Minnesota's Lane Splitting Law One Year Later

It's been just over a year since lane splitting and lane filtering were legalized in Minnesota, and so far, it's been a non-issue. Some thought we'd see an increase in road rage toward motorcyclists, but a year in and it seems to be going pretty well.

What Is Lane Splitting and Lane Filtering?

Back in July 2025, Minnesota's new motorcycle law went into effect, allowing motorcyclists to filter to the front of stopped traffic at a traffic light. It also allowed motorcyclists to lane-split, meaning they could ride between lanes when traffic was slow-moving.

Both splitting and filtering are common in other states, but there was some concern that the new laws would lead to an uptick in road rage. So far, it's been pretty quiet, meaning that most people on the road are going with the flow.

Biggest Challenge With Lane Splitting and Filtering Is Education

The biggest issue isn't the law itself; it's that many motorists still don't know it's legal. There are so many laws that you SHOULD know when you are driving, but for many of us, it's been years since we took driver's education, so when new laws pop up, it can take a while for people to understand what's legal and what isn't.

You can't block a motorcyclist from filtering or splitting, and that has been the biggest issue so far, according to news reports.

Motorcycle Deaths Up In 2026

So far in 2026, motorcycle fatalities are higher than they were in 2025, which is concerning for law enforcement, as well as riders. The silver lining is that the increase doesn't seem to be tied to filtering or splitting.

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As of last week, July 10th, the number of motorcycle riders killed in crashes so far in 2026 is 37, which is up from 24 deaths at the same time in 2025, according to Fox 9. Speed and impairment were the leading causes for fatal crashes so far in 2026.