07-02-2016, 03:37 AM
Interesting discussion. Like the ferret, I'm not really sure where I stand on this subject. They've tried to change the laws here in Oregon which would allow for lane splitting and that effort was unsuccessful. The subject will surely come up again. As a motorcyclist I can see this being tempting when cars are basically at a standstill on the freeway, but much beyond that I start to have some issues as a motorist.
Here in Portland, we have a lot of bicyclists (I'm one of them at times) and the city has bent over backwards to accommodate them. Sometimes to extremes that defy common sense — a while back some state representatives were attempting to change the rules so that bicyclists are not required to stop at stop signs (most don't anyway, but that's a different matter) under certain circumstances. I'll add that when staying on the surface streets while commuting I've actually had more close encounters with bicycles than I have had with cars. if I take the freeway, that of course changes things.
A lot of problems seem to be caused by the fact that bicyclists have the right of way through an intersection on the right side of the traffic lane regardless if there is a bike line there or not. Seemingly countless number of bicyclists have assumed that the motorist to their left has seen them only to end running into (or being run over by) a vehicle turning to the right. Either way, it generally ends pretty badly for the person on the bicycle. It also can be pretty nerve-wracking for the motorists who are attempting to avoid such encounters.
As someone who rides both bicycles and motorcycles I am keenly aware of the need to be cognizant of the presence of others who do the same. Even though I'm constantly keeping an eye out for those on two wheels, I still find it very challenging to remain aware of their presence at all times. Any law that results in another person sharing a lane with me in close proximity only adds to the difficulty of trying to avoid an accident. While I can understand the desire to lane split and the time savings it provides as a motorcyclist, I can also understand the problems this can create for motorists — especially when those who are lane splitting are abusing the law at speeds beyond that allowed which is surely inevitable.
Tough issue and one that I might possibly be dealing with myself (both one two wheels and four) soon enough.
Here in Portland, we have a lot of bicyclists (I'm one of them at times) and the city has bent over backwards to accommodate them. Sometimes to extremes that defy common sense — a while back some state representatives were attempting to change the rules so that bicyclists are not required to stop at stop signs (most don't anyway, but that's a different matter) under certain circumstances. I'll add that when staying on the surface streets while commuting I've actually had more close encounters with bicycles than I have had with cars. if I take the freeway, that of course changes things.
A lot of problems seem to be caused by the fact that bicyclists have the right of way through an intersection on the right side of the traffic lane regardless if there is a bike line there or not. Seemingly countless number of bicyclists have assumed that the motorist to their left has seen them only to end running into (or being run over by) a vehicle turning to the right. Either way, it generally ends pretty badly for the person on the bicycle. It also can be pretty nerve-wracking for the motorists who are attempting to avoid such encounters.
As someone who rides both bicycles and motorcycles I am keenly aware of the need to be cognizant of the presence of others who do the same. Even though I'm constantly keeping an eye out for those on two wheels, I still find it very challenging to remain aware of their presence at all times. Any law that results in another person sharing a lane with me in close proximity only adds to the difficulty of trying to avoid an accident. While I can understand the desire to lane split and the time savings it provides as a motorcyclist, I can also understand the problems this can create for motorists — especially when those who are lane splitting are abusing the law at speeds beyond that allowed which is surely inevitable.
Tough issue and one that I might possibly be dealing with myself (both one two wheels and four) soon enough.