of traffic to warrant a lane splitting. [moto]
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: RB on March 02, 2009, 03:11:31 PM
i prefer to call it 'filtering' (sounds less aggressive IMO), since a bike is slipping thru the gaps in traffic streams.

I don't live in Tx, but i hope it gets passed. Currently california is the only state that allows filtering, many European countries allow it also.

too bad it isn't legal in all 50, cuz traveling from state to state during heavy or congested traffic would be nice.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: SaltLick on March 02, 2009, 04:13:30 PM
i lived in calfiornia for 30 years, nothing good about lane splitting. People get pissed sitting in traffic and get even more pissed when bikes zip past them missing thier mirrors by inches or hitting thier mirrors. I know people that use to purposely watch for lane splitters and either throw something at them as they went by or would move thier car so that he would either get squashed or not be able to get through at the last second. Talk about dangerous things to do on bikes, lane splitting IS the most dangerous thing you could do on a bike. Count your blessings, lane splitting is too tempting to pass up when your sitting in traffic but its the last thing you should be doing.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: hbliam on March 02, 2009, 04:30:32 PM
I've lived in CA for 37 years and lane split for 19. I'm sorry but I think you have little to no experiance with the practice. I would have to argue that wheelie's, racing, or jumping would all be more dangerous activities then splitting.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: derby on March 02, 2009, 04:32:30 PM
Quote from: SaltLick on March 02, 2009, 04:13:30 PM
i lived in calfiornia for 30 years, nothing good about lane splitting.

...except getting home from work 40 minutes earlier than i would if i was in my car.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: RB on March 02, 2009, 06:24:17 PM
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/10/30/MN87097.DTL (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/10/30/MN87097.DTL)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurt_Report (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurt_Report)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VicRoads (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VicRoads)

i used wikipedia just for the links, if you follow them the actual report is available for reading.

i live in Maryland, and wish we had this here. People do get pissed because someone gets to go to the front of the line. Like many drivers on our roads across the country, the idea that you will get in front of them infuriates them. I still do not understand this mentality, we are not in a race, we do not share the same destination or finish line. How many times have you watched a tool dart thru traffic to only get one car length? Lane sharing has been legal in California for sometime now, is it a matter of people not knowing it is legal that makes them angry? Or is it just as simple as getting in front of you?
If it is legalized in Texas, i hope they create a huge ad campaign to educate the rider and drivers of the new law change.  more bikes will be on the roads every year and sooner or later more laws will be created and ratified due to the growing demand.

RB
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: hbliam on March 02, 2009, 06:30:28 PM
Quote from: RB on March 02, 2009, 06:24:17 PM
Lane sharing has been legal in California for sometime now,
RB


It was never illegal in CA. Has been accepted practice since moto's hit the roads.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: needtorque on March 02, 2009, 06:36:24 PM
I like the idea but I have had the thought pop in my head a few times to try it (even though it is illegal here in SC) and I just never could.  The concept is nice but it seems a bit risky seeing some of the morons driving the roads around here.  I have enough trouble with idiots not seeing me as it is if I was weaving between cars even legally and "safely" I think I would not last a week before someone creamed me.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: Le Pirate on March 02, 2009, 06:59:43 PM
WOOHOOO!!!!!!!

I hope it passes....I might get home faster from now on  [moto]
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: RB on March 02, 2009, 07:11:13 PM
i stand corrected, sorry i didn't realize it was never illegal.

i do know, well at least i think i know, that the law is written in such a way that a LEO can determine whether or not you are 'filtering' safely. Therefore write a ticket because he/she felt you were going to fast, or weaving too much. Then it would be up to the judge to decide if you were performing safely.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: redxblack on March 02, 2009, 07:15:31 PM
It would be nice to have in all 50. In the summer months, I worry about overheating an air cooled bike when stuck in traffic for long periods.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: JDucati on March 02, 2009, 07:24:36 PM
isnt that little flasher trigger designed for lane splitting?  Flash it as you slip between traffic?

I could be wrong... wish it was legal in Oregon

~JD
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: hbliam on March 02, 2009, 08:34:55 PM
Quote from: RB on March 02, 2009, 07:11:13 PM
i stand corrected, sorry i didn't realize it was never illegal.

i do know, well at least i think i know, that the law is written in such a way that a LEO can determine whether or not you are 'filtering' safely. Therefore write a ticket because he/she felt you were going to fast, or weaving too much. Then it would be up to the judge to decide if you were performing safely.

