Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

This section can be controversial. All opinions and arguments are welcome. Personal attacks are not acceptable.
User avatar
WillK675
Posts: 8511
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:08 pm
Riding Style: Intermediate Track Rider
Achievement count: 35
Location: Fort Worth

Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by WillK675 » Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:43 pm

Some of you may already be aware of this. But here is the latest on Late Splitting in Texas. Hopefully we can get this through committee and passed.
American Motorcyclist Association wrote: State Rep. Sergio Munoz (D-Mission) and state Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Bastrop) have introduced bills supported by Texas motorcyclists that would legalize responsible lane splitting practices in the state.

Read the AMA’s lane splitting position statement here.

Munoz’ H.B. 813 would allow riders to split lanes at a speed no more than 5 mph faster than other vehicles if traffic is moving slower than 20 mph. This bill also requires riders who split lanes to wear a helmet.

Rep. Munoz indicated he would not oppose removing the helmet mandate in committee. The AMA urges all riders to wear a helmet, but opposes helmet mandates. Read the AMA’s helmet position here.

The second bill, Watson’s S.B. 442, would allow riders to split lanes at a speed no more than 5 mph faster than other vehicles if traffic is moving slower than 20 mph. However, S.B. 442 would limit lane splitting to limited-access or controlled-access highways.

“Assuming the helmet language is removed from H.B. 813, the American Motorcyclist Association will support both of these bills,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. “If they were to pass, Texas would become the only state in the country where it is explicitly legal for motorcyclists to lane split. This would give riders the option to keep moving and also increase the average speed of traffic.”

Legalize Lane Splitting

The AMA is calling on all Texas riders to support these bills by clicking the "Legalize Lane Splitting" button, entering your information in the fields at the bottom of the page and clicking on the red “Submit” button.

Legalize Lane Splitting

In the 2015 session, legislators in Texas have introduced many motorcycle-friendly bills. Please visit the AMA’s Texas page for new legislation and updates.

If you are not yet an AMA member, please join the AMA to help us fight efforts to restrict responsible motorized recreation. More members means more clout against our opponents, and your support will help us fight for your riding rights – on the road, trail, racetrack, and in the halls of government. To join, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.

Please Follow the AMA on Twitter @AMA_Rights and like us on Facebook.
-Will
'07 Daytona 675
'09 Versys 650
'14 CB500
'20 MB200
When it comes to addiction Motorcycles are worse than crack.
"Brake fade is God's way of telling you to quit squeezing the coward lever and carry more corner speed, you pussy." - Rhino

User avatar
shilka99
Honorary Club Member
Honorary Club Member
Posts: 1769
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:19 am
Riding Style: Track Instructor
Achievement count: 42
Location: Irving

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by shilka99 » Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:49 pm

I cant believe that so many motorcyclists are against this. On facebook I see so many riders saying "this is too dangerous it should be banned." As a rider who commuted on a daily basis in Sydney and San Francisco where lane sharing is legal I can confirm that doing it badly is extremely dangerous. But doing it correctly is an incredible time saver. Just like a motorcycle itself!

Why are so many riders such massive hypocrites saying that something is more dangerous than the status quo so must therefore be illegal?

Hellooooo? You ride a motorcycle....!!!

Follow the logic and your motorcycle should be banned and you should be forced back into a car...
Shaun in McKinney
RGV250|520SX/SMR|RSV4 Factory

User avatar
milesmiles
Ride Leader
Ride Leader
Posts: 13622
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:40 pm
Riding Style: Advanced Track Rider
Achievement count: 27
Location: Denton

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by milesmiles » Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:25 pm

The only people i've seen that are against it were people who didn't ride. More than any other year i've seen motorcyclist rallying for it.
The world needs Miles
Sometimes you gotta draw the line, but that doesn't mean it can't be squiggly-miles
"it's not a stupid dirt bike, it's a supermoto!"-miles

User avatar
Firewa11
Posts: 13026
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:22 am
Achievement count: 49
Location: The Tempest

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by Firewa11 » Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:39 pm

RC30rdr wrote:I cant believe that so many motorcyclists are against this.
Weekend Harley riders that have never ridden in traffic, ever.
"Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 150."
ImageImageImage

Envy
Posts: 276
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:32 pm
Achievement count: 2
Location: Keller

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by Envy » Mon Feb 16, 2015 3:05 pm

In california its legal and its a huge time saver. Not to mention that most bikes grt hot sitting in traffic. Only thing really have to worry about are the pissed off people openinv car doors or throwing things out the window.

