(COLO)—Last August, Colorado legalized lane filtering. While riders and drivers become more knowledgeable and practiced at this law, a safety study is being conducted over the next three years with an automatic law repeal on September 1, 2027, to allow the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to share their findings with the public and legislators.
“This is an important time for riders in support of this new maneuver to demonstrate their ability to implement it with reason and caution on the roadways,” explained Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “The goal is to reduce road congestion and the risk to motorcyclists from rear-end collisions, not to startle other drivers.”
When a motorcyclist filters legally and safely, they become more visible to other road users and separates himself/herself from a dangerous position to become sandwiched between two larger vehicles. However, when a rider does not follow the rules by passing moving vehicles, speeding between stopped vehicles, or weaving in and out of traffic without giving proper space between vehicles, this can frighten other drivers and irritate drivers with a rider’s aggressive “queue jumping.”
“Riders need to use discipline with this maneuver by following the rules designed to keep everyone safe,” stated Col. Packard. “The way lane filtering is practiced today could have long-term impacts and proponents of lane filtering should try to avoid poisoning the attitudes of motorists who are open to this new law.”
According to Colorado’s new filtering law, five rules riders must follow to filter legally are:
- To pass, traffic in the rider’s lane and adjacent lanes going the same direction must be at a complete stop.
- The lane must be wide enough to fit the vehicle and motorcycle while passing.
- The motorcycle must go 15 mph or less.
- The rider must pass safely and control the motorcycle.
- The rider must pass on the left and not enter the oncoming traffic lane.
As a reminder, lane splitting is prohibited in Colorado. It is the act of operating a motorcycle between two rows of moving traffic or stopped traffic traveling in the same direction. It typically involves riding the motorcycle down the painted line dividing the lanes on either side. The key issue with lane splitting is that traffic can be moving at the time of the maneuver.
“It’s up to the rider to assess each situation and determine if the conditions are safe and legal to filter – be practical and avoid unnecessary risks,” stated Col. Packard. “It is also the responsibility of every motorist to share the road. When we respect each other and drive with the law in mind, everyone will get to their end destination faster and safer.”
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