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.

[SilverHound]

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.  

Yup! In PA it is legal as long as there is not a "Do Not Pass" sign. The problem is that the majority of drivers don't know this so they sometimes get pissed. I expect there might even be some LEOs that don't know it.

[R Doug]

Yup! In PA it is legal as long as there is not a "Do Not Pass" sign. The problem is that the majority of drivers don't know this so they sometimes get pissed. I expect there might even be some LEOs that don't know it.

Garry told me he believes the same law applies in Vermont.

I know I can tell you that passing on a double yellow is NOT legal in Arkansas.  I passed a car doing 10 under the posted limit on a mile-long straight and the first 1/4 mile of that straight was double yellow.    I could see the dashed-yellow approaching, roll out, passed, and was immediately pulled over by a trooper which was 4 cars behind me (unmarked car).  Lucky for me, I rode away with a warning.  

[Mr.Black]

So I read some of the replies and think, "Huh. Maybe its legal to pass on a bike when safe to do so in Ma."


Nope.

From the Ma. Drivers manual;

[Ves]

I came up with a radical approach to this solution...

1. Is the guy ahead of me going too slow? (generally they always are).
2. If yes, is there a cop around?
3. If no, can I pass safely?
4. If yes, proceed?
5. If not, click down two gears and proceed quickly?  

[Ryan381]

I think that if I use your brain your good to go...dont pass in blind curves or any curve imo

[spd2918]

Yup! In PA it is legal as long as there is not a "Do Not Pass" sign. The problem is that the majority of drivers don't know this so they sometimes get pissed. I expect there might even be some LEOs that don't know it.

Yup:  http://www.latimes.com/all-warrior-070204,0,791570.story

However, if you caused any issues with other traffic they'd cite you for reckless or something about lane useage.

[MadMax96]

If I'm stuck behind someone going too slow (under posted limit usually) I'll pass them if there is room and it's safe (car or bike).  

I'm more inclined to pass someone on the bike

If their windows are open and they're smoking (yuk!)

If the car has burned out tail lights (huge pet peeve of mine)

If the car is a Saturn from Wisconsin with a Packer license plate frame (the tri-fecta of suck drivers)

[gradus]

I think that if I use your brain your good to go...dont pass in blind curves or any curve imo

Yeah, but when you can see a full tight left curve, it's kinda fun to pass on the inside lane.  It really pisses people off though  

[chornbe]

I didn't vote because I don't see an option that really feels right.

Have I DY passed? Of course.
Do I believe (apparently like many do) that bikes should universally be exempt from the rule? Hell no.
Will I continue to do it? Of course.
Will I shut up and pay the fine if I get pinched? Yes.

[ScottB]

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!!!!!!

I agree in principle, but if you get caught passing on a double yellow, let's face it, you're probably speeding too.  So I figure, one infraction at a time.  

[R Doug]

Yeah, but when you can see a full tight left curve, it's kinda fun to pass on the inside lane.  It really pisses people off though  

   Oh yeah, I'm guilty of that.  

Will I shut up and pay the fine if I get pinched? Yes.

+1

[spd2918]

If I'm stuck behind someone going too slow (under posted limit usually) I'll pass them if there is room and it's safe (car or bike).  

I'm more inclined to pass someone on the bike

If their windows are open and they're smoking (yuk!)

If the car has burned out tail lights (huge pet peeve of mine)

If the car is a Saturn from Wisconsin with a Packer license plate frame (the tri-fecta of suck drivers)

I agree with the Packer plate, but for shit's sake your drivers are so bad they had their own acronyms (FIB, FISH, FISHTAB, etc).

[Scoop]

I remember having a "spirited" ride in northern Minnesota and passing horribly slow cagers on the DY.  Although we only passed when safe, it was obvious that the cagers did not feel we were being safe and one called the state troopers office in the town ahead of us.  Our friendly LEO was waiting for us and we had a nice discussion about safe driving.  Of course, he couldn't cite us for anything, just a chat.  I am pretty sure it was the really large lady in the pink Taurus that called.  I was the second bike passing her and I swear she was peeing herself with fear.  
The DY is essentially meaningless to me, it's what I can see and when I can safely pass.  I often comment on Minnesota roads that there are dashed lines in places where you would have to be insane to pass, even on a bike.  Then, DY on straight stretches.  No ticket would ever hold up in court.  
In Canada, the DY is just a suggestion.  In fact it's really only decoration.  

[MadMax96]

I agree with the Packer plate, but for shit's sake your drivers are so bad they had their own acronyms (FIB, FISH, FISHTAB, etc).

Pretty much all drivers suck, except me of course.      I don't notice a good driver since I'm usually not stuck behind those guys.  I'm always seem to get stuck in a conga-line of retards doing 5 under.  All that comes to mind is Rick Moranis in Spaceballs "I'm surrounded by assholes!!"

You'll have to enlighten me on what those acronyms stand for.