User avatar
DarcShadow
Club Staff/Web Master
Club Staff/Web Master
Posts: 15130
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:20 pm
Riding Style: Advanced Track Rider
Achievement count: 45
Location: Azle, TX
Contact:

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by DarcShadow » Mon Feb 16, 2015 3:46 pm

The key to this bill is the restrictions that traffic has to be going less than 20 and the bike can not be going more than 5 over the flow of traffic. Those two restrictions will make it quite safe and controlled.
I Refuse to Tiptoe Through Life...Only to Arrive Safely at Death.
Image
Attack Life! It's gonna kill you anyway.

http://www.facebook.com/DSDecals

User avatar
LonestarCBR
Posts: 7573
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:39 pm
Riding Style: Intermediate Track Rider
Achievement count: 32
Location: Stephenville, Texas

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by LonestarCBR » Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:18 pm

Firewa11 wrote:
RC30rdr wrote:I cant believe that so many motorcyclists are against this.
Weekend Harley riders that have never ridden in traffic, ever.
And they might not fit anyway.
~ Terry
'12 Speed Triple 1050 ABS, '07 GSX-R750 (track)
Happiness isn't around the corner, it IS the corner.
Anybody can jump a motorcycle. The trouble begins when you try to land it. EK
Image

User avatar
U-Turn
Posts: 3776
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:37 pm
Achievement count: 31
Location: Florida, sunning the days away.
Contact:

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by U-Turn » Mon Feb 16, 2015 8:23 pm

No way. Not in Texas. They'll never pass it.
Sitting on the couch, watching TV, isn't living.
Triumph 955

txt 8..223.0762 to ride.
-

User avatar
DemonDuck
Honorary Club Member
Honorary Club Member
Posts: 7623
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2010 6:21 am
Riding Style: Intermediate Track Rider
Achievement count: 40
Location: Litchfield, Il

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by DemonDuck » Mon Feb 16, 2015 8:43 pm

I think they might but at the very least it is getting closer and closer so if not this time it will happen soon.
~Jeremiah~ AKA DemonDuck
Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

2012 BMW S1000RR Red/White
2000 SV650 Track bike
2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 - Sold
1982 Honda CB750K - Sold

User avatar
nomad
Posts: 254
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2015 2:15 pm
Achievement count: 2
Location: Arlington

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by nomad » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:30 pm

Envy wrote:Only thing really have to worry about are the pissed off people openinv car doors or throwing things out the window.
This.

While I am excited for the possibility that lane splitting could become legal here, I have seen cagers open their doors in hopes to either hit or scare the motorcyclist causing him/her to fall/crash, as well as vehicles swerve towards the motorcyclist.
With that being said I have never lane split and mainly it's because of this. If this bill does becme a law I would still worry about arrogant cagers road raging on me.

(By no means am I against lane splitting becoming legal, I'm just a worry wart)
Last edited by nomad on Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
fixxervi6 wrote:is it shaved?

yes, it matters

User avatar
DemonDuck
Honorary Club Member
Honorary Club Member
Posts: 7623
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2010 6:21 am
Riding Style: Intermediate Track Rider
Achievement count: 40
Location: Litchfield, Il

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by DemonDuck » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:32 pm

Yea I am not really worried about that type stuff. I might go down but I will mess up the car way worse lol.
~Jeremiah~ AKA DemonDuck
Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

2012 BMW S1000RR Red/White
2000 SV650 Track bike
2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 - Sold
1982 Honda CB750K - Sold

User avatar
JTChiTown
Club Member
Club Member
Posts: 1045
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:19 pm
Riding Style: Novice Track Rider
Achievement count: 7
Location: Lewisville

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by JTChiTown » Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:50 am

That would be an easy crime to punish people on. If I did the lane splitting should it come legal, there would be a GoPro strapped on all the time to record some fool doing it to go back after them. I haven't read the laws as proposed, but would hope strict penalties are put in place to dissuade any attempts of a driver from doing this to bikers.
Jeff

"Drive fast, attract Cops; Drive faster, attract Sponsors"
Image

User avatar
DarcShadow
Club Staff/Web Master
Club Staff/Web Master
Posts: 15130
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:20 pm
Riding Style: Advanced Track Rider
Achievement count: 45
Location: Azle, TX
Contact:

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by DarcShadow » Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:55 am

Doubt it, I'm sure it'll be just what ever is on the books right now to prevent people from opening doors or swerving in traffic.
I Refuse to Tiptoe Through Life...Only to Arrive Safely at Death.
Image
Attack Life! It's gonna kill you anyway.

http://www.facebook.com/DSDecals

User avatar
BeautifulDisaster
Posts: 3109
Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2014 6:32 pm
Achievement count: 14
Location: My own world.

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by BeautifulDisaster » Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:04 pm

I'm with nomad and Envy; I too am leery of the cretins on the roads. Doesn't mean I'll let it stop me from enjoying my ride, but I won't trust another person to not pull a jerkhead move just because (insert whatever excuse people go with when they have misdirected hostility issues). I'm supporting the lane splitting, but, I don't know that I'd personally take advantage of it. Maybe if DD was a passenger I might feel a little better ;)
"So bright... so beautiful... ah, Precioussss."
Image

User avatar
milesmiles
Ride Leader
Ride Leader
Posts: 13622
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:40 pm
Riding Style: Advanced Track Rider
Achievement count: 27
Location: Denton

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by milesmiles » Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:15 pm

