Motorcycling, the US vs Europe.

Great Debates
1

With the increase in gas prices I suspect that more people will either turn to motorcycles or begin to use the motorcycles they have for primary transportation. Many people already do so in Europe.

What I propose is that the US laws are changed to resemble the European laws. Most of the laws are similar to what they are in California so at least one place in the US has a head start.

The basic laws would be to allow lane sharing/splitting at reasonable speeds, this being where a motorcycle goes between cars in traffic. Generally people do this when traffic is doing less then 20-25mph, and the motorcyclist doesn’t do more then 10-15mph faster then traffic. This would also include allowing bikes to go between cars to the front of traffic lights. Also the prices for motorcycles to use toll roads and bridges is either smaller or there are none. Parking should be eased for motorcycles as well, allow bikes to park in nooks that cars can not get to.

The reasons I think we should allow these rule changes are many. With more bikers on the road, because one would not have to sit in traffic, traffic can move faster. For the biker it’s safer because sitting in traffic is one of the places people get rear ended. I’ve had this happen to me once. Bikes are not as heavy and do not cause the destruction to the roads that larger vehicles do, as it is truckers pay more because of this. Allowing bikes to park on the sidewalks and other places out of the way there is more parking for those that do wish to drive.

Granted there are some drawbacks some may see. Allowing bikers between cars causes people who are not bikers to be upset. Also some may get angry and hit bikers, or open their doors.

Last summer I spent five weeks in Europe on a motorcycle and loved it because of this. Even though I had zero experience with such practices I was able to pick it up very quickly. For most bikers I don’t think it would be that difficult to learn, for the car drivers it might be harder to learn to watch for bikers but it would come.

I’m not sure how the rest of the US works, but California allows bikes to do this. I asked in Maryland, my state, and was told it would be met with a fine. However, on a road large enough two cars are allowed to pass each other going the same way even at speed. (There’s a road behind my house where people do this)

What I’m not proposing is allowing people to go between cars at high rates of speed, or while traffic is moving normally. Such practices are stupid and are a quick way to a Darwin Award. So I’d rather leave such people out of the debate because they are in the minority. I’d also rather leave the use of helmets out of the debate.

2

I also just returned from a stay in Europe, and as a motorcycle rider, I agree with most of what you said.

My only beef is that I think lane splitting is too dangerous, here and in Europe. I just don’t think it’s worth it.

3

Only California allows lane splitting. I’m perfectly happy with the laws the way they are. I believe you’re opening opening up a great big can of worms that is completely unnecessary, IMHO. Let Congress make laws against against child molesters and people who put ketchup on hot dogs and leave the motorcycles out of it.

4

I think the OP may be unwittingly overrepresenting the status of biking in Europe. While scooters are (notoriously) popular in Italy, the car remains dominant throughout the continent. In the more northerly half, using any kind of bike for commuting is unthinkable for long periods of the year, unless you take a towel & change of clothes with you. Where I drive for work, which counts as rural by UK standards (but is hardly Montana), I rarely see any bikes of any kind at all.

Having said that, there’s also a great dislike for bikers among many drivers. While AFAIK there’s no specific law either prohibiting nor encouraging filtering through traffic (the term ‘lane splitting’ is a new one for me), it’s hated by many drivers, me included. It makes manouevers far more hazardous, mainly for the biker. It creates all sorts of problems for pedestrians crossing the road. Etc etc.

5

I have over 100,000 miles on motorcycles in L.A. Lane-splitting is not particularly dangerous.

6

I also propose SUV’s (true SUV’s which have 4 or more powered wheels) should be allowed to drive on the grass besides the road.

7

Not really, I’ve done a good amount of time in Europe, mostly in Ireland though. And while there are not a lot of bikes, there are a lot more there then here. Even just going through downtown New York and London, both of which I’ve done, you will see a lot more bikes in London then NYC. Percentage wise from what I’ve seen there are a lot more bikers in Europe then here.

As for the rain, there are plenty of suits and other gear that will allow you to ride in the rain with little problem. I ride to work all the time in the rain and don’t bring a change of clothes.

How does it cause pedestrians problems? Or are they crossing in the middle of the road in traffic? However I disagree that it’s more hazardous for the rider, and the US DOT and Motorcycle Safety Foundation seem to agree (pdf)

Then I suppose you want congress to take back the new insurance regulations so that if you get hurt doing something “dangerous” you can pay for your own hospital? There are however some who would like the option.

8

I always reckoned it to be illegal, I couldn’t see how a biker could be allowed to creep up through the traffic like that where an opened door or a quick change of lane by a car could knock the rider straight off.

9

No, it’s legit, and I’ve followed a police rider through traffic doing exactly this. No-one should be opening a door under those circumstances, nor changing lanes without looking, though admittedly, a wise biker watches out for both.

10

Frankly, I don’t give a damn. That’s why I have full coverage insurance. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, but most congressmen don’t ride motorcycles, therefore wouldn’t have the rider’s best interest at heart, only the cage driving majority. You push for a law that allows lane splitting, and you might get it, along with a law that requires helmets, leg protectors, seat belts, and air bags, to go along with it. AFAIC, better leave well enough alone.

11

Then I guess you wouldn’t mind then if you were to have an accident and your expensive insurance was allowed to not cover any injuries you may have. This was a big deal a couple of years ago where people were denied coverage and had to pay out of pocket. Here’s the latest I could find from ABATE. And for the record I’ve been involed in such a case where the insurance didn’t want to pay even though they didn’t exclude motorcycles they did exclude dangerous activites, which they define however they wish.

12

Lane splitting is actually safer than passing in an empty lane to a certain extent. The risk of getting doored by a moving car is negligible and there are warning signs when a stationary vehicle’s door will open. However, motorists are usually only on the lookout for other cars. If you can get between two of them, then you are at no more risk than there is of two cars sideswiping each other anyway. It just doesn’t happen nearly as much as a car moving in on a bike that has a lane all to itself.