[Bounce]

We got nabbed in a State Park once.

Nice spring day. Curvy roads. Just about 10 minutes before the 3 of us (2 on GL1500's me on the FJR) had leap frogged a bunch of rolling roadblocks (a groups of about 15 or so slow-moving v-twins running at about -10mph). After waiting for them to more right or anything else to aid in an orderly pass, we simply started leaping them in groups of 2 to 5 and as one cleared the group the next went (with radio info from our lead rider about oncoming traffic).

I'm riding rail/drag/sweep. One of the two wings is approaching a car and considering the conditions in prep for a pass when my V1 goes off. I radio the warning and they both back off the slow car in front.  About a mile later a Ranger's SUV goes flying by the other way. My V1 now alerts to him behind and a 2nd bogie ahead (which I also warn the other about).

As the 2nd SUV passes me, he makes a mid-road U turn (no shoulders) and comes up behind me with lights on. I move to the fog line and slow but don't stop. He passes me gunning for the 2 Wings. He pulls them into a scenic turnout and is all over them as I slowly pass the area. I stop at the next turn out and wait.

When they catch up they report that he specifically asked the color of the lead bike and then gave them a verbal warning about how they LOOKED like they were about to pass on a DY. Clearly they didn't as we were well warned in advance.

The way the LEO asked about the color of the bike, his anger at not having anything on them, and his claiming they LOOKED LIKE they were about to do something wrong, had us convinced someone in the rolling road blocks got pissed when we passed them and called us in. We also suspected that their tactic of running 2 SUVs was usually successful in nabbing people who thought it was clear to go once the first one passed (a basic detector without directional arrows and a bogie counter).

I had to laugh that he passed me up because we weren't "a group" and I wasn't on a Wing.

[bogfro]

I'll pass when I feel it's safe, double yellow or not.  There's actually plenty of times when I don't feel safe passing when there IS a dotted line -- so I just wait.  I try and evaluate each situation individually.

[KodiakRS]

Only if it's in the fun parts of the road.  Otherwise I wait for a legal opportunity.  I usually give the guy I'm going to pass 3-4 turns to pull off before I decide to double yellow pass and then wait until its safe.  

Also, I won't pass someone with an NRA sticker on their car.

[XLR8]

Also, I won't pass someone with an NRA sticker on their car.

 

[GTS_Rider]

...There's actually plenty of times when I don't feel safe passing when there IS a dotted line -- so I just wait....

This is a shocking revelation!  

So, what you're saying is that the dotted line 'Does Not' automagically mean you can pass safely any fooking time you feel the urge?

Ahhhh fook!, I've been doing it all wrong all along. No wonder all the near misses. Thanks for the heads-up!  

[Bounce]

Yup! In PA it is legal as long as there is not a "Do Not Pass" sign. The problem is that the majority of drivers don't know this so they sometimes get pissed. I expect there might even be some LEOs that don't know it.

watch it in OK, TX, AR, LA, and NM then because the DY is as valid as any signage and grounds for ticketing if violated (and caught).

[Blunder]

I am Kraken.

If the road is clear, it is mine.

I am Kraken.

[chornbe]

watch it in OK, TX, AR, LA, and NM then because the DY is as valid as any signage and grounds for ticketing if violated (and caught).

In PA it was similar to California's splitting rule. It wasn't that it was LEGAL, it's that it wasn't expressly ILLEGAL. The manual stated the DY pass as a "should not" thing, not a "do not" thing. I have recently (in the last year or so) heard that the PA manual has been revised from "should not" to "do not" for DY passes. This is unconfirmed for me - it's what I've been told.

[cam_1100]

The DY is essentially meaningless to me, it's what I can see and when I can safely pass.  I often comment on Minnesota roads that there are dashed lines in places where you would have to be insane to pass, even on a bike.  Then, DY on straight stretches.

+ 1  from another in Minnesota.
My rule of thumb on the DY is to imagine an oncoming car appearing the instant I begin to pass and ask myself if I could still easily complete the pass.  If the answer is "yes", then I go.  If not, I sit tight.  Seems like common sense to me, but I've ridden with some guys who seem to think the exact opposite.  It's like they wait to pass until there's a DY in a blind corner.  It sure is "exciting" to watch, but I'd have to side with a pissed off cager in that event.

As a side note...why is it that slow-moving vehicles never think to just pull over a bit and let people behind them go by?  When I'm in a cage I'd prefer it if people went by rather than riding my a$$.  Not sure how I feel about it when I'm on a bike...don't think it's ever come up.

[Papa Lazarou]

Over here, they're double white lines. You can pass but should not cross them.  

[Scoop]

Of course, that's the other way to do it.  Don't actually cross the center line while passing.  Just move the cager over slightly.  Then it's perfectly legal.  

[RenegadeVT]

Actually in Vermont the double yellow line is legal just a suggestion!!!!!

Yes, Vermont may be the state in the union that allows passing on a double yellow.

God I love my state!!!