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By Dan Kraker, Minnesota Public Radio News

Motorists and motorcyclists should be aware of a major new traffic law that goes into effect July 1 in Minnesota.

Beginning on that date, motorcyclists will be allowed to ride in between traffic lanes and maneuver through traffic in certain conditions, under the terms of a new state law.

The legislation, which was passed in 2024 but doesn’t take effect until Tuesday, allows for driving techniques known as “lane splitting” and “lane filtering,” but only in specific situations.

“Lane splitting” allows a motorcycle to travel between lanes of traffic. It’s only allowed when traffic is moving 25 miles per hour or slower.

“Lane filtering” is allowed when two or more lanes of traffic moving in the same direction are stopped, such as at a traffic light, or during a traffic jam.

Motorcyclists are now legally allowed to move through traffic in those situations, but they can’t drive more than 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic and must pass a vehicle in the same direction of travel and in the same traffic lane.

Both riding maneuvers are not allowed in roundabouts (or approaching them or exiting), school or construction zones, or on an on-ramp to a freeway.

“Drivers, you need to respect that the riders will now have the right to share that lane with you in certain specified circumstances, basically when traffic is moving at less than 25 miles an hour, or when traffic is stopped,” explained Mike Hanson, director of Minnesota’s Office of Traffic Safety.

For motorcyclists, “this is not a free pass for dangerous driving behaviors,” he stressed. “Take it slow, and if it doesn’t feel safe, you don’t have to do it.”

The measures were passed to improve safety for motorcyclists. The state has seen an increase in motorcycle fatalities and traffic deaths in recent years, according to state transportation officials.

18 motorcyclists have already died in traffic accidents this year. 76 died last year. And many more are injured.

In 2022, Phil Stalboerger was traveling on a motorcycle in stop-and-go traffic on I-694 when he was rear ended by a distracted driver. His wife, who was sitting in back, broke several bones.

“This bill is about safety, and it is about reducing congestion,” Stalboerger testified to the Minnesota Senate transportation committee in April 2024.

“As bigger vehicles are driving at faster speeds, [with] more distracted drivers, I am a sitting duck on Minnesota’s freeways, and this bill will help prevent some of those injuries,” the long-time motorcyclist said.

If the law was in place at the time, he said, he would have been in between vehicles, or on the side of cars, and likely wouldn’t have been struck from behind.

Still, Hanson said the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety had concerns about the law when it was passed.

“We all know our roads are busier and more congested than they’ve ever been, and we’re adding another element to that roadway congestion,” he said.

But now that the law is taking effect, the arm of the state’s Department of Public Safety has shifted into public education mode. The Legislature set aside $200,000 that’s funding a social media campaign and billboards that will be posted before the busy Fourth of July weekend.

Jay Bock, the state’s motorcycle safety administrator, said people should think about the change as “lane sharing.” The law allows motorcycles to share a lane with vehicles when appropriate, at the proper speed, he emphasized.

“Motorcyclists need to learn the new law, which include those speed restrictions, and practicing it legally and safely,” he said.

“Drivers should respect a motorcyclist’s right to split and filter and not impede the flow of traffic. Ultimately, it is up to the riders to do this only when legal and when they feel safe and comfortable sharing the lane with traffic.”

Mike Lee, a public information officer with the Minnesota State Patrol, encouraged drivers not to defensively “own” their traffic lanes.

“The lane isn’t owned by anyone. It’s shared by everyone. Practice patience. We all have a responsibility to share the lane and use the lane safely, and to make sure everyone gets to their destination however they can, in a safe manner.”

Minnesota is now the sixth state to allow lane filtering, according to the American Motorcyclist Association, following California, Utah, Montana, Arizona and Colorado.