However, it is not legal in Ohio. ”. 1 to define rather than forbid lane splitting. However, state law may not place any strict limits in terms of speed, but it is recommended that motorcyclists avoid splitting lanes by moving faster than 10 mph more than the drivers around them or when surrounding. Governor Doug Ducey signed Senate Bill 1273 into state law on March 24, 2022. While there is currently proposed legislation to allow lane splitting, it is not legal in Virginia. Unlike some states where lane splitting is explicitly legal or illegal, Florida's stance on the matter isn't as clear-cut. In 2016, the Colorado House Committee shot down. In January 2017, the aptly-named State Senator Jeff Kruse ® introduced Senate Bill 385, which would have allowed lane splitting in Oregon, if the rider was on a roadway marked for at least 50 mph in traffic moving slower than 10 mph. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident call us today for a free consultation. California’s rule, which was passed in 2016, permits motorcyclists to switch lanes if they drive less than 50 miles per hour and the speed disparity between the motorcycle and. 2 MV Agusta F4 LH44. Many motorcycle riders in the United States, including North Carolina, use this maneuver to bypass traffic jams. This new standard was established in 2016, although lane splitting was informally allowed in the years prior to the change. New York is one of them. Examples would be improper passing, unlawful lane use, reckless driving, ect. In addition to. 3 2019 BMW S1000 RR – 193 mph. Updated on Oct 18, 2022. Thus far, the only state with a lane splitting law that explicitly legalizes the maneuver is California. The law would have allowed motorcycles to pass between cars or pass on the right in traffic moving at less than 5 mph under the following conditions:Lane splitting is the act of riding a motorcycle or scooter between lanes of traffic on a highway. Specifically, under Illinois statute 625 ILCS 5/11-703, the rider of a two. It's one of the latest states to legalize a version of lane splitting. Is Lane Splitting Legal in California? Lane splitting is an illegal maneuver in all states with one notable exception. As of 2021, California still remains the only state to permit lane splitting, providing that the maneuver is executed in a safe and prudent manner. With the passage of SB 9 in Montana earlier this month, motorcyclists will be able to legally lane-split throughout the state under certain conditions starting October 1, 2021. Per Illinois statute 625 ILCS §5/11-703 (c), any person operating a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle, moped, or. As of 2022, lane filtering is legal in Arizona. Only California directly permits lane splitting. The issue of legalizing lane splitting in Texas has come up several times in the state's legislature. Although it was never “illegal,” the state of California enacted house bill AB 51 to officially make lane splitting legal. states ban it explicitly, but most states—including Delaware—do not address the practice at all. Both lane splitting and lane filtering are illegal in SC, but lane sharing is permitted. Operators must be at least 16 years old and have obtained a Class M endorsement on their driver’s license to operate a motorcycle on public roads. Lane filtering became legal in 2021 for motorcyclists under the following circumstances:. Currently, California is the only state that allows lane-splitting, and even then, it’s only allowed under certain circumstances. However, motorcycles can share a lane or. The state is committed to reducing the number of motorcycle fatalities on the roads by enforcing laws that are designed for safety. Unfortunately, the bill failed to make it from the committee to the floor of the. You also cannot ride on the shoulder of the road. In the state of Illinois, lane splitting is in. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading To a Far Western Land. In only one state – California – is it explicitly legal, per a 2016 bill. This law permits filtering at up to 20 mph (32 km/h) between vehicles that are stopped or moving at up. Helmet Laws In Arkansas: 2. S. ”. 608 very specifically says that “No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. The bill: * passed full Senate and House floor votes, with 3-to-1 bipartisan majorities * had 17 sponsors, with a nearly even split of Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate, from rural, urban, and suburban districtsThe Current Legal Status of Lane Splitting in Texas. Probably saying it should be legal to lane split and pass the car when it comes to a stop in the road because if he was a few feet over he would've got smashed and possibly died. Lane splitting, which is the practice of a motorcyclist riding between lanes of traffic to pass other vehicles, is not explicitly legal or illegal in Montana. Lane splitting is currently illegal in many states. In California, lane splitting is allowed as long as it is done safely and does not exceed 10 mph above the speed of surrounding traffic. ”. While motorcyclists are more likely to be injured in an accident, drivers or passengers of other vehicles may also be injured in a