Can we legalize lane filtering yet?

TheNakedGun said:
If you are the person at the grocery store with less than 10 items why would you want to be forced to go into a regular line when there is an express one? This is the frustration I feel as a biker who just wants to take the "express lane" but is told that he must wait with all the other people who have filled up grocery karts.
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I love that. Especially on Sunday.. :D
 
nm1 said:
this highlights a disturbing misconception you and some others seem to have that you are in some way cutting to the front of the "line", or prioritizing yourself over others...this couldn't be more wrong...when you filter you are removing yourself from traffic and allowing the cars behind you to reach their destination faster.

entitlement doesn't factor in, prioritizing my own time over others doesn't factor in...lane filtering is just as safe as, if not safer than sitting with traffic, and it saves not only me time but removes me from the "line" so others can also reach their destination more quickly.[/COLOR]
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Like it or not that's the attitude that most people have around here.

"If I have to wait in this line then everyone else should too"

I also think that claiming that motorcyclists want to legalize filtering for the greater good of everyone, not just themselves, is wrong. Their own personal benefit is first and foremost in driving the desire to legalize filtering. This falls into the category of "Don't piss on my shoes an tell me it's raining". I (and we) are not stupid.
 
caboose56 said:
I also think that claiming that motorcyclists want to legalize filtering for the greater good of everyone, not just themselves, is wrong. Their own personal benefit is first and foremost in driving the desire to legalize filtering. This falls into the category of "Don't piss on my shoes an tell me it's raining". I (and we) are not stupid.
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Exactly and given the number on motorcycles on the road, and their impact on traffic, there would be virtually no improvement found for other motorists.
 
Drivers in the gta already don't know how to drive. Legalizing filtering would just increase your risk of being hit and killed. It's a joke how easy it is for just anyone to get their licence not to mention drivers school. Some of these people who are teaching these schools are people who have less then five years of driving experierence. Dont hold your breath on seeing filtering become legalized anytime soon.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
Exactly and given the number on motorcycles on the road, and their impact on traffic, there would be virtually no improvement found for other motorists.
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At the moment this correct, minimal improvement would be noticed. However, maybe it could cause more people to actually hop on a bike and start riding...then think of the improvement in such a congested city as Toronto.
My main issue is the double standard with cyclists as has been mentioned before, filtering and splitting is deemed okay by society but not HTA for a cyclist, but yet for those on a motorcycle they are seen as reckless. They filter up and actually cause more congestion and the possibility of an accident as people now have to try and pass while leaving enough space.
I have actually begun to ask every officer I see about cyclists splitting and filtering in hopes that it will raise awareness and actually start cracking down on it (in my dreams I know). Since cyclists make up a large group of road users, I can only hope that they will also start to advocate for splitting and filtering and in turn help us.

I won't begin to lie to myself that it is for safety, yes that plays into it but c'mon, we all know we want to because we can. I would love to be able to filter so that I'm not stuck sweating my *** off on my way home hoping that my oil/air cooled bike doesn't give up half way and cause me to pull over (if you see a bike blocking a lane broken down, sorry, I'm not allowed to filter to make it to a side street and safely pull off)...it benefits everyone, and hurts nobody.

/rant
 
esphoto said:
At the moment this correct, minimal improvement would be noticed. However, maybe it could cause more people to actually hop on a bike and start riding...then think of the improvement in such a congested city as Toronto.
My main issue is the double standard with cyclists as has been mentioned before, filtering and splitting is deemed okay by society but not HTA for a cyclist, but yet for those on a motorcycle they are seen as reckless. They filter up and actually cause more congestion and the possibility of an accident as people now have to try and pass while leaving enough space.
I have actually begun to ask every officer I see about cyclists splitting and filtering in hopes that it will raise awareness and actually start cracking down on it (in my dreams I know). Since cyclists make up a large group of road users, I can only hope that they will also start to advocate for splitting and filtering and in turn help us.

I won't begin to lie to myself that it is for safety, yes that plays into it but c'mon, we all know we want to because we can. I would love to be able to filter so that I'm not stuck sweating my *** off on my way home hoping that my oil/air cooled bike doesn't give up half way and cause me to pull over (if you see a bike blocking a lane broken down, sorry, I'm not allowed to filter to make it to a side street and safely pull off)...it benefits everyone, and hurts nobody.

/rant
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In Canada, motorcycles are seen as toys. This will not change, unless global warming gives us a real 9 good riding months. As a result we will never see the sort of motorcycle and scooter use that they have in Europe, that has sparked the level of support they receive from major European cities. There has already been a surge in motorcycle use, in the Toronto core, because of the parking situation. That STILL hasn't raised things to the point where there are enough motorcycles, on the road, to make a difference in congestion if filtering was permitted.
 
I agree Rob, if people could ride bikes all year round I'm sure it would be legalized.

