Readers Respond: Should lane splitting be legalized?

Responses: 52

By Basem Wasef, About.com Guide

See More About

(Continued from Page 1)

I have never been a proponent of lane splitting and have addressed this issue on this site before. It is way to dangerous for the individual on the motorcycle as well as the four wheelers and the incident you cite here is another example of what could go wrong. What if you had been closer to the car? You might be reading this laying in a hospital bed. If states want todo this then make a motorcycle lane much like some have bicycle lanes. I would think insurance rates would be higher as well with states that legalize lane splitting.
—madsendl

I say make it illegal but don't make it a ticketable violation. Riders can do it, but they accept all liability if something goes wrong.
—Guest Yarbles

I'm from California where theres lots of traffic and lane splitting is legal. It is not dangerous if you are following the rule which is splitting at the speed of traffic + 10mph max. I'm really surprised other states don't allow it giving that they have less traffic than California. If everyone rode motorcycles splitting wouldn't have to be a concern! Instead cars would be talking about getting stuck in motorcycle traffic!
—Guest Josh

Yes filtering should be legalized, it only makes sense to because 1) it's safer for both the rider and the car driver 2) it actually cuts down on traffic, think about it, if that motorcyclist was driving a car instead of filtering with a motorcycle, your stay in traffic will actually be longer. If motorcycles were only allowed to lane split when there's a traffic jam, I don't see what the problem would be to drivers. Overall traffic jam times would be lower if a substantial number of people were to use motorcycles. I guess it can get annoying if you're sitting in traffic while a motorcyclist uses the space in between you and another car to 'zip' right by you, but that's the perk of having a motorcycle. Just like with a car, you get A/C and you don't have to wear gear all the time. That's a perk.
—Guest Unbiased

Have you ever sat in traffic under a blazing direct sunlight, full riding gear for safety, no air conditioning, traffic at a standstill. If you haven't, because you are car bound, or because you live in a state where traffic jams are almost non existent...come to california and you'll understand the attitude. Car bound, to get a feeling of what we go through without air conditioning? Roll up the windows, turn on the heat in the summer time for 10 minutes. Now imagine that for an hour or more. Wouldn't you travel down that nice open lane between cars to get some air, cool Off the bike, and eat up some road while everyone else is sitting comphy in their car with the AC on? granted idiots going all out doing this should be cited for going too fast for Conditions and often are, some guys scare the Sh** out of me...but so do Drivers. Why the sudden hate against white liners? If your envious get a bike. For those of you throwing around statistics like truth, show me Who Created them.
—Guest James H

I live in Ca I am grateful for the "tolerance" because my bike would quickly overheat in these moving parking lots. Certainly need a strong campaign to make other motorists aware of our presence on the road. Ca. has done a fairly good job of this.
—Guest jatkowski

It wound get motorcycles out of traffic faster and would make everyones commute faster...
—Guest kencryst

First off there are way to many wanna b's and idiots that don't know how to ride as it is. The show off's. You think i want them in the same lane as me. You need to stagger your bikes
—Guest tvyvial

I thank lane splitting would be good,people would have to be educated to let cycles do this.there is always someone that dosent want anyone ahead of them.I tried to do this on several occasions and some wise guy open his door,not pretty.
—Guest Larry Davidson

A lot of those who have commented submitted that they have been in other countries where lane splitting is encouraged and now have a new perspective on this wonderful and necessaary manuver. It should be LEGAL everywhere in the US. For thoes riders who have been unable to try lane splitting come on out to CA. It won't cost ya as much as going to Europe AND we have AWESOME roads and AMAZING places to see! If you are opposed to lane splitting, try to ride I-5 or the 405 fwy in southern Cal during rush hour and NOT split lanes...believe me, you'll QUICKLY change your mind too.
—Guest alphatwin

Lane Splitting makes more sense than not. It's much safer -- in California where it's done regularly, people pay more attention for bikes, something that doesn't happen as much elsewhere. So not only are you saved from many rear-end collisions, more cars notice you because they watch for bikes passing between them. Anybody against it just can't stand people getting anywhere ahead of them. Motorcyclists are not all lawbreakers and the actions of a few shouldn't screw the rest of us. Let the police handle the lawbreakers. Live and let live.
—Guest RobG

Mr. Harris, Your decision to be box pilot has nothing to do with lane splitting. The issue is safety not equality. More over if folks can move about quicker, I wonder if more motorcycles and less boxes would be clogging our motorways.
—Guest Brent

I say yes I ride to Manhattan and you will be sitting in traffic for no good reason. I split lanes.
—Guest catfish

I would welcome lane splitting throughout the country but there is only one problem. States such as California, Arizona, Montanna and other western states have lanes that can handle it because they are 12 feet wide, states in the northeast are usally 9 feet wide. What has happened in the state of NJ, where I reside, is that they took the extra 3 feet from three lanes to make another lane...so, while I would love to see it, especially here where there is so much congestion I don't think it would be safe until they have a universal lane size which should be 12 feet. This is something that the federal goverment should mandate..........perhaps there would be less lane drifting and head-on accidents
—tjrharley

Basem Wasef
Motorcycles Guide