Is Lane Filtering Legal In Colorado?

Many Colorado residents enjoy riding their motorcycles in our beautiful cities and countryside. However, motorcyclists are at a higher risk of injury in accidents, so they need to know motorcycle safety laws, including recent legislative changes in lane filtering regulations.

Learn all about current lane filtering laws in Colorado below so you stay safe and legal while riding. However, if you’re in an accident, Mountain States Injury Law’s Castle Rock car accident lawyers are ready to help if another driver’s negligence injured you in a motorcycle accident. If your case qualifies, a Castle Rock car accident lawyer may help you receive compensation for your injuries and other losses.

What Is Lane Filtering?

The practice called lane filtering allows a motorcycle to pass between stopped or slowed traffic moving in the same direction. If you were injured while lane filtering on a bike, you should have your case reviewed by a Colorado Springs motorcycle accident attorney. Compensation may be possible, even if you were partially to blame for the accident.

Colorado’s New Law On Lane Filtering

Colorado recently passed legislation making lane filtering legal for motorcycle riders in certain situations. The law went into effect on Aug. 7, 2024, and allows motorcycles to pass between stopped traffic on the road that is going in the same direction as the rider. Conditions for the new Colorado lane filtering law for motorcycle riders are as follows:

• The motorcyclist passes to the left of the car in front of them.
• The other cars are stopped and moving in the same direction as the motorcyclist. A common situation is at a red light.
• The lane is wide enough for the motorcyclist to pass safely.
• When passing, the motorcyclist is not going more than 15 MPH.
• When stopped cars begin to move, the motorcyclist must stop passing and rejoin traffic safely.

Furthermore, the motorcyclist cannot pass or overtake on the right shoulder. Nor can they cross over the center line into approaching traffic. The Colorado State Patrol may ticket you if they see you lane filtering when traffic moves. You can only filter the lane between stopped cars.

Note that lane filtering is different from lane splitting. Lane filtering lets motorcyclists safely travel between stopped lanes of traffic in limited situations. However, it is still illegal to lane split in Colorado, which means riding between lanes of moving cars.

Risks And Benefits For Motorcyclist Riders Of Lane Filtering Between Stopped Cars

Under the new law, lane filtering between stopped cars may be an effective and safe way for motorcyclists to pass stopped vehicles in limited situations. Allowing safe lane filtering may also ease traffic congestion and reduce the hours Coloradoans spend in traffic.

Also, recent studies have shown that lane splitting is relatively safe in certain situations. The study was conducted by UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center. The research looked specifically at lane splitting, not lane filtering, when a motorcycle passes between stopped vehicles going in the same direction. The findings of the study were as follows:

• Lane splitting is fairly safe when traffic moves at 50 MPH or less, and the motorcyclist’s speed is no more than 15 MPH below that of other vehicles.
• Motorcyclists traveling more than 15 MPH faster than other vehicles were at much higher risk of injury.
• Approximately 17% of deadly motorcycle accidents involved lane splitting.
• Lane splitting between stopped cars lowers the number of rear-end crashes.

While lane filtering is the safer and legal version of lane splitting in Colorado, it still has risks. It’s critical to only travel between stopped lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction. Never travel between vehicles in Colorado if the vehicles are moving. This is lane splitting, and it is still illegal.

Safety Tips For Lane Filtering

Lane filtering is safe in stopped traffic when the law is followed. Staying safe and following the law requires the following:

• If the motorcyclist wants to pass, traffic has to be completely stopped.
• The lane has to be wide enough to fit the car and motorcycle while passing.
• The motorcycle’s speed can be no more than 15 MPH.
• The motorcyclist must pass stopped vehicles safely and control their motorcycle.
• The motorcyclist must pass on the left and not enter the oncoming traffic lane.

Motorcyclists should always stress safety and know their surroundings when lane filtering between stopped cars. While lane filtering as described above is legal in Colorado, predicting the actions of other drivers is difficult. You should always ride your motorcycle when sober and well-rested and always focus on the road. There are many causes of motorcycle accidents and severe injury is possible if you lane filter irresponsibly or against state law.

Remember never to lane filter when motor vehicles are in motion. You also cannot lane filter when vehicles are coming from the opposite direction. According to regulations by the Colorado Department of Transportation, traffic must be going in the same direction for you to lane filter.

Contact A Mountain States Injury Law Motorcycle Accident Attorney

We hope that you never need a motorcycle accident attorney due to being injured by another driver. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are common in Colorado. Many drivers are distracted or engaged in dangerous driving behavior that endangers motorcyclists and other drivers.

If you were recently hurt on your motorcycle, you should seek legal representation if another party was at fault. Speak to a Castle Rock motorcycle accident lawyer today for a free legal consultation about your case. Mountain States Injury Law, formerly Casares Law, has a stellar record of obtaining fair compensation in motorcycle crashes and lawsuits. We can extract the most compensation from the at-fault driver and their insurance company. Contact us today for a complimentary legal consultation at (888) 617-5213.