Colorado to allow motorcycle lane filtering starting next month

Drivers should be aware of a new Colorado law affecting motorcycle traffic going into effect in August.

Starting on August 7, 2024, Senate Bill 24-079 on lane filtering will go into effect statewide in Colorado.

While the law will allow lane filtering in some circumstances, lane splitting will illegal.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the new law allows motorcyclists to pass or overtake other vehicles if:

• The other vehicles are stopped, such as waiting at a traffic light
• The lanes used to ride between cars are wide enough for safe passing
• The motorcycle, when passing, does not exceed 15 miles per hour
• When stopped vehicles begin to move, the motorcyclist shall cease passing

Under the new law motorcyclists may not overtake or pass:

• On the right shoulder
• To the right of a vehicle in the farthest right-hand lane
• In a lane of traffic moving in the opposite direction

You can take a look at the video below for more on the motorcycle lane filtering law.