Results/Comments from the Cyclerides.com Survey about Lane Splitting in Arizona.

The question was: Do you want to see the law changed to ALLOW lane splitting in Arizona? Yes or No.

The Survey came out that 72% of the respondents said YES to the question. Below are the 123 comments from those that participated in the survey.

Lane Splitting Comments:

-Growing up in LA where I learned to ride splitting lanes in LA traffic was the only way you could get anywhere! It's also the SAFEST way for a motorcycle to travel on freeways and in stop and go traffic.

-But I would only do it if traffic was comepletely stopped and it was a very hot day. Otherwise I would tough it out with the cars. My main concern is that car drivers would see it as unfair and get an bad attitude towards motorcycles.

-The extreme heat

-It's okay in California where the roads are wider and drivers are aware of motorcycles splitting lanes. Here in Arizona, we need a HOV lane only for motorcycles as Arizona drivers are distracted already.

-I lived in CA for 10 yrs, and used lane splitting as a time saving tool. Even if they just let us use the double line spot between the car pool land and left lane that would be a help.

-Only at slow speeds and high temps.

-Makes sense when it's 110 and traffic is at a complete stop

-There is no reason when traffic is at a standstill on the freeways to have motorcycles sitting in traffic.

-Reminds me of gutter balling!

-I wouldn't do it even if it passed. Too dangerous

-Having been a riding instructor and having ridden for over 40 years consistently, I think lane splitting is one of the most dangerous things I have ever seen motorcycle riders do here in the States...after living and riding here for 4 years now in Phoenix area,the drivers here totally ignore motorcyclists for the most part...look at the statistics of accidents...you have no protection on a bike, why chance it by doing foolhardy things like lane splitting...my opinion only...thanks,Stan

-Although with riding a H-D Ultra Limited, will be difficult for me to do much splitting!

-A helmet law must not be attached as a condition of the law.

-I would like to hear pros and cons about riding on the shoulders. I feel lane splitting is far to dangerous.

-California allows lane splitting 10 mph over stop and go traffic, not at 65 mph. That is how it was 13 years ago i think. Not sure what the law is currently. Worth the research, I would love it in Phoenix!

-Under 35 miles an hour and a 10 mph difference in speed to the prevailing traffic

-I completely agree with your proposed standards of 20-25 mph/stopped traffic. I see this as completely justified as it is NOT motorcyclists causing this congestion in the first place. Conversely, I see no need for legalization to include high speed lane splitting. These speeds (55-65-70 mph) indicate traffic is flowing, thus no need to accommodate MCs over other motor vehicles. Just the opinion of an old retired motor cop...

-I grew up in California and I had angry drivers open their doors in front of me because I was moving and they were not. It is good for keeping your air cooled bike cooler but is extremely dangerous.

-They could make lane splitting only legal between the car pool lane and the most left lane of traffic. I’ve done this many times in the 101 and the 10 to pass an ignorant driver. Now it could be done legally.

-As CA has found, lane splitting helps move traffic along.

-Yes, for the reasons in your article. Too many times have I waited/sweated in 100+ degrees for no reason except it's not legal.

-Would help keep bike riders cooler from heat and most bikes are air cooled so can not sit in the weather from over heating

-I believe that this is a dangerous practice, and should only be used on the major Freeways and not allowed on the city streets.

-It just seems too dangerous. I know they have it in California, but when I have witnessed it I thought those riders were nuts.

-But at slow speeds or stopped traffic to enable engines and riders to not overheat. I do not support Ninja style high speed lane splitting on the freeways since we are currently able to use the HOV lane...I can see some asshole legislator coming up with the idea of cutting us out of HOV if they give us lane splitting...Mike Amick, Gilbert AZ

-My greatest concern is the possible retaliation from other uninformed drivers who feel we are "short cutting" them in line. We've ridden a few months in Europe where bikers are expected to lane split and most motorist use their rear view mirrors and pull slightly over to make it safer for you to lane split.

-Safety is your choice

-There is a major advantage of lane splitting that I never see mentioned. That is the SEVERE overheating of our air cooled engines as we sit in traffic amid the cars which have water cooled engines. Of course there will be pissed off cage occupants who sit in air-conditioned comfort while those dirty bikers get an advantage. Although I'm an Arizona resident, I've split lanes in California for over 30 years, the drivers there are now pretty accommodating to motors splitting lanes.

-Many, many countries around the world allow lane splitting, so it is not a novel idea, but a very practical one. As more drivers text and drive, it is a safety issue for motorcycles to be allowed to move up between cars and have the ability to be sandwiched between cars as traffic slows.

-As long as it is done safely. I ride a Goldwing and most times it is too wide to split lanes safely.

-Way too many times sitting in traffic cooking like an egg.

-At speeds of under 30 mph I’m stopped traffic.

