By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - July 3, 2025

As of July 1, 2025, a new Minnesota law took effect that legalized motorcycle lane splitting and filtering, a change that was passed during the 2024 Legislative session. The Department of Public Safety's Office (DPS) of Traffic Safety and the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) said in a recent press release that there is a great need for all road users to understand the new regulations and prioritize safety.

Key provisions of the new law include:

• Lane Splitting: Motorcyclists can share lanes and pass vehicles in traffic moving under 25 mph, provided their speed does not exceed the flow of traffic by more than 15 mph. Once traffic reaches 25 mph, the motorcycle must return to its own lane.

• Lane Filtering: Motorcycles are permitted to move through stopped traffic, such as at traffic lights or in congestion, at speeds not exceeding 15 mph.

There are exceptions to these provisions. Motorcyclists may not lane split or filter in roundabouts, school zones, freeway on-ramps, and work zones where traffic merges into a single lane.

MMSC Motorcycle Safety Administrator Jay Bock stated, “While splitting and filtering are now legal, they are not mandatory, and they’re not always the best option," adding, "It may be a little uncomfortable at first because we’re not used to people being in our lane," Bock said, "but this law requires cooperation from both motorists and motorcyclists."