Source
r/motorcycles•
SquidTips

Now is the time to start contacting your reps to get Lane Splitting/Filtering legalized in your state in 2023!

FYI, legislative sessions are in session for 2023, deadlines are coming up for submitting and hearing bills, so if you want to make progress this year now is the time to organize.

Resources:

Here is the UC Berkley study from 2015 that has been the foundation of every lane splitting bill passed in the US. Here's a few important quotes:

  • "Lane-splitting appears to be a relatively safe motorcycle riding strategy if done in traffic moving at 50 MPH or less and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 MPH."
  • "Lane-splitting motorcyclists were also injured much less frequently during their collisions."

Here's a short video covering what lane splitting and similar techniques are, what concerns exist around the relative safety/danger of these practices, an overview of relevant data that exists, and why motorcyclists are so focused on getting it legalized as soon as possible.

And finally here are links to the bills past in recent years legalizing filtering in AZ, MT, and UT.

Posted Jan 12, 2023, 12:44 AM UTC

410127
spikesmthSFV650•

Good luck out there guys, unfortunately using facts and logic hasn't historically been a good way to change minds. Splitting and filtering is a way of life out here in California.

108
OOMKilla2019 SV650X + 2006 FZ6•

It’s true. Look at what happened to lane filtering legislation in Oregon last year.

“the Oregon Transportation Safety Committee opposed the bill on the grounds that it would put motorcyclists in the blind spots of other drivers.”

Transportation committees must have some of our dumbest citizens. The governor vetoed it.

50
zachattack8805•

Oregon resident here, even the police said they supported it. I’ve lane split past several cops now and they never care.

18
Aloha5OClockCharlie•

Ugh this pisses me off every time I think about it. I complain about this relentlessly too. Hopefully the new governor has a backbone and we can get it through next time.

5
BigRedjmc14'18 Rebel 500•

You should reach out to your representatives asking for support on another try. This website will help you find your Elected Officials. And then this link right here shows the bill that was passed by the state congress in 2021 but vetoed by Gov Brown. Reach out and say you want them to try again with a similar bill! And maybe suggest that this time they don't limit it to just highways!

8
penguinseedRS660•

California is a swear word here in Texas so mentioning the success that state has had with filtering would be a sure fire way to get the legislature to keep a bill from leaving committee

45
spikesmthSFV650•

You hate us cuz you aint us ;)

12
FrattyMcBeaver2•

Cus you anus?

-1
MotoMeow2172022 XSR700•

My state (Washington) desperately wants to be North California, so you would think they'd be all for it, but instead Washington is turning into the "no fun state."

Oh well, I contacted my reps in Olympia.

11
ZTGHD114•

Imagine how great the planet would be if politicians werent greedy or ignorant...

7
Mister_Barksworth•

It's a self-selecting sample, unfortunately.

5
apathetic_lemur•

Texas as all about good ol' fashioned american values where you pull yourself up by your bootstraps and big gubment wont tread on our freedoms. So I'm sure they would be all for a bill that prevents big government from limiting motorcycle rider's freedoms and ability to put their safety in their own hands just like the cowboys used to do.

4
b214n•

Okinawa, too! Even though it is technically illegal.

3
Lov-struk-repair-man•

Doing nothing has been historically proven to change no minds.

2
CivilRuin4111Scrambler 1200, Street Twin 900, TW-200•

If there’s an upside to all the Californians moving East, it’s that they are already used to splitting and maybe export THAT aspect of their culture.

2
Nessie_Hunter•

It is 100% jealousy, unfortunately there are not enough riders to get over that hump in most states.

34
SquidTipsOPYoutube.com\SquidTips R1M•

I agree that there’s a lot of petty reasons non-riders don’t like it, but I disagree there isn’t enough support in most states.

The number of people you need emailing/calling reps is in the 10’s to low 100’s to to be able to start making movements towards legalization. We in WA have connected that easily on discord, not including ABATE chapters in each state that likely have hundreds of members.

4
Bunny_Brigade•

Hey I'm also in WA! Is there a discord server for this? Could you send me the link if there is?

1
SquidTipsOPYoutube.com\SquidTips R1M•

https://discord.gg/9dXv5UaM

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
PocketSizedRS•

The main thing I've found is that people assume you do it all the time. Rather than only in stopped or slow moving traffic.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-14
SquidTipsOPYoutube.com\SquidTips R1M•

It’s kinda a philosophy thing, like, what is a road even for?

If you look at a road as a giant queue, then yeah, it seems unfair, and so would practices like zipper merging.

But if you look at it as a government built logistics system for moving as many people place to place as safely as possible, both splitting and zipper merging objectively increase throughout of people, reduce traffic, all while maintaining safety.

