2015 Anti-Lane Splitting Bill (Assembly Bill 51)

[mlm]

Think of it from a politician's point of view: passing laws is good, pissing off organized blocks of voters is not. Our best bet is it he latter. It's why the NRA has been so successful.

Don't be so damn naive. The new only people in our corner are riders and people who think we don't need any more laws.

 

[budman]

Horhay u are correct. The avg driver is a twit.

 

[boney]

The problem is that there is no reasonable basis for those speeds - the studies, previous guidelines, and public opinion (as well as the opinion of many motorcyclists) think those speeds are unreasonable. Lane splitting, within the bounds of 35/10, is as safe as riding as normal motorcycle riding, and has additional benefits for other commuters - less congestion, etc. At 55/10, it's pretty much a lost cause, higher risk, higher consequences. This isn't a law that's about us, I know that I can easily handle 55/10, it's about the relationship and compromise between us and other users of the road.

When considering a risk/reward ratio, looking at the benefits in time is interesting as well. The reward of traveling at 55 MPH over 45 MPH is only .16 minutes per mile. That means you would have to split at 55 MPH for 6.25 miles in order to realize a 1 minute gain over 45 MPH.

Thats:
3 minutes savings from the Carquinez Bridge to the McAurthur Maze on I-80
5.5 minutes from 101 x 85 in SJ to 101 x 280 in SF
5.7 minutes from 880 x 237 in Milpitas to 880 x 908 in Oakland

I don't generally have that small of a margin on my commute. I guess I should slow down and reduce the risk.:ride

 

[Marcoose]

When considering a risk/reward ratio, looking at the benefits in time is interesting as well. The reward of traveling at 55 MPH over 45 MPH is only .16 minutes per mile. That means you would have to split at 55 MPH for 6.25 miles in order to realize a 1 minute gain over 45 MPH.

Thats:
3 minutes savings from the Carquinez Bridge to the McAurthur Maze on I-80
5.5 minutes from 101 x 85 in SJ to 101 x 280 in SF
5.7 minutes from 880 x 237 in Milpitas to 880 x 908 in Oakland

I don't generally have that small of a margin on my commute. I guess I should slow down and reduce the risk.:ride

While I'd prefer not to have this law, it's true that people seldom look at true gains and losses. Splitting is terrific between traffic at dead stop and 35-40 mph. Above that, it's small marginal gains. Once traffic is rolling, it's just spots here and there that a few morons will do rolling blockades for a few seconds at a time.

 

[TrueFader]

When considering a risk/reward ratio, looking at the benefits in time is interesting as well. The reward of traveling at 55 MPH over 45 MPH is only .16 minutes per mile. That means you would have to split at 55 MPH for 6.25 miles in order to realize a 1 minute gain over 45 MPH.

Thats:
3 minutes savings from the Carquinez Bridge to the McAurthur Maze on I-80
5.5 minutes from 101 x 85 in SJ to 101 x 280 in SF
5.7 minutes from 880 x 237 in Milpitas to 880 x 908 in Oakland

I don't generally have that small of a margin on my commute. I guess I should slow down and reduce the risk.:ride

So 5 minutes each way, hour a week, over 2 full days gained every year. 2 days less spent in traffic. I'll take it.

 

[MrIncredible]

So 5 minutes each way, hour a week, over 2 full days gained every year. 2 days less spent in traffic. I'll take it.

Maybe you should just concentrate on getting home safe each day?

 

[MrIncredible]

My guess is that the average cager doesn't like lane splitting because it doesn't seem safe and they're likely pissed and or startled when a bike passes them. I doubt they give a shit about speed differentials, or what's really safe. For them its TL;DR, motorcycles are dangerous, and it's not fair.

If I recall there was a barf thread where the consensus was whacking a mirror was okay, and if you thought there was no damage, it was fine to just keep riding.

Every time that happens is likely a very pissed off cager. Probably not on our side forever.

 

[mlm]

If I recall there was a barf thread where the consensus was whacking a mirror was okay, and if you thought there was no damage, it was fine to just keep riding.

Every time that happens is likely a very pissed off cager. Probably not on our side forever.

How is the question of bumping a mirror any different than tapping a car bumper? It's not a lane splitting specific question, and I'd say it's irrelevant to the discussion because it has nothing to do with the proposed legislation.

 

[mlm]

Why are we having this discussion, since the CHP guidelines were supposed to have been the greatest thing ever. Oh wait...a new law will be even better

 

[boney]

So 5 minutes each way, hour a week, over 2 full days gained every year. 2 days less spent in traffic. I'll take it.

