The Double yellow, Myth or Legend?

[Mr.Black]

When I first got the Bandit, I would stay in line and putt putt putt. One day I decided (after being a member of a certain on-line moto-community for a spell) that I would go ahead and pass on the D/L. I haven't looked back since.

Just looking to see what others think.

[MisterSmooth]

I pass on the double yellow all the time.    But not in an unsafe fashion; the double yellow is for cars, not for vehicles the size and speed of motorbikes.

Funny thing, though.  Passing them on the double yellow really pisses off a certain group of drivers.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe they're jealous.  

[GTS_Rider]

Almost all of top twisty bits in Calfornia are DY for pretty much their entire length, or at least the entire length of the twisty goodness parts. There really is no other choice than to pass on the DY, besides maybe trading in the ST for a Harley...

[Bounce]

When in groups (say 3 riders) with bike-to-bike comm, we have eyes around the corners and know when the coast is clear to pass.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I use my brain and decide when to pass.  If I have enough room to safely pass and the slow to a safe corner speed I do so if not I'll just wait.  If it's a long line of cagers and it's pissing me off I simply pull over in a driveway and take a quick 5 or so min break to let them open up some distance.

[mxvet57]

I can't get enough of the DY. i'm going out and do some more passing.

[XLR8]

For some reason I am more cautious now.

[Justin]

For some reason I am more cautious now.

United states district court? Were you in a national park?

[Mr.Black]

For some reason I am more cautious now.

That is one prestigious award!

[Rincewind]

I passed on the DY this morning on my commute.  I don't pass every single car, and many car drivers keep good paces, but I have no problem dropping a gear or two and leaving slow cars, especially if the driver is distracted or the road is particularly good.

[Hunter]

In the mountains and especially on the BRP, all the time when it's safe. Down here in the flat lands not so much I can usually wait as their isn't much DY.

[XLR8]

United states district court? Were you in a national park?

We were in the North Cascades National Park on Hwy 20 in Washington. Unfamiliar with the area, I didn't even realize we were in a park. It was kind of dead and there wasn't much traffic except for a huge RV that was in the way of my fun. So I passed it on a double yellow. As soon as I was over the DY, the ranger came around the corner. He instantly showed me his lights and I pulled over immediately. He was a dick at first but he and his partner (both packing a serious amount of heat for park rangers) turned out to be cool.

[spd2918]

 

[Rincewind]

He was a dick at first but he and his partner (both packing a serious amount of heat for park rangers) turned out to be cool.

If he turned out to be cool, he wouldn't have given you a ticket for passing a slow-moving RV.  

[bomber]

I use my brain and decide when to pass.  If I have enough room to safely pass and the slow to a safe corner speed I do so if not I'll just wait.  If it's a long line of cagers and it's pissing me off I simply pull over in a driveway and take a quick 5 or so min break to let them open up some distance.

^this --

Some folks that decide where  double yellows are placed are driving 1956 DeSotos with bad shocks.

The presence of spd's colleagues also helps with the decision making.

[jbs80106]

I like the way David Hough put it in his motorcycling book......passing on the double yellow is no more (or less) illegal than speeding.  So not thinking 2x about speeding but not daring cross a dbl yellow seems contradictory.  One of my most used ride loops covers lots of 2-lane open country roads (Hwy 83 for those in CO) and EVERYTIME it gets repaved it seems more and more dbl yellow gets put down.  Brutal in a car w/limited passing zones and completely frustrating on a bike when people want to go exactly 65 mph on a clear sunny day w/no other traffic.......Zoom!!!!!!

[sammyseaman]

I do it when I think it's safe. I've had a number of times when someone who I've passed will suddenly find the amazing ability to do the speed limit or above and catch up to me so they can tailgate, flip me off and swear at me   Now, I don't mind being flipped off or verbal abuse but if you wanna tailgate me I'm gonna get seriously agitated. Just sayin', fuckin' cagers.

[et]

I do it when I think it's safe. I've had a number of times when someone who I've passed will suddenly find the amazing ability to do the speed limit or above and catch up to me so they can tailgate, flip me off and swear at me   Now, I don't mind being flipped off or verbal abuse but if you wanna tailgate me I'm gonna get seriously agitated. Just sayin', fuckin' cagers.

+1  

[R Doug]

I pass on double yellow all the time.  Like the others that have posted, I use my discretion doing so and only execute a double yellow pass when I believe it's safe.  

In a lot of States, passing on a double yellow is illegal while in others it's OK as long as you are not going over the speed limit when executing the pass or if it's in a "do not pass" zone.  

[Frankienuckles]

I don't do it all the time, but some times you just have to. That being said I never ride faster than I can see.