Lane Splitting - Stupid MN law

[RLD4ISU]

New Minnesota law effective 7/1 allows motorcycles to lane split or filter.

So far I've seen motorcycles split lanes while traffic was doing 60 in a 65 zone and they were too impatient to wait their turn getting around the slower vehicle in the right lane like everyone else. Last night we were at a stoplight with a left turn lane and right turn lane (your only options) and a motorcycle pulls up into the middle of the front vehicles. SOB can't go straight, so now the vehicles have to figure out if he's going left or right?

Beginning to think this is a strategic measure to cull the herd.

(Side note: we've had motorcycles in the past and my husband said he'd never take those chances while on one)

Here's the requirements/rules for lane splitting, but I will guess 95% of the people only heard they can lane split:

• Lane splitting allows a motorcycle to share a lane with and pass a vehicle in slow-moving traffic at no more than 25 mph, and no more than 15 mph over the speed of traffic. Once traffic gets back up to 25 mph, the motorcycle must go back into their own lane of traffic.
• Lane filtering allows motorcycles to move through traffic that is stopped, such as at a stoplight or in a traffic jam. The motorcyclist cannot go more than 15 mph as they filter toward the front of the line of traffic.
• Splitting and filtering are prohibited in roundabouts, school zones, freeway on-ramps and work zones where traffic has been funneled down to a single lane.

 

[SCNCY]

I saw a video on Instagram where someone was splitting a lane and a truck pulled into change lanes, with the bike nearly hitting the rear end of the truck. Cars were in traffic and this guy seemed to be going pretty fast; faster than the limits in the law in OP. Anyway, once the motorcycle recovered he drove pass the truck and smashed his side mirror and drove off.

 

[Cyhig]

New Minnesota law effective 7/1 allows motorcycles to lane split or filter.

So far I've seen motorcycles split lanes while traffic was doing 60 in a 65 zone and they were too impatient to wait their turn getting around the slower vehicle in the right lane like everyone else. Last night we were at a stoplight with a left turn lane and right turn lane (your only options) and a motorcycle pulls up into the middle of the front vehicles. SOB can't go straight, so now the vehicles have to figure out if he's going left or right?

Beginning to think this is a strategic measure to cull the herd.

(Side note: we've had motorcycles in the past and my husband said he'd never take those chances while on one)

Here's the requirements/rules for lane splitting, but I will guess 95% of the people only heard they can lane split:

• Lane splitting allows a motorcycle to share a lane with and pass a vehicle in slow-moving traffic at no more than 25 mph, and no more than 15 mph over the speed of traffic. Once traffic gets back up to 25 mph, the motorcycle must go back into their own lane of traffic.
• Lane filtering allows motorcycles to move through traffic that is stopped, such as at a stoplight or in a traffic jam. The motorcyclist cannot go more than 15 mph as they filter toward the front of the line of traffic.
• Splitting and filtering are prohibited in roundabouts, school zones, freeway on-ramps and work zones where traffic has been funneled down to a single lane.

So long as the motorcyclists adhere to the rules, I don't have much of an issue with this (I live in MN and do not ride a motorcycle). But we all know there will be plenty of motorcyclists that will not adhere to the rules, and they would be at greater risk for injury IMO

Good thing there's only about 4 months of motorcycle weather!!!

 

[Yaz]

Minnesota should focus on getting the drivers that camp in the left lane and fine the **** out of them first. Worst state ever for this.

 

[cytor]

Minnesota does a lot of things poorly, and this is law is one more to add to the pile.

 

[CascadeClone]

Lane splitting on your bike is just a more active form of suicidal ideation.

Why on earth did they pass this? Seems like something the DFL would be against - protecingt you from yourself, making things illegal is kind of their jam. Are they just trying to encourage scooter usage in the Cities to reduce car usage? Do they envy Mumbai traffic conditions?

 

[Cyhig]

Lane splitting on your bike is just a more active form of suicidal ideation.

Why on earth did they pass this? Seems like something the DFL would be against - protecingt you from yourself, making things illegal is kind of their jam. Are they just trying to encourage scooter usage in the Cities to reduce car usage? Do they envy Mumbai traffic conditions?

