New MN Driving Law: Lane Splitting, Filtering Legal Starting July 1

MINNESOTA — Starting July 1, motorcyclists in Minnesota will be allowed to legally perform lane splitting and lane filtering, marking a major shift in traffic law aimed at improving safety and flow for riders on congested roads.

Under the new Minnesota law:

• Lane splitting will be legal when traffic is moving and two or more lanes travel in the same direction. Motorcyclists may pass other vehicles in the same lane, but only if they are traveling no faster than 25 mph and no more than 15 mph faster than the surrounding traffic.
• Lane filtering will be legal when traffic is stopped, such as at a red light or during a traffic jam. Motorcyclists may proceed through traffic if they are traveling no more than 15 mph faster than the stopped vehicles.

However, both maneuvers are prohibited:

• In school zones
• In work zones with only one available lane
• At roundabouts
• On freeway or expressway on-ramps

Minnesota is now the easternmost state to legalize lane filtering, according to the American Motorcyclist Association.

The new law places Minnesota among a small but expanding group of states, including California, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and Colorado, that permit motorcyclists to legally split or filter through traffic. In much of the country, however, the practice remains either prohibited or not clearly defined by law.

Officials emphasize that safety remains the rider’s responsibility. Motorcyclists must use discretion and comply with the legal speed limits when deciding whether to split or filter through traffic.

Car drivers, meanwhile, are being urged to watch for motorcycles in their lanes and avoid interfering with riders who are lawfully splitting or filtering.

Read more here.