OFF THE WIRE
The public will remain scared of what they don't understand. The work to
get this legislation passed did not end today as we left the Capitol
building. Continue to educate the non-riders in your life. -Clutch
AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s commonly called “lane splitting” when
motorcyclists drive between traffic lanes on highways during major
congestion. Supporters of Senate Bill 288 say the legislation allowing lane splitting would help ease traffic congestion in the Austin area.
“We’re asking for common sense items that will make it safer for the
community,” says Austin motorcyclist Steven Cochran, one of dozens of
bikers who rallied at the Texas State Capitol Monday afternoon. “If we
have lane filtering approved, and 20 percent of the vehicles are
motorcycles, they’re not involved in any traffic congestion, they
leave.”
According to the proposal, bikers couldn’t go faster than 20 miles
per hour when passing vehicles. And they could only drive between cars
on highways with exits.
However, since motorcyclists wouldn’t be in marked traffic lanes,
some drivers say the move could cause more crashes. “I don’t think that
would be a good idea at all, I think you would have more dead
motorcyclists in this city,” explains Austin driver Joshua Brown. “I
don’t want to be the reason why he has a head trauma because I decided
to get over and stop traffic and didn’t see him coming down the middle.”
It’s an argument legislators will have to debate, as they take up the
issue again this session. Sen. Kirk Watson filed the bill last month.
The legislation will soon move to a senate committee. This is the third
time similar bills have been brought before the Texas Legislature.
Watson introduced the bill last session, but it did not receive a
hearing. Similar legislation was brought up in 2009 by a different
senator, but was never voted on.
