Motorcycles on the road: Lane splitting and lane filtering is legal

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By Leslie Bleess / The Hubbard School

Lane splitting and lane filtering has been legal in Minnesota since July 1st of last month. 

Lane filtering happens when cars are at a complete stop. Motorcyclists are allowed to travel through two or more lanes of stopped traffic at no more than 15 mph.  

Lane splitting occurs as soon as traffic starts moving. Motorcyclists are allowed to travel through two or more lanes of traffic at up to 15 mph more than the speed of traffic. However, there is a cap. Motorcyclists are not able to lane split over 25 mph under any circumstance. 

Both lane splitting and filtering cannot be performed at the approach, drive through, or exit of a roundabout, work zones, school zones or on on-ramps. 

It is too soon to tell if the law has caused good or bad for the roads, but Julie Bryant, a 21-year-old motorcyclist, shares her thoughts.  

“I think it’s really good just mostly for like in intersections, because that’s the big thing when people don’t see motorcyclists or they're not paying attention,” Bryant said. “I’ve seen a lot of buddies get rear-ended, and when you’re between two cars it’s really dangerous.”

Experienced rider, Chase Greeder, has some mixed feelings on the new laws for new riders. 

“I like lane filtering just because I guess the rear-ending,” Greeder said. “I’d like to be able to go to the front, and make sure, you know, there’s no cars that are just gonna come flying and not paying attention, texting and you know just anything. Lane splitting on the other hand, there’s some pros and cons there. For a new rider I don’t prefer it, because new riders aren’t as aware. 

Motorcyclists agree the law is more for their safety than anything. 

“It’s mostly just for our safety, it’s not trying to get ahead of you or anything like that,” Bryant said. 

Mahmud Suhaimi Ibrahim, a graduate research assistant at the University of Minnesota, shares his experience being both a motorcyclist and a car driver. 

“In slower traffic I always found it safer, as a motorcyclist, to be ahead of the cars.”

Motorists also are in favor of the new law. 

Zach Miller, a research staff member at the University of Minnesota, is in favor of the new law. 

“I appreciate the new law,” Miller said. “I think it’s helpful for use of space. Cars take up a lot of space and not everyone does, and it’s helpful to see how motorcyclists or other road users can eke out a little more space and keep traffic moving when others may not be able to move forward.”

Maddie Stuart, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, supports the new law as well. 

“I don't necessarily have any kind of problem with it,” Stuart said. “I have more of a problem with faster cars that weave in and out of lanes than I do with cyclists getting where they need to go.”