Can Motorcyclists do whatever the want on expressways?

DisneyPrince1982 · Sep 1, 2015

So I'm curious. I have never in my life seen a motorcyclist pulled over by police yet I see so many of them clocking 90+ on the expressway blowing past the rest of the traffic, weaving in and out of lines without regard for their own life or anyone else's, and then if traffic is at a halt squeezing in between lanes.

So are they able to do whatever they like?

ravenclawtrekkie · Sep 1, 2015

Nope. Motorcycles are subject to most, if not all, of the same traffic laws as any other motorized vehicle on a public roadway. I've seen plenty of them pulled over for doing the kind of stupid nonsense you describe. I guess it depends on your local cops - some of them probably prefer easier targets.

Pea-n-Me · Sep 1, 2015

No, they're not supposed to.

I have seen them pulled over before. And I've read enough reports on how unsafe it can be driving dangerously.

I shudder when one comes flying past me weaving in and out of traffic at 90mph, too. :faint:

Gumbo4x4 · Sep 1, 2015

In some states, they are allowed to split lanes, but otherwise they are subject to the same laws as 4+ wheeled vehicles.

TAX GUY · Sep 1, 2015

DisneyPrince1982 said:
So I'm curious. I have never in my life seen a motorcyclist pulled over by police yet I see so many of them clocking 90+ on the expressway blowing past the rest of the traffic, weaving in and out of lines without regard for their own life or anyone else's, and then if traffic is at a halt squeezing in between lanes.

So are they able to do whatever they like?

Where does one take and become a certified speed analyst? You see so many of them clocking at 90+?

As for me, it's fairly seldom I see a motorcycle racing around as you describe. I've seen it, but no often. I see hundreds of bikes around almost daily. To group ALL riders into the same group is shameful. That's like grouping ALL drivers into the same group as those that street race. Point is, people break traffic laws al the time. Some ride motorcycles, drive mini vans or ports cars. They ALL get caught, sooner or later. Just because YOU don't see it doesn't mean its not happening.

DisneyPrince1982 · Sep 1, 2015

TAX GUY said:
Where does one take and become a certified speed analyst? You see so many of them clocking at 90+?

Pretty simple. I'm going 75 so if a bike zooms past me at a blazing speed, it's pretty obvious he's going at least 90. Doesn't take a "speed analyst" (not sure what this by the way) to figure it out.

TAX GUY said:
As for me, it's fairly seldom I see a motorcycle racing around as you describe. I've seen it, but no often. I see hundreds of bikes around almost daily. To group ALL riders into the same group is shameful. That's like grouping ALL drivers into the same group as those that street race. Point is, people break traffic laws al the time. Some ride motorcycles, drive mini vans or ports cars. They ALL get caught, sooner or later. Just because YOU don't see it doesn't mean its not happening.

Typical Disboard overreaction. I need to post my Bart Simpson "Good Morning America what are we offended by today" picture here. I didn't say all motorcyclists are going 90. I simply asked if motorcyclists can do whatever they want on the road since I see rules violations and have never seen one of them pulled over. Exactly what about this is "shameful?"

TAX GUY · Sep 1, 2015

DisneyPrince1982 said:
Pretty simple. I'm going 75 so if a bike zooms past me at a blazing speed, it's pretty obvious he's going at least 90. Doesn't take a "speed analyst" (not sure what this by the way) to figure it out.

Typical Disboard overreaction. I need to post my Bart Simpson "Good Morning America what are we offended by today" picture here. I didn't say all motorcyclists are going 90. I simply asked if motorcyclists can do whatever they want on the road since I see rules violations and have never seen one of them pulled over. Exactly what about this is "shameful?"

Why don't you mention the speeding cars? The cars that constantly change lanes as if they're coming around corner 4 on the final stretch? Why just jump on the motorcyclist?

What's typical disboard is your thread. Its unfair that motorcycles can zoom around me without getting in trouble. They speed and break laws and don't get stopped. WHY? Boo hoo.

Let the traffic police do what they do. I'm pretty sure you know that motorcycles as well as cars/trucks get pulled over when they are caught. You make it sound like the police just give them a free pass.

ColoradoDisneyFreaks · Sep 1, 2015

DisneyPrince1982 said:
So I'm curious. I have never in my life seen a motorcyclist pulled over by police yet I see so many of them clocking 90+ on the expressway blowing past the rest of the traffic, weaving in and out of lines without regard for their own life or anyone else's, and then if traffic is at a halt squeezing in between lanes.

So are they able to do whatever they like?

They're tough to catch, those crotch rockets have great acceleration, and are easy to hide. I think the cops figure it's a self-correcting problem, at some point they're going to make a stupid mistake, and there are no fender benders on a motorcycle, chlorine for the gene pool.

Brenda Kim · Sep 1, 2015

I lived in Las Vegas for a few years and one of my co-workers rode a motorcycle everyday to work and if traffic was standstill he road the shoulder to keep moving. The police allowed this because in over 115 degree heat, with hot cars exhaust around him, he would not last too in stand still traffic. As long as they do it at a slow speed and in a safe manner, I don't have an issue with it in those extreme conditions.

I now live in Dallas and here we have a group of riders that do stunts on the highway and video tape them. I have been driving and have seen them standing on the seat of the bike going down Highway 121 and doing other "tricks".....That gets me, not because they could hurt themselves (that is their own choice) but that they could hurt or kill other people if they wipe out.

