Motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, and bicycles, all two wheeled vehicles, all proven to make society a better place for everyone. These benefits manifest in many forms, such as reduced wear and tear on roads, the health benefits of more active forms of transportation, the significantly decreased fuel use and emissions of two wheeled vehicles relative to cars and trucks, among others. A larger proportion of two-wheeled vehicles on our roads will save billions of dollars and make Virginia a safer and cleaner place to be; should we not promote their use as much as possible?

One way to promote their use is by legalizing the act of lane splitting, which is defined as the act of a motorcyclist or bicyclist driving between lanes of cars. Lane splitting allows riders of two-wheeled vehicles to reduce the amount of time they spend near large vehicles, increasing their safety, and acts as a great incentive to encourage motorists to take the socially beneficial action of using two-wheeled transportation. According to UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, "lane-splitting is relatively safe if done in traffic moving at 50 mph or less, and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 mph", and most other countries allow lane splitting without incident, so the potential risks of allowing lane splitting are negligible.

The evidence shows that two wheeled vehicles are a wonderful alternative to conventional vehicles, and measures should be taken to increase their use. Support this initiative, and we will all reap the benefits, no matter how many wheels we have!