Colorado’s Motorcycle Lane Filtering Law

Colorado’s lane-filtering law for motorcyclists has been in effect for over a year. It is still too soon to know if it has improved the number of motorcycle crashes and injuries, which the law was intended to do.

The law allows motorcyclists to pass stopped vehicles while going 15 mph or less, as long as the lane is wide enough for them to pass safely on the left of the stopped vehicle while staying in the same traffic lane as the overtaken vehicle(s) and without entering the oncoming lane or right shoulder.

Riding between lanes on the lane marker line, even when traffic is stopped, is not permitted. Many motorcyclists are unclear about the difference between lane filtering and lane splitting. Colorado’s law limits the practice to congestion or stoplights, aiming to reduce rear-end collision risks without encouraging aggressive maneuvering.

There are often liability disputes when a collision occurs involving a motorcyclist who filters a lane or who tries to split a lane. Based on the Colorado law, the blame for the crash falls on the motorcycle rider if the cars are moving. Motorcyclists are responsible for ensuring that all conditions are met to safely and legally filter.

Have you been injured in a motorcycle or car collision? Bloch Ongert can help. We’ve been helping injured people receive the compensation they deserve for over 30 years. Call Bloch Ongert today at 303-331-1700 to speak directly to an attorney.

This information was sourced from The Denver Gazette. The original article can be found here: https://www.denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/2025/11/10/colorados-motorcycle-lane-filtering-law-boon-or-bane/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OutThere%20Colorado%20Here%20%20Now%20111125&utm_content=OutThere%20Colorado%20Here%20%20Now%20111125+CID_63f79f8cf6f95ab305cae26b8cab0006&utm_source=campaign_monitor_email&utm_term=CLICK%20HERE