lanesplitting on the books again - Page 8

Archren · 04-01-2009, 07:35 AM

Mike.. I commute EVERY DAY in rush hour traffic from S. Austin to E. 51st St... Traffic gets below 20mph (as in stop, roll forward 2 feet, stop) for a stretch of about 5-10 miles (depending on if I leave work at 5:00 or 5:05).. and my bike doesn't overheat, per se, but my thighs cooking, my left hand cramping, and ME overheating isn't pleasant, either. The only way for me to get around that traffic is to either go through downtown (usually worse) or take the 130 toll road (kinda out of the way, takes the same amt of time as sitting in traffic).

And that's just 35. Mopac is far, far worse.

But that's just my personal take. I see what you're getting at.. But I don't really agree.

I don't really care one way or the other about helmet laws, but really if people don't want to wear a helmet, they should have that freedom, and in that I do agree with you.. But I don't really get the vibe that this is the ultimate end game for this bill. I think it was a compromise thrown in to appease the nay-sayers.

anthonyk · 04-01-2009, 09:18 AM

I commute the whole length of Mopac every day, and it moves below 20mph for much of that length during rush hour. It pretty much sucks.

I'm still not buying the "freedom" argument, Mike. First, Texas has a helmet law on the books already. Riders are required to wear helmets. There's just an exception specified that says that a peace officer can't arrest you or give you a ticket for it if you meet specific criteria. It may sound like semantics, but the fact is, riding without a helmet in Texas is against the law. Remove that one exception, and riders can start getting ticketed again. In my mind, compared to that, this lanesplitting thing isn't a slippery slope at all.

Also, by supporting this, nobody is really giving up any freedoms. Conversely, nobody is preserving freedoms by opposing it. If this passes, ol' Sputnik and his crew will be in the same position they are now. They won't be able to lanesplit, and won't get penalized for not wearing a helmet. If they successfully kill it, they're in the same position. What's the big deal?

The truth is that the general public thinks motorcyclists are hooligans. We're daredevils who don't care about safety. If they're going to extend us the courtesy of allowing lanesplitting, I think it's reasonable to help reinforce the image (at least) that many motorcyclists are interested in safe and responsible riding. Like it or not, wearing a helmet is associated with being safe and responsible. It's a reasonable tradeoff in my mind.

Adeptus_Minor · 04-23-2009, 09:32 PM

Always nice when they reply

Quote:

Thank you for contacting me concerning Senate Bill 506, which would allow a motorcyclist to drive between lanes at a speed no more than 5 mph over the other vehicles traffic, at a maximum of 25 mph.

As you may know, I serve as Vice Chair on the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, where SB 506 was referred. I am pleased to inform you that SB 506 was voted out of committee with my support and passed favorably on the Senate floor with 27 Yeas and 4 Nays.

Thank you again for writing. I appreciate your continued support as we work to reduce traffic congestion. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of assistance in the future.

Sincerely,

Kirk Watson

pdog · 04-27-2009, 08:12 PM

A!@*&^#!@#

KXAN selected the lane splitting bill as the "Wild Bill of the Week" in their Session 09 program (Sunday mornings) and basically reiterated the pro-car "it's unfair and not safe" viewpoint.

azoomm · 04-27-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdog

A!@*&^#!@#

KXAN selected the lane splitting bill as the "Wild Bill of the Week" in their Session 09 program (Sunday mornings) and basically reiterated the pro-car "it's unfair and not safe" viewpoint.

You can thank TMRA for that. If THEY say it's not safe then it won't ever have a chance, even in years to come. If they get the CARS to say it's not safe then they can reposition in the future.

pdog · 04-27-2009, 11:07 PM

I just sent the reporter a message on Twitter, thanking her for the PR and expressing our belief as bikers that the law is safe, etc, etc.

gator232 · 05-18-2009, 02:17 PM

I am totally for lane splitting. In fact I grew up doing it where there are few rules as too what you can and cannot do when splitting like in California. In many 'other' urban countries, motorcycles are relegated to the unused space between cars and I don't see very many accidents in those countries.

If we are to reduce traffic congestion and fuel consumption, more people need to use bikes and they need to encourage people to do so by letting them lane split to the head of the traffic. Some countries actually allow a 10-15 foot space at the light only for motorcycles.

We just need to get used to sharing the road with bikes like the rest of the world.

Particle Man · 05-18-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adeptus_Minor

I said it on CF when this came up and it bears repeating here...
Regardless of the law, I doubt I'd feel any safer trying to lane split due to the fact that so many Billy-Bob-Joe-Vern-Earls might suddenly and violently oppose my doing so with the quarter panel of their 6000 lb. diamond plate adorned conveyance.

