Texas State Senator John Carona considers legalizing lane splitting
Texas State Senator John Carona has recently introduced Senate Bill 506, which would allow lane splitting in Texas. For those unaware, lane splitting is the practice of riding in between slow moving automotive traffic on a motorcycle. Right now, California is the only state that allows motorcycles to split lanes... legally.
While it may sound like a dangerous practice, studies have shown that rear-end motorcycle accidents in California are about 30 percent lower than in other states that have year-round riding seasons. The practice is also legal in many other countries, including much of Europe and all of Japan. Other benefits include reduced congestion and lowered vehicle emissions and fuel usage.
If passed, riders and their passengers would need to be wearing helmets and would only be allowed to travel 5 miles per hour faster than the rest of traffic. Additionally, the practice would not be allowed at speeds of over 20 mph.
[Source: KUHF radio via The Kneeslider | Photo: akeg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fred Flintstone 11:02AM (3/13/2009)
I may be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure that California allows lane "sharing" not lane "splitting".
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MarkR 11:30AM (3/16/2009)
Fred F. said "I may be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure that California allows lane "sharing" not lane "splitting". "
Given the fact there is no space between 2 lanes to "split", since the lane is from center of stripe to center of stripe. all lanes splitting is technically lane sharing, since all people and bikes are larger than 0.000000000000001mm
but lets not split hairs.
Gordio 12:07PM (3/13/2009)
"If passed, riders and their passengers would need to be wearing helmets[...]"
Wait...am I reading this right? Are motorcycle helmets currently mandatory in texas or not?
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Kumar 1:02PM (3/13/2009)
It wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't illegal to ride without a helmet there.
You don't need one in Indiana, and even the governor supports the right to die by massive head trauma. He wore a giant helmet for his campaign commercials though....typical political hypocrisy.
Michelle 5:53PM (3/13/2009)
That's right, you don't have to wear a helmet to ride in TX.
Seems like a good idea to me. Only when traffics moving slower than 20 MPH, i.e. a traffic jam or a wreck up ahead. Why should those who cansqueeze thru be forced to idle with the rest of the traffic.
D Walsen 1:53PM (3/13/2009)
Currently, there is no helmet law in Texas. From personal observation, roughly about 50% of cyclists wear helmets here. What I've observed, is that the majority of the helmet-wearers ride sportbikes and the majority of the non-helmet-wearers tend to ride the larger cruiser bikes and choppers. Unfortunately, I was recently behind a cyclist on a harley, not wearing a helmet and had to watch him dump his bike in an overcooked turn - horrible stuff. But, it's the rider's choice here in Texas.
BoneHeadOtto 10:29PM (3/14/2009)
Helmet wearing used to be manditory in texas and then a few years ago they made it optional. I did hear that in order to get a license to ride without a helmet, you have to be signed up as an organ doner. Thankfully stupidity cannot be passed through organ transplant.
(of course i have not idea if that last part is really true, but have heard that about the laws in here in texas)
Richard 12:30PM (3/13/2009)
This has been legal in Europe for years. It works and it's safe.
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GoodCheer 4:49PM (3/13/2009)
Ah, but Europeans know how to drive.
In America, driving is seen as a right and a necessity, not a privilege, and not evening repeatedly killing people with your car will _necessarily_ get your license taken away.
gsolman6 2:01PM (3/13/2009)
I am pretty sure that Texas has no mandatory helmet law as about half of all motorcyclists are going naked in my part of the state.
What's really interesting is that Tx is following a lead from California and Europe though I am sure they won't be mentioning those places much in their arguments for this.
I just hope this doesn't encourage very rapid lane splitting that would be against this proposed law.
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steve 1:53PM (3/13/2009)
I am amazed that its still illegal in most of the US. How did this even become illegal in the first place? And why the anal rules about only 5mph faster than traffic, and only up to 20 mph - what a bunch of boring old farts :(
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Kaveman 2:09PM (3/13/2009)
TX does not require helmets (certainly for rider, not sure about passenger)
RI requires Passenger only with helmet.
WA (my state) requires helmets always and (stupidly) does not permit lane splitting.
I lane split in South Africa for 15 years without incident and at much higher speeds (and speed differentials) than those proposed.
Lane Splitting is so obvious. Additionally, air-cooled motorcycles or those with heavy clutches or sport ratios are basically unable to ride at crawl-speeds without frying the clutch. Additionally, the shortened commute time would encourage more people to use motorcycles, thus cutting the number of cars, thus reducing congestion.
Everyone wins. Except the cops who get to hand out reckless riding citations to those lane-splitting in WA.
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Mr. Hinman 9:28PM (4/29/2009)
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/helmet.htm
Helmets are indeed required, unless you've obtained an exemption.
Kaveman 2:55PM (5/06/2009)
I sit corrected :)
GoodCheer 4:56PM (3/13/2009)
In Massachusetts I think it was illegal, but lane splitting was a matter of course around Boston where traffic congestion could get ferocious. There helmets were mandatory always (and insurance was cheap).
Here in Delaware I have not seen any lane splitting, and am sure it's illegal. Helmets however, do not need to be worn, they simply need to be on the bike. You know, so if you're planning on getting into an accident in the near future you can pull over and put your helmet on. Here insurance is much more expensive.
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Simon 8:22AM (3/14/2009)
I live on the west coast of Australia and this helmet discussion is intriguing even if a bit off topic. As a nation we don't understand a lot of things about the US and gun laws and helmet laws would have to be high on the list. As a doctor and a cyclist I cannot conceive that an actual human being with sufficient brain cells to be worth protecting would travel on an exposed cycle (motor or not) without a helmet and our laws reflect that as well. In my profession I see countless intact skulls that were surrounded by what are now fractured and mangled helmets. The right to sustain massive head trauma as the car tyre passes over you- now there's a right worth fighting for!
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Ed 12:34PM (3/14/2009)
Please join the Facebook cause that is trying to get this legalized throughout the U.S.
http://causes.com/lanesharing/
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Max 5:14PM (3/16/2009)
Is that a Cadillac XLR-V in the corner of the picture? I think that's the first evidence I've seen of that car in the wild. It's like seeing a Blue Whale.
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bserrano 1:29AM (3/20/2009)
Helmet Law in Texas------Persons at least 21 years old are exempt from wearing a helmet if they complete a MSF course or they are covered with at least $10,000 in medical coverage. Then they pay a $5 fee and will be issued a sticker to be placed on their bike.
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Greg 9:16AM (5/23/2009)
In Texas, helmets are not required for persons 21 or older with $10,000 mesical insurance that covers injuries resulting from riding a motorcycle or the rider has attended a motorcycle safety awareness course. Owners may apply for a sticker to be placed on the plate. Officers are to presume the operator has met the required exemptions. If your going to ride without a helmet....please do the world a favor and die when you crack open your melon. Vegetables are expensive to raise.
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