Lane Splitting In Virginia???
June 2, 2008 by Hersey
I received the following email from a VABiker.NET reader with a question about Lane Splitting:
“ I just got transferred into VA from year-round-riding-Puerto Rico. I’ve been riding for over 20 years in PR. There splitting lanes is actually allowed due to the many traffic jams and so that your bike doesn’t heat up. When I starting riding in VA, I was told that lane splitting in not allowed. That is totally BS!!! Traffic around the DC metropolitan area sucks. Is there a movement to make it legal here in VA?“
Does anyone out there know if there has been any effort to allow lane splitting in VA? As fas as I know this is not something that has ever been the focus of any legislative efforts.
The last couple years there has been an effort to make it legal for motorcycles to ride side by side (two abreast) in the same lane – and these efforts have been shot down.
Anyone have any info on this, if so, please add a comment.
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In theory that seems like a good idea but there are two obvious problems with lane splitting. One their are no half lanes. No one wants to wait in traffic even the people in cages. Second, people on the highway are only exposed to “lane splitting” when someone breaks the law. How would you educate everyone to the additional hazzard? How would you decide whose fault it is when a rider drives into the side of someone that was making a legal lane change. I ride from York PA to Smithfield VA to visit my family on my Harley and have been tempted to pass illegally but I haven’t and I get home everytime.
Just looking for info….FIRST: A LEO pulled up beside a rider with a lighted add-on breather cover at an intersection. He advised her to turn it off or get a ticket. SECOND: Are there any restrictions in VA on lights on the front of a bike? I have motolights mounted on the lower front forks of my cruiser and now I want to do the same on my Ultra (already has headlight and spot lights). I have already answered my third query…A VA inspection station told a fellow rider he had to disconnect his headlight modulator or they would not pass his motorcylce. That’s wrong. Headlight modulators are legal in VA. If anyone has any answers, I’d appreciate some help. Thanks!
I think it should absolutely be allowed! with the caviate that it is only allowed when ALL cars being passed are at a complete stop! This is for mainly at lights, but it helps a LOT with even that.
§ 46.2-857. Driving two abreast in a single lane.
A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, so as to be abreast of another vehicle in a lane designed for one vehicle, or drives any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, so as to travel abreast of any other vehicle traveling in a lane designed for one vehicle. However, this section shall not apply to any validly authorized parade, motorcade, or motorcycle escort, nor shall it apply to a motor vehicle traveling in the same lane of traffic as a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped.
it sucks f##ck the cops. they wont ever get you.
(Code 1950, §§ 46-209, 46-209.1; 1950, p. 880; 1952, c. 671; 1954, cc. 225, 401, 458; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-190; 1960, c. 510; 1964, c. 266; 1966, c. 694; 1968, c. 575; 1970, c. 521; 1974, cc. 222, 455; 1975, c. 633; 1978, c. 27; 1979, c. 86; 1981, cc. 333, 585; 1985, c. 148; 1989, c. 727; 2001, c. 834; 2002, c. 254.)
I moved here to Va. in 2001, and have seen some of the most stupid sh..er stuff that I have ever witnessed! First of all a helmet law that does not include brain bucketts! Do away with the helmit law all together! DO IT NOW!!!!Let the posers that support the D O T aproved helmit wear them, and let the rest of us be FREE!!!! Am I mistaken or isent that what this country is about?! FREEDOM! WELCOME TO THE USA LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE. What a bunch of BS thats right I said it BS!!!!!!!!!! Now sit down and shut up and we( the government ,or should I say the people in power, the Insurence companeys) will tell you whats good for you! Don’t smoke, Dont drink, stay off the grass, conform or face the consequences. The powers that be muse be stoped! The same people that make laws “for your own good” are the same people tha made this a right to work state, what a joke that is … you can be fires for anyreason at all…laws to protect bussiness owners and not the workers tha do the work to make the companey money for the owner to make his life and familey better but screw you at the same time.WE HAVE TO TAKE THE POWER BACK!!! Now don’t get me wrong you yuppie scum just sit there an do nothing this is for the real AMERICAN BIKERS OUT THERE . FIGHT ON AND RIDE HARD!!!!!!! OH yeah if you go to a bike event and don’t whant your kids subjected to breasts LEAVE THEM HOME!!!!!!!!!!!BETTER YET STAY HOME YOURSELVES!!!!!!!!!!!
I just moved from CA where lane-splitting is legal only because it isn’t illegal. Cops won’t give you a ticket as long as you stay below 15 mph more than traffic flow. When some lamebrain legislator tried to make it illegal, even the CHP came to our rescue. They said that it not only prevents over-heating but it was safer to be side-swiped than to be a sandwich between two cars.
I’ve done it for 30 years in CA and never had a problem and neither have my friends. The trick is to watch ahead as car telegraph their intentions in advance and to watch openings carefully because that is where a car most likely will move into.
PS: Before moving to CA, I lived on Long Island where I did it illegally and only got one ticket in many years of doing so. I have a feeling this will be the worst thing about moving to VA. What would our founding fathers say?