OREGON: Is motorcycle 'lane splitting' coming to Oregon?

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http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/11/is_motorcycle_lane_splitting_coming_to_oregon_the_idea_is_accelerating.html Is motorcycle 'lane splitting' coming to Oregon?

The idea is accelerating Published: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 4:28 PM Updated: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 9:15 PM Joseph Rose, The Oregonian Follow Share this story Story tools There are days when Aloha motorcycle commuter Ken Smith smiles when he comes upon a traffic jam.
He hits the throttle instead of the brake, threading his Suzuki M50 between long lines of idling cars.
56 Share 36 Comments Of course, those days are during his road trips to California – the only state in the union that allows the controversial practice of "lane-splitting" by motorcycle riders.
Back home in Oregon, however, the day may be coming when Smith and the state's other 204,800 endorsed motorcycle riders will be able to squeeze through daily gridlock in the same way.
On Friday, the Governor's Advisory Committee for Motorcycle Safety will decide whether or not to pay for a poll to gauge the public's opinion about allowing lane-splitting, also known as lane-sharing and filtering.
A new Oregon Department of Transportation report found that lane-splitting, also known as lane-sharing and filtering, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as congestion.
Smith, 38, would be all for it, especially when he's sweltering in full protective gear on hot days.
During a summer trip to California, he was with four riders who moved freely between rows of stopped vehicles. They ended up swarming around cars at the front of the backup.
"I'm sure that wasn't appreciated," Smith said, "but it did make commuting on the bikes a little faster." But not all motorcycle riders are thrilled by the idea.
In fact, Team Oregon, the state's official motorcycle education program, is revving up opposition, saying the practice violates "core safety principles" and could stir hostility toward bikers.