Lane Splitting: Legal in TX?

kpkmfk <kpkmfk DeleteThis @ktc.com> wrote:
: Anyone know if lane splitting is legal in Texas.

Someone in here asked a number of law enforcement agencies that question.

There is no rule specifically against it, but each agency said it would
fall into improper passing, careless driving, or some other made-up
offense.

Do it at your own risk of a ticket.

--
George
 >> Stay informed about: Lane Splitting: Legal in TX? 

"George Pollard" <george RemoveThis @hiwaay.net> wrote in message
news:13i19n49a6otvef@corp.supernews.com...
> kpkmfk <kpkmfk RemoveThis @ktc.com> wrote:
> : Anyone know if lane splitting is legal in Texas.
>
> Someone in here asked a number of law enforcement agencies that question.
>
> There is no rule specifically against it, but each agency said it would
> fall into improper passing, careless driving, or some other made-up
> offense.
>
> Do it at your own risk of a ticket.
>
> --
> George
>

I asked a couple of Harris County Sherriff Deputies and they assured me that
they would find a way to give me a ticket for it.
 >> Stay informed about: Lane Splitting: Legal in TX? 

Thank you. It is as I suspected.



"kpkmfk" <kpkmfk RemoveThis @ktc.com> wrote in message
news:1b202$472098dd$cf9b1007$27468@ALLTEL.NET...
> Anyone know if lane splitting is legal in Texas.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Lane Splitting: Legal in TX? 

On Oct 25, 8:23 am, "kpkmfk" <kpk... RemoveThis @ktc.com> wrote:
> Anyone know if lane splitting is legal in Texas.

Like the other places you might see it done, there's no law preventing
it. It's only what's accepted.

Now, as to "laws", why would we want a law to say something is "okay"?
When you do have that, then you also add in restrictions to it. I'd
rather just do it and take a chance on beating the ticket for
"reckless driving" or some other bullshit ticket than get restrictions
on what I can already do.

The other day I was riding through the traffic and up to the signals.
While I waited patiently for the light to change between the two cars,
a cop was turning left at the intersection. The guy in the SUV to my
left started blowing his horn trying to get the cop's attention...as
if to say "this guy is next to me!". People are silly.

Most of the people in the metroplex in Dallas are diverse enough that
they've been other places where it's widely accepted to ride a
motorcycle in this fashion. They'll be cool enough to wave at you as
you go by, and even pull away from the line to give you more room.
Then you have the very few dickheads who want to crowd the line and
blow their horn.

What I don't understand though, why are the only states where the
motorcyclists are comfortable with lane splitting on the east and west
coasts? Is this to say the motorcyclists in the middle of the country
(Texas specifically) are a bunch of "no motorcycle riding pussies"?
 >> Stay informed about: Lane Splitting: Legal in TX? 

On Nov 4, 4:32 pm, "Bill Walker" <bill.walk... RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote:
> "Brian Walker" <shadowride... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1193527728.388880.82870@z9g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Oct 25, 8:23 am, "kpkmfk" <kpk... RemoveThis @ktc.com> wrote:
> >> Anyone know if lane splitting is legal in Texas.
>
> > Like the other places you might see it done, there's no law preventing
> > it. It's only what's accepted.
>
> > Now, as to "laws", why would we want a law to say something is "okay"?
> > When you do have that, then you also add in restrictions to it. I'd
> > rather just do it and take a chance on beating the ticket for
> > "reckless driving" or some other bullshit ticket than get restrictions
> > on what I can already do.
>
> > The other day I was riding through the traffic and up to the signals.
> > While I waited patiently for the light to change between the two cars,
> > a cop was turning left at the intersection. The guy in the SUV to my
> > left started blowing his horn trying to get the cop's attention...as
> > if to say "this guy is next to me!". People are silly.
>
> > Most of the people in the metroplex in Dallas are diverse enough that
> > they've been other places where it's widely accepted to ride a
> > motorcycle in this fashion. They'll be cool enough to wave at you as
> > you go by, and even pull away from the line to give you more room.
> > Then you have the very few dickheads who want to crowd the line and
> > blow their horn.
>
> > What I don't understand though, why are the only states where the
> > motorcyclists are comfortable with lane splitting on the east and west
> > coasts? Is this to say the motorcyclists in the middle of the country
> > (Texas specifically) are a bunch of "no motorcycle riding pussies"?
>
> Lanesplitting should be done only during certain traffic conditions and
> when the traffic is crawling bumper to bumper.. The rider assumes the
> risk to himself during the time he is on the "line"..
>
> The risk of being hit by a car changing lanes is minimal when consider-
> ing the bumper to bumper conditions.. Cars can't jump sideways.. Any
> lane change can be well anticipated by the rider, in time for him to switch
> sides or stop.. The possibility of an occupant of the car opening a door
> on him, is more the risk for the rider..
>
> Exposure to a ticket is also a risk which is minimized.. The cop that is in
> the same traffic jam would be hard pressed to catch the experienced
> rider under those traffic conditions.. He's caught in the same "jam" as all
> the other vehicles.. The experienced lane splitting rider will keep lanes
> between him and the cop car as he steadily pulls away from him on that
> white line..
>
> Personally, I don't believe we'll ever see Legislation to endorse lane
> split-
> ting in Texas.. Even in the states where it is permitted or recommended
> by Law Enforcement, I don't know of a law on the books that make it legal..
>
> Educating the public and the motorcycle riders, themselves.. is the best
> we might hope for, in the near future.. Not every biker is qualified to
> employ
> the strategy and many don't have the skills and ability to execute lane
> split-
> ting safely..
>
> Bill Walker
> Irving
>

