California Lane Splitting Guidelines Now Being Developed--UPDATED 5/18

[SacramentoMike]

Discussion in another thread about other states' pending lane splitting laws, or at least discussion of it, led me to look into the current status here. The law was signed last year, yes. But like most other new laws, it didn't formally take effect until January 1. Only at that point did the CHP have the authority to develop the guidelines (yes, they will be "regulations") with the input of the other entities named in the new law authorized to participate in this process. (Here's the new section in the California Vehicle Code.)

With the speed things work, this is now finally coming around to happening. On March 21, a working group that has now been formed with representatives from those entities (the DMV, Caltrans, the Office of Traffic Safety and "A motorcycle organization focused on motorcyclist safety" will meet and begin the "developing" process. I have no idea who has been named to that last-named group yet. On April 12, there will be a public meeting at the nearby CHP academy to discuss it. I'm going. I also spoke to the CHP contact who encouraged me to write up my thoughts if I wanted the working group to consider my input, so I'll do that. Maybe I'll post it here, and if anybody wants to offer any thoughts on what I might say, let me know.

 

[SacramentoMike]

There is movement coming on this business here in Cali, even if it's at a creeping pace. So the meeting I mentioned (closed) will be next week, but I've been talking to a CHP Sergeant with the California Motorcyclist Safety Program--sort of a front man for this effort--who said he'd forward my comments to the Work Group for review in advance of that meeting. Frankly, I just hope they take what has been in the earlier versions of the recently-passed bill (now incorporated in the California Vehicle Code) and use that. I guess you could work through this thread to see all the variations the legislature looked at, modified, and finally scrubbed and left open for someone else to fill in the specifics. But I thought it was pretty good--and basically it was what used to be in the CHP Guidelines on their website--now all nice and legal.

So here's what I wrote up and sent off today. And if anybody doesn't like what I said, read the last line in the previous post. I gave you your notice.

And if you want, join me at the April 12 public meeting. CHP Academy, Sacramento. (6 p.m.)

To the attention of the Work Group on Lane Splitting Guidelines (per CVC Sec. 21658.1)

I am a lifelong motorcyclist who has always appreciated the freedom to split lanes in heavy traffic safely and legally here in California. The advantages, such as the time savings, are many, but less obviously, increased safety, as shown by many well-documented studies that I’m sure this committee is familiar with. The benefit to the public can be summarized by a popular riders’ t-shirt slogan: “One Less Car.”

I followed AB 51 and its changes closely, and passed the information along to the members of an online motorcycle owners’ forum representing hundreds of riders in California and across America, Canada, and beyond. The great interest in this subject is due to the hope many of them share that their own jurisdictions will follow California’s lead and ultimately legalize this very useful practice where they live, as most other countries have always done.

We support the reasonable provisions on speed maximums and closing speed while splitting. Public acceptance is adversely affected by the hooliganism of some riders, though of course law officers will always have the last word on the streets. The key is safety, and it’s not hard to be safe, as long as the rider is focused and alert—and follows the kinds of rules I hope your work group puts forward, such as the very kinds of rules that were in the guidelines formerly published on the CHP’s website and in earlier versions of AB 51.

But I am now asking this work group to address an important subject never mentioned in the bill or in any discussion I have seen, and that is public education. In about 2012, a California Office of Traffic Safety study found that while 87% of California riders do split lanes (at least some of the time), only 53% of car drivers even realize the practice is legal. And seven percent of drivers admitted to having used their vehicles to block or impede lane-splitting motorcyclists!

Please consider a plan to make the driving public aware of the legality of lane splitting, and possibly even of the advantages it offers to riders and to everyone. Changeable message boards that offer information about traffic hazards and delays, Amber Alerts, even the “severe draught,” could easily incorporate such messages as “Motorcycles May Legally Split Lanes” or “Lane Splitting is Legal” and would help a lot. After all, 47% of drivers being unaware of this law puts all riders at significant risk.

Thank you for considering this input.

 

[CraigRegs]

Terrific and persuasive letter, Mike!

 

[SacramentoMike]

Last minute reminder for local and almost-local riders. With the passage of lane splitting-enabling legislation last year, development of specific standards or guidelines for lane splitting was authorized. This effort is being coordinated by the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, which falls under the CHP. There is a public meeting of CMSP's Advisory Committee tonight--April 12--at 6 p.m. at the CHP Academy. I'll be there, and it would be great if anybody nearby also could attend. Should be opportunity to speak, if you have any good ideas. I think at this point they will probably have something about ready to publish.

The location is the Executive Dining Facility--they'll direct you there at the entrance gate. 3500 Reed Ave., West Sacramento--about 1/2 mi. west of I-80. Near Ikea.

 

[SacramentoMike]

There were a couple dozen riders at the meeting (post above) along with the 8 or 10 members of the advisory committee from the CHP, the CMSP, Caltrans, and rider-oriented groups like the AMA and a couple of others. Nobody else from here showed up. Too bad.