high-speed collision or an. As in most states, lane splitting is illegal. In states where lane splitting is illegal, motorcyclists may be subject to fines or other punishments for breaking the law. B. “Lane splitting” refers to the practice of riding a motorcycle between clearly marked lanes for traffic traveling in the same direction. The motorcyclist must be: On a road with a speed limit of 45 mph or. Illinois law does not specifically allow the practice, but it does not specifically prohibit it either. As in most states, lane splitting is illegal. This bill allows motorcyclists to lane split to overtake stopped or slow vehicles as long as:On March 3, 2021, Montana became only the 3rd state to legalize lane splitting when Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill 9 into law. 4. “ (a) An operator on a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic: (1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane. Splitting at 60mph between two lanes going a steady 50mph is far, far safer than splitting at 15mph between one lane going 0mph and one lane going 10mph. In the absence of a specific law, the practice of lane splitting is governed by the general rules of the road and the principles of safe driving. A state bill has been introduced that would allow operators of a two-wheeled motorcycle to pass another vehicle that is stopped or traveling at no more than 10 miles an hour between two lanes of traffic. Noise Restriction Laws in Arkansas: 4. What states can bikes lane split? Currently only one state in the US allows lane splitting. Several other states do not allow lane splitting but allow similar behaviors. Although there is no mention in state legislation, the Idaho Manual on Traffic Rules states that “the practice of lane sharing is not legal in Idaho. Last year, we reported on California Assembly Bill 51, a bill attempting to codify lane-splitting into state law as opposed to keeping it in current unwritten enactment. Montana. It is hard to find data on the safety of lane splitting because most states outlaw it. Washington. It involves navigating between two lanes of slow-moving traffic or stopped traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles moving in the same direction. Motorcycle riders must overtake using a separate lane, similar to other vehicles. Alcohol and drug use impair a rider’s judgment and coordination. The research indicates that lane splitting is generally safe when it happens in traffic moving slower than 50 mph so long as the motorcyclist does not operate 15 mph faster than surrounding traffic. California was, for decades, the only state that allowed lane splitting. It is also referred to as filtering, stripe riding, or lane sharing. Lane-sharing is legal in NC under GS § 20-146. So, what states is lane splitting legal in 2021? At the moment, the legality of lane splitting is still being debated in a number of states. 20, no rider is permitted to go between lanes of traffic or rows of vehicles. French riders staged protests in multiple cities in 2021 when the possibility of a lane-splitting ban in that country was raised. California is the. It is a common practice in many countries outside the US, however when it comes to states within the United States, lane-splitting is only legal in California and. Jerry Brown in 2016. 2d 1391 (10th Cir. Riders of motorcycles can also drive in the opposite lane as other vehicles in order to pass them or get ahead of them. 9, which “allows the operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle to overtake stopped or slow-moving vehicles at a speed. You can only lane split if: You’re going 20 mph or less. However, this does not mean that it is completely legal. Technically, lane splitting is not legal in the state of Texas. License Laws in Arkansas: 3. Lane splitting is not particularly legal in the United States. The bill never became law. In Texas, is lane splitting allowed in 2021? In Texas, lane splitting has not been made legal. Lane sharing of any kind is expressly prohibited in 34 states, including New York and Florida. state to allow lane splitting is California. The debate on whether lane-splitting should be legal in Oklahoma has gained significant attention in recent years among the motorcycling community, as well as among lawmakers and the general public. Utah, Oregon, Maryland, and Connecticut are considering lane sharing laws in their state legislatures, but none of these laws are on the books yet. Lane splitting is legal in the states of California, Arizona, and Nevada. Plenty of other U. B. Lane Splitting. 2 min read. States without laws regarding lane splitting or filtering include: Washington DC also does not have laws pertaining to lane splitting. While HB 4122 outlawed lane splitting in Texas, on the flip side it made it legal for two motorcyclists to ride together in the same lane side-by-side. Bill to allow ‘lane splitting’ by motorcyclists clears Oregon Legislature. Lane sharing is when two motorcycles are traveling side by side in the same lane. Arizona is one of the states where lane splitting is legal, though there are some restrictions. states are considering adopting legislation to making lane splitting legal. However, the law states that only two riders. The weather and road conditions permit safe and reasonable. Lane. In spite of this, there are very stringent laws on lane splitting in the United States, and people often wonder if lane splitting is legal in California. 