Lane Splitting Bill! I need input!

I sent a letter to my State Rep and now have his ear!

Representative Ward,
I would like to see legislation introduced (and passed) that would allow for legal lane sharing of Motorcycles. This would help alleviate some of the traffic on our roads. Lane sharing is safer than sitting in line just waiting to be rear-ended (ask any MSF instructor or Motocop). Less accidents=less use of municipal assets (Fire & Police) =saves tax dollars. It saves fuel (Not idling in traffic) and wear & tear on the bike. It gets you to your destination faster while polluting the environment less (Again not idling in traffic). The number of motorcycles on the road is increasing every year. Alabama is a “year round” state as we have very little snow or ice and it is not too cold. I have personally done a 590 mile recreational day on Dec. 2, 06 with weather starting at 16 degrees and a high of 39 degrees.

Lane Sharing is legal in California and you could look to them for information.

The lane sharing that is allowed in California is basically summed up as allowing a motorcycle to ride between cars or along the shoulder in stop and go traffic that is traveling less than 20 MPH and the motorcycle may not exceed a safe speed of 10 MPH over the traffic conditions.

There is a Bill pending in the State of Washington that echo’s California. A copy of the Washington Bill is included with this letter.

I would be happy to discuss further benefits with you.

Thank you for you consideration of this matter.

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His Response

Kevin, I will be glad to sit down and discuss this issue with you. I can tell you that I have heard this proposal brought up before and the Alabama Department of Public Safety came out and spoke against it. I cannot remember what their opposition was but it did kill the bill before it even came up for a vote. I will look into that and just see what their objections were at the time.
I look forward to talking with you about this further. Do you have time sometime next week to come by and visit with me about this bill?

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What I NEED from you guys.

Videos of SAFE lane Splitting (ie proof it works) JB sorry man your out.

Help finding the # of registered bikes in Alabama vs Cars. I googled but I guess not the right thing.

Some crib notes of FACTs on lane splitting and its positive effects.

A Devils Advocate of what objections may be and a rebutal for each.

Any other help (apart from TWN's hookers ) you can think of.

Well... I couldn't find car/motorcycle registration numbers on the ALDOT website --- but i'll keep looking.

This may provide some info and even some help:

www.laneshare.com

I now have some stats from MSC- Thanks

Rick thanks for that link!

Should I try to discuss biking accidents? find stats for that?

1 bike involved, bike vs cage, etc?

FJRFencer said:

Videos of SAFE lane Splitting (ie proof it works)

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Use that clip of the Alstate insurance commercial. The narator is talking in the foreground with a highway in the background. You clearly see a bike splitting through the congestion without any harsh reactions and as easy as can be.

FJRFencer said:

JB sorry man your out.

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hwell:

FJRFencer said:

What I NEED from you guys.
Videos of SAFE lane Splitting (ie proof it works)...

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Please see this thread.

Jb

If you had enough muster, you could prolly fly in a CHP motorcop to testify to your cause. I'm sure they have a public/media/gubermint liaison for just such purposes.

FWIW, I drive through the junction in Birmingham atleast twice a day and would love to be able to shave some time off of my commute... 280 is usually a mess as well.

Also, I had a meeting with My state Rep today about proposing a Lane Splitting bill :

The meeting went well and he said he would sponsor it, but proposed we get a grass root effort going to get more support from the Dept of Public Safety and the State Troopers. He gave me contact info for these folks. And Suggested that a person from there district along with me contact them. (the local folks have more sway than someone out of district). If Anyone is interested in helping or you know folks in the AMA, pleas contact me

Oh, yeah, one more thing... Purge 'lane splitting' from your vocabulary - NOW! Refer to the practice ONLY as 'lane sharing'. 'Sharing' doesn't scare the mommies, grannies or other 'free thinking', safety Nazi 'swipes. 'Splitting' can conger up blood, guts, carnage and otherwise nasty stuff that can only be used against you in pursuing the cause.

Say it with me: Lane sharing. See? Isn't that just like a Charmin or Gerber commercial?

Oh, and you should have a local AMA rep to call on. Contact national in Ohio.

twowheelnut said:

Oh, yeah, one more thing... Purge 'lane splitting' from your vocabulary - NOW! Refer to the practice ONLY as 'lane sharing'. 'Sharing' doesn't scare the mommies, grannies or other 'free thinking', safety Nazi 'swipes. 'Splitting' can conger up blood, guts, carnage and otherwise nasty stuff that can only be used against you in pursuing the cause.
Say it with me: Lane sharing. See? Isn't that just like a Charmin or Gerber commercial?

Oh, and you should have a local AMA rep to call on. Contact national in Ohio.

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+1.6 million gazillion :clapping:

FJRFencer said:

Lane Sharing is legal in California and you could look to them for information.The lane sharing that is allowed in California is basically summed up as allowing a motorcycle to ride between cars or along the shoulder in stop and go traffic that is traveling less than 20 MPH and the motorcycle may not exceed a safe speed of 10 MPH over the traffic conditions.