Sorry to correct you twice.  :P There is no law that dictates, mentions, or regulates lanesplitting. A LEO can ticket you for what he/she perceives as reckless driving (23103CVC) or speeding (22350CVC) or a plethora of other violations but there is no vehicle code section for lanesplitting. Split away, just do it a prudent manner and you will never have a problem. I've split with many CHP motors.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: psycledelic on March 03, 2009, 01:11:19 AM
Excuse my ignorance, but I always assumed that lane splitting was just during stopped traffic.  Is there a restriction as to when it can be done, or can you just 100% Mad Max on the freeway?  Dangerous, and I am not sure I would have the marbles, but cool as hell!
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: Holden on March 03, 2009, 02:04:00 AM
Quote from: psycledelic on March 03, 2009, 01:11:19 AMIs there a restriction as to when it can be done

Supposedly only legal when traffic is moving at ≤20 MPH, and only as long as you're not going more than 15 faster than the cars. I could be wrong about the numbers...
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: ArguZ on March 03, 2009, 03:32:53 AM
I don't  really care if its legal or not.
But it needs to be socially accepted like it is in Italy.
My biggest fear in Germany or Denmark is that someone will open his door or do other stupid shit just because I am faster than he will.
Also i dont do it if cars are still moving...way too dangerous...they always win.
But when they park their cages on the highway or in front of a roundabout I dont see any reason to park the bike behind them.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: RB on March 03, 2009, 04:05:41 AM
Quote from: hbliam on March 02, 2009, 08:34:55 PM
Sorry to correct you twice.  :P There is no law that dictates, mentions, or regulates lanesplitting. A LEO can ticket you for what he/she perceives as reckless driving (23103CVC) or speeding (22350CVC) or a plethora of other violations but there is no vehicle code section for lanesplitting. Split away, just do it a prudent manner and you will never have a problem. I've split with many CHP motors.
i would rather be corrected so that the proper information is retained here, rather then me talking out of my ass.

thank you

Giving motorcyclists the ability to use their machines agility to filter thru traffic should help promote the use of these vehicles that are getting upwards of 40 mpg.

Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: 2 Wheel Wanderer on March 03, 2009, 05:33:59 AM
Here's some good info on lane sharing.

http://www.laneshare.org/index.html (http://www.laneshare.org/index.html)

I don't like to do it per say but it does get me where I want to go faster, that's for sure. I generally take it easy for safety reasons and if I have another rider come up behind me I just pop into the #1 lane and let em pass.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: ScottRNelson on March 03, 2009, 06:52:36 AM
Probably the best information you'll get is in the "LEO Forum" (Law Enforcement Officer) on BARF in "The definitive laneSHARING thread".  Written by police officers and with many questions asked and answered.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980 (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980)
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: hbliam on March 03, 2009, 08:58:54 AM
Quote from: ScottRNelson on March 03, 2009, 06:52:36 AM
Probably the best information you'll get is in the "LEO Forum" (Law Enforcement Officer) on BARF in "The definitive laneSHARING thread".  Written by police officers and with many questions asked and answered.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980 (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980)


That's a good source other then the OP's insistence that the practice must be called lanesharing rather then lanesplitting. Even the CHP (which he quotes) calls it splitting.
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: Porsche Monkey on March 31, 2009, 05:14:58 AM
Little bit of progress on the bill.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB506 (http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB506)
Title: Re: Lane splitting to be considered again in Texas
Post by: Holden on March 31, 2009, 02:28:48 PM
Quote from: ScottRNelson on March 03, 2009, 06:52:36 AM
Probably the best information you'll get is in the "LEO Forum" (Law Enforcement Officer) on BARF in "The definitive laneSHARING thread".  Written by police officers and with many questions asked and answered.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980 (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154980)
Quote from: hbliam on March 03, 2009, 08:58:54 AM

That's a good source other then the OP's insistence that the practice must be called lanesharing rather then lanesplitting. Even the CHP (which he quotes) calls it splitting.

re: "sharing" vs. "splitting"

if you split a meal with someone, what are you doing? or what if you split the bill?

now if you split a lane with someone, what are you really doing?

"split: to divide between two or more persons, groups, etc.; share: We split a bottle of wine lane."

who was it that told these guys you can only "split" two lanes and "share" one? what are they gonna do when I tell them I "split" a one-lane road? [cheeky]