Lane Splitting in Texas?

I haven't seen this mentioned here, so I apologize if this is redundant.

It appears there is a bill pending in the Texas legislature that will
make lane splitting legal in this state. Amazing...

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/79R/billtext/HB01522I.HTM


Bill1100 - Dallas,TX
2000 BMW R1100RT
2000 BMW R1100R

 

message

This would be a GOOD thing. The hard part is
going to be educating the driving public AND
motorcyclists as to when it should and should not
be done.

 

About time. Keep your fingers crossed that this passes and Texas joins
the rest of the world in reducing the risk of riders become accordions
while stopped in traffic.

 

Got filed wednesday. No one I know, knew the Rep was going to do that. It
will be interesting to see if this bill will go anywhere or get any support
from other members of the legislature. Guess we need to write letters and
see what's going on.

 

It appears there is a bill pending in the Texas legislature that will
make lane splitting legal in this state. Amazing... <<


LOL! Must be someone recently moved to our state who proposed this.
Obviously doesn't know our driving culture very well. If you tried this in
Houston, legal or not, you'd have so many doors opened on you it would look
like a medieval gauntlet.
___________________________________
Mick McHam Houston, Tx
'99 ST1100ABS (4 Sale)
'99 VFR800FI
website: http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham

 

There have been a few of us who split lanes occasionally .. hmmm.. I'm told
that a few have gotten tickets for it.. Actually.. there has been a little
discussion about it on this newsgroup, in the past and people seem to have
mixed emotions about it..

Seems the law doesn't actually address this issue, except other than the
"two vehicles sharing lanes".. In California, lane splitting is encouraged
in order to lessen congestion with motorcycles contributing to it.. I've
never been cited, mostly because the traffic was so impacted, a police
vehicle would not be able to follow me..

I'd certainly like to see this Bill go to committee and get a fair shot..
Keep us posted Elmer..

Your Friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

The ones who open doors on motorcycles are very rare.. Although there are a
few psychopaths who'd do such a thing, they are not the norm.. I've split
lanes in California, where it is encouraged.. and also in Texas .. where it
is not done very much.. Lane splitting should never be done where traffic is
moving and is virtually standstill.. Under those conditions, rapid lane
changing isn't much of a problem..

Of course, the driver who'd swing a car door on a motorcycle is a danger
under any circumstance and in the event of his hitting a biker with his
door, should be charged with attempted murder .. I've experienced a car door
being swung at me on two occasions, in all the years and miles that I've
ridden motorcycles.. Both occasions, the driver was intoxicated .. No one in
their right mind would even consider such a thing..

That being said, you are absolutely correct.. The public should be educated
by all means possible, to thoroughly discourage any such mindset.. No
nonsense and no tolerance penalties should be imposed and publicized
widely..

Your Friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

I wouldn't even think about doing this in Dallas on the LBJ Fwy in rush
hour traffic - or any other time, for that matter. I'll stick with the
High Velocity Lane - that's dangerous enough with people crossing the
double white line into the HOV lane.

Bill1100 - Dallas, TX
2000 BMW R1100RT
2000 BMW R1100R

 

-------billwaker below----
------The ones who open doors on motorcycles are very rare.. Although
there are a few psychopaths who'd do such a thing, they are not the
norm.. I've split lanes in California, where it is encouraged.. and also
in Texas .. where it is not done very much.. Lane splitting should never
be done where traffic is moving and is virtually standstill.. Under
those conditions, rapid lane changing isn't much of a problem..Of course, the driver who'd swing a car door on a motorcycle is a danger
under any circumstance and in the event of his hitting a biker with his
door, should be charged with attempted murder ..I've experienced a car door being swung at me on two occasions, in all
the years and miles that I've ridden motorcycles.. Both occasions, the
driver was intoxicated .. No one in their right mind would even consider
such a thing..
----bill walker----
-----------------------------------------------------
BJAy here---
-----the drunk you mention above, probably got mixed up, and thought he
was parked at Dairy Queen, and was merely getting out, to get em a
burger.
------I guess, I'm just a lucky old fart, never had a cager try any
nonsense on me. Maybe it's my friendly, happy smile, caused by riding.
Could be my goodlooks, wearing my Motorcycle Uniform.....heehee...bjay

 

The motor cops would be the first to pick up on the new law and start
using it. The first redneck assault an officer with a deadly weapon (the
vehicle) would make enough news that everyone would learn pretty quickly.
--
Mark Johnson, Ft. Worth, TX
http://www.bikes-n-spikes.org
"Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by
legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can't help being stupid.
But stupidity is the only universal capital crime, the sentence is
death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically
and without pity." ~ Robert Heinlein

 

the bill addresses this. NO MORE that +5 over the speed of traffic and
only if the traffic is moving at 20 mph or less.

