Arizona Splitting Bill introduced

[badwolf.j]

I live in Illinois, but have enjoyed lane splitting / filtering when riding in California and in other countries. I'd like to see the practice become legalized and more broadly accepted across the United States. For those on here that live or ride in Arizona, now is the time to speak up. State Senator David Farnsworth has introduced SB 1007 into the Arizona State Senate.

 

Links: 

 

Motorcycle.com article.

 

LegiScan entry on AZ SB 1007.

 

Senator David Farnsworth's Twitter: @DaveFarnsworth_

 

Senator David Farnsworth's Email: dfarnsworth@azleg.gov

 

 

I would also suggest contacting your Arizona State Representative to express support for lane filtering to get a head start if / when SB 1007 makes it through the State Senate.

 

You can find your Arizona state legislator here.

[LowRyter]

Had an ABATE guy show up at the local riders' monthly dinner.  I asked him about "lane splitting" and he didn't even know what it was.

 

Sad deal: he was obviously a Harley guy and had been given a basket case Guzzi Convert he needed parts for so he could sell it.  I told him to look up "Harper's" on the net.  (He was trying to pawn off the Convert on anyone at the dinner.)

 

He showed up a year later and we had the same conversation, "What is lane splitting?" and "Where can I find Guzzi parts?"

[Surj]

Don't diss the Harley guys too hard—they were a big part of passing AB 51 in California. 

[docc]

"AB 51?"

[Surj]

AB 51 was the bill passed in 2016 to formalize the long-legal but somewhat undefined practice of lane splitting in California, in part so the CMSP / CHP could use money from motorcycle registrations to educate both riders and drivers about the practice: how to do it more safely, and so on.

[Chuck]

I understand it was never "legal" to lane split in Ca, it just wasn't enforced. The bill actually makes is legal. Lane splitting is a wonderful thing in that traffic..

[Surj]

That's an incorrect understanding. Things which are not prohibited are by their very nature legal. Since you have a CA location in your profile, you may know that the CHP released guidelines back in 2013. A single citizen with a beef with the CHP filed a complaint with the Office of Administrative Law that the CHP was creating "underground regulations" by issuing guidelines—essentially creating law without the appropriate legislative processes. That wasn't true, but CHP took the guidelines down rather than fighting it. 
 
The bill defines lane splitting formally, and provides for creation of those guidelines again. This is the change to the vehicle code:
 
SECTION 1. Section 21658.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
 
21658.1. ( a ) For the purposes of this section, “lane splitting” means driving a motorcycle, as defined in Section 400, that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways.
 
( b ) The Department of the California Highway Patrol may develop educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner that would ensure the safety of the motorcyclist and the drivers and passengers of the surrounding vehicles.
 
( c ) In developing guidelines pursuant to this section, the department shall consult with agencies and organizations with an interest in road safety and motorcyclist behavior, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
 
(1) The Department of Motor Vehicles.
 
(2) The Department of Transportation.
 
(3) The Office of Traffic Safety.
 
(4) A motorcycle organization focused on motorcyclist safety.

[Scud]

That's an incorrect understanding. Things which are not prohibited are by their very nature legal. 

 

Most states have a law prohibiting the double-occupancy of a lane. California had no such prohibition, therefore what we called lane splitting for a long time was technically considered double-occupancy of a lane - or lane sharing. 

 

Making it legal in AZ would be great progress, and maybe encourage more people to ride because they get through commuter traffic. But it's going to take a concerted effort to educate the riders - and to change the attitudes of the car drivers.

[bbolesaz]

Ever since Arizona clarified that motorcycles could indeed use the car pool lanes, there hasn't been that much need for lane splitting. Most of the big traffic jams here occur at places where the freeways merge, and that isn't a safe place for lane splitting anyhow.  The new law would also make filtering (the European definition, moving to the front of stopped cars at a light) legal, and that would be helpful.

[badwolf.j]

bbolesaz - That's the part I'm primarily interested in. It makes no sense to be stuck at the back of the line waiting to be rear ended by an inattentive driver when you could filter to the front, placing yourself in a prominent position that is both more visible to other traffic and protected from a rear end collision.

 

[bbolesaz]

Arizona law as it currently stands - pretty basic

 

 

28-729. Driving on roadways laned for traffic

If a roadway is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules in addition to all others consistent with this section apply:

1. A person shall drive a vehicle as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not move the vehicle from that lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety.

2. On a roadway that is divided into three lanes, a person shall not drive a vehicle in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle where the roadway is clearly visible and the center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for a left turn or where the center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of the allocation.

3. Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the center of the roadway, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every sign.

 

[bbolesaz]

This is the one Zonie drivers need to learn -

 

[bbolesaz]

During snowbird season (now) we need this version -  The blue car is the snowbird.

 

[gstallons]

snowbird?????

[Chuck]

People that come to Aridzona to escape the snow.. Flori duh has their share, too.