The hardest thing I've found with it is not looking at the cars or the
area between the motorcycle and the cars to see if there's enough
distance. Very seldom, but it happens, when a car blows their horn
it's enough to distract me for an instant. Then I have to remind
myself where I'm at and look forward where I'm going.

To me, cars sitting in the traffic are far more dangerous to me as a
rider than going between the cars. Just the silly mentality of some of
the drivers amazes me....

Then again, anytime I'm lane splitting through the stalled traffic
I'll end up passing several motorcycles sitting in the traffic.
 >> Stay informed about: Lane Splitting: Legal in TX? 

"Brian Walker" <shadowrider34 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1193527728.388880.82870@z9g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> On Oct 25, 8:23 am, "kpkmfk" <kpk... RemoveThis @ktc.com> wrote:
>> Anyone know if lane splitting is legal in Texas.
>
> Like the other places you might see it done, there's no law preventing
> it. It's only what's accepted.
>
> Now, as to "laws", why would we want a law to say something is "okay"?
> When you do have that, then you also add in restrictions to it. I'd
> rather just do it and take a chance on beating the ticket for
> "reckless driving" or some other bullshit ticket than get restrictions
> on what I can already do.
>
> The other day I was riding through the traffic and up to the signals.
> While I waited patiently for the light to change between the two cars,
> a cop was turning left at the intersection. The guy in the SUV to my
> left started blowing his horn trying to get the cop's attention...as
> if to say "this guy is next to me!". People are silly.
>
> Most of the people in the metroplex in Dallas are diverse enough that
> they've been other places where it's widely accepted to ride a
> motorcycle in this fashion. They'll be cool enough to wave at you as
> you go by, and even pull away from the line to give you more room.
> Then you have the very few dickheads who want to crowd the line and
> blow their horn.
>
> What I don't understand though, why are the only states where the
> motorcyclists are comfortable with lane splitting on the east and west
> coasts? Is this to say the motorcyclists in the middle of the country
> (Texas specifically) are a bunch of "no motorcycle riding pussies"?

Lanesplitting should be done only during certain traffic conditions and
when the traffic is crawling bumper to bumper.. The rider assumes the
risk to himself during the time he is on the "line"..

The risk of being hit by a car changing lanes is minimal when consider-
ing the bumper to bumper conditions.. Cars can't jump sideways.. Any
lane change can be well anticipated by the rider, in time for him to switch
sides or stop.. The possibility of an occupant of the car opening a door
on him, is more the risk for the rider..

Exposure to a ticket is also a risk which is minimized.. The cop that is in
the same traffic jam would be hard pressed to catch the experienced
rider under those traffic conditions.. He's caught in the same "jam" as all
the other vehicles.. The experienced lane splitting rider will keep lanes
between him and the cop car as he steadily pulls away from him on that
white line..

Personally, I don't believe we'll ever see Legislation to endorse lane
split-
ting in Texas.. Even in the states where it is permitted or recommended
by Law Enforcement, I don't know of a law on the books that make it legal..

Educating the public and the motorcycle riders, themselves.. is the best
we might hope for, in the near future.. Not every biker is qualified to
employ
the strategy and many don't have the skills and ability to execute lane
split-
ting safely..

Bill Walker
Irving
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Lane Splitting: Legal in TX?