Classic Honda cars and motorcycles that can be seen at the Honda Museum in Los Angeles
If you’re in Southern California and love Honda, this museum might be for you.
- Lane splitting definitions and laws vary by state.
We’ve all probably experienced that while driving on the highway, stuck in traffic or stopped at a traffic light, when a motorcycle weaves in between the cars. It may be dangerous and alarming, but from a motorcyclist’s point of view, in certain situations, it is done for one’s own safety.
Motorcycles weaving between other vehicles (also known as lane splitting or lane filtering), regardless of speed or purpose, can leave many people wondering, “Is this legal?”
What is lane splitting, filtering, and sharing?
The definition of lane splitting and filtering varies by state, said Bob Simpson, rider coach trainer and quality assurance program manager for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, explaining there are many variables on this particular topic.
“Different states call it different things, and the definition of lane splitting and lane filtering can vary from state to state,” Simpson said, adding that he was speaking only his personal opinion and was not a spokesperson for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. “Driving between vehicles is either lane splitting or lane filtering, and filtering is usually done at much slower speeds or when the cars are stationary.”
For example, in California, the only state to Mr. Simpson’s knowledge where lane splitting is legal, the maneuver is defined by the California Highway Patrol as “driving a motorcycle with two wheels in contact with the ground, as defined in Section 400, between a line of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including a divided road and an undivided road, street, or highway.”
In Arizona, lane filtering is legal under certain circumstances as long as the road is “divided into at least two adjacent lanes in the same direction of travel” and the speed limit is 45 mph or less.
Additionally, motorcyclists cannot exceed 15 miles per hour when passing through lanes in Arizona.
Mr Simpson, who has been a rider for almost 40 years, does not condone lane splitting at high speeds, calling it a “very dangerous practice”, but does acknowledge the benefits of lane filtering in certain situations.
“One of the reasons is that motorcyclists often get hit from behind because we’re small and people don’t notice us. Unfortunately, people are often distracted by things like their cell phones, especially when approaching intersections or red lights,” he said. “So this one goes between two cars and helps prevent that a little bit.”
However, Simpson stressed that lane filtering always carries some risk and the operation must be done safely, responsibly and in a way that does not alarm other drivers.
Another commonly discussed maneuver is known as lane sharing. This is when two bikes ride next to each other in one lane if there is enough space.
Simpson said the most important thing is to be a responsible bike rider.
“Unfortunately, what we hear all the time is when we’re at trade shows and things like that and we’re always saying, ‘Watch out for bikes,’ and some people give us a lot of pushback and say, ‘Well, you guys are doing wheelies in the driveway and weaving through traffic,’ and my answer to that is, that’s not something we condone. We’re the opposite,” Simpson said.
He continued, “We’re trying to develop safe riders who think about safety and try to keep themselves and the people around them safe. So safety is key.”
Is lane splitting legal?
Ultimately, it depends on your current state, especially since there are many variables to consider.
For example, New Jersey has no laws specifically regulating or prohibiting lane splitting, filtering, or sharing on motorcycles, but performing these operations violates multiple laws.
“Unfortunately, just as some motorcyclists give motorcyclists a bad reputation by the way they ride and behave on the road, so too do motorists, weaving in and out of traffic and driving at high speeds,” Mr Simpson said. “I think the biggest thing for me is that we have a responsibility to act and act responsibly.”
Simpson went on to say, “I think riding motorcycles is a great sport and I love it, but you have a responsibility to behave respectfully while riding a motorcycle. That doesn’t give you the right to disobey the law.”
