In 2024, Minnesota state lawmakers passed legislation intended to ease traffic congestion and increase the safety of motorcycle riders in heavy traffic, and went into effect July 1, 2025. They enacted statutes that allow for motorcycles to split lanes in some circumstances and filter through traffic at other times.
Lane splitting and filtering can decrease traffic congestion and help motorcycle riders move away from dangerously busy areas. Understanding the rules that govern lane splitting and filtering can help motorcycle riders and others who share the road with them to better ensure legal compliance and optimal safety in traffic.
When is lane splitting permissible?
Lane splitting or sharing a lane with another vehicle temporarily is permissible when traffic moves unusually slowly. The new law allows a motorcycle operator to share a lane with a slow-moving vehicle traveling at 25 miles per hour (mph) or less as they pass that slow-moving vehicle.
The motorcycle rider generally should not travel any faster than 15 mph above the overall speed of traffic at the time of the lane splitting attempts. This new rule can help reduce traffic congestion and protect motorcycle riders from ending up trapped in slow-moving traffic where frustrated drivers might maneuver unexpectedly and strike them.
When is lane filtering allowed?
Lane filtering involves a motorcycle moving through stopped traffic. Motorcycle riders can engage in lane filtering during traffic jams or when approaching stopped vehicles at an intersection with a stoplight. They typically should not travel at speeds above 15 mph when filtering through stopped traffic.
Key restrictions on lane sharing and filtering
The law specifically prohibits lane splitting and filtering in specific scenarios. If the motorcycle rider approaches a work zone where crews have closed a road down to a single lane, filtering or splitting in that scenario is not allowed.
Additionally, neither splitting nor filtering is permissible in a roundabout, school zone or freeway on-ramp. Motorcyclists may benefit from adopting safe lane splitting and filtering habits. Other drivers need to be aware of these new rules to ensure consistent compliance with the law.
If a motorcycle collision occurs while a rider attempts to lawfully split a lane with other vehicles or filter through stopped traffic, they may need assistance. Working with a motorcycle collision attorney can help injured riders manage complicated insurance claims, file lawsuits if necessary and limit their losses after preventable crashes.