 

I split in a heat beat any time traffic was stopped; wreck as the cause
or not. That means I could do it (at least to jocky for position) daily.

--
Mark Johnson, Ft. Worth, TX
http://www.bikes-n-spikes.org
"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have
looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress." - Ronald
Reagan

 

"texdays"
SNIP

And? The BDC goes to jail for felonious
assault at the least...THEN you sue the bastard
for everything he and his family owns and ever
will own.
I don't like cars...yes the wife has one. Yes,
I still have a 32 y/o rat truck that MIGHT get
1,500 miles a year and as little care as most
casual riders do. It's used hauling big stuff that
wont fit the motorcycle. People who open car doors
on me tend to get hurt...the ones who change into
my lane do to. Mostly it's emotionally hurt though
there is one stupid bitch in the Killeen area whom
I suspect had to buy new underwear.
I DO NOT advocate everyone acting as I do.
I've just become an intolerant son of a bitch when
it comes to idiots in cages. I give them the same
respect and mercy they show motorcyclists.

 

I've stayed out of this discussion because of my known thoughts of "lane
splitting". I do it all the time anyway...mostly because I can. I've been
known to ride through the traffic going as fast as 50mph or so. By the time
I get to a car and they realize I'm there, I'm far past them. I'll
occassionally hear a horn blow, but I'm long since gone by the time they
react.

That being said, if someone opens a door in traffic, they're at fault if
someone hits them. The law is very clear and it's not as good of an idea as
someone in a car might think. The law states that the only time a door can
be opened is when it can be safely done. In traffic and where someone hits
it, wouldn't be considered "safely". I've had people squeeze the lane, blow
their horns and even scream at me. If someone ever DID open a door in
traffic, they better be ready to lose it...then take a good ass whippin'
while we're at it. Whether I'm splitting lanes or not, that doesn't give
them the right to break a law and endanger someone.

All that being said, people need to do more worrying about themselves and
traffic would go alot smoother. I've noticed in my many years that people
try too hard to drive their car and other people's cars too.

 

And giving that much time of someone next to a car with a motorcycle would
be the making for getting someone hurt. If that's all the speed someone is
going to ride, they might as well sit in the traffic. It would be more
dangerous to get between the cars and ride within 5mph of the cars.

 

I take it there's not that many people in Houston who'd yank some dumbass
out of their car and stomp their ass...after breaking a door off their car
to get to the people.

 

I use to buy steel bearings and keep them in a sack on the handle bar. The
ole trick of dropping a few to get tailgators off my back.

But after a while it got to be that the idiots were getting fearless or just
being more stupid than usual. Next thing I knew I was flinging those steeles
into drivers side windows which were open and hitting a few people in the
head. I decided I was just getting too angry and stopped carrying the
steeles.

Later tho I was outside a bar when a cop came up and started talking to me.
Just general bs nothing serious. He asked how I kept tailgators back. For a
second I debated but decided to tell him I kept marbles in a bag on the
handlebars. He smiled and told me to go down to womacks and get the big golf
ball size steel bearings. He said those will keep those assholes back. Well
I thanked him and didn't bother with those things. I figured I would just
wind up killing someone when I threw it at the driver.

 

I don't see any problem killing them..... :^)

 

"Elmer McKeegan"
SNIP

I figured the last part out without ever having to
throw a single bearing or marble...that's why I've
never done it.

 

----Elmer Gentry McKeegan-----
----wrote----
------I use to buy steel bearings and keep them in a sack on the handle
bar. The ole trick of dropping a few to get tailgators off my back.But after a while it got to be that the idiots were getting fearless or
just being more stupid than usual. Next thing I knew I was flinging
those steeles into drivers side windows which were open and hitting a
few people in the head. I decided I was just getting too angry and
stopped carrying the steeles.Later tho I was outside a bar when a cop came up and started talking to
me. Just general bs nothing serious. He asked howI kept tailgators back.For a second I debated but decided to tell him I kept marbles in a bag
on the handlebars. He smiled and told me to go down to womacks and get
the big golf ball size steel bearings. He said those will keep those
assholes back. Well I thanked him and didn't bother with those things. I
figured I would just wind up killing someone when I threw it at the
driver.
----elmer Mckeegan------------------bjay below says-----
wow, what-a-story--!!!
Elmer, gosh, you must have been one of the socalled ''1%'ers'' eh, in
your hayday, huh? You sound like you were a ''ruffian'', in your younger
days, to me.--the other amazing part of your story/comments, is when the Cop,
casually, starts up a conversation with you of all places, outside a
bar, and brings up, of all subjects, ''how to keep tailgaters'' back.
Then, amazingly, he suggest to you, a much better way to defend against
tailgatters. He suggest the heavy, golf ball size ball bearings, to
throw at those assholes. What-a-Cop------------------bjay------------------

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--