-Only in the heaviest of traffic. Not at normal speeds.

-No. Too many people in too much of a hurry. I have never felt this was safe.

-I would be ok with allowing it only in stop and go traffic and only at a speed of ten mph or less by the biker. I’ve handled injury claims for thirty years and have seen way too many bad situations come from lane splitting in CA in recent years. It should not be done with moving traffic.

-I agree it should at least be allowed when traffic is at a standstill on the freeway or moving under 35 miles an hour. Or maybe even only allowed between the HOV lane and the lane to the right. I see motorcycle cops doing it there all the time to get thru traffic to accidents or to get to Krispy Kreme in a timely manner.

-Only in slow traffic

-Only with stopped traffic however. Does CA actually allow lane splitting at high speeds?

-Yes, lane splitting would be nice. Especially in hot weather. Some clutches are very hard to keep pulled in and neutral is so hard to find. It would be very helpful if we could do lane splitting when traffic is at a stop and go.

-At low speeds of <25, with driver education and awareness.

-Iv'e done it safely here,been ridin 42+ years.and would be nice when traffic is very slow or at a standstill

-I used to live in CA and had no problem with lane splitting. It was a great time saver in heavy traffic. Drivers did not object, especially to a rider on a Harley!!

-I would also like to see the law changed so that motorcyclists could travel on the shoulder to pass stopped traffic on major highways.

-I feel this is truly unsafe .

-It will help keep Harleys from running hot in stop and go traffic.

-Just making this comment being as I now live in N.Calif. and yes we have been doing this for years and now it is legal (so to speak), as mentioned when stuck in miles of stop/no go traffic it is a relief to be able to move through it splitting lanes, I do not do it regularly but only as mentioned above and at a very slow speed, some just blast thru which I hate, caution is a must...........Just my opinion............

-Motorcycling is pure, 110% defensive driving. Lane splitting/sharing puts additional risk to the motorcyclist. There are risks in most everything we do. Riding has enough risk without adding anymore self-induced risk.

-Works very well in Europe and California when done correctly. The rest of the world calls it filtering

-I probably won't do it myself, but don't want to restrict that option for others. Also think AZ drivers will not like it, so I'm afraid of reprisals.

-There's nothing worse than sitting on a hot Harley, stuck in traffic, when it's 110 degrees out. I have split lanes while riding in CA, and have seen what a difference it can make.

-I don’t feel it is safe.

-As long as there are some speed restrictions and severe consequences for 4-wheeled vehicle drivers who don't follow required guidelines

-100 or more, and/or traffic is not worth the safety risk! And those that believe that there is no safety risk or is safer, they need some more Riding Education! 

-We already have drivers with excessive speeding and distractive driving (cell phones, etc.) habits, which are a huge safety risk factors to motorist and especially motorcycles! I believe a large percentage of Bikes would not do this in a Safe Matter!

-I ride a Road Glide and believe that it would be difficult for me to lane split....

-Absolutely NOT! Most ridiculous Motorcycle law I have ever heard of. Californians I know hate motorcyclists because of it. Scraped and scratched car doors, antennas and mirrors knocked off. Come on, are you kidding, most motorcyclists have all the experience just to ride between the lines in their own lanes let alone ride on a yellow lines between 2 lines of cars without damaging the cars or their bikes. I will never support this law and will never use it.

-I welcome it. I believe in CA there are rules like you can only be traveling a certain amount faster than the vehicle being overtaken if you are splitting lanes. In other words, you can't just fly down the road splitting planes, it needs to be done with caution.

-I want to see how your poll progresses

-Only when traffics c is stopped or slowed significantly say 20 mph below the speed limit.

-I was in a lane splitting accident in CA...... 

-LANE SPLITTING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.....YOU'RE ASKING RIDERS TO RELY ON AUTOMOBILE OPERATORS TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WATCHING FOR THEM AS THEY SPLIT LANES, THAT'S INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR ODDS OF CRASHING ON A MOTORCYCLE ARE ALREADY 800 TIMES GREATER THAN IN AN AUTOMOBILE. YOU ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT TO INCREASE THOSE ODDS BY SPLITTING LANES !!!!!!! THIS IS A "NO BRAINER" !!

-It is nice for us to at least have the option to do it without it being illegal.

-I know it is not a law here...but I have been guilty of doing it when coming down off sunset pass with traffic at a stand still and 110 out, I ride in Cali on a regular basis too. I’m all for it here in our state.

-Would be only on freeways?

-I believe as a rider we would benefit from this change.

-My only fear is that of irresponsible drivers who text and drive. Also education sent to all drivers about it and respecting the law may be helpful.

-When traffic its at a stop or moving less than 25mph

-It may be appropriate to include a provision that prohibits motorcycles from passing cars at more than 20 miles per hour faster than the car is moving, or some other mph limit deemed safe and appropriate.