Rob MacLennan said:
In Canada, motorcycles are seen as toys. This will not change, unless global warming gives us a real 9 good riding months. As a result we will never see the sort of motorcycle and scooter use that they have in Europe, that has sparked the level of support they receive from major European cities. There has already been a surge in motorcycle use, in the Toronto core, because of the parking situation. That STILL hasn't raised things to the point where there are enough motorcycles, on the road, to make a difference in congestion if filtering was permitted.
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If you think filtering is safer...you should ask my brother who's bike was badly damaged and leg injured by a driver pulling out without looking in the UK while he was filtering. That's in a country where filtering is legal and expected and where drivers have a harder time getting a licence. With the state of drivers education here I'm OK with sitting in traffic for an extra few minutes and I don't worry unduly about rear ended when stopped, I just keep an eye on my mirrors.
 
esphoto said:
At the moment this correct, minimal improvement would be noticed. However, maybe it could cause more people to actually hop on a bike and start riding...then think of the improvement in such a congested city as Toronto.
My main issue is the double standard with cyclists as has been mentioned before, filtering and splitting is deemed okay by society but not HTA for a cyclist, but yet for those on a motorcycle they are seen as reckless. They filter up and actually cause more congestion and the possibility of an accident as people now have to try and pass while leaving enough space.
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Agreed buddy, motorcycle filtering I would argue is safer than bicycle filtering (better brakes, a lot more PPE, the audible sound of the engine to warn drivers, a bit of a crumple zone etc.) and it doesn't slow down traffic whereas bicycles do (at a light bicycles filter through, then after the light cars have to slow down and be extra cautious to pass those same bicyclists.) if its socially acceptable for cyclists to do it then it should be the same for a motorbike. Only difference I see is one counts as a motor vehicle and the other doesn't but when you look at the traffic implications they are the same thing but one is safer and causes less problems.
 
TheNakedGun said:
Agreed buddy, motorcycle filtering I would argue is safer than bicycle filtering (better brakes, a lot more PPE, the audible sound of the engine to warn drivers, a bit of a crumple zone etc.) and it doesn't slow down traffic whereas bicycles do (at a light bicycles filter through, then after the light cars have to slow down and be extra cautious to pass those same bicyclists.) if its socially acceptable for cyclists to do it then it should be the same for a motorbike. Only difference I see is one counts as a motor vehicle and the other doesn't but when you look at the traffic implications they are the same thing but one is safer and causes less problems.
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That's a pretty big difference...motor vehicle and not. I mean, skateboarders use the sidewalk...why can't we? Also, as pointed out above...it's not safer and especially not here.
 
jc100 said:
That's a pretty big difference...motor vehicle and not. I mean, skateboarders use the sidewalk...why can't we? Also, as pointed out above...it's not safer and especially not here.
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Because a cyclist on the road is a recognized as a vehicle according to the HTA and must follow the same traffic laws. Just like a cyclist should not be on the sidewalk unless walking the bike...but a skateboard can.
 
jc100 said:
That's a pretty big difference...motor vehicle and not. I mean, skateboarders use the sidewalk...why can't we? Also, as pointed out above...it's not safer and especially not here.
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If you want to say its not "safe" then fine, I don't think its any less safe here than anywhere else, why is out country the one place in the world where its not considered safe when probably 90% of the worlds driving population can deal with it, I think North Americans are smart enough to figure it out. That argument aside though I'm saying there is no way that you could argue it is less safe or more impactful on traffic than filtering on a bicycle. I'm not talking high speeds here that seems like a stupid idea to split on the highway but at red lights. Just humor me and try to dipute any of the points I raised about it being less impactful and in fact safer on a motorbike.
 
Bikerider said:
I'd like to see a poll for the members on this site of who actually filters and who doesn't.
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+1

Im curious as well.

What would you think as important criteria for the poll.. location? City ppl vs rural ppl seem to differ in opinion from my understanding.
 
Ugur Dinch said:
+1

Im curious as well.

What would you think as important criteria for the poll.. location? City ppl vs rural ppl seem to differ in opinion from my understanding.
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Let's have a poll to admit illegal activity. wait....whut?
 
nfq said:
Let's have a poll to admit illegal activity. wait....whut?
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Are polls not anonymous? I'm thinking a poll asking "Do you ever filter up to a red light when you are in urban areas?". Options can be: Always, Sometimes, , Rarely, and Never.

Someone who knows how to make a poll, please help.
 
Ugur Dinch said:
"Who is in favor of filtering vs who is against it" is what I was thinking...
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Of course everyone on this site will be in favour of it. Just the nature of the selection pool.
It'd be a great nice to have feature, but the reality is, it will never happen. The mileage on used bikes is a great indicator of how little riding people actually do in and around the GTA. There are outliers of course, but those that ride a lot have adapted to the rules of the road that are already in place and it matters not whether they filter or not, they just ride.

This will always be a circle jerk argument unless somehow they can tax us for every instance we filter to the front of the line. They'd have it implemented yesterday if they could make a buck.
 
TheNakedGun said:
If you want to say its not "safe" then fine, I don't think its any less safe here than anywhere else, why is out country the one place in the world where its not considered safe when probably 90% of the worlds driving population can deal with it, I think North Americans are smart enough to figure it out. That argument aside though I'm saying there is no way that you could argue it is less safe or more impactful on traffic than filtering on a bicycle. I'm not talking high speeds here that seems like a stupid idea to split on the highway but at red lights. Just humor me and try to dipute any of the points I raised about it being less impactful and in fact safer on a motorbike.
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So...how many US states allow filtering then? I know the answer but I'm not sure you do. In this "90% of the world", how much of that is in parts of the world with chaotic road laws anyway?
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