Motorcyclists; do you lane-split in heavy Austin traffic?

[txgolfer130]

Originally Posted by JBAinTexas

When traffic is at a standstill or slow-moving, especially on MoPac Highway, do you ride between cars to get to your destination? Have you ever gotten a ticket for that?

https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-8.pdf

Riding between rows of stopped or moving cars in the same lane can leave you vulnerable to the unexpected. A hand could come out of a window;
a door could open; a car could turn suddenly. Discourage lane sharing by others. Keep a center-portion position whenever drivers might be tempted to squeeze by you. Driv- ers are most tempted to do this:
• In heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic.
• When they want to pass you.
• When you are preparing to turn at
an intersection.
• When you are moving into an exit lane or leaving a highway.

Not Legal OR Illegal. Just discouraged per DPS Motorcycle handbook.

[neddy]

Well whatever you decide to do I would obey the law in Williamson..they pull you over for doing stupid stuff, car or motorcycle.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by txgolfer130

https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-8.pdf



Not Legal OR Illegal. Just discouraged per DPS Motorcycle handbook.

It is unlawful passing. Aside from likely provoking and incurring aggressive behavior back towards the offender, the offender can be cited and fined for unlawful passing.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

It is unlawful passing. Aside from likely provoking and incurring aggressive behavior back towards the offender, the offender can be cited and fined for unlawful passing.

I really don't know what defines 'lawful passing'. TTC Sec. 545.053 defines when you can pass by entering the left opposite direction lane. Not sure where same-direction passing is codified.

Okay, this may apply, although it does not mention passing (Sec. 545.060)

An operator on a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic:
(1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane; and
(2) may not move from the lane unless that movement can be made safely.

All that said, I can't find anything that defines unlawful passing on a multi-lane road; however, lane splitting would definitely seem to be contrary to (1).

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by neddy

Well whatever you decide to do I would obey the law in Williamson..they pull you over for doing stupid stuff, car or motorcycle.

Meh...driving in a fairly spirited fashion in WilCo for the past 11 years...warned once for an illegal U-turn. Lampasas Co. is a different story...stopped for 79 in a 75 on a beautiful clear Sunday