Western USA: Regional discussion for members that live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington.
| |
05-19-2007, 3:12 PM
|
#1 |
Join Date: 04-10-2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Bike(s): 2001 CBR929 Posts: 17
Rep:  (10) Rep Power: 0
| Splitting Lanes Having spent 6 years in CA, I got very used to splitting lanes during my commute. Now that I'm in AZ, I really miss it. Considering the whole reason for making lane splitting legal was to provide constant air for air-cooled bikes in the heat, I'm wondering about the lack of this law in AZ. It's quite a bit hotter here for a longer time than in CA (and we have the traffic situation down as well), so how is it that lane splitting isn't legal here?
Hopefully some Arizonans can provide some insight, or even some support when I petition for it...
I'm off to search the statutes on the web - wish me luck. |
| |
05-19-2007, 4:07 PM
|
#2 |
Join Date: 01-23-2007 Location: Indiana
Bike(s): 2002 CBR600F4i Age: 28 Posts: 3,876
Rep:  (98) Rep Power: 0
| Re: Splitting Lanes If someone knows a site that will tell us where it is and is not legal to do this that would be cool too |
| |
05-19-2007, 4:25 PM
|
#3 |
Join Date: 04-20-2007 Location: London ON Canada
Bike(s): 2000 929 Age: 39 Posts: 543
Rep:  (31) Rep Power: 0
| Re: Splitting Lanes I'm scared to do this. I don't think it's legal in Canada anyway |
| |
05-19-2007, 8:05 PM
|
#4 |
Join Date: 04-10-2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Bike(s): 2001 CBR929 Posts: 17
Rep:  (10) Rep Power: 0
| Re: Splitting Lanes Quote:
Originally Posted by sinfuldragon If someone knows a site that will tell us where it is and is not legal to do this that would be cool too | Motorcycle Riding Laws by State State-by-State Motorcycle Laws |
| |
06-27-2007, 6:34 PM
|
#5 |
Join Date: 06-30-2001 Location: Arizona
Bike(s): Honda Hawk GT, Honda CBR929RR Posts: 314
Rep:  (11) Rep Power: 9
| Re: Splitting Lanes Quote:
Originally Posted by Reds330 Hopefully some Arizonans can provide some insight, or even some support when I petition for it...  | Count me in  |
| |
06-12-2008, 10:40 AM
|
#6 |
Join Date: 06-12-2008 Location: Sin City
Bike(s): 2001 CBR929RR Erion Posts: 9
Rep:  (10) Rep Power: 0
| Re: Splitting Lanes That's an awesome site, reds! Very good info |
| |
06-14-2008, 12:32 AM
|
#7 |
Join Date: 05-03-2008 Location: Tucson, Az
Posts: 13
Rep:  (10) Rep Power: 0
| Re: Splitting Lanes I to love to do this. I spent a lot of years in the UK, and it is encouraged over there. And doing it over a ton is just exhilarating!!! Now I am in Tucson it sucks we can't do it legally.
I asked a cop why it's illegal, and got this answer: It's for your safety, as the car driver's don't pay attention to what's coming up behind them and may hit you.
Sounds like the cagers need to take MORE driving lessons, not punish us bikers!
Count me in on your petition... |
| |
07-04-2008, 1:22 PM
|
#8 |
Join Date: 04-10-2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Bike(s): 2001 CBR929 Posts: 17
Rep:  (10) Rep Power: 0
| Re: Splitting Lanes Well, the petition thought is still on my mind. I just haven't gotten around to starting it. Actually, I should probably do a bit more research on how to write it up so it's easy to pass.
The whole Leo argument about it being "for our safety" is complete B.S. - especially when I see motorcycle cops split lanes on a daily basis.  |
| |
07-04-2008, 2:59 PM
|
#9 | | I'm a bird.. NOT a bloke!!!
Join Date: 03-15-2008 Location: Everywhere.. via the interweb
Bike(s): Honda, Kawasaki Posts: 8,330
Rep Power: 36
| Re: Splitting Lanes Quote:
Originally Posted by usafric I to love to do this. I spent a lot of years in the UK, and it is encouraged over there. | I live in the UK and coming home tonight was a prime example of why being able to do this is brilliant.. Coming into town the traffic was really building up and moving at a snails pace so I just cruised past all of it and pulled in to the traffic just before a set of lights...
Technically I'm supposed to move back into the traffic flow if its moving (even at said snails pace), which I did when I first learned to ride, watching other bikers cruise past me behaving myself.. now I just ride carefully past the traffic like everyone else does.. |
| |
12-30-2008, 10:58 PM
|
#10 |
Join Date: 12-24-2008 Location: Goleta, CA
Bike(s): cbr1000rr08 Posts: 3
Rep:  (10) Rep Power: 0
| Re: Splitting Lanes I understand that here in California, it's not about what's legal, but what's not illegal. It is not illegal for more than one vehicle to share a single lane; therefore lane splitting is legal. Speeding and reckless driving are, however, still illegal, so split with care, my friends. |
| |
12-31-2008, 3:25 AM
|
#11 |
Join Date: 12-09-2008 Location: San Diego
Bike(s): '03 CBR954, '98 VFR, '92 750ZR, '78 KZ650 Age: 51 Posts: 285
Rep:  (74) Rep Power: 1
| Re: Splitting Lanes Quote:
Originally Posted by goletablade I understand that here in California, it's not about what's legal, but what's not illegal. It is not illegal for more than one vehicle to share a single lane; therefore lane splitting is legal. Speeding and reckless driving are, however, still illegal, so split with care, my friends. | Yep - exactly right. Matter of fact, the CHP in an FAQ says it's legal, as long as it's done in a safe and prudent manner (which means it's quite subjective). And technically you can only pass on the right side ( CVC Division 11, Chapter 3, Article 3, section 21754 (b) and (c)).
I had the piss scared outa me one day: Motor cop bleeped his siren @ me while I was splitting. I slid over and he simply passed me by. He pulled a cager over a mile or so up the road - I figured he was scanning registration tags or the like..
Also - if you didn't know, motors can use the HOV lanes anytime, unless specifically prohibited from doing so...I got good @ looking this sort of crap up after a CHP threatened to write me up for using the HOV lane up in L.A. (21655.5, sub-paragraph (b) - it used to state it in italics for emphasis  )
One I often wonder about : When the on-ramp traffic control lights start up, since the signs say "one car per green" (or however many it says) can I run the red light??? I mean a "car" is very specifically defined in the code book.  I'm oh-so tempted as I'm eligble for another traffic school! |
| |
12-31-2008, 3:26 AM
|
#12 |
Join Date: 12-09-2008 Location: San Diego
Bike(s): '03 CBR954, '98 VFR, '92 750ZR, '78 KZ650 Age: 51 Posts: 285
Rep:  (74) Rep Power: 1
| Re: Splitting Lanes heh - just noticed original post date! boy - i need to check that a bit more carefully... |
| |
01-15-2009, 12:36 PM
|
#13 |
Join Date: 06-15-2006 Location: Southern California
Bike(s): CBR1k, V65 Magna, KLR, KLX, Mojave Posts: 374
Rep:  (74) Rep Power: 4
| Re: Splitting Lanes Quote:
One I often wonder about: When the on-ramp traffic control lights start up, since the signs say "one car per green" (or however many it says) can I run the red light??? I mean a "car" is very specifically defined in the code book. I'm oh-so tempted as I'm eligble for another traffic school!
| That's a no. There's an article in Friction Zone that addresses questions like this, and the CHP officer answered that "cars" mean vehicles of any kind (including motorcycles and trucks). You'll be cited. |
| |
01-15-2009, 3:53 PM
|
#14 |
Join Date: 12-09-2008 Location: San Diego
Bike(s): '03 CBR954, '98 VFR, '92 750ZR, '78 KZ650 Age: 51 Posts: 285
Rep:  (74) Rep Power: 1
| Re: Splitting Lanes Quote:
Originally Posted by MSGT-R That's a no. There's an article in Friction Zone that addresses questions like this, and the CHP officer answered that "cars" mean vehicles of any kind (including motorcycles and trucks). You'll be cited. | Yeah, sort of figures. I know from experience that individual CHP officers are not the final say, the vehicle code is. Probably something buried in there that qualifies "car" to mean any vehicle when it comes to the ramp lights.
I do know that in court, if you can show whatever you were cited for was "safe" (which is very subjective) good chance you can catch a break (like running a stop light that won't change - treat like a stop sign, make sure traffic is clear, and go). |
| |
Copyright © 2006 FireBlades.org. All Rights Reserved. FireBlades.org is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, any motorcycle manufacturers.
Best viewed at a resolution of 1024x768 or higher. SEO by vBSEO ©2007, Crawlability, Inc.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 5:52 PM.
|