Ga. Motorcyclists Call For Legalized Lane Splitting
More than 1,400 people have signed a petition to legalize lane splitting in Georgia. Lane splitting would allow for motorcyclists to ride between cars in slow traffic.
STEVEN VANCE / FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/JAMESBONDSV/
More than 1,400 people have signed a petition for Gov. Nathan Deal to legalize lane splitting, which is when motorcycles travel in between cars along the lane markers.
Researchers at University of California, Berkeley published a 2015 study that found lane splitting can reduce traffic and injuries.
A biker with a female motorcycle club called EyeKandi who calls herself Quiet Storm rides almost weekly through Atlanta traffic.
She said when her motorcycle is standing still, the engines can become hot and is more likely to break down. But more importantly, she said, many times it can be dangerous for motorcyclists in bumper to bumper traffic.
“A lot of the time, motorists are not paying attention, so if traffic comes to a sudden stop and a car hits a motorcyclist from behind, that is a potential safety issue, whereas if we were able to lane split, we could avoid situations like that,” Storm said.
The proposal would allow bikers who choose to lane split to ride at a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour and no more than 15 miles per hour greater than surrounding traffic.
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