Bryan's Blog

Last week I wrote a blog about lane-splitting possibly coming to Arizona’s Maricopa County and commented on how motorcycles can be almost invisible sitting at the back of traffic. I was echoing the sentiments of the state rep that has been lobbying to get the bill passed, Jerry Weiers, R-Glendale, who brought up the fact that a motorcyclist sitting at the back of a line of cars is very susceptible to distracted drivers.

Little did I realize the foreshadowing the blog would have. Tragically, the very next day in Phoenix, a dump truck barreled into a group of motorcyclists, killing three and injuring six others. It was a horrific scene – the riders were stopped behind a pickup and a SUV at a red light when the truck rammed them from behind. It’s a motorcyclist’s worst nightmare and left me with an empty feeling in my stomach when I heard about it.

Let me start by extending our condolences to the families affected by this tragedy. But it brings up the question – would these senseless deaths been avoided had the lane-splitting law already been in effect? Maybe three people would still be alive today.
 
Motorcyclists already ride at a disadvantage. We don’t have a cage of steel and airbags around us to deflect the brunt of an impact. We’re subjected to toxic exhausts from old diesels and carbon monoxide-spewing cars when stuck in traffic. And car drivers are more distracted today than ever. People drive down the ride holding the steering wheel with one leg, looking down while texting with one hand and holding a latte in the other. And if motorcyclists are splitting lanes, then there’s just a few less vehicles congesting the road. After I posted the blog, thanks to readers I learned that most of Europe already allows the practice and calls it ‘filtering.’ When is the US going to follow suit?

A jealous streak by the majority cage-driving bureaucrats is what I believe is the primary obstacle. Many of them already have a negative perception of motorcyclist and don’t like the fact that bikers can have a privilege that they don’t. They almost take it personally if a motorcycle squeezes through traffic to the front of the line at a red light. But I say it should be just like the helmet law - if you’re over 21 and have demonstrated basic competency behind the controls of a bike, then you should be allowed to do it. It should be up to the individual. Every rider who does is aware of the dangers. We’re putting ourselves out there in the first place, but in an auto vs motorcycle collision, who always wins? And the majority of times, most riders go with the flow of traffic until encountering gridlock. I know the issue isn’t important enough to ever come before a national vote, but tell the families of those three Phoenix motorcyclists it’s not important.