Question: I heard some talk about a new law of July 1 that allows motorcycles to drive through traffic. Can you explain this as a lot of my friends are talking but I can’t get the same answer from any of them.
Answer: Motorcycle lane splitting and filtering are legal on Minnesota roads as of July 1. The new law, passed by the Legislature in 2024, allows motorcycles to share lanes with cars for the first time in the state, with notable restrictions on speed and where lane sharing can be performed.
It is the responsibility of motorcyclists to perform these actions safely and legally. Motorists need to be aware of motorcycles that are splitting and filtering and cannot get in their way, however they are not obligated to accommodate them.
•Lane splitting allows a motorcycle to share a lane with and pass a vehicle in slow-moving traffic at no more than 25 mph, and no more than 15 mph over the speed of traffic. Once traffic gets back up to 25 mph, the motorcycle must go back into their own lane of traffic.
•Lane filtering allows motorcycles to move through traffic that is stopped, such as at a stoplight or in a traffic jam. The motorcyclist cannot go more than 15 mph as they filter toward the front of the line of traffic.
•Splitting and filtering are prohibited in roundabouts, school zones, freeway on-ramps and work zones where traffic has been funneled down to a single lane.
For more information: https://dps.mn.gov/news/ots/lane-splitting-filtering-begin-mn
You can avoid a ticket – and a crash – if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901-5848. Or reach him at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.
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