(COLORADO) — You may have noticed motorcycles filtering through traffic at red lights and other instances due to a new law taking effect in early August. But what happens if there is a crash while a motorcyclist is practicing the lane-filtering maneuver? Colorado State Patrol (CSP) weighs in.
Since Wednesday, Aug. 7, a new law, SB24-079, involving lane-filtering took effect. Motorcycles can now filter through lanes only when traffic is at a complete stop. Troopers are telling individuals to refer to the law explaining the five rules.
Lane filtering is legal under these conditions:
All traffic in the rider’s lane and the adjacent lanes moving in the same direction must be fully stopped to pass.
The lane must be wide enough that both the vehicle and the motorcycle can fit within the lane while passing.
The motorcycle must go 15 mph or less while passing.
The rider must pass safely and control the motorcycle.
The rider must pass on the left and not enter the oncoming traffic lane.
“Based on our law, if vehicles are moving, even slowly or for a short distance, the
motorcyclist would be at fault,” said Col. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.
“Riders are responsible for ensuring that all conditions are met to safely and legally
filter.
When lane filtering, motorcyclists must wait until traffic is stopped completely and travel 15 mph or less when passing. Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol.
When lane filtering, there must be enough space for them to pass on the left side of the vehicle while staying in the same lane if the lane cannot accommodate two vehicles.
“While there may be times a rider would like to pass, the conditions may not allow it to
be done legally,” explained Col. Packard. “Whether you have two wheels, four wheels, or
eighteen, one thing no one can legally do is ride or pass on the shoulder of the road.
This area is littered with debris, roadkill, and other hazards.”
CSP also reminds bikers that lane-filtering and lane-splitting are different and are not the same thing. Lane-splitting involves riding between lanes, which is illegal, while filtering allows motorcyclists to move through the lanes safely when traffic is stopped.
