learn how to lane split

[RandyO]

linky

[ChR1s]

Cagers yielding to a cycle? Now that's an advanced civilization.

The traffic kinda reminds me of the Mohawk Trail on Columbus Day weekend, except the lanes of traffic go in opposite directions.

[chr|s sedition]

that looks like death waiting to happen...

[Kham]

holly something something!!

now that is nuts but i wish it's legal in MA. )

[mycirus]

Just another day riding with Half Squidly!!!!!

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by Kham
holly something something!!

now that is nuts but i wish it's legal in MA. )

it is legal in mass

[MnM]

he had a few close calls with the big trucks merging

[double agent]

please tell me HOW that is legal in mass. and not driving to endanger

[SVRACER01]

i beleive they changed the law last year that lane splitting in mass was now legal as a "seasonal traffic releif" thing. as usual there are rules as to the correct way to do so. that guy in the video was going a little fast. but im almost positive it is now legal in mass to do so like it is in Cali

[TheIglu]

Last i heard it was in legislation.

[SVRACER01]

good enough for me

i thought it went through... jay would know

[double agent]

okeedokee, when I get bagged Ill tell you said so.

[SVRACER01]

if you are in thick enough traffic to have to lane split i wouldnt worry about anyone catching you

i split lanes up here one day on my way home from work, i passed a state trooper... he didnt even look at me. i think he felt sorry for me because it was terenchal downpour. even my rainsuit didnt help.

i say FUCK IT

[double agent]

I can feel for you in the rain. I went to the hooters bike show in providince RI, and got it coming home and I didnt feel like stoping. getting soaked, lane spliting and getting the thumbs up by all the other riders under the bridges. It was a good day.

[OreoGaborio]

Originally posted by double agent
I can feel for you in the rain. I went to the hooters bike show in providince RI, and got it coming home and I didnt feel like stoping. getting soaked, lane spliting and getting the thumbs up by all the other riders under the bridges. It was a good day.

ahhh yes... i remember that day... rode home to Boston in that waterfest.

[chr|s sedition]

Here is the current MA law(s) per statute about passing and the text of the pending legislation

_______________
M.G.L.A. 89 § 4A

Massachusetts General Laws Annotated Currentness
Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182)
Title XIV. Public Ways and Works (Ch. 81-92B)
+ Chapter 89. Law of the Road (Refs & Annos)

§ 4A. Driving vehicles in a single lane; motorcycles, riding and passing

When any way has been divided into lanes, the driver of a vehicle shall so drive that the vehicle shall be entirely within a single lane, and he shall not move from the lane in which he is driving until he has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety. The operators of motorcycles shall not ride abreast of more than one other motorcycle, shall ride single file when passing, and shall not pass any other motor vehicle within the same lane, except another motorcycle.

M.G.L.A. 89 § 2

Massachusetts General Laws Annotated Currentness
Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182)
Title XIV. Public Ways and Works (Ch. 81-92B)
+ Chapter 89. Law of the Road (Refs & Annos)

§ 2. Passing vehicle traveling in same direction

Except as herein otherwise provided, the driver of a vehicle passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction shall drive a safe distance to the left of such other vehicle; and, if the way is of sufficient width for the two vehicles to pass, the driver of the leading one shall not unnecessarily obstruct the other. Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on visible signal and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

The driver of a vehicle may, if the roadway is free from obstruction and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles, overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle when the vehicle overtaken is (a) making or about to make a left turn, (b) upon a one-way street, or (c) upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement.


PENDING LEGISLATION
_________
2005 Massachusetts House Bill No. 2017, Massachusetts 184th General Court -- 2005 Regular Session (FULL TEXT - STATE NET)


MASSACHUSETTS BILL TEXT

HOUSE No. 2017
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
In the Year Two Thousand and Five.
PETITION OF:
Anne M. Gobi
Robert L. Hedlund
William G. Greene, Jr.
Elizabeth A. Poirier
Todd M. Smola
Mark J. Carron
Donald F. Humason, Jr.


