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Lane filtering petition?

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It’s been legalized in at least 4 other states in the last several years, and riders there have been largely happy, and drivers largely compliant. With a good public information campaign here, it would be fine. Riders who filter in a safe manner rarely have issues here, even though it isn’t legal.

Some of y’all sound like the people who predicted “blood in the streets” when CHL laws were passed. It didn’t happen then, and it wouldn’t happen with lane filtering.
 
Maverick2076 said:
Some of y’all sound like the people who predicted “blood in the streets” when CHL laws were passed. It didn’t happen then, and it wouldn’t happen with lane filtering.
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Oh man, I remember those days. That really was the vibe wasn't it? And it just flat out never came to be at all.
 
I never thought the CHL thing was going to become an issue. I knew it would for the anti-gun groups. I hope if the lane splitting passes, people will ride responsible. I just figured for those don't exhibit responsible riding, giving them something like a bigger leash would eventually raise the fatality margins.
 
I looked this up. Interesting.

Injury and Safety FindingsLower Fatality Rates: Fatal injuries dropped to 1.2% for riders splitting lanes compared to 3.0% for non-splitting riders.Fewer Head and Torso Injuries: Head injuries occurred in 9% of lane-splitting crashes versus 17% otherwise; torso injuries were 19% versus 29%.Speed and Context: Studies show the risk is lower when riders keep their speed close to surrounding traffic (within 15 mph) and traffic speeds are under 40 mph.
 
Texasrider58 said:
I looked this up. Interesting.

Injury and Safety FindingsLower Fatality Rates: Fatal injuries dropped to 1.2% for riders splitting lanes compared to 3.0% for non-splitting riders.Fewer Head and Torso Injuries: Head injuries occurred in 9% of lane-splitting crashes versus 17% otherwise; torso injuries were 19% versus 29%.Speed and Context: Studies show the risk is lower when riders keep their speed close to surrounding traffic (within 15 mph) and traffic speeds are under 40 mph.
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And that is precisely why it should be legal, giving riders the choice to lane split or not.
 
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Those of us riding Air-Cooled motorcycles would also benefit.

I was forced to lane-filter in Austin while sitting still on I-35 near 11th street when the valves on my '97 RT began clattering.

Just 5 m.p.h. of breeze was enough to drop my temperature gauge from 100% down to 75%. I was amazed.
 
There are good arguments for both sides. I see high levels of stupidity everyday commuting. I also agree it's not just Texas. I would simply appreciate the right to choose, as opposed to being told. There are times when filtering and splitting are appropriate and times not. Plus we all have seen the squid doing 70 between cars going 10. I definitely wouldn't ride here the same as I ride elsewhere. That is a recipe for dead.
 
John Bennett said:
Those of us riding Air-Cooled motorcycles would also benefit.
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That's the only time i needed to, was stuck on the upper deck freeway at a dead stop in 100 degree temps, my DR head pipe was cooking my leg, went down the shoulder at maybe 25. Most folks will be ok if the cage drivers don't get too angry. It's them crazy biker boys gangster fellers that split at 70mph that will get smoked.
 
Been fortunate to ride in Europe the past couple years, specifically Lisbon and Barcelona. Lane filtering is a way of life. Watching traffic you think the riders filtering are crazy, then you’re in it and it works. No angry 4 wheelers, everyone cooperates.
 
DFW_Warrior said:
About that..... technically a proper zipper technique at the point of merge is much more efficient than trying to bottle neck 1 mile in advance and then hoping no one else cruises up the now completely empty lane. Just throwing that out there.
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Theoretically, sure. Zipper merges make sense.

The way people drive, however, it’s simply not realistic to expect it to work. Entirely too many people will go out of their way to not let you in. Or they’re tailgating the person in front of them so you don’t have room to move over. Or the person you’re trying to get in front of doesn’t notice your blinker and doesn’t give you space. Or the people moving over don’t get over into the lane when there’s room; they’ll wait til the absolute last second and try to get just one more car length further up, causing everyone who is already in line to have to brake and let them in.

In a perfect world, all drivers would be courteous, aware, and operate their vehicles in a safe manner that benefits everyone on the road. Unfortunately we all know how that’s working out.
 
AnthonyInTX said:
Or the people moving over don’t get over into the lane when there’s room; they’ll wait til the absolute last second and try to get just one more car length further up, causing everyone who is already in line to have to brake and let them in.
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Ahhhh, there is the problem! This is exactly why it doesn't work. They ARE supposed to wait until the last second/merge and then zipper in. There is no line that people have been waiting in. There are just x amount of lanes going to x-1 amount of lanes. If everyone waits until the last second, then zippers in, this is in fact the textbook way for this to work efficiently. But as soon as "GRRRRRRRRR, I've waited in line and why can't they merge already?!?!?" enters the chat, then it is all for not.

Anywho, lane filtering, still a good idea. Texas, not different from any other state. We should have it. If you don't want to do it, then don't. If you do, then you shouldn't get penalized for it.
 
