How to ride the Interstate

[Fred W]

I see the cruiser guys riding in this ******** parade formation all the time around here. While it is legal (I don't know why) it is not safe and is not endorsed by anyone with half a brain.

How can it be legal for two bikes to share a lane and not a bike and a car?

Are you asking in terms of logic or statutes?

Here's a good reference at the AMA's web site on state by state motorcycle related laws. You can check in your own state (no AMA membership required) and it provides linkage back to many of the the statutes.

From New Hampshire page:
Motorcycles operating two abreast in same lane - Yes. 265:121 - Driving Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic. – I. All motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane; provided, however, that 2 motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane.

Lane Splitting - 265:121 Driving Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic II. The driver of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. III. No person shall drive a motorcycle on a roadway between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

And as for the logic involved... sure the hell beats me!

PS- Dave is correct. In addition to radar detectors being illegal in the Commonwealth of Virginia, :angry: so is riding 2 abreast. [edit] Interestingly, it appears that using helmet speakers is also ILLEGAL In Virginia. Huh? :blink: Need to see what other states have that arcane law...

[edit#2] OK, I just clicked through all 50 states on the AMA web site. In addition to VA, helmet speakers are ILLEGAL to even have in possession in RI and MA, and limited to 1 ear only in NY, MN and... wait for it... CA!!

Sorry for the hijack / tangent. We now return you to the discussion of Choppers Riding Like Asshats.

 

[wfooshee]

The picture was actually in one of the Carolinas, on the way home to Florida from Virginia. Gee, I didn't mean to imply that these guys were actually breaking the law or anything, just that they're stupid.

 

[MojaveFJR]

If you'd been on your FJR, could you have resisted "splitting" them?...at speed?

Nope, would of done it just on principle.

 

[CHRIS_D]

I see the cruiser guys riding in this ******** parade formation all the time around here. While it is legal (I don't know why) it is not safe and is not endorsed by anyone with half a brain.

How can it be legal for two bikes to share a lane and not a bike and a car?

Are you asking in terms of logic or statutes?

Here's a good reference at the AMA's web site on state by state motorcycle related laws. You can check in your own state (no AMA membership required) and it provides linkage back to many of the the statutes.

From New Hampshire page:
Motorcycles operating two abreast in same lane - Yes. 265:121 - Driving Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic. – I. All motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane; provided, however, that 2 motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane.

Lane Splitting - 265:121 Driving Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic II. The driver of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. III. No person shall drive a motorcycle on a roadway between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

And as for the logic involved... sure the hell beats me!

PS- Dave is correct. In addition to radar detectors being illegal in the Commonwealth of Virginia, :angry: so is riding 2 abreast. [edit] Interestingly, it appears that using helmet speakers is also ILLEGAL In Virginia. Huh? :blink: Need to see what other states have that arcane law...

[edit#2] OK, I just clicked through all 50 states on the AMA web site. In addition to VA, helmet speakers are ILLEGAL to even have in possession in RI and MA, and limited to 1 ear only in NY, MN and... wait for it... CA!!

Sorry for the hijack / tangent. We now return you to the discussion of Choppers Riding Like Asshats.

OK here's my soap box on this helmet speaker and or ear phone crap *** laws! :angry2: :angry2:

How can there be a stupid *** law that makes music ear phones and or helmet speakers illegal, when we allow DEAF people to drive? Where's the common sense in this? By the way, this rant has nothing to do with NOT allowing deaf people to drive, IMO I think there very capable!

 

[Bounce]

Especially for Rolling Thunder I wouldn't ride next to another biker in the same lane; they could screw up & crash taking you with them.

there. i fixed it for you.

it's these special event parades where yo DON'T want to be close to someone else. often they seldom ride except for these events and it's only at toy rides and such that i've seen people go down trying to so something as simple as getting from a parking lot to a highway entrance ramp (with police escorts even).

btw: what's a "death people"??

 

[Geezer]

btw: what's a "death people"??

I suppose there is no reason why the grim reaper should not be allowed to drive as long as he has a license and insurance. :graduated:

Regarding hearing impaired, I know several people who are deaf and have no problem driving.

Personally, I have never had a LEO question my ear plugs or helmet speakers. As Fred said above, there is little logic to laws. That is why LEOs and judges are given some discression in their application. That's also why I don't like zero tolerance policies.

 

[CHRIS_D]

:lol: :wub:

Especially for Rolling Thunder I wouldn't ride next to another biker in the same lane; they could screw up & crash taking you with them.

there. i fixed it for you.

it's these special event parades where yo DON'T want to be close to someone else. often they seldom ride except for these events and it's only at toy rides and such that i've seen people go down trying to so something as simple as getting from a parking lot to a highway entrance ramp (with police escorts even).

btw: what's a "death people"??

What are you talking about? :blushsmiley: :blushsmiley: :wub:

 

[Fred W]

Multiple bad spelling aside, you make a very valid point, Chris. Additionally, when I am in my cage with the windows rolled up and AC/DC jammin' at 105dB, I might as well be deaf, or death , or whatever... can't hear. I guess dead people are technically deaf.

Next their gonna say you can't wear earplugs when you ride...