VERSION: Introduced
January 5, 2005
Gobi

AN ACT RELATIVE TO SEASONAL TRAFFIC RELIEF FOR MOTORCYCLE OPERATORS.

TEXT:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 4A of chapter 89, as so appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of said section the following new paragraph: -

When traffic is stopped or slowed to less than ten miles per hour, a motorcycle operator may:

(a) Overtake and pass slowed or stopped vehicles by use of a breakdown and/or access lane, at a speed not to exceed twenty miles per hour;

(b) When using a breakdown lane and/or access lane under these circumstances, the operator of the motorcycle must yield to emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles.

SECTION 2. Section 2 of Chapter 89 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end of said section the following new paragraph:-

When traffic is stopped or slowed to less than ten miles per hour, a motorcycle operator may:-

(a) Overtake and pass slowed or stopped vehicles by use of a breakdown and/or access lane, at a speed not to exceed twenty miles per hour;

(b) When using a breakdown lane and/or access lane under these circumstances, the operator of the motorcycle must yield to emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles.

SECTION 3. Section 4B of Chapter 89 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end of said section the following new paragraph:-

When traffic is stopped or slowed to less than ten miles per hour, a motorcycle operator may:-

(a) Overtake and pass slowed or stopped vehicles by use of a breakdown and/or access lane, at a speed not to exceed twenty miles per hour;

(b) When using a breakdown lane and/or access lane under these circumstances, the operator of the motorcycle must yield to emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles.
2005 MA H.B. 2017 (SN)

[KB]

That looks like my commute from woburn to the fenway area everyday for about a year.

People would get pissed when you whack their mirrors.

KB

[bump909]

probably because when you wack 'em they break off, tough guy.

[slaps76]

I was riding back last year from a ride up in northern nh, and hit some bumper to bumper traffic. Started slowly lane splitting, and one person in a car got pretty pissed off, and tried to speed up and block me from going by. Yes, because I was really going to slow that asshole's commute down.

I hope that bill passes, but people in MA aren't used to it, so it'll be interesting to see how cagers react to it, even in the breakdown lane(I've seen people pull out in front of other people to block them).

[bigred875]

legal or not i lane split in bumper to bumper traffic...not that fast but I am not going to sit there so the asshole behind me eating his cheeseburger talking on the phone while chanign his radio staion slams into teh back of me...i'll gladly accept that ticket...

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by bigred875
legal or not i lane split in bumper to bumper traffic...not that fast but I am not going to sit there so the asshole behind me eating his cheeseburger talking on the phone while chanign his radio staion slams into teh back of me...i'll gladly accept that ticket...

so youve had chad behind you in traffic?

[KB]

Originally posted by SVRACER01
so youve had chad behind you in traffic?

ZINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG!

Good one!

[Kham]

this reminds me, i gotta pocket some marbles when go riding.

[sanfelice]

Originally posted by l3uddha
sure it'd be cool if it passed in legislation, but lane splitting in MA will still be a FAR cry from say, CA. cagers are douche bags; plain and simple. they can be at their worst when stuck in traffic, and for some reason take it as an insult if a bike can get through it faster then they can. I was in a gridlock on 93N, heading to Boston and witnessed a commercial box truck swerve onto the white line to block a biker who was splitting lanes at no more than 15mph. yes, the rider and driver exchanged more than a few words, but the driver of the truck was a dead-set believer that if HE had to be stuck in the traffic EVERYONE did.

Yep, just like everything else in this state (country?) no other driver will be made aware of a change in the law, unless they can get a citation for not observing it (and the state can make some $$ - see the seatbelt law for example).

Who in their right mind is going to lane split without an informational campaign to alert other drivers that this is legal? I might chance it, but I will really have to think twice. What about that asshole in the F250 that sees you in the breakdown lane and thinks it's a free-for-all and starts driving 65mph down the lane? That will be fun.

[Kham]

how about a big sticker on both sides of the bike that said "it is LEGAL for motorcycle to lane split"? i think i'll do that.