Gumbo4x4 · Sep 1, 2015

ColoradoDisneyFreaks said:
They're tough to catch, those crotch rockets have great acceleration, and are easy to hide. I think the cops figure it's a self-correcting problem, at some point they're going to make a stupid mistake, and there are no fender benders on a motorcycle, chlorine for the gene pool.

Can be tough to get an accurate radar reading on one in heavy traffic too.

diznygirl · Sep 1, 2015

DisneyPrince1982 said:
Pretty simple. I'm going 75 so if a bike zooms past me at a blazing speed, it's pretty obvious he's going at least 90. Doesn't take a "speed analyst" (not sure what this by the way) to figure it out.

Typical Disboard overreaction. I need to post my Bart Simpson "Good Morning America what are we offended by today" picture here. I didn't say all motorcyclists are going 90. I simply asked if motorcyclists can do whatever they want on the road since I see rules violations and have never seen one of them pulled over. Exactly what about this is "shameful?"

I need to find the roads with the 75 MPH speed limit. Ours only go up to 70 in certain spots. :moped:

DisneyPrince1982 · Sep 1, 2015

diznygirl said:
I need to find the roads with the 75 MPH speed limit. Ours only go up to 70 in certain spots.

Texas has some that go up to 80 I believe. I know I've seen 75 there.

Brenda Kim · Sep 1, 2015

DisneyPrince1982 said:
Texas has some that go up to 80 I believe. I know I've seen 75 there.

Yes West Texas I-10 and I-20 it is 80 MPH, through the middle of nowhere, but most of the highways are 60-65 in town and tollways are 70-75, and all go to at least 75 once you are out of town!

Shmily1 · Sep 1, 2015

Why not discuss those that are in cars driving crazy on expressways? Those that drive 55 in the fast lane? Those that are hauling way more than they can see around? Those that are driving way beyond their abilities?

What about the cars and trucks that drive on regular streets and pull out in front of motorcycles thinking it's ok because it's just a motorcycle? About the ones that don't "see" the motorcycle? About the ones that have no regard for other vehicles at all? Or the ones that run the stop signs and red lights and hit the motorcyclists?

My point is that there are way more that "blow by" and other disregard for human life in cars than those on motorcycles. MOST of the motorcycle accidents are not caused by foolish behavior on their part but by the cages that have no regard for them.

FlightlessDuck · Sep 1, 2015

I have friends on facebook who always complain about motorists not giving respect or being aware of motorcylcists. Every time, I feel like commenting "tell your compatriots not to act like total jerks on the highway!"

I feel the same way about trucks. Got a trucker friend who complains about cars. Hey, trucker friend: Don't go 20 mph under the speed limit in the left lane on a hill! MOVE OVER!

Sorry, rant over.

Gumbo4x4 · Sep 1, 2015

Brenda Kim said:
Yes West Texas I-10 and I-20 it is 80 MPH, through the middle of nowhere, but most of the highways are 60-65 in town and tollways are 70-75, and all go to at least 75 once you are out of town!

The new tollway outside Austin is 85 MPH limit.

ColoradoDisneyFreaks · Sep 1, 2015

Shmily1 said:
Why not discuss those that are in cars driving crazy on expressways? Those that drive 55 in the fast lane? Those that are hauling way more than they can see around? Those that are driving way beyond their abilities?

What about the cars and trucks that drive on regular streets and pull out in front of motorcycles thinking it's ok because it's just a motorcycle? About the ones that don't "see" the motorcycle? About the ones that have no regard for other vehicles at all? Or the ones that run the stop signs and red lights and hit the motorcyclists?

My point is that there are way more that "blow by" and other disregard for human life in cars than those on motorcycles. MOST of the motorcycle accidents are not caused by foolish behavior on their part but by the cages that have no regard for them.

Because discussing one doesn't mean that everyone is disregarding the other. If we can discuss anything unless we discuss everything, then we'll never discuss anything.

wenrob · Sep 1, 2015

I will preface this with I spent a fair amount of time on the back of bikes in my youth. I have one relative paralyzed from an accident, a good friend who can no longer turn his head because of an accident, an Uncle killed on his bike and BIL who rides for his daily commute. I mention this so its known I have a healthy respect for people on bikes. I would say the split on careful, cautious drivers and reckless, crazy drivers is pretty even in my experience. Of the people I mentioned two were directly responsible for their own fate.

I live in Vegas where splitting lanes is legal. What isn't legal is acting a fool as the OP described. It's mentioned more than the cautious drivers because you can't help but take notice when people are being insane. Splitting lanes at crazy high speeds, putting yourself in driver's blind spots to gain that advantage and rocketing down the express/carpool lane at 90, 100 or more (you don't have to be a genius to figure out the speed is more than excessive) is nuts and a pretty frequent occurrence. It's frightening to see. I always expect to come around the corner and find these guys laid out in the road ahead of me.

cluvsdisney · Sep 1, 2015

I saw some guys on motorcycles doing wheelies on the parkway!! WHEELIES!!! When they started riding like they're supposed to, they were full speed ahead (they were completely out of sight in minutes). I was THRILLED when I saw them pulled over a couple of miles ahead. So yes, they do get pulled over.

I'd say half the motorcycle riders in my area ride around like tools and the other half are fine...same ratio as car drivers. The other day, some guy moved in front of us by simply turning around and making eye contact before moving because he was that close to the front of our car. Meanwhile, someone else signaled with enough notice, even used a hand signal too and left ample space between him and us.

TAX GUY · Sep 1, 2015

Can Motorcyclists do whatever the want on expressways?

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