eap wrote:Did you include a specific 'ask' or recommendation? If so please share your talking points for us lazies....
This Forum and Tony's brief remark urged me to find somebody in the MD government to contact. I've edited the text that I sent to
Ms Saab - since she is no longer in their employ! I figured that this is not really a political kind of thing at this point, so I looked for Transportation bureaucrats (like the CHP).
Maybe the Governor would listen? Don't know...
I also cc'd my text to a Point-Of-Contact at the MD Vehicle Administration,
'mpurcell@mva.maryland.gov' and to a "drop box" w/Maryland State Police:
'MSP.FOB@maryland.gov'
I Embedded all of the included Hyperlinks below in my email which I've shown in entirety for your reuse!
Here's the MD DoT link I worked from: http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/ContactUs/TSO_ExecutiveStaffList.html TO: Darrell B. Mobley [I've since observed he’s running the show...
dmobley@mdot.state.md.us]
Acting Customer Service Manager
The Secretary's Office
Maryland Department of Transportation
Hanover, MD 21076
410-865-1228
FROM: Philip A.
Maryland Citizen & Avid Motorcyclist
My Address & Phone…
SUBJECT: Awareness of Lane Splitting Guidelines from the California Highway Patrol
Dear Mr. Mobley:
I’m writing concerning new guidelines recently published by California’s Highway Patrol (CHP) regarding their implementation of legal Lane Splitting (aka Lane Sharing).
[http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/lanesplitguide.html ] I’m using email so that the embedded hotlinks are easily accessible to you and your DoT staff. This came to my
attention in a post on BMWBMW’s [http://www.bmwbmw.org/ ] online forum: CA lane-splitting rules unveiled [http://www.bmwbmw.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=20029 ]
that links to a
San Francisco Chronicle article [http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Motorcycle-lane-splitting-rules-unveiled-4270272.php#photo-4178541 ] announcing new
motorcycle Lane Splitting rules. You’ll observe in the Chronicle’s article that motorcyclists find it safer when they’re able to Lane Split versus being hemmed in by often
inattentive 4-wheeled drivers (i.e. rear end collisions). A “Lane Sharing Revisited” article on page 30 of the October 2012
Motorcycle Consumer News stated “The NHTSA
data shows that 5% of all fatal vehicle crashes involve a rear-end collision, or about 223 fatal motorcycle crashes. If this number were reduced to 1-2.8% to correspond with
the European numbers, this would eliminate between 98-178 fatal motorcycle crashes in the United States.” [MCN article not available online]
I had to write and share this innovative driving concept with you and the other Maryland state officials I’ve identified. I hope that this road expanding concept is not new
to you. The Lane Splitting philosophy is used around the world to great effect as far as moving more people safely on crowded highways in a shorter time span while saving
petrol and reducing pollution. It would then encourage more drivers to utilize motorcycles and scooters for their commuting needs. I’ve used the ability to lane-split myself
when traveling across Europe. And as an owner of a “Historic” air-cooled BMW, I can’t sit in traffic for very long on a hot summer’s day without the possibility of a motorcycle
meltdown (same applies to most Harley-Davidson cycles). If officials in California deem this strategy as a safe and effective aid to move more people on their crowded highways,
then I believe that it should be considered and implemented on other states’ over-crowded highways (such as those found in
Maryland). It puts more vehicles into the same
overall space without the government or taxpayer having to pay for additional lanes!
Additionally, I’m certain that you recently read in the
Washington Post that Washington D.C. obtained a
number 1 rating[http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/washington-rated-the-worst-for-traffic-congestion--again/2013/02/04/125be724-6ee3-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_story.html ]
in wasting time and energy in the latest 2012 Texas A&M University
transportation study.
[http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/566377/2012-urban-mobility-report.pdf ] The Table on page 24 indicates that the Washington DC metro area wastes even more time,
money, and fuel on its congested highways than the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas in part because Lane Splitting is not allowed in the other 49 states. Everyone’s growing
level of frustration could be diminished to some extent if motorcyclists were able to legally Lane Split within Maryland. Eventually, as more frustrated drivers crawling on I-95, I-270,
I-495 and I-695 watch motorcyclists safely pass their cars and trucks in a non-threatening manner, perhaps more commuters will consider switching to two wheels. It should happen
here on the east coast as it happened long ago in California. All that’s needed is some drivers education, an amended traffic law, and time for familiarization.
This innovative improvement to our nation’s growing transportation deficiencies won’t happen unless motorcyclists like myself work to make it more widely known. I am thus
writing to you in order to make you aware of California’s enlightened way of thinking toward 2-wheeled commuting. Please let me know how I can further kick this topic down the
crowded road or if any legwork from the many interested motorcycle clubs within Maryland would be of help.
Very sincerely,
P & K A.
Hope that this verbiage can be of use in raising Lane-Splitting Awareness with your chosen state representatives!
I intend to track this thing further if I don't get any feedback!
Ciao!
Phil Ager