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The NJ State Legislature is examining allowing lane splitting in NJ.
The AMA has a action alert for NJ residents.

http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert ... id=9246261

Herb

Thanks for the info. I hope they publicize this so the morons on I-80 don't try to cut me off.

Excellent news. Let me suggest a written letter of support.
My younger brother is (or WAS until December 31st) a state senator in Alabama. He tells me the actual letters are taken far more seriously then emails. Now, I realize Alabama and New Jersey are worlds apart, on several levels, but it wouldn't hurt to send in an actual letter...only cost you $.39.

I live in Alabama !
I can go down and ask Andy about lane splitting but it's usually best to work through Aunt Bee.

LOL! Of course a Georgian would say that about Alabama.

Ric wrote:I live in Alabama !
I can go down and ask Andy about lane splitting but it's usually best to work through Aunt Bee.

hey... Andy and Aunt Bee live in North Carolina.. EVERYBODY knows that!!

Mark
----------------------
member #3

I coulda sworn they lived in Big Stone Gap!

That's great news about New Jersey. Outside of those who actually live there all year round, I probably spend more time on a bike there than anyone else on the board.

Now if we can convince the Commonwealth of VA to do it here in Northern VA, I'd be set. Heaven knows the DC area needs it more.

Here's an editorial from the Morris County Daily Record. Be forewarned - it is slightly negative, poorly researched, and somewhat condescending:

http://tinyurl.com/ya3wv7

Spookymonster wrote:Here's an editorial from the Morris County Daily Record. Be forewarned - it is slightly negative, poorly researched, and somewhat condescending:

http://tinyurl.com/ya3wv7

going to chew on that for 24 hours, then send him an email.

Some choice quotes:

...introduced the bill at the behest of a constituent who rides a motorcycle and supports lane splitting.

Just one? Yeah, right... great way to marginalize the issue.

Studies can get expensive. New Jersey shelled out $260,000 in a failed bid to develop a state slogan.

A logical fallacy if ever I saw one: a frivolous issue wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayers money, so this issue must likewise be frivolous and wasteful (despite the fact that no budget has been assigned yet).

We live in a state where our lawmakers insist it is dangerous for us to pump our own gas. The prospect of motorcyclists zipping past idling cars during the Route 80 rush probably would make them very nervous.

Does anyone really still see this as a safety measure, and not just a government mandated excuse to inflate gas prices? Tell the voters they could drop the price of gas by 10 cents if they just pump it themselves, and you'd see this law dropped ASAP.

Lindsay owns three motorcycles. He gets well over 60 miles per gallon in one.

...and better than 40 MPG for the other 2, I'm sure. But then again, it doesn't make your argument against lane-splitting any easier if you highlight fuel economy, does it?

"Lane splitting rewards those who choose motorcycles as their mode of transportation," Lindsay said.

Why should they be rewarded?

Umm... not adding to congestion, using less gas, smaller emissions profile? I'm sure Lindsay mentioned all of these things. But what does the Record state as his reply?:

"Motorcyclists pay greater attention to safety and continuing training than any other category of motorist," Lindsay said.

Nice way to make us sound like arrogant bastards.

There are 135,000 registered motorcycles in New Jersey, state Motor Vehicle Commission spokesman Dave Weinstein said -- hardly enough to make any real difference in rush hour.

And how many handicapped vehicles are registered in NJ? Certainly less than non-handicapped vehicles. Does that mean we should take handicapped spots away as well, since they won't be utilized to their fullest?

I feel your pain across the Atlantic, Lord knows why they won't let you guys do this ... So I did send him an email:

=========================

From: Dan Hirst <danhirst>
Date: 16-Jan-2007 20:31
Subject: Motorcycle lane-splitting in NJ
To: [email protected]

Rob,

I read your article on the merits of a lane-splitting study in NJ and agree it's debatable whether it's the best use of public money. However, that's the study itself - lane-splitting is a no-brainer & I have no idea why it's only California who allow it in the US.

People need to be encouraged out of their (single occupancy) cars & trucks and into/onto alternative transport methods that use less fuel, produce less pollution & take up less physical space per passenger-mile travelled as our roads become increasingly congested by a growing & more mobile workforce. Seeing motorcycles & scooters cut through endless jams of cars is one cheap way of doing just that - I ditched the car for a bike two years ago myself - and cut my commuting time by half, not to mention my fuel bill & parking hassles.

Please do support bikers, and their freedom to choose, as far as you can.


Best regards,

Dan Hirst
London, UK

you go hirsty!

That reporter probably had his mind blown by getting a note from the UK!

Motorcyclists are a united breed for sure. He'll learn that.

Thanks, Hirsty!

BTW, if there's anything us Jersey Boys can do to help out your side of the pond, feel free to ask...