MA Lane Splitting Update #3

[Dillo]

Hi Everyone,

For those of you just tuning in, here's the cliff's notes version of what's happened so far.

We published a research paper here where we examined recent studies on lane splitting. The consensus among those studies is that lane splitting reduces the rate of crashes and significantly reduces the injury and fatality rate.

CarInsuranceComparison.com published an article here indicating that here in the commonwealth we actually have better drivers than much of the rest of the country, including California. We may drive like assholes but we're good at not running into each other.

We convinced State House Representative Thomas Stanley to submit a bill legalizing lane splitting in MA during the next legislative session, which starts in January.

We began talking to local lobbying groups about getting their support.

This brings us to where we are now. And right now we need your help with the following two things:

First, we need to get the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association on board with this bill. Their biennial legislative direction meeting is at 1:00 on October 15th at the Holiday Inn in Marlboro (265 Lakeside Ave (Route 20), Marlboro, MA). At this meeting, which is open to the public, they are going to vote on their legislative priorities for the next two years and we want lane splitting to be one of them. IF ANY OF YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO GO TO THIS MEETING IT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. My wife and I will be there along with as many other riders as I can find.

Next, as always, we need people to contact their local representatives. First, please call or email Rep. Stanley's office (his contact info is in the link above) to let him know you support the bill. Then please get in touch with your representatives and state senators. Local reps don't do anything unless a constituent calls and tells them they should support it so let's get those phones ringing.

[virtualbong]

Interesting read.

This was an interesting find.

when crashes do occur while lane splitting, the injuries are
far less severe with:
● 60% fewer fatal injuries
● 47% fewer head injuries
● 34% fewer torso injuries
● 9% fewer extremity injuries
...
Lane splitting is significantly safer
than waiting in traffic when practiced at a reasonable speed

[Dillo]

Looking through the existing studies there's actually a surprisingly clear consensus regarding the safety benefits of lane splitting.

[cdovego]

I've explained politely to a few MA troopers that I'd rather be ticketed by them for lane sharing vs. sit there and be a target. Each conversation has left me with no ticket.

[nt650hawk]

+1 for less deaths. My sperm count has dwindled since sitting in traffic. poor fellas.

[caloots]

I'll see if I can make it . !!

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

[WokDisWey]

I will definitely try to make this.

[oVTo]

My wife and I will be there.

Have you talked with the MMA leadership already?

[commuter]

How did the MMA meeting go? Are they on board with this?

[South of Heaven]

I've explained politely to a few MA troopers that I'd rather be ticketed by them for lane sharing vs. sit there and be a target. Each conversation has left me with no ticket.

What did the troopers have to say about you not paying your debts and "stealing" bikes?

[scottieducati]

GDit.... sooo upset to have missed the meeting on the 15th.

PM incoming.

[logleggett]

So anyone know what happened at the MMA meeting??

[cdovego]

What did the troopers have to say about you not paying your debts and "stealing" bikes?

ooooh, internet fight. I had to set that shit down a while back, good on you if you want to carry it around.

[Dillo]

Hi All,

Sorry for the late reply. I don't generally check this forum unless I get a notification.

The MMA meeting went fairly well. I had a second meeting with them two weeks ago, and they're on board with the idea. The version of the bill currently being worked on will look something like this:

* Lane splitting becomes legal, and it becomes illegal to block motorcycles from splitting lanes.

* A speed limit of 30mph while splitting lanes, with a limit on passing speed of no more than 10mph faster than the speed of traffic (ie: if traffic is going 10mph you can't go faster than 20mph)

* Increased penalties for speeding while splitting lanes or splitting lanes on roads where it's not permitted.

* One version restricts lane splitting only to highways, possibly even restricting it to interstate highways as they're the widest roads. Another possibility being discussed here is to restrict lane splitting to only be allowed between the two leftmost lanes.


* An alternate option being considered is to make it legal to ride a motorcycle in the bicycle lane, possibly with a provision restricting maximum width or restricting it to only bikes without sidecases/panniers

[cdovego]

...Another possibility being discussed here is to restrict lane splitting to only be allowed between the two leftmost lanes (this).

[Tekime]

Would love to see this in Maine.

If there are restrictions placed on lane usage, doesn't this invalidate the studies to some extent? In other words, if the argument for lane splitting is safety and the evidence is in the studies, the new laws should be sculpted closely around the conditions those studies were conducted in or the results become skewed. Maybe something to consider if there is pushback from those trying to neuter the law. This is mainly in reference to restricting splitting to highways, certain lanes, etc.

[cdovego]

I suggest two left lanes as it's a lot easier to retrain drivers to be aware of that space versus a free for all around them. It will ultimately save lives.

[PhilB]

Hi All,

Sorry for the late reply. I don't generally check this forum unless I get a notification.

The MMA meeting went fairly well. I had a second meeting with them two weeks ago, and they're on board with the idea. The version of the bill currently being worked on will look something like this:

* Lane splitting becomes legal, and it becomes illegal to block motorcycles from splitting lanes.

* A speed limit of 30mph while splitting lanes, with a limit on passing speed of no more than 10mph faster than the speed of traffic (ie: if traffic is going 10mph you can't go faster than 20mph)

* Increased penalties for speeding while splitting lanes or splitting lanes on roads where it's not permitted.

* One version restricts lane splitting only to highways, possibly even restricting it to interstate highways as they're the widest roads. Another possibility being discussed here is to restrict lane splitting to only be allowed between the two leftmost lanes.

Irrationally restrictive, but better than what you've got now.

* An alternate option being considered is to make it legal to ride a motorcycle in the bicycle lane, possibly with a provision restricting maximum width or restricting it to only bikes without sidecases/panniers

This strikes me as a very bad idea. Dangerous for the bicyclists.

Would love to see this in Maine.

If there are restrictions placed on lane usage, doesn't this invalidate the studies to some extent? In other words, if the argument for lane splitting is safety and the evidence is in the studies, the new laws should be sculpted closely around the conditions those studies were conducted in or the results become skewed. Maybe something to consider if there is pushback from those trying to neuter the law. This is mainly in reference to restricting splitting to highways, certain lanes, etc.

Yes, exactly. Data be damned, they're politicians and they know better than everyone and they want to control and micro-manage every aspect of the process.

I suggest two left lanes as it's a lot easier to retrain drivers to be aware of that space versus a free for all around them. It will ultimately save lives.

That's the best place to do it, generally, and if you ride in CA, you'll see that's where the majority of it is done. But it shouldn't be a legal restriction, because there will be plenty of situations where it's better/safer to use another lane, and there's no rational reason to cut off that possibility.

PhilB

[South of Heaven]

Cdovego: Hell yeah I'll carry it around. My bike was stolen a few years ago and I cant stand thieves.

[nt650hawk]

Practice anyone?
Traffic Rider - Android Apps on Google Play

for entertainment purposes only!

[cdovego]

Cdovego: Hell yeah I'll carry it around. My bike was stolen a few years ago and I cant stand thieves.

I had a bike stolen, too - def. sucks.