I've done it, and I dare say a lot of riders have, but what are your opinions? Have you done it, and why?
Legally, the answer is no...you risk a ticket at the least, and many people would say it's overly aggressive and/or dangerous. My philosophy is that the laws are a good guideline, but not a suicide pact. I will evaluate situations for myself and yes, that may mean a ticket someday.
For me, I do not pass on a double yellow routinely but there are times when it seems like a safer alternative than staying in line behind say...a pickup with loose stuff blowing out of the bed, getting stuck behind a slowpoke and risking getting rear-ended by other aggressive cars coming up from behind, or other hazards. If I plan to pass on a double yellow, its not impulsive, I will always read the road very carefully to keep from getting squashed by something I wasn't expecting. Discuss...
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i have done it and like you its usually on a case basis when its easily done and safe to do (you can see down the road... and through the next turn or so). i will never do it at excessive speeds.... heck i usually pass at less than the speedlimit because the only time i pass is when we have a slow person or a truck with crap in the back.
Typically, the double line is there because the people who worked on the road figured it unsafe to pass in those sections (blind, hazards, road conditions, etc.) But since it's meant for your safety, if you're dealing with a greater potential hazard by staying in behind traffic, then yeah I say take the pass. And another thought, there are sections on the double yellow where a car might not have enough room to accelerate and make a safe pass, but a motorcycle can. But never in the city, unless absolutely necessary. That's just plain stupid, makes you look like a jackass and the risk of getting a ticket increases tenfold.
"There is no wrong, there's just right and righter." - line from Brooklyn's Finest
i have done it and like you its usually on a case basis when its easily done and safe to do (you can see down the road... and through the next turn or so).
+1
The only time I've ever done it (other than maybe at Deal's Gap ) was on my way to work a few weeks back.
I was on a straight stretch behind the Qwest Center, already risking being late for work and some lady pulled out in front of me. She was going a lot slower than I was, and I wasn't about to put up with it. Double yellow, right hand curve with elevation drop and train tracks about 3/4 of a block ahead. Nobody coming, so F#@k you lady.
Turns out as I'm getting off my bike in the parking structure at work, guess who should be driving in as I'm walking away from my bike? ...and guess who's dinking around with her cell phone?
Nothing much to add, Shadow, other than you and I think alot alike.
I would much rather explain to an officer why I passed than to take a chunk of wood or something in the chest. Besides, if crap is blowing out of a truck, I pass and get pulled over, maybe Johnny Law will take the initiative to pull over the truck for not properly securing a load. If it's just a Sunday driver I might pass if it's safe, but may just enjoy the scenery at a slower speed.
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Yes. Not often, if ever, in densely populated areas. But if I'm out in the twisties, and some BDC is droning on at 25 or 35 mph, then I won't hesitate to take advantage of a bike's power to weight ratio and pass them.
Double yellow's are painted to ensure safety for the slowest car on the road. Given that even my ST can accelerate many, many times faster, what's inadequate for a car can be way more than enough room on a bike.
That said, I'll only do it if I'm convinced it's safe: plenty of room, good sight lines, no cars waiting to pull out of side streets or parking lots, etc. An nothing that remotely resembles a police car in sight, either.
Heck, in Virginia, where I live, it's illegal to exceed the speed limit even when passing a car. Which means most of the time I'm breaking the law even if I pass on a dotted yellow.
Yes. Not often, if ever, in densely populated areas. But if I'm out in the twisties, and some BDC is droning on at 25 or 35 mph, then I won't hesitate to take advantage of a bike's power to weight ratio and pass them.
Double yellow's are painted to ensure safety for the slowest car on the road. Given that even my ST can accelerate many, many times faster, what's inadequate for a car can be way more than enough room on a bike.
That said, I'll only do it if I'm convinced it's safe: plenty of room, good sight lines, no cars waiting to pull out of side streets or parking lots, etc. An nothing that remotely resembles a police car in sight, either.
Heck, in Virginia, where I live, it's illegal to exceed the speed limit even when passing a car. Which means most of the time I'm breaking the law even if I pass on a dotted yellow.
+1, I've done it many times, only on roads I know well or have a GOOD line of sight.
A judicious twist of this wrist for the right reason at the right time is certainly acceptable in my book. I rarely use it in a double yellow situation, but it is nice to know that I have the option.
As I grow older, I seem to have developed a sixth sense about when to pass slow moving vehicles. Urban traffic is off limits to me, but you have to be extremely careful when out in the country. Many of the pokey types can be a local driver, not in a hurry, aged, or whatever. Just at the time you head for the oncoming lane, they decide to make that left hand or even right hand, "hay wagon" turn and cut off your intended path of travel during your pass.
I have seen a trend here in the rural Tri-state area which, upon closure on slow moving traffic, the motorist has seen my approach and pulled of the road to let me legally pass by. I hope this trend continues and travels across the country.
Doc
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Good answers guys... I agree that if it's to be done, you better have great confidence in judging the road ahead, and also the cars you're passing...it would be very easy to get swiped by a car making a sudden unnanounced left turn. That being said, "if 'twere done, 'twas best done quickly" and with great acceleration so as to put it behind you...