1. You also can't lane split near freeway exits or ramps. In 2018, Utah became the second state to legally recognize. The law is clear — lane splitting is not legal in Alabama. The reason: If you’re driving a motorcycle and lane-splitting, then your motorcycle isn’t occupying a vehicle space on the freeway because you’re driving between lanes or sharing a lane. While lane splitting allows for a faster commute and can be a convenient way…Lane splitting, also referred to as filtering, is the act of driving a motorcycle, scooter, or moped between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. The same kind of bill, which was supposed to legalize lane splitting, was introduced back in 2010 but it didn’t pass. Salem, OR 97314-0001. Currently, lane splitting is only legal in a handful of US states. In Utah, filtering through traffic is only permitted under certain conditions. However, under House Bill 917, it will be legal for motorcycles to go between lanes, provided that they run at five to 15 mph above the surrounding traffic. 9, which goes into effect October 1, 2021, says that. July 20, 2021. As long as you are a legal adult, you do not have to wear a helmet if you ride a motorcycle in New Hampshire. 9. As a result, California was the first state in the U. Pros and Cons of Lane Splitting. Is lane-splitting legal in North Carolina? Lane-splitting is a controversial practice subject to a varied patchwork of laws and restrictions throughout the United States. Vance, 893 F. Lane splitting is legal in some states, while it is illegal in others. Only California directly permits lane splitting. California was the first state to authorize lane splitting by removing language from its. In states where it is legal, the rules vary. California law allows lane splitting only when the surrounding traffic is moving at 30 mph or less. Lane splitting is legal in a number of states across the US. The State of Illinois does not have any specific lane-splitting law in the books, but standard right-of-way laws do prohibit it. The state’s law was modeled after California law which defines lane splitting as “driving a motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane. 3 11. Lane-splitting is not legal in Florida, in fact, the only U. The victory is a huge boost for Montana’s motorcycle riders. PLAN AHEAD! Complete the online driver license/. Lane splitting remains against the law in the State of Florida. However, RCW 46. In my city, Seattle, I actually see a lot of bikers lane-splitting on the freeway. Motorcycle lane splitting is broadly legal in California, and legal in Utah, Arizona and Montana under specific circumstances. In Utah, filtering through traffic is only permitted under certain conditions. In the remaining states, lane splitting isn't recognized as a legal maneuver, but it's not explicitly banned. For a free legal consultation, call 516-932-0400 . According to state legislature, the motorcyclist is entitled to the full use of the lane. , Ste 668, San Francisco, CA 94104 and at 3140 Chapman St. Most users ever online was 158,966 at 04:57 AM on 01-16-2021. This means that any type of lane splitting is. Lane-splitting is legal in California—with the caveat that motorcyclists lane-split only when traffic slows to 40mph or below, and that riders only travel ten miles per hour faster than the slow traffic around them. Why Is Lane-Splitting Illegal in NYC? NYC isn’t alone in outlawing lane-splitting. S. Also known as lane filtering, lane splitting is a widespread practice around the world in which motorcycles share lanes with cars and trucks to reduce traffic congestion. Additionally, motorcyclists cannot overtake another vehicle within the same lane, which means that lane splitting is illegal in our state. 060, a roadway operator who is in at least two clearly marked traffic lanes shall drive as practically as possible within one lane. Lane splitting is illegal in most other states in the United. Several other states do not allow lane splitting but allow similar behaviors. S. In Texas, there is no law specific to lane splitting. In Utah, lane filtering (a form of lane splitting where riders move to the front of a line of. Ultimately, lane splitting should only be done in states where it is legal, and any motorcyclist who attempts this should use the utmost care in completing the maneuver. As of now, lane splitting is not explicitly legal or illegal in Hawaii. made lane splitting conditionally legal in Montana. However, New York law. What I have heard anecdotally is that no one in the greater Seattle area is getting pulled over just for filtering. 