11
fl03xx•

Enjoy your AC and lack of awareness you cager fuck while I cruise to victory sweating my balls off, or covered in rain.

9
Mr_NiceBry•

Wrong subreddit

4
etherreformed•

I understand California's law started when the Pollice officers pushed this on the agenda. I wonder if a similar strategy could be employed elsewhere.

17
notatlalkingbagel•

I'm uninformed - why did police in CA push for filtering?

11
etherreformed•

Their air cooled bikes would overheat in traffic. Perhaps they couldn't allow just police officers to filter so the rest of the riders benefited.

32
RLStinebeckVersys 650 •

Cops did it initially for the same reasons that everyone does it now: to get around traffic. But motorcycle advocates sued the state because the California Highway Patrol allowed their officers to split/filter but were still giving citations to private citizens for doing the same thing. Rather than disallow cops from doing it, in a moment of reasonable decision making they just made it legal for all motorcycles and everyone lived happily ever after.

4
dutchmasterams•

This is incorrect. The law was a forced because a single man in Sacramento wrote a complaint… and this the ambiguity of its legality had to be clearly codified.

one man

4
Gusugey•

Lol did you even read the article. It says in the first paragraph that the law had been in place for decades. This is all about removing guidelines from a webpage..

2
dutchmasterams•

It was ‘practiced’ for decades - but no statute was specifically against it. CHP put up ‘guidelines’ - the one man complained that it was an ‘under ground regulation’ and had it removed. This forced the CHP and DMV to actually come up with a codified law.

Is this incorrect?

1
kdurant5•

We really need this in Florida

15
dutchmasterams•

WORST STATE TO RIDE IN

10
sotfggyrdg•

Nothing but straight roads

7
dutchmasterams•

…and flat. The most irate and inattentive drivers I’ve come across.

6
Mister_Barksworth•

"Geriatric", "on opiods", or "both" probably accounts for a majority of drivers in FL. My grandmother was hit twice in her 80s and absolutely should not have been on the road anymore. Both times she kept her licence because the other guy was high as a kite.

6
NateCantRead2015 C-SPEC BOLT•

Just started being able to filter up to stoplights in Arizona. In the summer it’s a literal life saver, but I’m weary of people getting pissed that I’m “cheating” so I’ve been doing it selectively this winter.

15
Hydralisk182019 Ninja 650, 2003 YZF-R6•

Same here, I'm only really doing it with plenty of room and when there's a ton of traffic. Indian school and Hayden is atrocious after 3pm, it can be like 3 or 4 cycles before you get through that light

8
CatSajak779'21 ZX-6R/'15 FZ-07•

Yep. Legalizing it is only half the battle. The first several years will be an adjustment period for any state/region that has recently implemented it.

3
PocketSizedRS•

I ride near Houston and after filtering dozens upon dozens of times, nobody has reacted in any noticeable way. Despite it being illegal and drivers in Houston being complete assholes. So I don't think it's as bad as you may believe.

2
TheFlyingBoxcar2008 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom•

Theres hella stuff illegal here in CA thats legal everywherr else. But I dont think Id trade any of it, splitting/filtering is absolute tits

15
Color_Hawk•

Honestly I think It would be best to start small with trying to get lane filtering in stopped / 10 < mph traffic passed first. Texas has been close to passing something similar that allowed motorcyclists to filter at low speeds during standstill traffic on highways.

10
Awake00'21 Street Twin•

Yea, im good on splitting. I just want to filter to the front at a light.

7
Mister_Barksworth•

In the UK the unwritten rule is "no more than 30mph, and no more than 15mph difference in speed". Legally you can split at any speed, but if you don't follow that rule you would fail your test, or possibly be pulled over for reckless driving.

1
threekilljessUnited States•

I’d be so scared to split here in Texas, they don’t know to look out for us here!

1
lickedurine•

I saw an absolute chad do it on I-45 in down town Houston the other day.

I do it leading up to red lights and that’s about it

1
YdidUMove•

Genuine question from someone who wants to get a cruiser this year.

Is it comfortable to do? Safe? Can cruisers do it or only sport bikes? I've seen videos of filtering and it looks very uncomfortable to me.

9
PilotAlan2016 BMW R1200RT, 2016 Multistrada•

Can cruisers do it or only sport bikes?

I filtered on my VStar 1300, BMW R1200RT (with side cases), and a 2012 Gold Wing. So no, not just for squids.

11
YdidUMove•

How long did it take before you were comfortable? I'm a defensive driver so I never trust anyone on the road so I'm tentative about doing it in general.

