MARSHALL — A new Minnesota law that took effect July 1 now allows motorcycles to use lane splitting and lane filtering in certain traffic conditions — a change that Minnesota State Patrol Captain Casey Meagher says drivers should be aware of, especially when traveling outside of southwest Minnesota.
While the practice may not be common in rural areas, Meagher said it’s important for drivers across the state to understand what the law allows and why.
“It can be startling to somebody to have a motorcycle come up next to you and you’re not expecting it,” Meagher said.
Lane splitting allows motorcyclists to ride between lanes of slow-moving traffic, as long as the traffic is moving in the same direction. It typically applies to situations like interstate backups or traffic jams after large events. Under the law, motorcycles cannot exceed 25 miles per hour and must travel no more than 15 miles per hour faster than the surrounding vehicles.
Lane filtering applies when traffic is stopped, such as at a red light. In these cases, motorcyclists may move between lanes to reach the front of the line and continue once the light turns green. This is also limited to roadways with at least two lanes moving in the same direction. Motorcyclists are not allowed to lane split or filter on two-lane roads with one lane in each direction.
Meagher noted that motorcyclists are not required to use the new maneuvering options, but the law gives them the choice in heavy traffic.
“There’s still a responsibility to those motorcycles to do it and do it safely,” he said.
Meagher added that the change may help reduce traffic congestion and improve comfort for riders, especially since motorcycles lack air conditioning and other features common in passenger vehicles. While he said he doesn’t know the full backstory behind the law, he suspects it may be part of an effort to encourage more environmentally friendly transportation options.
“The biggest thing from my perspective is that people are aware that it is allowed,” Meagher said.
