New Motorcycle Lane-Splitting Law Comes with Police Warning

Motorcycle riders in Minnesota will now have an easier time getting out of traffic jams, but police are issuing a word of warning.

As of July 1, lane splitting and lane filtering are now legal for motorcycles on Minnesota roads. However, there’s a push underway to get drivers educated about this new law and the potential impact it could have.  

“With this being new and not everybody knowing that this can happen, I believe we are going to have crashes,” said Capt. John Elder of the Robbinsdale Police Department. “I believe we are going to have these things happening. They had the great big campaign, ‘Start Seeing Motorcycles’ and now you’re going to have to look even harder for them in places that you’re not used to seeing them.”

Lane splitting is when two or more lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction. Motorcycles can pass another vehicle going in the same direction — using the same lane — but at no more than 25 miles per hour.

Photo shows example of Lane splitting/Courtesy MN Dept. of Public Safety

Lane filtering, on the other hand, is when vehicles are stopped at a light or traffic jam. Motorcyclists can now move through other vehicles, but at no more than 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic.

Elder says education on this will be paramount.

“Not everyone’s going to know that it’s allowed, and so you will have some motorists that see this happen that will be very angry,” said Elder. “And, you know, whether they call 911, whether this turns into a road rage deal, I don’t know. But again, this is a big change.”

Police encourage drivers and motorcyclists to be on alert. They say this is a law that will require cooperation from both. 

Photo shows example of lane filtering/Courtesy MN Dept. of Public Safety

Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Crystal | Golden Valley | New Hope | Osseo | Plymouth | Robbinsdale