I will say, not sure if I would ever make a practice of it, but when we were in line at the PA ferry and the lady told Steve " Macdaddy " for us to ride to the front on the shoulder with a line of cars sitting there that seemed miles long and long wait time, I was relieved because the heat and humidity was exhausting. They worked us in a spot that was smaller than another vehicle could fit in.
 
Considering they literally changed the law a couple years ago explicitly outlawing lane filtering and lane splitting, I doubt they're going to suddenly reverse course regardless of some petition. Prior to the change in law lane filtering/splitting was not explicitly illegal becasue it wasn't specifically addressed. The change making it illegal was the first time it was addressed in decades. DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH!!!

P.S. Yammie Noob is a total MORON!!!
 
RSTX said:
I just noticed Yammi Noob is starting a petition to make lane filtering legal in Texas. Disregarding how you might feel about him as a You Tuber, what do you think about this?

I'm somewhat mixed. I do get that it allows us to move forward and potentially avoid being hit from behind, but I've had bikers "sneak" up on me to filter past and it is startling. I doubt that I would do it even if it was legal. I'd be worried someone would take action (open their door, throw something at me, etc) to prevent me from moving forward.

Thoughts?
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For it
 
I had to live in a bad place for a while that legally allowed it. I always worked my way to the front in city traffic. It works well. It keeps you safe from behind. Splitting at speed on the freeway...that's different. I wouldn't do it above about 35mph, but I saw others doing crazy stuff. Motorcycle cops were usually the most aggressive. I've been apprehensive about doing it here, but I would love to get some of the suck out traffic so I can/would ride more.
 
Lived in CA for 27 years and rode bikes for 7 of those year and I'm for it as well.

Granted, some people take advantage and lane split at dangerous speeds, but if done by the letter of the law (or close to it), it is a helpful advantage.

Occasionally I would flip up my licence plate on my R6 when I was lane splitting as some folks don't like bikes going past them while they're stuck in traffic. Was lucky and only had one car cut me off (not sure if intentional or not) and barely clipped their tail light with my right right bar end weight.

But yes... for it!
 
Would I do it - probably not in moving traffic. However, at a red light I could see myself slowly moving to the front. I signed the petition, even if I don't or wouldn't doesn't mean I would not support those that would.
 
RSTX said:
I just noticed Yammi Noob is starting a petition to make lane filtering legal in Texas. Disregarding how you might feel about him as a You Tuber, what do you think about this?

I'm somewhat mixed. I do get that it allows us to move forward and potentially avoid being hit from behind, but I've had bikers "sneak" up on me to filter past and it is startling. I doubt that I would do it even if it was legal. I'd be worried someone would take action (open their door, throw something at me, etc) to prevent me from moving forward.

Thoughts?
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I haven't seen the term. Is that the same as lane splitting?
 
I lived in CA for 25 years. Lane filtering/lane splitting has been done in CA for decades prior so CA drivers are familiar with it. Texas drivers are not. Lane filter here? If it passed, I would not consider it unless a State notification went out on all forms of media, 24/7 for an entire year with the details: speed limits involved, type of traffic etc. AND what non-motorcyclists are legally required to do. And NOT do. Even then I would not as a Gold Wing is pushing my luck to get thru. All it takes is one distracted driver to drift in their lane and you have contact. And then the argument over who is at fault.

Another consideration: Even if it is made legal, your insurance may not agree.
 
I'm all for it becoming law. My bike is also too big to filter in most cases. Everyone has already said how I feel.
  • Make it law
  • Just because it is law doesn't mean you have to do it, but let's have the option
  • It's not appropriate in every situation
  • Don't judge, there are many laws on the books people don't all agree with
  • Not everyone is going to be respectful of the person splitting/filtering
  • Not everyone is going to use the law 'correctly'
  • There are always people who will abuse the law
 
Born and raised in Ft.Worth but moved to SoCal in 2004. Was hesitant to try lane splitting at first but then got the hang of it and it was fantastic. I live just blocks from the 105 and 605 and about a mile from the 5 and 91 So if I had to go anywhere it was on the bike. Saved so much time and one of my bikes was an FJR full luggage filtering it was easy for a larger bike. First video is sped up but the second is normal speed. 3rd video is yes people do open their doors without looking Warning foul language. Sent a copy of the video to the cops and my insurance and the next morning both called me to let me know he was 100% at fault. 4th video sometimes you have to filter at McDonalds when people refuse to use the inside lane..







 
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Have ridden/filtered through Malaysia and Thailand - which seemed reasonably safe since there were HORDES of bikes doing it (mostly 125s and scooters). We won't even add in the increased degree of difficulty in adapting to riding on the left (they both used to be Brit colonies...). Plus the fact I needed to keep up with my brother-in-law and his local riders group who were on slimmer bikes than mine (my first trip I had a "loaner" Goldwing; 2nd time it was an R1200RT). As for TX, I agree with the sentiment of most that the overly aggressive Houston drivers would need some serious education and behavior modification (good luck with that) - and remember that 1 in 7 TX drivers don't even have the mandatory auto insurance, despite it being "mandatory". Since I mostly drive my double-wide Goldwing-Hannigan sidecar rig nowdays, I don't really have a dog in this hunt anyway! ;-)
 
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