State senator proposes motorcycle lane splitting bill in Connecticut

A motorcyclist lane splits during evening commute in Oakland, Calif. A motorcyclist lane splits during evening commute in Oakland, Calif. Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close State senator proposes motorcycle lane splitting bill in Connecticut 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

A bill to allow for motorcyclists to lane split — ride between two lanes of traffic — has been introduced by state Sen. Cathy Osten (D-Sprague).

Proposed Senate Bill 629 would amend section 14-289b to "permit the operator of a motorcycle to operate between lanes of traffic."

The stated purpose of the bill is to "To permit the operator of a motorcycle to operate between lanes of traffic as is permitted in other states and countries and thereby ease traffic congestion"

The existing statue reads:

(b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not (1) overtake and pass, in the same single traffic lane occupied by such motorcycle, any motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, or (2) operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic. An autocycle shall not overtake and pass any motor vehicle operating in the same single traffic lane occupied by such autocycle.

Senate Bill 629, which provides no specific details, has been referred to the transportation committee.

Lane splitting is currently not legal in 49 states with California being the lone exception. The practice had been not explicitly legal or illegal in that state for decades until it was formally legalized in 2016.

Photos: The 2018 CT United Ride

Motorcyclists in California may still be ticketed for driving recklessly, enforcement of which has been left to the discretion officers.

Separately, State Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington) has introduced House Bill 6161, which would require riders under the age of 21 to wear helmets while riding a motorcycle. Currently, the state of Connecticut only requires riders 17 and younger to wear helmets. Connecticut is one of the 28 states which require only some riders to wear helmets.