Edit: and obviously if I'm not comfortable I won't do it, I'm just curious about the learning curve.

6
1-123581385321-1•

I split all the time, i'd say the learning curve is mostly mental. The gap always looks smaller than it really is, and you need to build a familiarity with the physical dimensions of your bike.

I rode with a long time rider who would never split, and once when we got caught in some really bad traffic he gave me the nod and we went for it. He said after that it was incredible how quickly he became comfortable with it.

Being comfy with it also increases your potential escape routes, and makes it easy to avoid tricky situations in general.

9
spikesmthSFV650•

It took me a few months before I was ready to filter. It's really a breeze to pass 3-5 cars at a two-lane light as long as there's space. And that's the trick... knowing your bike (and its dimensions) like your own body. Judging the gaps becomes instinct. 10+ years later and I'll even split on the highway on a drizzly night.

5
PilotAlan2016 BMW R1200RT, 2016 Multistrada•

Hard to say. I started with filtering at stoplights, on streets with really wide lanes. Then filtering in stopped traffic on the freeway. Got comfortable with bike width, space width, and moved on from there.

IMPORTANT: Go to parking lot and practice riding a line down below 5mph. On my bike with a digital speedo, I’m comfortable at 1-2 mph (took lots of practice). Also practice low speed maneuvers until you can do them in your sleep. You’re going to be slow and maneuvering in close quarters, make sure you can completely control your bike. Practice emergency stops like there’s no tomorrow.

Your skills will build, which will build your confidence.

5
partyqwerty•

Ride for a few days in India....

2
YdidUMove•

Yeah I'm good xD I'm sure it's a beautiful place but I prefer country sides over heavily congested places

3
RLStinebeckVersys 650 •

The main things to learn are how wide your handlebars and mirrors are (plus luggage if you rock saddlebags) and how to predict when a drivers is about to do something unexpected by watching for brake lights, slights turns of front wheels, etc. After that, it boils down to knowing you can keep control of the bike if you need to stop or maneuver suddenly.

It's a skill almost everyone learns out of necessity at some point, whether it's legal where you live or not. It's just that when it's allowed, you realize it's basically a necessity all the time. On my commute in LA I spot maybe 1% of all motorcycles or scooters actually waiting in traffic. And I tend to assume they're new to riding, from out of state, or just haven't worked up the nerve yet. Because I'll go out on a limb and say that not only is splitting/filtering life changing for getting through traffic quickly, it's likely safer than going the stop-and-go conga line on the freeway giving drivers innumerable opportunities to merge into you, stop short, or tap your rear tire.

2
WagonsNeedLoveTooHarley 72•

It’s all about your comfort level. I split in CA on my Sportster for a while no issues but there were times id think a gap was too tight and a bagger would pass me and go through it.

1
PilotAlan2016 BMW R1200RT, 2016 Multistrada•

Absolutely agree. It takes time to get comfortable, and to develop the Spidey sense of where you can and can't fit. If in doubt, wait it out. Cars move, gaps open and close every few seconds.

1
Moondanther'16 Triumph Tbird Storm, KTM 350 Freeride•

I filter on My Triumph Thunderbird, yes it's easier on a smaller light weight bike but it's still do-able on a big bike.

6
Mister_Barksworth•

I have a V-Strom, so not a cruiser, but just as wide when I have the panniers on. I filter all the time if the panniers are off (I live in the UK), and almost never if they're on.

3
RLStinebeckVersys 650 •

I rode a DL650 for over a decade and filtered everywhere I went. It almost felt like the bike was designed for it, despite its width and weight. Moved on to Versys a few years ago and it's the same story. Not a small bike by any means, but somehow fits through tiny opening and gaps with no complaint.

3
Mister_Barksworth•

Yeah ADV bikes in general are perfect for it, despite being wide and heavy. The maneuverability and high rider position make up for the size. The clutch assist on the Stroms really helps too.

2
MaYAL_terEgo•

I do it sometimes and I am on a 250cc Honda rebel with all of its 16 horsepower. So yes. Yes you can.

2
RLStinebeckVersys 650 •

I commute by motorcycle every day in Los Angeles. Evening traffic is usually total gridlock for miles, meaning of course I merge all the way over between the carpool lane and fast lanes and let 'er rip all the way to my exit. But without fail, no matter how fast I go, someone will come roaring up behind impatient to pass. Probably 80% of the time they are dude on Harleys, usually Fatboys, Road Kings, etc. with open exhausts and tons of mods. I'll pull off briefly to wave them past and then they vanish in the distance like very loud mirages. Mind you, I've been doing this for years and feel pretty confident in my bike and riding ability, enough to comfortably roll through at around 40mph between lanes on the freeway. But those guys, Jesus... they must be hitting near the speed limit on those big ass cruisers, and because of the racket announcing their procession, most of the gridlocked cars part like the Red Sea for Moses to make it possible.