The guidelines they put forward were in draft form but they said they're just a week or so from sending them on to the CHP Commissioner for final signoff. A couple of final details are still under discussion, like the maximum traffic speed at which lane splitting will not be allowed; it's apparently to be 40 or 50, with a 15 mph differential for splitting motorcycles. The 40 - 50 range is just because they haven't decided which maximum they want to put forth, but the CHP Division Chief running the meeting said they favored 50. That would make 65 the top speed a lane-splitting motorcycle could be traveling. Considering that discussions in other states considering this issue have looked at speeds as low as 20 for a maximum, this is pretty fine with me. In fact, in my experience, when traffic is moving at 50, splitting lanes is very seldom necessary or even desirable. Not never, but seldom (think of a left-lane hog traveling along at the same low speed as the car next to him. Or her.

The other points the guidelines address for motorcyclists are that riding on the shoulder is prohibited, and riders are advised to avoid riding in blind spots. But they also include instructions for other drivers, such as expressly stating that lane splitting is legal and deliberately blocking or impeding a motorcycle from splitting is illegal. All that should be obvious, but it can't hurt to say it again. Motorists are also advised to give cyclists room to pass, even to stay toward the left while in the no. 1 (left) lane, to signal all lane changes, and generally, to watch out for motorcycles.

In the Q & A and comment period, I made my pitch for an aggressive public education program as a part of the roll-out of these guidelines. They claim that's in the works with outreach in various news and social media and a new section in the DMV handbook as well as the DMV website. The more the better. Looks like we're finally pulling up the the finish line on this.

 

[Bounce]

Same-day notice is hard to gather the masses. Hope it worked out.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Don't ask me why those guidelines haven't been released yet; I'm a little sick of calling the CHP and asking about this, but I haven't done it for a while so I guess it's time again.

But in the meantime, had kind of a good experience today. I was on a local freeway (I-80, the part know locally as the "Capital City Freeway"), traffic was very heavy and I was moving through it nice and briskly. Not speeding, but close to the limit, maybe 10 or 15 over other traffic. As I got near my exit I started to move to the right and noticed a motorcycle coming up behind me in the same position, between #1 and 2. As I slowed to exit, he went by--gold helmet, pistol belt, red lights (not on) --you get it. I love that it's something we agree on. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I followed a CHP moto cop all the way home on U.S. 50 at real good speed for at least ten miles. You poor guys who can't do that--too bad.

 

[CraigRegs]

Don't ask me why those guidelines haven't been released yet; I'm a little sick of calling the CHP and asking about this, but I haven't done it for a while so I guess it's time again.

But in the meantime, had kind of a good experience today. I was on a local freeway (I-80, the part know locally as the "Capital City Freeway"), traffic was very heavy and I was moving through it nice and briskly. Not speeding, but close to the limit, maybe 10 or 15 over other traffic. As I got near my exit I started to move to the right and noticed a motorcycle coming up behind me in the same position, between #1 and 2. As I slowed to exit, he went by--gold helmet, pistol belt, red lights (not on) --you get it. I love that it's something we agree on. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I followed a CHP moto cop all the way home on U.S. 50 at real good speed for at least ten miles. You poor guys who can't do that--too bad.

During my brief CA trip for YFO, I loved being able to lane share (see below). I felt FAR safer rolling through traffic, than watching my 6 constantly. It's tough not falling back into it back home. I'm not sure a largely rural state such as Iowa would ever consider such legislation.

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[K_Flyer]

During my brief CA trip for YFO, I loved being able to lane share (see below). I felt FAR safer rolling through traffic, than watching my 6 constantly. It's tough not falling back into it back home. I'm not sure a largely rural state such as Iowa would ever consider such legislation.
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Don't you love those "Botts Dots" on the lane markers? (The round white bumps.) Try commuting in the rain and the dark sometimes. You will learn pretty quickly to stay in one lane or the other and to change lanes between the dots. They are slippery!

 

[Bounce]

Threadjack moved:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/172971-split-some-dont-like-lane-splitting/

 

[SacramentoMike]

This is a little like giving birth to an elephant, where the baby shows up about two years after all the excitement. Well, except this is slower.

Just to summarize the last six pages of this thread, the bill to define and specifically authorize lane splitting went into California law well over a year ago, and CHP was authorized by the new law to develop specific guidelines or parameters for how it could or should be done. Lots of meetings and discussion followed, but the elephant didn't change much. Maybe now she's beginning to go into labor.

Last week I ran into the CHP supervisor who I'd talked to about all this last year at a "Motorcycle Safety Week" presentation at the local ball park where they were passing out information about rider training along with a little swag. I asked about progress on this biz and learned that it's near completion. Ironically, in its latest form, after all the back and forth in earlier drafts about maximum speeds and speed differentials, which lanes should be used, and more, the (hopefully) final version has dropped all those numbers So instead of 15 mph max over other traffic, or no more than 50, 55, or 65 mph overall, they've gone back to something that sounds identical to what USED to be listed in the CHP's website and California Drivers and Riders Manuals before they started fiddling with it!

Sounds like what will be coming out will pretty much say you can do it if you do it safely. They used to use the term "reasonable and prudent," maybe they will again. In other words, it's back at the rider's (and LEO's) discretion. Don't be stupid with it and you should be ok. Now if they could make being stupid illegal. . .

If I get more I'll pass it along.