Lane Filtering One Step Closer
A Senate committee on Wednesday approved a proposal to legalize lane filtering.
On Wednesday this week lane filtering took one step closer to reality in Colorado, though whether it makes it all the way is not at all a certainty. The bill was passed out of committee on a 6-1 vote.
The primary sponsor of SB24-079, Motorcycle Lane Filtering & Passing, Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, speaking to the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee, compared the reluctance of many people to buy into the idea of allowing filtering to the initial uncertainty when roundabouts were first becoming common. That reluctance faded as the public became familiar with roundabouts. He also noted that some motorcyclists will disregard the laws whether this particular one passes or not, and stressed that with his proposal, “we seek no protection for those individuals.”
Among those speaking in opposition were Pueblo Police Department Chief Steven Noeller, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. He questioned the law enforcement ability to enforce and safely implement the law and argued that while lane filtering is commonly practiced in Europe, “we are not in Europe” and American driving habits are different (i.e., more aggressive) than over there.
Another speaker in opposition, Ed Shoenhite, a rider and RiderCoach, argued that this law would not make young riders safer, “it’s gonna get them killed.”
Jeff Jensen, with the Colorado Springs Police Department, said the issues addressed by this bill offer a “solution to a problem that does not exist. . . . The risks simply outweigh the rewards.”
ABATE of Colorado weighed in saying the group is neutral on the proposal, seeing pros and cons. The Colorado State Patrol did likewise.
The American Motorcyclist Association, represented by regional representative Nick Sands, took a position in favor of the bill arguing that it should be the motorcyclist’s choice. Others spoke in favor, both in person and online.
Hinrichsen summed up after testimony concluded noting that while road rage is a real issue, with the potential for some drivers to feel that motorcyclists were cheating, public policy should follow the data. He cited the example of roads where a lane is ending and the need for drivers to merge. Many feel that drivers who drive all the way up to the merge point before moving over are cheating, but studies have shown that that is the best and most efficient way for the two lanes of traffic to become one.
He argued that that same sort of data shows his proposal to be a positive change.
When called for a vote, Senators Lisa Cutter, Nick Hinrichsen, Cleave Simpson, Chris Hansen, Tony Exum, and Kevin Priola were in favor. Sen. Byron Pelton voted no.
Biker Quote for Today
Life is too short for traffic.
Tags: lane-filtering