With all the construction going on right now, it's already Mumbai traffic conditions before lane splitting/filtering

 

[NetflixAndClone]

I personally haven't had any experience with bad lane splitting so far but I have heard from others that have. I just chalk this up with it will get better with time. The law is still relatively "new" and I'm not sure how many even fully understand the rules. I personally do no ride a motorcycle but from my friends that do they are already trying to self-police their own groups. Motorcyclists already know cars and people don't see them, so bad lane splitting will just result in more death and a bad image for their fellow cyclists.

In theory if this Lane splitting works it will cut down on traffic which i always think is bad in the twin cities.

 

[Agclone91]

I saw a video on Instagram where someone was splitting a lane and a truck pulled into change lanes, with the bike nearly hitting the rear end of the truck. Cars were in traffic and this guy seemed to be going pretty fast; faster than the limits in the law in OP. Anyway, once the motorcycle recovered he drove pass the truck and smashed his side mirror and drove off.

So the question I have is, had the bike run into the truck, who is at fault - the lane splitter for failing to yield to the merging vehicle or the merging vehicle for not seeing the bike?

 

[Clonefan32]

There are few things that **** me off while driving like line splitting. Sit in line with the rest of us, ***hole.

 

[Fishhead]

Lane splitting on your bike is just a more active form of suicidal ideation.

Why on earth did they pass this? Seems like something the DFL would be against - protecingt you from yourself, making things illegal is kind of their jam. Are they just trying to encourage scooter usage in the Cities to reduce car usage? Do they envy Mumbai traffic conditions?

And I will also never understand how there can not be a helmet law. I’d think the likelihood of not getting hurt with no seatbelt in a car would be far more likely than falling off a motorcycle without a helmet on

 

[ianoconnor]

I think it's crazy. I get the theory of allowing it, but riding a motorcycle around a bunch of morons on their phones in cars is already dangerous enough.

 

[Al_4_State]

Minnesota should focus on getting the drivers that camp in the left lane and fine the **** out of them first. Worst state ever for this.

Wisconsin is actually worse.

Minnesota has 2 kinds of interstate drivers: people who go 65 in the left lane, and people who go 95.

 

[ackatch]

Minnesota should focus on getting the drivers that camp in the left lane and fine the **** out of them first. Worst state ever for this.

I'll argue Iowans are worse at this than MN's. Honestly, as someone who lived in MN for 10 years, the drivers up there are so much better than Iowans. Most of the time when I'm in MN behind a left lane camper, it's someone from Iowa.

 

[madguy30]

So the question I have is, had the bike run into the truck, who is at fault - the lane splitter for failing to yield to the merging vehicle or the merging vehicle for not seeing the bike?

That may be a both at fault situation.

Merging traffic is supposed to yield but if the biker is proven to have gone too fast for the conditions they can be found liable too.

 

[fsanford]

Been able to do it in California for like 30 years

 

[madguy30]

And I will also never understand how there can not be a helmet law. I’d think the likelihood of not getting hurt with no seatbelt in a car would be far more likely than falling off a motorcycle without a helmet on

No seat belt at even 5 phone can cause bad bodily injury depending where the impact is from.

 

[drmwevr08]

Some moron was doing this on the interstate in Cali and was pissed because I shifted like a foot and almost turned him into a grease spot. Then he tried to brake check me. I kinda wanted to abide his death wish but I had places to be.

 

[SCNCY]

Minnesota should focus on getting the drivers that camp in the left lane and fine the **** out of them first. Worst state ever for this.

Wisconsin is actually worse.

Minnesota has 2 kinds of interstate drivers: people who go 65 in the left lane, and people who go 95.

Nope, northeast is worse. Not only do people camp in the left lane, the right lane is too packed with slower cars where you can’t get around the left lane camper.

Source: when my wife and I lived in New Jersey for a year, we were looking at buying a house in Rhode Island and made the trip on 95 a lot of weekends. Also, just living here, I don’t think people know the concept of moving to the right when going slower. I don’t think that is taught in drivers ed here.

 

[somecyguy]

I'll argue Iowans are worse at this than MN's. Honestly, as someone who lived in MN for 10 years, the drivers up there are so much better than Iowans. Most of the time when I'm in MN behind a left lane camper, it's someone from Iowa.

Overall I agree, but for some reason northbound I35 between Albert Lea and the southern MSP suburbs are filled with MN drivers in the left lane. It drives me nuts.