316. Still, Hawaii, Montana, Arizona, and Utah have modified versions of the. All other states have either banned lane splitting or simply don’t have laws addressing the issue. Not specifically prohibited in state law. Other states have rules in place on the topic. Zach Courts. Lane splitting is a motorcycle maneuver in which a rider passes between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic. is different than your current legal name. Passenger Laws in Arkansas: 5. In addition to. Multiple state bills asking for the legalization of lane splitting have been introduced recently, but as of 2021, New Mexico continues to outlaw lane splitting. Oregon lawmakers are taking another crack at letting motorcyclists travel between. Additionally, motorcyclists are not permitted to overtake other vehicles in the same lane of traffic; they must only pass in separate lanes. While this legislation is generally worded for cars, a strict interpretation makes lane-splitting for motorcyclists illegal. There are 12 other states in which the practice is questionable, such as Texas, Montana, Missouri, Arkansas, and North Carolina. B. No, lane splitting is not legal in Alabama. Like in 47 other states, it's illegal in Arizona for motorcyclists to roll through the space between lanes of traffic, commonly known as lane splitting. Discover the comprehensive state-by-state guide to motorcycle laws, covering helmets, lane splitting, licensing, and more. Utah and Montana have legalized it more recently, although the exact parameters differ somewhat from state to state. Mar 30, 2022. In Mexico, it’s legal and tolerated (be polite and friendly though!), but los gringos in the USA and Canada aren’t as accepting. It increases the risk of collisions with other vehicles. A handful of states have legalized lane filtering. Lane Splitting and Lane Filtering are Illegal in SC. Lane Splitting in Florida. After years of attempts, lane splitting might be coming to Oregon. Arizona is the most recent state to legalize lane filtering, allowing motorcyclists to go past stopped vehicles in the same direction. signed California Assembly Bill 51, which defined and legalized motorcycle lane-splitting. Currently only California legally allows motorcyclists to lane split. While lane splitting is common in many countries worldwide, the United States leaves traffic laws in the hands of each state. There are currently multiple states considering the formal recognition of legal motorcycle lane splitting. Lane filtering in Montana starts on October 1 of this year. Tea stop conversations start the same type of debate that rages when discussing crossing a solid white line to pass queuing. Zach Courts. 61. Also known as lane filtering, lane splitting is a widespread practice around the world in which motorcycles share lanes with cars and trucks to reduce traffic congestion. In Ontario, as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, lane filtering isn. Riders do this to save time or to bypass traffic congestion. Arizona passed a law that goes into effect in September of 2022, and Montana enacted its lane-splitting law in 2021. Lane splitting is against the law in Washington State. California. In other states, such as New York and Connecticut, the practice has been explicitly banned. June 5, 2022. C. Several petitions have circulated online seeking support for lane splitting, but. Gjelten September 4, 2023, 3:51 pmThe debate over lane-splitting is contentious, to say the least. Certain rules and regulations in the state of Ohio apply only to motorcyclists. At the present time, only one state—California—has specifically declared lane-splitting to be legal. state that has legalized lane-splitting is California. Meanwhile, those against lane splitting refer to the high rate of motorcycle accidents in the state: nearly 7,000 in. The debate on whether lane-splitting should be legal in Oklahoma has gained significant attention in recent years among the motorcycling community, as well as among lawmakers and the general public. It took effect on Oct. Transportation Code Section 545. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, has introduced a bill that would require the Colorado Department of. Tons of people from the 0mph stop-and-go lane are going to try and jump into the 10mph lane without noticing or caring about you. This new standard was established in 2016, although lane splitting was informally allowed in the years prior to the change. “Splitting” a lane refers to passing between two lanes, while lane sharing describes two vehicles traveling side-by-side in the same lane. S. It took effect. S. In general, when lane splitting is legal, it's typically only allowed at lower rates of speed (often up to 40 miles per hour) and when the motorcycle isn't moving more than 10 to 15 miles per hour faster than surrounding traffic. A bill to legalize lane splitting passed the legislature in 2021 with bipartisan support, but then-Gov. Since lane splitting is illegal in the state of Wisconsin, a motorcyclist who violates the laws in this manner may be held liable for any injuries or damages that result from an accident. Currently, California is the only state that allows lane-splitting, and even then, it’s only allowed under certain circumstances. However, a handful of these states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oregon, to name a few) are considering or have. ”. 