Minnesota Legalizes Motorcycle Lane Sharing (With Restrictions)

Minnesota Legalizes Motorcycle Lane Sharing (With Restrictions)

As of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Minnesota became the sixth state to legalize lane filtering and the second to allow lane splitting. We'll touch more on the restrictions in a bit.

If you’re reading this blog, you may already have opinions or questions about lane sharing and how it might affect your commute and beyond. At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, we want to take a moment to walk you through what’s changing and answer some common questions. 

What Are Lane-Splitting and Lane-Filtering? 

Both lane splitting and lane filtering involve motorcycles riding between two lanes of same-direction traffic. The key difference lies in whether those vehicles and the rest of the traffic are moving or not. 

Lane splitting occurs when a motorcycle is passing between two lanes of MOVING traffic.

Lane filtering occurs when a motorcycle moves or waits between two lanes of STOPPED traffic—such as during a traffic jam or while approaching a red light. While motorcycle riders must obey the traffic light, they can move to the front of the line. 

If traffic is stopped, then it’s lane filtering. If traffic is on the move, it’s lane-splitting.

The Restrictions Around Lane-Sharing in Minnesota

Motorcycle riders do not have blanket permission to go in between cars as they please. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is shedding some light on the subject.

Lane-splitting in Minnesota is allowed as long as:

• Motorcycle riders go no faster than 25 miles per hour 

• Motorcycle riders go no more than 15 miles per hour faster than surrounding traffic 

For example:

If traffic has slowed to a crawl at 5 miles per hour, the motorcycle rider can go 20 miles per hour. 

If traffic is moving at 25 miles per hour, that’s also the maximum speed for the rider. 

If traffic is moving at 35 miles per hour, lane splitting is not allowed, as motorcycle riders would have to exceed the 25 miles per hour restriction to split the lanes.

Lane filtering in Minnesota is allowed as long as: 

• Motorcycle riders go at most 15 miles per hour over the speed of stopped traffic

When Is Lane-Sharing Not Allowed? 

Minnesota law prohibits lane sharing in the following locations:

• At roundabouts 

• Construction zones where vehicles are restricted to a single lane 

• In school zones 

• Freeway or expressway on-ramps 

The current rules aim to reflect the changing traffic dynamics, but the law is less than a week old. Additional restrictions and rules may come to pass as Minnesotans learn more about what does and does not work. 

A big part of that learning process relies on the ongoing personal judgment of Minnesotans navigating the roads. Just because lane sharing is legal doesn’t mean it may be the right move in every situation.

What Drivers Should Know About Lane Sharing

With the potential for motorcycles to take up space between lanes, all motorists have even more reason to stay alert about vehicles around them. According to CBS News, drivers should understand that if they intentionally block motorcyclists from safely sharing a lane, they can face a misdemeanor charge. 

Why Some Are Opposed To The New Law

Some see lane sharing as a policy that may increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Accident prevention can sometimes rely on making quick decisions in tight spaces. The less room there is, the less time there is to react, and the higher the risk of an accident. While the sound of a motorcycle approaching is not a subtle one, and drivers may be on alert, it doesn’t eliminate the risk. 

As motorcycles and cars share closer quarters, the existing stigmas around motorcycle riders can turn from private complaints to public outcry. That being said, not all motorcycle riders have a rosy view of the drivers that surround them either. 

Why Others Support the Law 

Rear-end accidents can be devastating to motorcycle riders. What can cause sizable damage and injury to drivers can be made all the worse for motorcycle riders. MPR News reported on a case that shines a light on why Minnesota's new law is a welcome change for some. In 2024, Phil Stalboerger testified before the Minnesota Senate transportation committee, recounting a 2022 accident he and his wife had endured on I-694. His wife suffered multiple broken bones after a car rear-ended their motorcycle. Had lane-sharing been allowed, Stalboerger could have had the opportunity to move out of harm’s way. 

Distracted driving remains a prevalent issue, and for Minnesotans who ride motorcycles, there are fewer safety features to keep them from severe injuries. While some see lane-sharing as an excuse for motorcyclists to trail through traffic, for motorcyclists, it can be a safer way to navigate Minnesota. 

What the Midwest’s Motorcycle Lawyer™ Has to Say

Drew Epperly, Partner at Nicolet Law, helped launched the Midwest Motorcycle Lawyers™ division of our firm. He acknowledges the extra care and diligence needed from everyone on the road, but is hopeful for the change it can bring:

“The introduction of lane splitting in Minnesota is not just intended to optimize efficiency on congested roadways, but also to reduce motorcycle collisions. This is a big change, not just for motorcyclists, but also for every other driver on the road and in order for the lane splitting law changes to achieve the desired outcome, it will require extra care and diligence from everyone involved.”