Motorcyclists may soon be allowed to drive between lanes of traffic in Toronto
We’re glad to see a motorcycle instructor sharing his thoughts and feelings on why this is a good thing for motorcyclists, especially in highly congested areas.
Below is CBC’s Greg Ross’ article:
Motorcyclists have been lobbying for years to get a change in traffic laws that they say would make Toronto’s roads safer — and now they may finally get their wish.
They want the city to legalize a manoeuvre called lane filtering, which allows motorcycle riders to drive between cars when they are stopped at a red light. And city council recently voted to have a committee look into the idea.
“The motorcycle can move between the cars up to the active stop line, and then once the light turns green, quickly get ahead of traffic,” said Michel Mersereau, a senior instructor with The Rider Training Institute.
Mersereau says, first and foremost, this is about safety.
“What you’re doing is minimizing the risk of front- or rear-end collisions,” Mersereau said.
Coun. Anthony Perruzza, who represents Ward 8, York West, says he rides a motorcycle and knows firsthand how dangerous stopped traffic can be for riders.
“Stuck in traffic on a motorcycle, it’s a pretty scary place,” he said, “especially when you look in your mirror and the person behind you is on their phone or completely distracted.”
To finish the article, click the link below: