Lane-filtering bill introduced in Virginia

[Blind Squirrel]

State Delegate Tony Wilt (R-26th) has introduced a bill that would allow lane filtering in Virginia under certain conditions. H.B. 1236 allows a motorcyclist to move between traffic that is stopped or moving at 10 mph or slower as long as the motorcyclist is on a road with two or more lanes in each direction, the motorcyclist does not exceed 20 mph while filtering, and the maneuver can be performed safely.

Wilt's H.B. 1236 has bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation Subcommittee on Motor Vehicles.

This is the first time a lane filtering bill has been introduced in Virginia, so it is critical for legislators to hear from motorcyclists about the practice and why it makes riding safer and reduces congestion for other road users.

If you live in Virginia send your state delegate a message urging them to supporting H.B. 1236!

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[Highwayman]

Daymmmmmnnn . Sorry but lane splitting should be a given on a mc. Really no reason at all a 12' wide lane cant be safely traveled with a car and mc in the same space. Stupid for it to be illegal in any state.

For all thats wrong with Cali, lane splitting not being illegal is the one of the only few good things. Id split regardless, personally. Too unsafe not to for a rider.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Daymmmmmnnn . Sorry but lane splitting should be a given on a mc. Really no reason at all a 12' wide lane cant be safely traveled with a car and mc in the same space. Stupid for it to be illegal in any state.

For all thats wrong with Cali, lane splitting not being illegal is the one of the only few good things. Id split regardless, personally. Too unsafe not to for a rider.

It is not currently safe to split around here on a routine basis. Drivers in CA are used to lane splitting and accommodate riders. Out here on the East coast drivers do NOT look for motorcycles splitting, and tend to get upset when riders do split.

 

[elricfate]

It is not currently safe to split around here on a routine basis. Drivers in CA are used to lane splitting and accommodate riders. Out here on the East coast drivers do NOT look for motorcycles splitting, and tend to get upset when riders do split.

100% valid.

Here in Ohio, Lane Splitting is not illegal unless you're fishing, it's also not explicitly legal. So none of the drivers here have any respect in terms of lane position, because they're not expected to. I also think that if we DID pass a lane splitting bill here, it would take ten years for the drivers to "get on board", and even then there would probably be a majority who simply didn't care unless they were charged with a criminal offense for hitting a splitter.

 

[offcamber]

They key is driver education....I can't see it working in the Northeast....drivers will just cut you off and think you are cutting the line....

 

[Checkswrecks]

We tried last year to get the law changed in MD to reflect what California has as guidance. Thanks in part to the inner city Baltimorons it went so bad the sponsor hasn't tried again this year. So far anyway.

This was the vision all of the legislators had:

 

[Eville Rich]

They key is driver education....I can't see it working in the Northeast....drivers will just cut you off and think you are cutting the line....

And that's the problem. In the U.S., driving is viewed as a right and a competitive endeavour. I don't see that changing. We have very low standards for driver education, much less skills development or continuing education. True for cars, true for motorcycles, true for all forms, except maybe higher levels of commercial driving. This does not give me comfort that introducing lane splitting will be well received or safe. Not that one shouldn't try. My expectations are just low.

Personally, I think drivers should need to be retested in a regular basis. Like maybe once or twice a decade. But that won't happen unless the insurance industry drives it. Be safe out there.

Eville Rich
2016 S10

 

[AVGeek]

And that's the problem. In the U.S., driving is viewed as a right and a competitive endeavour. I don't see that changing. We have very low standards for driver education, much less skills development or continuing education. True for cars, true for motorcycles, true for all forms, except maybe higher levels of commercial driving. This does not give me comfort that introducing lane splitting will be well received or safe. Not that one shouldn't try. My expectations are just low.

Personally, I think drivers should need to be retested in a regular basis. Like maybe once or twice a decade. But that won't happen unless the insurance industry drives it. Be safe out there.

Eville Rich
2016 S10

I 99% agree...my 1% difference is that I believe most people don't view driving as a skill to be practiced and perfected, but rather a chore. I also think that the large number of distractions today along with the safety advances in cars and trucks makes people complacent. I commuted exclusively on 2 wheels for 5 years in both Las Vegas and Phoenix, and the sheer stupidity I witnessed on a daily basis just makes me want to pour chlorine in the gene pool!

Driving needs to be treated like any other skills certification, and have drivers retest every so often to show that their competency hasn't declined.

 

[Cycledude]

lane splitting is one area where the USA is far behind the rest of the world.
i have been to California lots of times on a motorcycle, at first I thought lane splitting was like looking for trouble and never did it while riding alone, but after riding with a friend that lives out there and does it a lot I learned if done right it’s a pretty safe thing and can help everyone Not just the motorcycle. But yes good driver education about lane splitting is very important.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

IF it is passed here in Virginia, I would most likely only use it in the beginning to filter to the front of stopped traffic. Need to give the cagers time to get used/acclimated to the new way of doing things.

 

[bnschroder]

I once took a motorcycle taxi in Paris from the Orly airport to the center of town while my colleague took a cab. It took me 45 minutes in morning rush hour and him an hour and a half. I was in the backseat of a Goldwing and there wasn't a gap too narrow for my chauffeur. It was splitting and filtering at its finest. A little insane, but deeply satisfying. And Parisiens are used to it and respectful.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I once took a motorcycle taxi in Paris from the Orly airport to the center of town while my colleague took a cab. It took me 45 minutes in morning rush hour and him an hour and a half. I was in the backseat of a Goldwing and there wasn't a gap too narrow for my chauffeur. It was splitting and filtering at its finest. A little insane, but deeply satisfying. And Parisiens are used to it and respectful.

Same in Asia and most of the rest of the world. Nuts to watch but once you get into the rhythm it's completely natural. In Taiwan there's a box painted at intersections and for red lights cars have to stop before the box so scooters and motorcycles can filter up to the box.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Without serious driver education, I'd be very hesitant to attempt filtering in VA. Seems like a sure recipe for road rage around here. I'm not against it, just don't like the idea of getting pulled off my bike at a red light.

 

[ord13]

You could all come and live in Marseilles guys, here for years even cars squeeze through traffic, and it's a local law too