The Oregon's Governor's Advisory Committee on Motorcycle Safety understands that lane-sharing is an urban issue, and they want to hear from the Portland riding community about it. Lane-Filtering reduces the risks for motorcyclists to be killed or injured in a rear-ender crash. Lane-Filtering reduces the severity of traffic-jam crashes. Oregon Senate Bill 574 for 2021 Allows operators of motorcy
cles and mopeds to pass vehicles in same lane during traffic jams or slowdowns. Allows operators of motorcycles and mopeds to travel between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles during traffic jams or slowdowns. Lane-sharing (also known as filtering, lane-splitting, etc.) is the practice of "motorcycles passing between lanes of stopped or slower moving vehicles". Lane-sharing offers a way to reduce congestion by creating an additional lane for motorcyclists to use when traffic is stopped or slow moving. It conserves energy in two ways. First, it keeps the motorcyclist and other traffic, to a lesser degree, moving. A moving vehicle is more energy efficient than a stopped vehicle plus the commute time is reduced further reducing energy use. The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation, concluded that lane splitting is safer than sitting in stop-and-go traffic, where bikers are far more likely to be "sandwiched" between two cars. The Committee is on the fence about whether to conduct a nonpartisan statewide opinion survey about lane-sharing. We think lane-sharing is a good idea, and that doing the survey is a good idea. We hope that you do too. In June 2010, the Committee released the results of an ODOT research report on lane-sharing. The report is worth reading. It examines various studies of lane-sharing and includes discussions on motorcycle and auto safety, and the potential benefits of lane-sharing. The Committee wants to know:
- whether or not riders and drivers support lane-sharing
- whether or not the Committee should conduct a statewide opinion survey about lane-sharing
- concerns about lane-sharing