-I was from Ca. And have been riding for many years. First a 2 wheel motorcycle now I ride a Harley trike. I have seen many accidents because of lane splitting. Ca. says accidents are down because of lane splitting but I don't buy it.

-I think it’s extremely dangerous and I have been riding for over 25 years!

-Moved from California to here and found sitting in traffic to be very hard on drive train.

-Lane splitting is a wonderful practice, and I learned it in CA. For those nay sayers who think it is scary, yes, it's scary to ride a motorcycle period, but it isn't mandatory, so if you don't like it, don't do it ! I heartily endorse and encourage this to be passed into law. 

-I have ridden well over a million miles during my lifetime and continue to add them on at the rate of about 30k per year. I cut my teeth in CA and have never had a problem. Common sense is the key to riding a motorcycle and that must also be utilized when splitting lanes.

-It would be alright for certain situations but we all know that there are a lot of knuckleheads out there that would take advantage of the law and do it all of the time when they shouldn't be doing it.

-Too dangerous!! Nit wits in cars can’t stay in one lane well enough as it is and there will be lots of side swiped bikers if this becomes legal.

-Born and raised in CA until I moved here in 2010. Ridden motorcycles for almost 50 years and have done plenty of lane splitting in CA. For the most part it is safe as long as the rider is paying attention and not riding too much faster than traffic. Especially need to pay attention to gaps in traffic that a car my change lanes into. Had one jerk pinch me off so I couldn't pass until traffic started moving again, but for the most part automobile drivers were considerate.

-I have a 2014 limited its water cooled so I also have used this in Ca to save time and wear and tear on my bike

-Yes, it would be a good thing!

-One lane one vehicle.

-It might be okay on summer days but but cages don't know how to use there signals on changing lanes on the freeways and streets so how do you trust these cages even on the HOV lanes between the hours of operation of two people are more. They still speed to get in front of the other cage humans are in a hurry to get to their destination. So put the camera's back on the freeways because DOT sheriff's never there any more. So if this pass on lane splitting their will be more accidentspecific I ride

-It is very dangerous to the rider. All a cage driver has to do is to open a door during stopped traffic and down goes the rider. Also, the noise from a crotch rocket splitting lanes at speeds greater than the surrounding stop-and-go traffic is enough to scare all occupants of the cage, possibly causing the driver to swerve or change lanes into the path of the motorcyclist.

-I have used lane splitting in CA and it did save time and frustration getting through congested areas. It made me a little nervous at first but was helpful. 

-I would limited my use in AZ but it would be great to have the option...

-As a rider I have seen many do it and not so in a proper and safe manner. If they ( the government) would set up some guide lines using information from "We" the riders to make it safe besides educating drivers and riders alike that would be acceptable. Mutual respect and understanding needs to be used if and when implementing this. 

-Thank you

-For all the reasons California has lane splitting plus the heat here in the summer.

-I think it's a potentially dangerous maneuver, ripe for misuse. Not to mention that it will undoubtedly anger many automobile drivers, surprised to have a motorcycle passing so close to them.

-I do not see the benefits outweighing the risks for this law. We can already use the HOV lanes on the freeway. On regular streets, we have a plethora of stupid drivers on their cell phones that won't pay any attention ahead of them, much less behind or to the side. I wouldn't do it even if the law were changed.

-I travel the world quite extensively and see this in Asia all the time. Difference is that speeds are slower and everyone is looking out for it. That said, I feel it would be a positive thing here when traffic is stopped at a light. This is the most common seen in Asia. They even have painted out spots at the front of some intersections for 2 wheeled traffic to congregate while waiting for the light to go green. Stop and go traffic & /or less than 30mph is another one where you see this a lot.

-If they pass it I will be very reluctant to try it unless the traffic is ava deead stop. Inside a huge ass bagger. Wide handlebars and crash bars. I leave no room for error. I've tried it in Cali and nearly got killed. Maybe the rice rockets would have better luck zig zagging at 80 mph

-I've tried it in Ca. and liked it !

-Calif. does have lane splitting and as a native born Californian, who now lives in Az. I believe that lane splitting is necessary in Calif. do to the massive amounts of traffic. Riding here in Az. is a lot easier due to the lack of traffic (compared to Calif.) and one can get to where they are going in a reasonable amount of time. But, there are traffic jams when people are going to work or coming home so I think that a timed lane split just like the carpool lane might be the way to go.

-I think the law should be changed. The individual motorcyclist can make the decision for themselves to lane-split if they feel comfortable, and to not lane-split if they aren't comfortable with it.

-Being from California I am use to lane splitting and it can indeed be done in a safe manner. Riders and the general public need to be educated on this, and guidelines must be implemented on how to do so safely.

-It's long over due. I have been to California several times on a motorcycle and appreciate the ability to move through slow or standing traffic.