Way to turn the tables. :clap Can't argue with that.

I guess I don't need those two days that badly since I enjoy riding, even in traffic.

 

[Marcoose]

So 5 minutes each way, hour a week, over 2 full days gained every year. 2 days less spent in traffic. I'll take it.

Or ... move closer to work or work closer to home and you'll spend even less time in traffic. Jus' sayin'.

 

[flying_hun]

My guess is that the average cager doesn't like lane splitting because it doesn't seem safe and they're likely pissed and or startled when a bike passes them. I doubt they give a shit about speed differentials, or what's really safe. For them its TL;DR, motorcycles are dangerous, and it's not fair.

Tell a politician he'll be pissing off a block of voters is enough for them to drop it. Bring it to the attention of voters is the worst thing you can do. If half of them think it's illegal you can count on that being their vote.

Yep.

 

[boney]

Or ... move closer to work or work closer to home and you'll spend even less time in traffic. Jus' sayin'.

Not as easy as it sounds. You know it. I know it.

 

[Marcoose]

Not as easy as it sounds. You know it. I know it.

Yes, it had sarcasm in it.

If the argument to keep doing something dangerous and annoying is to save a lifetime in traffic, well, quit doing it to boot.

 

[MrIncredible]

My guess is that the average cager doesn't like lane splitting because it doesn't seem safe and they're likely pissed and or startled when a bike passes them. I doubt they give a shit about speed differentials, or what's really safe. For them its TL;DR, motorcycles are dangerous, and it's not fair.

Tell a politician he'll be pissing off a block of voters is enough for them to drop it. Bring it to the attention of voters is the worst thing you can do. If half of them think it's illegal you can count on that being their vote.

If I recall there was a barf thread where the consensus was whacking a mirror was okay, and if you thought there was no damage, it was fine to just keep riding.

Every time that happens is likely a very pissed off cager. Probably not on our side forever.

How is the question of bumping a mirror any different than tapping a car bumper? It's not a lane splitting specific question, and I'd say it's irrelevant to the discussion because it has nothing to do with the proposed legislation.

I was adding to your "why the average cager might not like lanesplitting" thing.

Less unclear?

I've certainly never had another car hit my mirror and keep going-it has happened with a motorcyclist.

Thankfully I was in a shitty car.

 

[mlm]

Agreed, but doubt it has happened to that many people. Certainly not more than parking lot dings or getting tapped into.

My larger point is that most people don't give a shit about motorcycles and would be fine if not prefer lane splitting be banned for no specific reason.

 

[clutchslip]

So 5 minutes each way, hour a week, over 2 full days gained every year. 2 days less spent in traffic. I'll take it.

You are a bit optimistic. If you can honestly justify this pattern, I bet you could find ten minutes somewhere else in your day to make up the difference. There can't be very many people that don't fritter away ten minutes in a day.

Agreed, but doubt it has happened to that many people. Certainly not more than parking lot dings or getting tapped into.

My larger point is that most people don't give a shit about motorcycles and would be fine if not prefer lane splitting be banned for no specific reason.

"Everyone" bumps something, thus federal law has bumper standards, so there is no damage. While mirror banging is not covered for motorcycles and a startling event for a driver, that could have been worse.


But, people do/will have specific reasons to oppose lane splitting. The problem, that has come in this thread and other threads, is that motorcyclists dismiss drivers as clueless twits. Thus, we continue to underestimate the opposition, and weaken our position.

 

[budman]

My larger point is that most people don't give a shit about motorcycles and would be fine if not prefer lane splitting be banned for no specific reason.

What if the proposed law goes to a vote??? We are going lose either way.

If it does not pass we will have another politician bring back the bill to make it illegal. It is what they do. Make shit up to protect us from ourselves. :facepalm

Massive frustration.

 

[mlm]

What if the proposed law goes to a vote??? We are going lose either way.

If it does not pass we will have another politician bring back the bill to make it illegal. It is what they do. Make shit up to protect us from ourselves. :facepalm

Massive frustration.

No easy answers and I think we're on the same page. Oppose it first, and compromise if necessary. I just don't buy the argument that being proactive is the smart move.

 

[Z3n]

I'm bumping this thing

Because of this article:
http://fox40.com/2015/01/02/new-years-day-motorcycle-death-raises-questions-about-lane-splitting/

Note how the lack of definition around what is "legal lane splitting" means we have no ground to stand upon when defending the practice. And this is in mainstream media, too - not biker specific stuff.