I am a strong believer that responsible and legal lane-splitting (lane-sharing, filtering, etc.) by motorcyclists is hugely beneficial, not just to those of us who ride, but to everyone on the roads. Unlike many of the people who chime in to oppose lane-splitting during online discussions (and have never actually done it), my opinion is based on years of experience. For eight years, I lived in Puerto Rico, where lane-splitting (and filtering to the front of traffic at stop lights) in the ever-congested traffic of San Juan made me safer, saved me uncounted hours of time and got me out of the way of all the people in cars, too, thus benefiting everyone. I’ve also benefited from lane-splitting in California, the only state that allows it.
Filtering to the front at stoplights lets motorcyclists separate themselves from clusters of urban traffic, increasing safety and reducing congestion.
Now, you can show your support for making this sensible practice, which is commonplace all around the world, legal in all 50 states. Here’s how.
Sign this petition at whitehouse.gov. Sure, there are more important issues for our government to deal with, from the violence in our streets at home to innocents being slaughtered around the world. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t address the little things that make our daily lives better and more sensible. So sign the petition.
Just the ability to filter to the head of the line at each red light in heavy city traffic does two great things for you: It separates you from the clusters of traffic where you’re most likely to be involved in a crash, and it gets you to your destination much, much quicker.
And if you’re about to tell me you don’t believe motorcyclists should be able to lane-split, let me ask you to answer three questions honestly:
- Are you hearing “lane-splitting” and imagining a rider doing a 60 mph stand-up wheelie between rows of stopped traffic? A California study showed that when lane-splitting is done responsibly, within the guidelines recommended by the California Highway Patrol, it is not unsafe. Nobody is suggesting that irresponsible riding should be legalized. Just sensible lane-splitting, like what happens every day, all over the world.
- Are you speaking from experience and knowledge or pure supposition? Have you ridden where lane-splitting is legal and accepted, so drivers know to expect it? If not, how do you know it’s a bad idea?
- Do you realize that making lane-splitting legal does not require you to do it? If you prefer sitting in traffic, you can continue to do so. Why deny the rest of us the improved ability to get where we’re going and contribute less to traffic congestion?
It’s time for the United States to adopt the same common-sense policy most of the world follows. So sign the petition. Maybe it won’t accomplish anything, but it’s better than spending the next five minutes of your life watching a “best ATV crashes” video on YouTube.
