[This was originally a poll about lane splitting for Washington DC. People have restarted the thread to discuss lane splitting. - CW]
"California motorcyclists look crazy splitting lanes. Maybe we should follow their lead."
This is an interesting article with a poll to take at the bottom. For those of us who've spent time riding in California, the point should come as no surprise.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2016/06/30/california-motorcyclists-look-crazy-splitting-lanes-maybe-we-should-follow-their-lead/
The following three paragraphs are copied from the article with emphasis added:
The [color=rgb(23, 96, 147) !important]safety study[/color] – which was conducted by the Safe Transportation Research & Education Center at the University of California Berkeley — found that lane-splitting, when done within certain limits, is no more dangerous than riding a motorcycle otherwise. The study examined 5,969 crashes between June 2012 and August 2013 using enhanced data-reporting by police. It found a lower rate of fatalities among lane-splitting motorcycles and less serious injuries overall.
The study found that most of the bikers who were lane-splitting were doing so during rush hour. They were also traveling slower and less likely to be using alcohol or carrying a passenger.
But the study also found that the circumstances of lane-splitting are critical, especially the speed differential between the motorcyclist and the surrounding traffic. The overall speed of traffic flow is also important. So long as a motorcycle is traveling no more than 15 mph faster than the surrounding traffic, and the traffic all together is moving at 50 mph or less, lane-splitting can be done safely, the study says. Going above 50 mph, however, invites trouble.
"California motorcyclists look crazy splitting lanes. Maybe we should follow their lead."
This is an interesting article with a poll to take at the bottom. For those of us who've spent time riding in California, the point should come as no surprise.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2016/06/30/california-motorcyclists-look-crazy-splitting-lanes-maybe-we-should-follow-their-lead/
The following three paragraphs are copied from the article with emphasis added:
The [color=rgb(23, 96, 147) !important]safety study[/color] – which was conducted by the Safe Transportation Research & Education Center at the University of California Berkeley — found that lane-splitting, when done within certain limits, is no more dangerous than riding a motorcycle otherwise. The study examined 5,969 crashes between June 2012 and August 2013 using enhanced data-reporting by police. It found a lower rate of fatalities among lane-splitting motorcycles and less serious injuries overall.
The study found that most of the bikers who were lane-splitting were doing so during rush hour. They were also traveling slower and less likely to be using alcohol or carrying a passenger.
But the study also found that the circumstances of lane-splitting are critical, especially the speed differential between the motorcyclist and the surrounding traffic. The overall speed of traffic flow is also important. So long as a motorcycle is traveling no more than 15 mph faster than the surrounding traffic, and the traffic all together is moving at 50 mph or less, lane-splitting can be done safely, the study says. Going above 50 mph, however, invites trouble.
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