608 states:I thought in this country everything is legal unless there is a law against it. arizona lane filtering bill 'Green News Report' - November 16, 2021. Lane splitting is when a motorcycle rides in between lanes of cars or other larger vehicles while traffic is moving, usually at speeds up to 50 miles per hour, but most commonly at speeds around 30 miles per hour or less. If the movement can be made with safety it is not unlawful. ”The first state to permit lane splitting is California. California is the only state where lane splitting is legal, according to CSP. Someday, lane splitting may become legal in Oregon. Motorcycle crashes can be particularly serious, and one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road is called “lane splitting. states are considering adopting legislation to making lane splitting legal. 55 of the Ohio Revised Code, which is where you can find these rules, allows for two motorcycles to ride side by side within one lane. A few years ago, California passed a law that allows. . Montana Senate Bill 9, which goes into effect October 1, 2021, says that motorcyclists are allowed to lane-split when: The motorcycle is not operated at a speed in excess of 20 miles an hour, and. Lane splitting, where a motorcycle weaves between two lanes of cars, is illegal in most states. The CHP’s guidelines state that motorcyclists should only split the lane when. Lane splitting, also known as “white lining” and even “lane filtering” in some regions, is a practice where a motorcyclist rides their bike between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic on a multi-lane road. 14-289b) that makes lane splitting illegal. It mostly happens when traffic stalls or when. Filtering in Utah became legal in May. state. Drivers in the far left lane should move to the left of their lane to give motorcyclists ample room to pass. 12/03/2021 . These states are: Arkansas; Delaware; District of Columbia; Idaho;. Motorcycle Safety Program Page. Lane splitting, or riding a motorcycle between lanes, is a great way for motorcyclists to reduce congestion and potentially save time when commuting. 060 states that motorcyclists, moped riders and bicyclists cannot ride adjacent to motor vehicles in the same lane, nor can they ride between two rows of vehicles. Lane splitting is illegal. California (A. Lane filtering is the process of a motorcycle rider moving past stationary or slow-moving vehicles safely at a speed of 30km/h or less. If you have been injured as a result of lane splitting, you may want to consult with a local attorney as soon as possible. California is the only state in the US to legalize the maneuver. The lane width is sufficient to allow safe passage. This year alone, the Sunshine State has seen 300 fatalities resulting from motorcycle crashes. Bills proposed in other states have similar guidelines, though none have attracted enough support to get anywhere. The key to lane splitting not being expressly prohibited in Missouri motorcycle riding laws is that you cannot be targeted for it by police or insurance companies if you are doing it safely. In states with less freeway traffic, lane-splitting doesn’t need to be legal. Because California’s lane-splitting laws are so unique, you’ll need a personal injury attorney with the skill and knowledge to handle your case. There are a handful of states with pending legislation and Utah, Hawaii, and Montana have adopted forms of lane splitting, but California continues to be the only. The Garden State joins more than a dozen jurisdictions where the practice is not addressed by state lawbut left largely to the discretion of local law. As per the law, lane splitting is allowed as long as it is done in a careful manner. Lane splitting is riding a bicycle or motorcycle between lanes or rows of slow moving or stopped traffic moving in the same direction. By: Janaki Jitchotvisut. I thought in this country everything is legal unless there is a law against it. All motorcycles stored in Georgia must be registered with the DMV to operate on public. While HB 4122 outlawed lane splitting in Texas, on the flip side it made it legal for two motorcyclists to ride together in the. However, many riders do not realize that lane-splitting is not legal in North Carolina, and some knowingly violate. Instead, police officers may use their discretion when faced with motorcyclists who are white lining. However, lane splitting is not legal in Texas. While HB 4122 outlawed lane splitting in Texas, on the flip side it made it legal for two motorcyclists to ride together in the same lane side-by-side. 4 2008 MV Agusta F4 R 312 – 193 mph. Well, yesterday, another attempt at drawing attention to the idea of legal lane-splitting nationwide was started on the White House web site. Posted: Oct 7, 2021 / 11:02 AM MDT. Hawaii allows riding on the road shoulder at up to 10 mph. Motorcycle enthusiasts have been trying to get lane splitting legalized, at least in certain circumstances, for years. S. Lane splitting is illegal in Texas, and if caught, a motorcyclist can be fined $175 or more for riding between the lanes. 