A new law that allows motorcyclists in Minnesota to share lanes with cars for the first time took effect July 1, though there are restrictions on when and where such a maneuver can be performed.
The law, which passed in 2024, allows motorcycle lane splitting and filtering, the state Office of Traffic Safety said in a news release.
“This is a new concept for a lot of Minnesotans,” said Mike Hanson, the agency’s director. “We want to see this law enacted as safely as possible so everyone can get home and enjoy their summer.”
Here’s what you need to know about the new law and what it does – and doesn’t – allow.
What is lane splitting?
Lane splitting is allowed when two or more lanes of traffic are going in the same direction and traffic is moving. It allows a motorcycle to share a lane with other vehicles and pass them in slow-moving traffic at no more than 25 mph and no more than 15 mph over the speed of traffic. When traffic gets back up to 25 mph, the motorcycle needs to return to its own lane of traffic.
What is lane filtering?
Lane filtering is allowed when two or more lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction and traffic isn’t moving. It allows motorcycles to navigate through stopped traffic, such as at a stoplight or in a traffic jam. However, the motorcycle can’t go more than 15 mph as they move to the front of the line of traffic.
Are there restrictions?
Neither maneuver is allowed in roundabouts, school zones, freeway onramps or construction zones where traffic has been reduced to a single lane.
It is up to the motorcyclist to perform both actions safely and legally, the Office of Traffic Safety said. Other drivers need to be aware of motorcycles splitting and filtering and shouldn’t get in their way, but they’re also not obligated to accommodate them.
“While splitting and filtering are now legal, they are not mandatory, and they’re not always the best option,” said Jay Bock, the state’s motorcycle safety administrator. “Motorcyclists should use their best judgment about if and when this can be done safely.”
Do any other states have a similar law?
Minnesota was the sixth state to legalize lane filtering, the American Motorcyclist Association said in a May 2024 news release. The other states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana and Utah.
