As of July 1, 2025, motorcycle lane splitting and filtering became legal. The passing of these new laws gave motorcyclists the legal right to share lanes with other motorists, with restrictions on speed and location. The idea behind these laws is that they should increase safety for motorcyclists in stop and go traffic by reducing rear-end crashes, improving traffic flow and reducing the risk of motorcycles overheating.
Understanding these changes is not only important for the safety of both motorists and motorcyclists, but it’s essential for protecting one’s rights in a crash. At Brazil Sweeney Law Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we have extensive experience with motorcycle accidents and can assess your case, help you navigate the process and get you the compensation you deserve.
What Are the New Lane Sharing Laws for Motorcycles?
Minnesota became the sixth state to allow motorcyclists to legally share lanes with other vehicles. The two distinct lane sharing practices that are now legal are known as lane splitting and lane filtering.
Lane Splitting
Lane splitting is when a motorcycle shares a lane with and passes vehicles traveling in the same direction in slow-moving traffic. It is allowed when:
- Two or more lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction and traffic is moving
- The motorcycle’s speed is not more than 25 mph
- The motorcycle’s speed is not more than 15 mph over the speed of traffic next to them
Once traffic returns to 25 mph, the motorcycle must return to its own lane of traffic.
Lane Filtering
Lane filtering is when a motorcycle moves through stopped traffic by sharing a lane with other vehicles to get to the front of the line of traffic, such as at a traffic light or traffic jam. It is allowed when:
- Two or more lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction and traffic is NOT moving.
- The motorcycle’s speed is not more than 15 mph
When is Filtering & Splitting Not Allowed
There are certain circumstances when lane splitting and filter, regardless of speed, are never allowed. This includes:
- The approach, drive-through, or exit of a roundabout
- School zones
- Freeway and highway on-ramps
- Work zones where traffic has been funneled down to a single lane.
Rights, Responsibilities & When Accidents Happen
While splitting and filtering are now legal in Minnesota, they’re not always going to be the safest option. Motorcyclists need to be vigilant and use their best judgment on if and when to perform these maneuvers. Drivers also need to be aware. They need to watch for motorcycles who may be sharing their lane and not impede their legal right to do so.
The success of these new safety laws requires drivers and motorcyclists to work together to share the road, but even when everyone is trying their best accidents can still happen. A personal injury attorney with experience handling motorcycle cases can be an essential resource. With over 20 years of experience, Brazil Sweeney Law Group has been serving clients throughout Uptown, Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding Twin Cities metro. We are dedicated to providing advocacy to those injured in motorcycle accidents and will help you navigate the aftermath of your accident. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review. There’s no fee unless we win.