61. It’s worth noting that lane splitting is legal in many other countries, including most European countries, and there is a push. Plus, they point to states like California where lane splitting is legal and accidents like rear-end collisions are actually lower. The 4-year-old law lets motorcycles move between stopped. Jerry Brown in 2016. Lane splitting occurs when a motorcycle rider travels down the center line, in-between rows of stopped vehicles, or when a motorcycle passes a vehicle in the same lane. While lane splitting can help alleviate traffic congestion and make the. Utah uses the term lane filtering to describe the practice and defines it thusly: “Lane filtering” means, when operating a motorcycle other than an autocycle, the act of overtaking and passing another vehicle that is stopped in the same direction of travel in the same lane. (Senate Bill 1273) Arkansas. However, lane splitting is also not authorized in Missouri. Doing so may result in a moving violation. Every motorist, motorcycle or car, is entitled to the width of the lane they’re in. It is illegal in all other. This is why if a cyclist is involved in an accident while lane splitting, the court will likely find the cyclist liable for lane splitting, which has not been accepted. There does not seem to be any widespread support in the. In most of the European Union lane splitting is legal, and in a number of countries, such as France, Italy, Spain or Netherlands, it's even expected. Jerry Brown recognized lane splitting in 2016 when he signed a bill into law. However, Kansas does allow two motorcycles to ride side by side in one single lane of traffic, which is called lane sharing. Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic. The. lane splitting occurs on the freeway and on every other public road, be it city or state, county, federal, rural,or scenic. California was the first to legalize the maneuver in 2013, and a few other states have followed suit. So far, only California has definitively legalized lane splitting/filtering. As of the time of writing, lane splitting is illegal in Illinois. California (A. S. DMV - Transportation Safety Office. Lane splitting is, as stated in California’s AB 51: “driving a motorcycle, as defined in Section 400, that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles. The short answer is yes. And while some states do not specifically address lane splitting, Illinois does, and the relevant Illinois law states: "The driver of a 2 wheeled vehicle may not, in. The state did not legalize it; instead, it simply updated the language in the California Vehicle Code section 21658. The maneuver is permitted when “on a road with lanes wide enough to pass safely. 2021, will go into effect. Both lane splitting and lane filtering are hot topics for Georgia motorcycle riders. It’s important to understand that lane splitting is dangerous to riders and other road users. It is quite commonplace in most all of Europe, Asia, and some other countries in the world to see motorcyclists lane filtering when vehicles are stopped at a stop light, or actual lane splitting when sharing lanes at normal speeds. As of now, lane splitting is not explicitly legal or illegal in Hawaii. On October 1, 2021, Montana became the 3rd state to legalize lane splitting with the passing of S. This typically happens at stop lights. Lane splitting, however, is prohibited. The truth is, there is no specific law in Texas that prohibits lane splitting. The question arises whether lane splitting is legal in the state or not. A motorcyclist could face a traffic infraction if they are caught splitting lanes in Colorado. Lane splitting, which refers generally to a motorcyclist traveling between 2 lanes of traffic that are headed in the same direction, is one of the most controversial and. Proponents of legal lane-splitting also note a study conducted in 2015 by UC Berkeley that found lane-splitting isn. For example, when traffic is standing still at an intersection, the cyclist may travel between traffic to move safely up the lane. B. Out-of-state riders should familiarize themselves with the laws of each state. Lane splitting, also known as lane sharing, white lining, or filtering, is the practice of driving a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle between the lanes of traffic on a road. Still, Hawaii, Montana, Arizona, and Utah have modified versions of the law that allow motorcyclists to drive between lanes when traffic is stopped. The law goes on to say that motorcycles cannot ride between lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles. Lane splitting is not legal in Oregon. Kate Brown vetoed the bill, convinced that it wasn’t safe. Intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm to the rider is illegal. Borcich, 460 F. Lane splitting is legal in some states, and illegal in others. Opening a vehicle door to impede a motorcyclist is illegal. Lane splitting, also known as lane sharing or filtering, is the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes of slow moving or stopped traffic in the same direction as that traffic. The state’s Motorcycle Operator Manual issued a stern warning against lane splitting. It’s essential to notice that in Canada and almost all the United States (aside from California, and three different states) – lane splitting is uniformly prohibited. There are 10 states where it's not specifically legal or banned.