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From: paloma@sdcc7.UUCP (Cindy Paloma)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Motorcycles driving between lanes -- legal?
Message-ID: <102@sdcc7.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Sep-85 19:44:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcc7.102
Posted: Fri Sep 20 19:44:22 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 26-Sep-85 07:10:08 EDT
Organization: UCSD ACC Consulting Office
Lines: 13

A friend described an auto accident he saw today on his way to work.
Traffic was backed up on all lanes, so many motorcycles would just drive
by in the region between lanes.  One motorcyclist lost control of his
bike; hit a car on one side, bounced off, hit a car on the other side, 
bounced off again and went down, sliding, and was then run over by a car.  
(Serves him right, you say?)  The driver of the car braked, and was
struck from behind, and the following car was also rear-ended, etc.
(It was bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hour.)

What I want to know is this:  Is it legal (in California, or anywhere)
for motorcycles to drive between lanes, or on the shoulders, when traffic 
is backed up?  I've seen lots of motorcyclists do just that, and also 
the CHP motorcycle patrol.  It seems to be a dangerous thing to do.


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