I wondered that as well, not being a motorcyclist myself. I googled. It is legal.
There are bikers and bikers. Yesterday I saw about 20 of them overtaking a line of oncoming traffic in a thoroughly irresponsible way, on a narrowish English two lane road. It would have taken only one elderly or drunk driver to swerve a few feet and there would have been a head on collision.
I have also seen large motorcycle clubs and rallies - over 100 bikes - riding responsibly in traffic, sticking to small groups at reasonable speed and overtaking only when there’s a good gap. Them I don’t mind at all.
Perhaps it’s also worth pointing out that a lot of the less responsible riders actually use more fuel than a small car driven sensibly, and wear out tyres faster. Bikes are not necessarily more environmentally friendly than cars. The ones that definitely are would not have been involved in the accident in the story.
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As much as I love taking the diamond lanes when commuting, car or bike, I am always on alert for drivers doing exactly this. Doubly so on the bike and have annoyed other drivers for going ‘too slow’ as I don’t zip by the stop and go traffic at 40+mph.
ISTR that they changed the law a few years ago to permit this in Virginia. Which seems strange to me because the stated purpose of HOV lanes is to reduce congestion, and when you consider stopping distance, motorcycles take up almost as much space as cars do.
In my city, they don’t allow bikes, but they do allow single-occupant electric vehicles in HoV and bus lanes. They even issue a special decal.
I ride, I’ve had some near misses from cars pulling out in front of me that resulted in me getting the back wheel off the ground (but never impacting). Your mind sets itself on collision avoidance, the swearing comes after you hit or miss
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