So yeah, cruisers can do it just fine. If anything, they seem to be perfect for it.

2
TheBlackArrows•

I can tell you in New England, this would be a death sentence. Other than at stop light. That, I agree with. Getting out of the line of traffic to avoid being rear ended in traffic makes sense. Other than that, it only takes one yahoo not paying attention and swap lanes with you in the blind spot and you are sandwiched between two killers.

Personally, I would never lane split in moving traffic because I don’t trust drivers. I assume I’m invisible to every car on the road.

However, I have been on the other side in Paris with a friend that lane split everywhere. I thought I was gonna die for reals. But it’s a way of life there and motorcycles are given the right of way. All motorists are taught to watch for bikes in all traffic and it’s engrained there.

If we can do the same here and get lane splitting happening at low speeds in traffic, I’m all for it.

When I’m in traffic I am constantly watching my back for some idiot and am usually on the outs of the lane in case I need to jet.

There is no such thing as motorcycle safety because riding a motorcycle is always risky. It’s motorcycle risk management.

Stay safe friends.

5
mint-bint•

The fact you are not allowed to filter is absolute madness. That is one of the major reasons for riding a motorcycle.

And I can't emphasise enough, your roads in the USA are easily double the width of what we have in the UK and we manage it safely.

5
AndonautKawasaki Z900RS•

Agreed. Prohibition on filtering absolutely kills the practicality of motorcycling. Car drivers get more traffic, motorcyclists get longer journeys and higher risk, everyone pays.

3
craptastical214mWA - DL1000 / Versys 300•

Absolutely agree. It's mind boggling the people who try to use lane width as an argument against it in the US. "Oh California has 12' lanes while Washington only has 10', therefore we can't do it here!" Clearly they haven't seen the riders in places like the UK manage it just fine with even narrower lanes.

2
arse_lash•

Or just do it illegally

4
SquidTipsOPYoutube.com\SquidTips R1M•

Already doing that. Would love to not have to spend focus looking for cops at the same time.

6
CivilRuin4111Scrambler 1200, Street Twin 900, TW-200•

Same. The lanes here, particularly between the HOV and far left are plenty wide to filter. Happily do it daily.

0
Tarcye•

That's what most people do already. Happens all the time here in Minnesota where it's not legal.

People do it anyways regardless becuese shocker trusting Karen or Kevin to pay attention in front of them is just a recipe for disaster.

2
MagnificoReattore•

I recently discovered it's technically illegal in my country. Always assumed it was legal since basically everyone just does it.

1
Weekly-Draw2526•

Big problem with that is that you're 100% at fault when someone doors you or cuts in front of you.

1
arse_lash•

Thats a good point

1
yeebok2018 Tiger XCA 800 | 2013 NC700S•

It's legal here in Australia

3
Moondanther'16 Triumph Tbird Storm, KTM 350 Freeride•

In Victoria, filtering is, lane splitting isn't

1
yeebok2018 Tiger XCA 800 | 2013 NC700S•

I hadn't realised op meant both. Thanks for making me reread it

3
BigRedjmc14'18 Rebel 500•

Thanks for the reminder OP! I send a yearly plea to my state representatives. Almost forgot this year!

2
gamebattles1946•

Pretty sure here in the UK it's legal everywhere for filtering.

2
DeleteSystem332007 Yamaha FJR1300 | 2004 Ninja 250•

How many states does the UK have?

3
BadgerMcLovin•

Well I'm currently in a state of disarray so at least 1

3
gamebattles1946•

I was just pointing out here in the UK it's legal never heard of it being illegal I probably should have worded it better lol Hopefully you guys get it passed because filtering saves so much time.

1
sailorjerry1978rocket3r•

It is. I’ve even taken to turning my mirrors upward so I’m a little narrower in London traffic

1
Dramoriga'19 Ducati Monster 1200s•

Your studies should just cite Europe, where most of us have had it for decades and have no issues.

2
Piston_Kho•

This will never happen in Canada

2
Weekly-Draw2526•

Safety argument would be easier to make if filtering merely required getting in front of the last car in the queue, instead of all the way to the front. Traffic would also move faster if drivers were permitted to use the shoulder in order to "clear traffic".

2
Omaha_Beach•

We lane split around Austin, it’s kind of became normal. Cops don’t really do anything at this point

2
[deleted]•

I will sell my goldwing and get a smaller bike if they make it legal in Michigan

2
hauj0bb•

God thanks I live in Europe xD

1