-If we follow the CHP guidelines for lane sharing from California, I believe it will improve traffic flow and enhance safety. The guidelines I mention are available here: https://motorcyclesafari.com/documents/lanesplitting_guideli-

https://motorcyclesafari.com/documents/lanesplitting_guidelines.pdf they are for use at relatively low speeds and I have seen riders pilled over for taking advantage of the privilege at higher speeds.

-I've done it in California and Europe. It is a good idea especially when stopping at a light so you don't end up trapped between vehicles, helping to avoid read enders. There is also nothing worse than getting stuck in traffic on hot day and having no cooling air over the engine or radiator. The bike overheats very quickly.

-I have lived in AZ. 17 years and have owned 5 H-D motorcycles and have been all over the USA on them, but I am not in favor of the law.

-Only in stop and go traffic or slow moving traffic under 20-25 mph ....not in normal flowing traffic speeds

-I feel this law will help to get motorist to see us more often and think about it !

-Dangerous! I can see traffic stopped and a driver open the door to dump out a drink just as the motorcyclist tries to ride by. Who's right in the wreck. Also I see a lot of vehicle mirrors whacked by motorcyclists which won't have a happy outcome.

-I was in Mesa 2 wk ago watched a guy do it , he was going slow went between two car the one open his door and wam. Lets hope it does not pass. PEACE!

-Most motorcycle engines are air cooled and sitting in stopped or slow moving traffic can cause engine damage. Moving slowly between stopped or slow moving cars seems safe to me.

-I have done it when you are stopped in bumper to bumper at it is 95 or 100 degrees out there but I will not do it when traffic is flowing enough to keep me cooled of.

-FOR THE OBVIOUS REASONS AND WHAT YOU ALSO STATED. EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC WILL BE CRUCIAL.

-I would most likely only do this if, like you said, traffic was at a stand still and or at a stand still in the heat of the summer. I do NOT see myself high speed lane splitting at all.

-VERY STUPID

-I feel like a sitting duck in stop and go traffic, knowing full well I could safely and confidently split the lane and get to where I need to without adding to congestion, and excess emmisions from sitting. Even the carpool lanes/motorcycle lanes are stop and go now. Something must be done!

-I have done it in California for many years with no problems. Normally will not split lanes unless traffic is stopped or going well below the speed limit

-I have also used this practice in California and have found it safe.

-I have used it in California for years and with the exception of a few idiots, cars accept that THEY get where they want to go quicker by motorcycles moving ahead in traffic jams.

-Seems unsafe as upset drivers will open doors just to stop you from advancing. I seen nothing but conflict arising out of this.

-At a minimum, I think splitting should be allowed in stopped or very slow moving traffic on freeways and at traffic lights.

-No, way to many distracted drivers not paying attention.

-Riding in California, I got used to it quickly. Although scary at first, it's easy to get used to and will, as you point out, help us immensely during the summer months in Arizona.

-You just increase the chance of colliding with a car

-As pointed out, the challenge will be retraining drivers in AZ to not be resentful of the motorcyclists who will be passing them as they are stuck in traffic. I have only had one rude driver instance when splitting lanes in SoCal, and they had AZ plates. I hope that the law passes, because as it's been pointed out, traveling on an air-cooled bike in 100+ degree weather can be exhausting.

-Yes lane splitting works. I did it for years in NY beach stop and go traffic, and when traffic was stoped for an a traffic accident. I could have used it on I-17 coming back from Thunder Valley Rally

A must in stop and go traffic, whether a hot day or not.

-Only for when traffic is stopped or is going less than 20 MPH. Lane splitting at highway speeds should NEVER be done.

-While we're at it, if seatbelts can be a mandatory law, then why can't helmets? Just my 2 cents.

-With the speeds we are going in AZ in both Motorcycles and cars there are too many distractions. Most people are using Cell Phones and Texting while driving. That's bad enough. Add in Road rage when you are able to pass cars while traffic is sitting still. Not a great recipe for safety

-Motor officers do it now for safety reasons - safer at the front of the line than at the rear.

-I used to live in California and lane splitted many times there.

-And I think there should be a speed and temperature limit.

-It's bad enough as is with drivers making left hand turns in front of you and saying they didn't see you. Then there are the drivers who will change lanes and saying they didn't see you. Even if it passes I won't lane split as I think it's an unsafe practice.

-There are times when going safely between vehicles is the SAFEST way to proceed, AND allowing lane splitting SAFELY will reduce congestion which often causes unsafe conditions.

-I've had occasion to ride in CA where it is legal. Absolutely terrifying. I'm not a timid rider, but lane splitting is a direct route to organ donor, far as I'm concerned. All you need is one car to change lanes unexpectedly, or, God forbid, open his door, or a pickup with extended mirrors, and you're going down. No thanks.