We need this to pass, i don't want to get pulled over anymore!
The world needs Miles
Sometimes you gotta draw the line, but that doesn't mean it can't be squiggly-miles
"it's not a stupid dirt bike, it's a supermoto!"-miles

User avatar
DarcShadow
Club Staff/Web Master
Club Staff/Web Master
Posts: 15130
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:20 pm
Riding Style: Advanced Track Rider
Achievement count: 45
Location: Azle, TX
Contact:

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by DarcShadow » Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:00 pm

Saddly, the only way this will get through is if it gets tacked onto another bill that is really wanted. If it's on it's own it'll just die on a desk like it has the last 3 times this has come up since I've been in Texas.
I Refuse to Tiptoe Through Life...Only to Arrive Safely at Death.
Image
Attack Life! It's gonna kill you anyway.

http://www.facebook.com/DSDecals

User avatar
Rhino
Posts: 7793
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:30 am
Riding Style: Intermediate Track Rider
Achievement count: 35
Location: Edge of Arlington

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by Rhino » Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:36 pm

Firewa11 wrote:
RC30rdr wrote:I cant believe that so many motorcyclists are against this.
Weekend Harley riders that have never ridden in traffic, ever.
This.

I used to work with a woman who wouldn't ride two-lane country back roads. She thought it was too dangerous because there's nothing dividing you from oncoming traffic.

She was missing out on pretty much every good motorcycle road ever.

User avatar
milesmiles
Ride Leader
Ride Leader
Posts: 13622
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:40 pm
Riding Style: Advanced Track Rider
Achievement count: 27
Location: Denton

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by milesmiles » Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:41 pm

that hurts my heart to hear, rhino
The world needs Miles
Sometimes you gotta draw the line, but that doesn't mean it can't be squiggly-miles
"it's not a stupid dirt bike, it's a supermoto!"-miles

User avatar
fixxervi6
Ride Leader
Ride Leader
Posts: 13832
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:41 pm
Achievement count: 36

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by fixxervi6 » Tue Feb 17, 2015 3:59 pm

Rhino wrote:
Firewa11 wrote:
RC30rdr wrote:I cant believe that so many motorcyclists are against this.
Weekend Harley riders that have never ridden in traffic, ever.
This.

I used to work with a woman who wouldn't ride two-lane country back roads. She thought it was too dangerous because there's nothing dividing you from oncoming traffic.

She was missing out on pretty much every good motorcycle road ever.
My doctor has ordered me to only ride in the city, because riding in the country is too dangerous :icon_wtf:
K1600

User avatar
DarcShadow
Club Staff/Web Master
Club Staff/Web Master
Posts: 15130
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:20 pm
Riding Style: Advanced Track Rider
Achievement count: 45
Location: Azle, TX
Contact:

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by DarcShadow » Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:03 pm

Your doc is an idiot. lol Clearly doesn't know anything about riding.
I Refuse to Tiptoe Through Life...Only to Arrive Safely at Death.
Image
Attack Life! It's gonna kill you anyway.

http://www.facebook.com/DSDecals

User avatar
fixxervi6
Ride Leader
Ride Leader
Posts: 13832
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:41 pm
Achievement count: 36

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by fixxervi6 » Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:09 pm

I was also only cleared to ride on the condition that I do not wreck
K1600

User avatar
BeautifulDisaster
Posts: 3109
Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2014 6:32 pm
Achievement count: 14
Location: My own world.

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by BeautifulDisaster » Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:31 pm

Same as telling you don't chew bubble gum and walk at the same time in case you trip. :HeadScratch:
"So bright... so beautiful... ah, Precioussss."
Image

Envy
Posts: 276
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:32 pm
Achievement count: 2
Location: Keller

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by Envy » Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:44 pm

Isnt that like sayingonly drive a car if you dont wreck or get pulled over?

User avatar
LonestarCBR
Posts: 7573
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:39 pm
Riding Style: Intermediate Track Rider
Achievement count: 32
Location: Stephenville, Texas

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by LonestarCBR » Wed Feb 18, 2015 6:30 am

I actually witnessed Envy doing some lane-splitting with a beer-drinking redneck in a jacked-up four wheel drive on Saturday. What a maroon that dude was (the redneck, not Anthony :-) )
~ Terry
'12 Speed Triple 1050 ABS, '07 GSX-R750 (track)
Happiness isn't around the corner, it IS the corner.
Anybody can jump a motorcycle. The trouble begins when you try to land it. EK
Image

Envy
Posts: 276
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:32 pm
Achievement count: 2
Location: Keller

Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate

Post by Envy » Wed Feb 18, 2015 1:25 pm

Thats another example that validates my point. I support it. I think its a good thing. The biggest thing is going to riders. Imo I believe it will be an opportunity to prove that rider have the adility and skill to be responsible. As well as safe. And whenever they run into, or get run into, by beer toting rednecks, they know how best to handle the situation. It may, I hope, lead to more possitive and benificial laws for riders. But The main thing is going to be riders. If you dont feel comfortable or safe doing it, then dont. Just cause you can doesnt mean you have to.