In Colorado, the posted speed limit is the maximum, no allowance for speeding up to pass. But, ya do whatcha gotta do...ya know?
BlueStreak, what is a BDC? i don't think that's an acronym I know...but if the B=Blond, then I think I can guess the rest!
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Well, fire the engines! Spur this iron space-pony on!
Be careful ou there. Once I was in pretty bad situation when there was good line of sight ahead but a car was about to turn left into the driveway without a blinker crossing my path. And yes, that was in the passing zone but there are plenty of driveways/side streets in no passing zone.
I pass on double yellow all the time. Double yellow is awesome for people driving 1.5L cars with 60HP but with the power and braking of a bike, there is no reason why you can't safely pass on double yellow.
I'v passed hay trucks on the double yellow and other farm equipment , but most of the guys will drive with their right blinker on so " officer he was making a right " !!
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1979 H-D Low Rider (orig owner)
2006 919 (son's)
2009 K 1300 S (Lava Orange...the faster color)
As said above only when it's in my judgment that it would be safer than staying were I am.There is a couple turns out here I prefer not to be behind sometyhing slow in around here because it is a completley blind turn a couple paces behind something and you can't see it so I will cross the double lines before those turns to not become a sandwinch more than not because we have pokeys and we have speed demons in spades back here. I'm one of em on 4 wheels some times. The said corners are a blast if you have some thing that can put down some good lateral G's.
In town I will again If I feel my current position isn't safe. I have had police pull me over and let me go when I told them that the situation traffic was presenting didn't feel safe. Some have lectured me that those lines are there for a reason some have said that it's good to see some one pay attention to there surroundings.
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Common sense. So rare it's a god damn super power.
oh...I forgot......it is ALWAYS ok to pass a cesspool truck...never...never...never ride behind a cesspool truck.
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Never pick a fight with an old man..if he's too tired to fight, he'll just shoot you.
1979 H-D Low Rider (orig owner)
2006 919 (son's)
2009 K 1300 S (Lava Orange...the faster color)
i do it very often when it is safe. here in VT there is no law saying you cannot, it states that it is unsafe. also says you can pass anywhere it is safe, for me on the bike is almost anywhere with the few exeptions such as corners or the crest of a hill. in my truck that is a different story, need a little bit more room for that
Been known to do it as the need arises, bike and car. What's the saying...' Man's gotta do as a man's gotta do'. I give it serious consideration though.
ZAQ, that's exactly the scene when my lil buddy "Worm" got squashed. He wound up his GSXR 1000 to pass a line of cars. How fast ? Maybe 100mph or higher, and one had on the left blinker. Made their turn all legal, and Worm hit him broadside. Dead on impact. Yes, I warned him many times, yes, I cried at the funeral.
I have broken the double yellow before, only when it's clear a safe distance.
Passing a long line of cars, whether on a double yellow or not, is asking for trouble. One or two cars at a time, max. Sometimes that means I get stuck behind a long line of cars (or Harleys), because they haven't left enough room in between them to get back in line. Better stuck behind, than stuck in the side of one, like poor Worm.
Passing a long line of cars, whether on a double yellow or not, is asking for trouble. One or two cars at a time, max. Sometimes that means I get stuck behind a long line of cars (or Harleys), because they haven't left enough room in between them to get back in line. Better stuck behind, than stuck in the side of one, like poor Worm.
+1, only one at a time, I'd never try to pass a line, too many things could go bad.
ZAQ, that's exactly the scene when my lil buddy "Worm" got squashed. He wound up his GSXR 1000 to pass a line of cars. How fast ? Maybe 100mph or higher, and one had on the left blinker. Made their turn all legal, and Worm hit him broadside. Dead on impact. Yes, I warned him many times, yes, I cried at the funeral.
I have broken the double yellow before, only when it's clear a safe distance.
exactly. sometime it pays to be patient. A lot of times we wonder why there is a double yellow when the line of sight is clear? that's exactly why: there are driveways etc. be careful, even in the passing zone
If the bastard is going slow, and you know the road well, and you lead them to build enough speed to quickly make the pass, THEN HELL Yea I do it all the time!
In Okinawa I was a lane spliter, and passed on the right all the time!
FWIW, they drive on the left.........
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I Can and will ride anything!
Bikes I own:
New addition 1978 CB750Four
2006 919
1994 home built springer
1984 KLR 600
1953 Servi-car (I gotta get this put back together)
1942 WLA (Gotta finish this one as well)
1985 Honda 200M ATC
1985 Honda ATC 70
1997 Yamaha Big Bear 350 4X4 ATV
Early 1984 Ironhead Sporty (Wife has laid claim to this bike)
1986 Sporty that I am putting a ironhead engine into
YEA BIGDAA I Gotta GUN!
It's not that I am punishing YOU, I am just taking YOUR money and giving it to LAZY Asses who refuse to get off the TIT of the Government...Obama to Joe the Plumber
) was on my way to work a few weeks back. 
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