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Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:43 pm
by WillK675
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:49 pm
by shilka99
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...
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:25 pm
by milesmiles
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:39 pm
by Firewa11
RC30rdr wrote:I cant believe that so many motorcyclists are against this.
Weekend Harley riders that have never ridden in traffic, ever.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 3:05 pm
by Envy
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 3:46 pm
by DarcShadow
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:18 pm
by LonestarCBR
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 8:23 pm
by U-Turn
No way. Not in Texas. They'll never pass it.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 8:43 pm
by DemonDuck
I think they might but at the very least it is getting closer and closer so if not this time it will happen soon.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:30 pm
by nomad
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)
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:32 pm
by DemonDuck
Yea I am not really worried about that type stuff. I might go down but I will mess up the car way worse lol.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:50 am
by JTChiTown
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:55 am
by DarcShadow
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:04 pm
by BeautifulDisaster
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
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:15 pm
by milesmiles
We need this to pass, i don't want to get pulled over anymore!
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:00 pm
by DarcShadow
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:36 pm
by Rhino
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.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:41 pm
by milesmiles
that hurts my heart to hear, rhino
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 3:59 pm
by fixxervi6
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
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:03 pm
by DarcShadow
Your doc is an idiot. lol Clearly doesn't know anything about riding.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:09 pm
by fixxervi6
I was also only cleared to ride on the condition that I do not wreck
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:31 pm
by BeautifulDisaster
Same as telling you don't chew bubble gum and walk at the same time in case you trip.
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:44 pm
by Envy
Isnt that like sayingonly drive a car if you dont wreck or get pulled over?
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 6:30 am
by LonestarCBR
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
)
Re: Lane Splitting Bills in Texas House & Senate
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 1:25 pm
by Envy
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.