Legal allowance does not guarantee civil acceptance.

yep - that is one reason why I probably wouldn't do it here even if it became legal in NY...

RACER X · 06-29-2010, 01:47 PM

sputnick has died, maybe an open door for lanesplitting?

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/159802

Homeslice · 06-29-2010, 01:55 PM

haven't read the thread, but you guys dont know what you're missing.........I probably wouldn't even ride if lanesplitting wasn't legal here.

04-01-2009, 07:35 AM	#71
Archren Sham WOW Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ATX Moto: 2007 Ducati 1098 Posts: 2,741	Mike.. I commute EVERY DAY in rush hour traffic from S. Austin to E. 51st St... Traffic gets below 20mph (as in stop, roll forward 2 feet, stop) for a stretch of about 5-10 miles (depending on if I leave work at 5:00 or 5:05).. and my bike doesn't overheat, per se, but my thighs cooking, my left hand cramping, and ME overheating isn't pleasant, either. The only way for me to get around that traffic is to either go through downtown (usually worse) or take the 130 toll road (kinda out of the way, takes the same amt of time as sitting in traffic). And that's just 35. Mopac is far, far worse. But that's just my personal take. I see what you're getting at.. But I don't really agree. I don't really care one way or the other about helmet laws, but really if people don't want to wear a helmet, they should have that freedom, and in that I do agree with you.. But I don't really get the vibe that this is the ultimate end game for this bill. I think it was a compromise thrown in to appease the nay-sayers. __________________ Photography "The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time. It was impossible." - Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss Last edited by Archren; 04-01-2009 at 07:37 AM..

06-29-2010, 01:47 PM	#79
RACER X AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Richmond, Tx Moto: '10 Tuono Factory Posts: 4,569	sputnick has died, maybe an open door for lanesplitting? http://galvestondailynews.com/story/159802 __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ 2014 GROM! 181cc of FURY 2010 Aprilia Tuono Factory - SOLD 2009 SFV Gladius - SOLD 2008 Hayabusa - SOLD.

04-01-2009, 09:18 AM	#72
anthonyk WERA White Plate Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, TX Moto: '01 Aprilia Falco Posts: 1,041	I commute the whole length of Mopac every day, and it moves below 20mph for much of that length during rush hour. It pretty much sucks. I'm still not buying the "freedom" argument, Mike. First, Texas has a helmet law on the books already. Riders are required to wear helmets. There's just an exception specified that says that a peace officer can't arrest you or give you a ticket for it if you meet specific criteria. It may sound like semantics, but the fact is, riding without a helmet in Texas is against the law. Remove that one exception, and riders can start getting ticketed again. In my mind, compared to that, this lanesplitting thing isn't a slippery slope at all. Also, by supporting this, nobody is really giving up any freedoms. Conversely, nobody is preserving freedoms by opposing it. If this passes, ol' Sputnik and his crew will be in the same position they are now. They won't be able to lanesplit, and won't get penalized for not wearing a helmet. If they successfully kill it, they're in the same position. What's the big deal? The truth is that the general public thinks motorcyclists are hooligans. We're daredevils who don't care about safety. If they're going to extend us the courtesy of allowing lanesplitting, I think it's reasonable to help reinforce the image (at least) that many motorcyclists are interested in safe and responsible riding. Like it or not, wearing a helmet is associated with being safe and responsible. It's a reasonable tradeoff in my mind.

04-27-2009, 08:12 PM	#74
pdog Refugee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Moto: Pimped 2005 SV650 Posts: 332	A!@*&^#!@# KXAN selected the lane splitting bill as the "Wild Bill of the Week" in their Session 09 program (Sunday mornings) and basically reiterated the pro-car "it's unfair and not safe" viewpoint.

04-27-2009, 11:07 PM	#76
pdog Refugee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Moto: Pimped 2005 SV650 Posts: 332	I just sent the reporter a message on Twitter, thanking her for the PR and expressing our belief as bikers that the law is safe, etc, etc.

05-18-2009, 02:17 PM	#77
gator232 Squid Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3	I am totally for lane splitting. In fact I grew up doing it where there are few rules as too what you can and cannot do when splitting like in California. In many 'other' urban countries, motorcycles are relegated to the unused space between cars and I don't see very many accidents in those countries. If we are to reduce traffic congestion and fuel consumption, more people need to use bikes and they need to encourage people to do so by letting them lane split to the head of the traffic. Some countries actually allow a 10-15 foot space at the light only for motorcycles. We just need to get used to sharing the road with bikes like the rest of the world.

06-29-2010, 01:55 PM	#80
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	haven't read the thread, but you guys dont know what you're missing.........I probably wouldn't even ride if lanesplitting wasn't legal here.