White House petition to allow lane sharing nationwide

MikeGyver

MikeGyver

:)
Allow motorcycle lane sharing on all public roads

Lane splitting is something the rest of the world allows. In areas with congested traffic, it allows motorcycle riders to use the space in between 2 lanes of cars traveling in the same direction to advance through traffic. This act reduces car traffic because of the space a motorcycle takes up behind a car. Currently the State of California is the only place where such action is legal. We petition to make lane splitting a nationally recognized act, and to follow similar guide lines that the State of California has set forth.
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https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-motorcycle-lane-sharing-all-public-roads/qP86QbjN
 
Randy B

Randy B

Well-known member
Interesting idea, but the stated control their own traffic laws and as such the federal government has no ability to change these laws.
 
sckego

sckego

doesn't like crashing
Randy B said:
Interesting idea, but the stated control their own traffic laws and as such the federal government has no ability to change these laws.
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Didn't the federal government institute the national 55mph speed limit?
 
D

davidji

bike curious
The federal government didn't explicitly enact 55MPH, rather they withheld highway funds from states that didn't enact it.

I think most states follow at least some of the Uniform Vehicle Code.
 
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davidji

bike curious
Even if the white house could enact this, the petition would be merely symbolic. So the fact that they can't doesn't change that much. I signed anyway.

They do have some influence over the states, and I would hope some over the Uniform Vehicle Code as well.
 
Stormdragon

Stormdragon

Still Good Lookin'
Hey, it's worth a shot. At least if it gets enough signatures, the kids on Capitol Hill might be reminded that we vote too.
 
Wolf

Wolf

Experienced, not Skilled
YESSIR!!!

You folks in the Bay don't know how good you've got it. Having lived/ridden in CA for my first 5 years of riding, then moving to TX for my next few, I SORELY miss being able to lane split legally.

I do split here on occasion, only when traffic is REALLY backed up, and have been lucky so far in that no one has every tried to block/assault/shoot/maim me (just received an angry honk on occasion). But I'd be more comfortable if the practice were legal here, as traffic is HORRIBLE (think Sunol Grade on a Friday afternoon).


There was a state legislator here who put forth a bill a couple years back to allow it, the bill passed the state house, but when it reached the state senate, they sat on it and nothing was done, so the bill died.
 
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rodr

rodr

Well-known member
monkeythumpa said:
The federal headlight modulator law forbids states from enacting laws that ban headlight modulators on motorcycles, so there is a legal precedent.
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While having a vehicle that's legal to use as designed in all 50 states is in the public interest, your actions as a driver are regulated at the state or local level.

While I support the right to lane share, I do not support this petition because it just makes us look stupid:

1. Lane splitting is not Federal jurisdiction.

2. The White House doesn't make laws.
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Sign. Sign

EVERY OPPORTUNITY to have your voice heard by the government has a value.

This is good for all motorcyclist in the USA. :flag
 
RickM

RickM

Well-known member
Cant't the feds persuade the states to alter the laws by putting conditions for fedral highway construction grants/ funds???
 
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davidji

bike curious
RickM said:
Cant't the feds persuade the states to alter the laws by putting conditions for fedral highway construction grants/ funds???
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Yes, like they did with 55MPH. Do you really think they'd do that for this? They could do things like promote it in the NHTSA highway safety program.

Congress could probably have it implemented in the DC vehicle code--which only seems likely when enough congresspeople ride.
 
Randy B

Randy B

Well-known member
davidji said:
Congress could probably have it implemented in the DC vehicle code--which only seems likely when enough congresspeople ride.
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This presumes that most riders want to lane split in the first place. Coming from Illinois I can tell you that the prevailing opinion on the subject with riders outside of California is that it is a wildly dangerous practice and should be outright banned. They just can't fathom that anyone would actually want to do this.
 
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