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That's an incorrect statement. There is no "speed limit" or references to MPH in Californa's lane sharing rules. The rule is one simple sentence:

"Lane sharing is permitted as long as it is safe to do so".

It puts the entire liability burdon on the person sharing the lane, i.e., if something happens it must not have been safe to be sharing lanes and it's damn near impossible to argue your way out of that in court. It also allows cops on the scene to make a judgement as to what is safe.

James Burleigh's original lane sharing video, though shocking and disturbing to some, contains no illegal behavior. The deleted scenes where he's doing it on one wheel are another story.... B)

What are we trying to get FJRFencer elected for?.... :blink: ....National Safety Council?....just kidding....good luck in your quest Fencer....hope you succeed!....

FJRFencer said:

Also, I had a meeting with My state Rep today about proposing a Lane Splitting bill :

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Fence,

I admire your efforts in getting this legislation/grass roots movement started in Alabama. How are you doing with your information thus far and do you have any stats on how many motorcyclist are injured/killed while being rear ended?

Having been a rider in California and lane shared for over a decade with no problems, it is a frustrating experience riding in metro Atlanta without the urge to lane share. This would be a big boon for those areas in heavy traffic to lighten the load on the roads, save gas, reduce emissions/green house effect, and lighted the tax burden on the subsidies needed for mass transit.

Let me know how your efforts are progressing.

Hey Fencer, below is a link from San Diego about lane splitting. Thought it might help your cause. Well rounded story, they talk about the good and the bad.

Lane Splitting Video

Thanks J

I have spoke with the House Chair, and a key member of the Public Safety Com, and another mem has spoke with the Vice Chair (he knows him ) All have said they are not opposed to the idea and will consider it after initial contacts. So at least the foot is in the door and it was not slammed shut!

That's good news, I'm thinking about organizing some support for lane sharing in GA.

Ok here in Cal. it legal to "LANE SHARE" hows that TWN..lol

At what speed should "LANE SHARING" begin....when the traffic is going , 0 to 10? 0 to 60 ? I would love to see your response on this one

I have seen it at speed up and beyond 60 +

Jdog

Couple items from a Cali rider. It's not legal to run the shoulder, and as a general rule, no more than 10 mph faster than the surrounding traffic. Of course all this is mute since it's the Leo that makes the determination as to wether it is safe to split and at what speed. And we all know every Leo is different. My personal rules, under 30 mph I'll start sharing, and no more than 10 mph faster than the cars I'm passing.

Some good info:

www.laneshare.org

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When it comes to lane-sharing in North America, California is Mecca. In fact, if you want to get anywhere on a motorcycle in the Los Angeles basin, avoiding lane-sharing is not an option. The practice of lane-sharing has been allowed for decades. Yet, contrary to popular belief, there is no California statute permitting the practice. On the other hand, there’s no law stating you can’t lane-share. In other words, lane-sharing is not legal, but rather not illegal in the Golden State.

Perhaps a matter of semantics for some, this is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows some flexibility in the use of lane-sharing. On the other hand, it leaves it up to the discretion of the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) and his/her opinion whether your brand of lane-sharing is “reasonable and prudent“.

The generally “understood” guidelines seem to be:

-Travel no faster than 10 mph faster than the vehicles you’re lane-sharing with.

-Merge back in with the traffic when they reach 30-35 mph.

-Never exceed the speed limit.

-Lane-sharing between lanes #1 and #2 is preferred. (#1 being the “fast” or “inside” lane)

-Stay, more or less, in one lane or the other. Excessive meandering might get you cited. (CA code 21658)

Add to this a few other pointers:

-Be a competent rider before attempting the practice.

-Be prepared to adjust your speed as necessary.

-Cover your brake and clutch to reduce reaction time.

-Avoid lane-sharing between two large trucks.

-Be wary of open spaces inviting a vehicle to change lanes.

-Be vigilant of other vehicle operator’s head movements indicative of an impending lane change.

-Check your mirrors and be prepared to move over for overtaking motorcycles behind you.

-When in doubt, wait for a CHP motor patrol officer and follow him/her.

(You might have to travel a bit faster than 10mph to keep up.)

When an incident occurs between the lane-sharing motorcyclist and another vehicle, it’s not always the motorcyclist who gets cited. It’s up to the LEO to decide who was at fault (back to the double-edged sword). For instance, if the lane-changing vehicle didn’t signal the change properly, that operator could be cited for violating CA code 22107. On the other hand, if the motorcyclist was deemed to be traveling at too great a speed for the situation, CA code 22350 would be used to cite the rider.

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Ray

Ohh, and I have seen moto's split in excess of 100 mph.

We gots da crazyest peoples :dribble: