Go Back   Two Wheel Fix > Around the World > Southwest Riders

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-10-2009, 01:44 PM   #1
RACER X
AMA Supersport
 
RACER X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Richmond, Tx
Moto: '10 Tuono Factory
Posts: 4,569
Default lanesplitting on the books again

Originally Posted by SB 506 Text
AN ACT
relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles during
periods of traffic congestion.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 545.060, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(a) An operator on a roadway divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for traffic:
(1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within
a single lane, except as provided by Subsection (e); and
(2) may not move from the lane unless that movement can
be made safely.
(e) The operator of a motorcycle may operate the motorcycle
for a safe distance between lanes of traffic moving in the same
direction during periods of traffic congestion if:
(1) notwithstanding Section 661.003(c), the operator
and any passenger wear protective headgear that meets the safety
standards adopted by the department; and
(2) the operator operates the motorcycle:
(A) at a speed not more than five miles per hour
greater than the speed of the other traffic;
(B) in traffic that is moving at a speed of 20
miles per hour or less; and
(C) in a location other than a school crossing
zone or a location where the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour
or less.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

A bill has one again been introduced to the Texas legislature to allow motorcycle lane splitting: SB 506.

Now would be the time to contact your state senators and representatives and ask them to support this bill. You can find your state reps and senator contact info by entering your address here.
__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
2014 GROM! 181cc of FURY
2010 Aprilia Tuono Factory - SOLD
2009 SFV Gladius - SOLD
2008 Hayabusa - SOLD.
RACER X is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2009, 01:49 PM   #2
Ol' Man Rider
Got Busa???
 
Ol' Man Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Folsom Prison
Moto: 07 ZX-6R (track) Busa on Spray (street/strip) 110 mini-motard
Posts: 24
Default

Thank You!!!
__________________
FOR SALE: $5800 2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R Track/ Race bike. ~1800 miles, Vortex rearsets, Puig Windscreen, Green Piteck Bodywork, Salvage title. Sorry, no street parts. PM any questions.
Ol' Man Rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2009, 01:51 PM   #3
xx CURVE xx
SMELL MY LEVER
 
xx CURVE xx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Texas
Moto: Tards
Posts: 1,034
Default

So can i lane split on the way home today or not?
xx CURVE xx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2009, 02:01 PM   #4
Leon
WERA Yellow Plate
 
Leon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 648
Default

Wow that's awesome. Wish the legislators in FL would get their heads out of the asses and follow.
Leon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2009, 02:04 PM   #5
fnfalman
Europhile
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SoCal
Moto: Aprilia RS125, Aprilia SR50 Factory, Aprilia Tuono, BMW Rockster, KTM 990 Adventure
Posts: 1,875
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by xx CURVE xx View Post
So can i lane split on the way home today or not?
Gotta wait to see if the damn bill becomes law first.
__________________
Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride

fnfalman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2009, 03:06 PM   #6
Archren
Sham WOW
 
Archren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: ATX
Moto: 2007 Ducati 1098
Posts: 2,741
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fnfalman View Post
Gotta wait to see if the damn bill becomes law first.
Yup... not the first time it's been thrown out there in the last few years.
__________________
Photography

"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time. It was impossible."
- Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature

"Be who you are and say what you feel
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
Archren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2009, 04:36 PM   #7
G-Rex
Where to next?
 
G-Rex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: OK to the C
Moto: TL1000R, Hayabusa, R1150RT
Posts: 1,333
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Archren View Post
Yup... not the first time it's been thrown out there in the last few years.
Wouldn't matter if I'm on the Busa. I'll just roll over to the stripe, look and shake my head, and move back over into the lane like we did in California.
__________________
G-Rex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2009, 07:03 PM   #8
azoomm
moderator chick

 
azoomm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hill Country TX
Moto: Pasta Rockets
Posts: 8,917
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Archren View Post
Yup... not the first time it's been thrown out there in the last few years.
Though, it was only first proposed two years ago. And, they only meet every other year...

We need to get on this.
__________________
We have enough youth. How about a fountain of "smart"?

Come Play at the Track!!

http://www.elitetrackdays.com
azoomm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2009, 11:51 PM   #9
MNellis
Trailer Queen
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 18
Default A different point of view

I broached this subject a week or so ago and only received a few comments. Here are my thoughts, as shared on another site, regarding the upcoming Lane Splitting Bill.

I've followed various discussions on several msg. boards and almost all have been talking up this bill, just like this message board is going.

Again, cudos to the hard charging people that are fighting for what they want. The act of getting involved is more important than standing by and watching the world go by.

I got my license in So. California and grew up riding there so I'm well versed in the benefits and dangers of splitting traffic. The proponents of this bill advocate how important it is to keep the bikes moving in rush hour traffic on the highway. The reality is that overheating motorcycles, especially liquid cooled ones nowadays, is rare. Maybe my old RC-51 is an exception but it's not nearly as big a problem as it was in So. Cal. in the late 60's on an air cooled Norton. The subject of how lane splitting will actually increase safety and will put more helmets on riders is a joke. Don't pee on my face and tell me it's raining. The only real advantage to this bill is that you'll be able to go to the head of the line at a traffic light and maybe make up 5 minutes in traffic during peak rush hours. Think about it, if traffic is moving over 20 mph then lane splitting is not authorized. Really, other than a T/A, how often is traffic moving under 20 mph on the highway. Even during peak hours it moves at 20 mph or better. The 'S' turns in S. Austin might be an exception. Additionally, this law will not allow you to pass on the left in the far left lane and it will not allow you to pass on the right in the "slow lane".

On the surface, I think lane splitting is a good idea. I'm comfortable with it and I know how to work it. The problem as I see it, is they combined it with a helmet law. What a surprise, the government is offering motorcyclist something....but they want a wee little something in return.

They've added this requirement for one of two reasons. Either they think lane splitting is so dangerous that to do so requires a helmet due to the increased risk of crashing or they want to get some sort of helmet law on the books. If statistics show that safe riding is compromised by lane splitting to the extenet that a helmet law is necessary then why, why, why, why would we pass a law approving it for the general public?? Hell, the Lawmakers are outlawing the sale of mini-quads targeted at children under the supervision of adults yet they're going to approve a dangerous maneuver like lane splitting that is so dangerous that in order to do it a helmet is mandated???? Right, I've got a bridge to sell you too. It's smoke and mirrors my friends, there is a real agenda here and it's not to improve the comfort and traffic flow for motorcyclists.

A helmet law, regardless or how menial, is still a law and much more difficult to rescind. Once it's in place then they'll do what they want in the future as it relates to requiring/mandating helmets with very little to stop them. It's a like a $.01 sales tax. On the surface it's probably not a big deal. When is the last time you saw a state lower or abolish a tax of any sort. Conversely, how many states started with a $.02-$.03 sales tax and are now paying 8.5%. Would you vote in an income tax even though it only applied to a small group of wealthy people? I don't think so, because you know it'll trickle down to the average family in no time and you'll probably never see the benefit of the tax regardless of how they try to convince you it was money well spent.

Don't get me wrong, I will advise people to wear helmets and I do so myself almost all the time. What I don't want is the government telling me I have to. It's just one more chance for them to tell me how to run my life. Next, it'll be I have to wear a certain type of jacket while riding, regardless of the weather. After that, they'll require the use of some sort of "air bag vest".

I know, I know, lots of states have helmet laws but that's not the point.

Anyway, I didn't want to get into a helmet law debate. It just sticks in my craw that people, sheep if you will, will sacrifice a freedom for the privileged of riding between cars. Trust me, you'll see more accidents because of lane splitting and the traffic will be backed up because of it... and you'll continue to go nowhere fast.

If lane splitting is a good thing then it should pass on it's merits. If a mandatory helmet law is what people want then it should be voted on, and adopted, on it's merits. But do not, I repeat, do not dangle a carrot in front of me, BUT, I have to accept a swat on the butt with a paddle at the same time.....for my own good.

In my world, I'll notice the swat on the back side a lot more than I'll enjoy eating the carrot.

Last edited by MNellis; 04-01-2009 at 02:12 AM..
MNellis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2009, 06:45 AM   #10
Adeptus_Minor
Hopster
 
Adeptus_Minor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Moto: 2009 Buell 1125R
Posts: 4,743
Default

I see what you're saying, Mike.
But, since most of us are going to be wearing helmets anyway, it seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Normally I'm very wary of 'slippery slope' type legislation, but this just isn't sending up any red flags for me.
Perhaps I've just been stuck behind one too many slow accelerating people when I could have easily cut to the front and been the first away from the stoplight.
__________________
“Well, obviously before; after was all gendarmes and dick stitches.”
Adeptus_Minor is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:34 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.