TEXAS - Proposal to allow motorcycles to drive between cars back in session

OFF THE WIRE
The public will remain scared of what they don't understand. The work to get this legislation passed did not end today as we left the Capitol building. Continue to educate the non-riders in your life. -Clutch
AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s commonly called “lane splitting” when motorcyclists drive between traffic lanes on highways during major congestion. Supporters of Senate Bill 288 say the legislation allowing lane splitting would help ease traffic congestion in the Austin area.
“We’re asking for common sense items that will make it safer for the community,” says Austin motorcyclist Steven Cochran, one of dozens of bikers who rallied at the Texas State Capitol Monday afternoon. “If we have lane filtering approved, and 20 percent of the vehicles are motorcycles, they’re not involved in any traffic congestion, they leave.”
According to the proposal, bikers couldn’t go faster than 20 miles per hour when passing vehicles. And they could only drive between cars on highways with exits.

• TxDOT: Motorcyclists 26 times more likely to die in a crash

However, since motorcyclists wouldn’t be in marked traffic lanes, some drivers say the move could cause more crashes. “I don’t think that would be a good idea at all, I think you would have more dead motorcyclists in this city,” explains Austin driver Joshua Brown. “I don’t want to be the reason why he has a head trauma because I decided to get over and stop traffic and didn’t see him coming down the middle.”

It’s an argument legislators will have to debate, as they take up the issue again this session. Sen. Kirk Watson filed the bill last month. The legislation will soon move to a senate committee. This is the third time similar bills have been brought before the Texas Legislature. Watson introduced the bill last session, but it did not receive a hearing. Similar legislation was brought up in 2009 by a different senator, but was never voted on.