Bill to Legalize Lane Splitting / Sharing in Nevada

[Surj]

AB236 was defeated in a vote in the full Senate tonight, 16-5. Extremely disappointing in so many ways. I had high hopes, given the overwhelming support in the Assembly. Full story and video of the vote here.

One thing I think it's important to take away from this is that we as a community continue to suffer as a result to a minority of riders who ride idiots - whether it's splitting too fast or just riding too aggressively on the streets in general. The progress of AB236 was bedeviled at every step by poor perception of motorcyclists and the reputation of lane splitting in California, where riders supposedly split at 90 MPH and knock mirrors off left and right all day long. We all know this isn't reality, but as DataDan and others said over in this thread and many others, "We ignore public opinion about splitting at our peril."

[horsepower]

Saw a Sacramento news piece on Lane Splitting on the local 11 oclock news last night.
They said that the CHP was conducting public opinion polls and also logging data on land splitting accident reports and would present them this fall regarding lane splitting.
It was not presented in the best of lights for us and focused on recent deaths and accidents which apparently occured in southern California.

[Surj]

Originally Posted by horsepower

Saw a Sacramento news piece on Lane Splitting on the local 11 oclock news last night.
They said that the CHP was conducting public opinion polls and also logging data on land splitting accident reports and would present them this fall regarding lane splitting.
It was not presented in the best of lights for us and focused on recent deaths and accidents which apparently occured in southern California.

What channel? Hoping I can check out the video online.

There have been three deaths attributed to lane splitting in SoCal recently. One guy was going 65, and based on the evidence I'd say at least one of the others wasn't splitting in a sensible manner. The Press Enterprise ran a poll asking "should lane splitting be legal" and then followed it up with this article. Neither were glowing reviews of motorcyclists and lane splitting.

[Gabe]

Originally Posted by monkeyneck

AB236 was defeated in a vote in the full Senate tonight, 16-5. Extremely disappointing in so many ways. I had high hopes, given the overwhelming support in the Assembly. Full story and video of the vote here.

Senator Gustavson, who sounds like he may be drunk, explains why he is voting no (I tried my best to transcribe verbatim, but it's pretty confusing stuff):

"When a group [of motorcyclists] is on both sides of a car at a red light, as soon as the light changes they all take off scattering in all different lanes, the motorist is just sitting there. I don't think it's safe."

[Surj]

Originally Posted by Gabe

Senator Gustavson, who sounds like he may be drunk, explains why he is voting no (I tried my best to transcribe verbatim, but it's pretty confusing stuff):

"When a group [of motorcyclists] is on both sides of a car at a red light, as soon as the light changes they all take off scattering in all different lanes, the motorist is just sitting there. I don't think it's safe."

Yeah - there was a lot of this in the various hearings - the Street Vibrations experience really taints the perception of motorcyclists in Nevada. This last vote was really a travesty - where earlier hearings had expert testimony and the issue was treated very seriously. This vote happened on the deadline for bills to pass the second house, so there was a lot of stuff being rushed through. The laughing intro and "vroom" didn't really set it up for much, and Gustavson shut it down.

[horsepower]

Originally Posted by monkeyneck

What channel? Hoping I can check out the video online.
.

It was the local CBS channel here....KOVR.

[Surj]

Originally Posted by horsepower

It was the local CBS channel here....KOVR.

Thanks Daniela. Digging around to see if I can find it now.

[packnrat]

sad to hear this,
and to think this is from a state where one can ride a moto with no helmet on.

yes true if under a specific size NO helmet required it must be much safer than riding a bigger bike????

but not to worry as thanks to all the ashatery soon here in Ca it will be a crime to split a lane.

[john hearn]

Lane sharing is legal in all of Europe, and in most countries except 49 US States. When are we going to grow up?

[thedub]

Originally Posted by john hearn

Lane sharing is legal in all of Europe, and in most countries except 49 US States. When are we going to grow up?

I was just in Mexico and there seem to be no laws concerning the operation of motorcycles what so ever.

[JesasaurusRex]

[packnrat]

if it is something that is:
fun,
safe,
free,
easy,
and not possible for big brother to control
and not easy to tax it will be a crime to do said.

[Crom]

I was thinking of moving to NV but I'm not sure now.

[packnrat]

i get such a laugh.

in nevada it is legal to ride with no helmet if you are on a scooter...even on the freeway. as they say it is a safe and sane thing to do.

but lane splitting is unsafe and not sane.

and people laugh and make fun of Ca.

.

[wildwhl]

Originally Posted by packnrat

i get such a laugh.

in nevada it is legal to ride with no helmet if you are on a scooter...even on the freeway. as they say it is a safe and sane thing to do.

but lane splitting is unsafe and not sane.

and people laugh and make fun of Ca.

.

Not so sure about those statements - law says scooters 49cc or less no helmet/license required. Law also states that as such they are not freeway legal.

WW