The CHP has taken the lane-splitting guidelines off of their site.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has removed its Motorcycle Lane Splitting General Guidelines from their web site, much to the surprise of, and over objections from, motorcycle enthusiasts and advocates.
Lane splitting is when a motorcycle drives between cars in slow or stopped traffic. Many see this as risky and dangerous however motorcycle rights advocates such as the American Motorcyclists Association assert that motorcyclists are actually more safe splitting traffic than sitting in it. They make the case that due to their low visibility, motorcycles are more likely to get crunched by an inattentive driver while sitting in traffic than they are to get hurt lane splitting.
Why did they remove the guidelines?
As long as lane-splitting is legal in California, riders will lane-split. Regardless of what you think of lane splitting, you’d be hard pressed to make a case that having such guidelines wasn’t a good idea.
Well, except for the one person who complained about the guidelines. Rather than give him any more attention, I’ll call him Mr. Doofus. The complaint from Mr. Doofus is reportedly the reason behind the ruling by an Office of Administrative Law judge which prompted the removal of the guidelines by the CHP. Remember, these were guidelines, not rules, laws, edicts, codes…. Merely guidelines. Also known as suggestions.
Can I still get a copy of the lane-splitting guidelines?
The good news is, because these guidelines have been posted on the internet since their introduction, they will never truly die. Would you like a copy? Here you go…
CHP-Motorcycle-Lane-Splitting-Guidelines
So if you agree with me that it’s a good idea for motorcyclists to benefit from this information, please help spread the word. If you are a motorcyclist, share this on your Facebook page, Google+ page and/or share it with your followers on Twitter. If you know a motorcyclist feel free to share this post with him or her. Hopefully, there will be a silver lining that more people will read the guidelines now their removal is stirring up a bit of controversy.