Motorcycle Lane Splitting Now Legal In California

Is it legal for motorcyclists to lane split in California?  Yes.

What had been a generally accepted practice throughout California is now just a governor’s signature short of becoming actual law. Lane splitting in California has been a common mode of transportation by motorcyclists in California, as it helps alleviate traffic jams, and keeps the motorcycles themselves from overheating (it’s dangerous for them to sit idle for too long). Technically, it was only legal because there was no law deeming it illegal, and it was allowed by highway patrol. But now it’s very close to being on the books.

This is not the first time that a bill legalizing lane splitting has come before the state legislature. Three years ago, SB350 was not passed through state legislature because it was deemed too vague, and there were those who doubted the need for any legislation in the first place. However, motorcycle fatalities in California increased 12 percent from 2013 to 2014, thus necessitating laws to regulate the practice.

what does california AB-51 say about Lane Splitting?

California AB-51 was actually first introduced in December of 2014, but since then has gone through three amendment hearings before finally being passed in the state house and senate last week. Usually, the general purpose of bills of this nature is to legally define things that already exist. To wit: “This bill would define ‘lane splitting’ as driving a motorcycle, that has 2 wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, as specified.” Now you might say to yourself, “Duh, motorcycles have two wheels,” but you can’t have those three-wheeled Can-Am Spyder things doing wheelies in-between cars. That just wouldn’t be safe. But that kind of thing needs to be defined.

Prior to the passage of this bill, the California Motorcyclist Safety Program had numerous guidelines for cyclists when riding through traffic. Do not travel more than 10 MPH faster than other cars, do not lane split when traffic is moving 30 MPH or faster and lane-splitting is safest when done between the farthest left lanes. Now, just about all drivers have seen a few cyclists disobeying one or all of these guidelines, but for the most part, cyclists are very safe when conducting lane-splitting maneuvers.

The bill itself has none of these same stipulations, however, it does note that the “Department of the California Highway Patrol may develop educational guidelines relating to lane splitting.” So while the state government itself may not have included its own legislation, it left the power up to the highway patrol to decide how best to educate and enforce safety regulations for motorcyclists and drivers alike.

So if you are a driver in California, check your blind spot, move your finger an extra inch to signal lane changes, and don’t crowd the lane line. Rush hour just about anywhere in the state is horrible, but motorcyclists safely practicing lane-splitting helps the traffic to move along a little easier, and is safe for cyclists if done properly. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that other highly congested areas and cities soon allow this as well.