BCCOM proposes lane filtering in B.C.

The British Columbia Coalition of Motorcyclists (BCCOM) has written a proposal letter for the legalization of lane filtering in the province. The letter is to be discussed with B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Shirley Bond in the next two weeks, with the results of the discussion to be announced at a BCCOM meeting on November 17. The organization also mentioned that the letter would be sent to the Ministry of Transportation.

Below are some of the safety measures that BCCOM has proposed to allow lane filtering:

- The operator must operate the motorcycle no more than 10 km/h faster than the rest of traffic
- Traffic can’t be going over 30 km/h
- Lane splitting can’t be done in a school crossing zone, park area, area with a high volume of crossing pedestrians, or somewhere where the speed limit is less than 30 km/h
- Motorcyclists must never ride in between vehicles equipped with mirrors that won’t be able to see them (semi-trucks, large RV’s)

Whether the Ministries of Safety and Transportation see this proposal as a way to improve congestion and safety remains to be seen. In the U.S., similar proposals have seen resistance, with some transportation officials arguing that such legislation has no effect traffic congestion, given the fact that motorcycles make up such a small percentage of vehicles on the road in North America.