Lane Splitting

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Letter to the Editor

In response to “Motorcycle accidents: Is lane splitting to blame?” published on Aug. 10, 2017.

Here’s hoping your piece on lane splitting will be a cautionary tale for riders and nonriders alike. Contrary to some of the information contained in the story, the California Highway Patrol advises its motorcycle officers to split between lanes one and two, with a maximum speed of 10 mph in excess of the prevailing speed of traffic. Suggestions that lane splitting at speeds in excess of 25 mph is courting disaster reveal ignorance of the realities of the road. That said, I frequently rail against fellow riders who are reckless and arrogant in their flouting of safety, theirs and that of others on the road. I can also say that a wise rider looks at every other road user as a potential “bogey.” “Cagers” are the primary problem, but other riders can be a real pain as well. Ask how I know. Most of the mechanized world appreciates lane splitting as a worthwhile tactic when properly employed. Here in the U.S., we have adopted a regressive attitude. California is ahead of the curve, of course. This time in a righteous cause.

Steve Jones