LaneSplitting
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Colorado lane filtering law

Lane filtering legal since August 7, 2024

Colorado allows a rider to pass stopped vehicles at 15 mph or less when the traffic in the next lane is stopped too. The permission is temporary: the statute repeals it on September 1, 2027 unless the General Assembly extends it.

The rules a rider must follow

Every condition below comes from the statute. If one isn’t met, the normal lane rules apply and riding between lanes is not allowed.

  1. Only the driver of a two-wheeled motorcycle may overtake or pass in the same lane § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(I)
  2. The vehicle being overtaken or passed must be stopped § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(I)(A)
  3. Vehicles in adjacent same-direction lanes must also be stopped § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(I)(B)
  4. The road's lanes must be wide enough to pass safely § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(I)(C)
  5. Ride at 15 mph or less while passing § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(I)(D)
  6. Conditions must permit prudent operation while overtaking or passing § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(I)(E)
  7. Stop overtaking or passing once the vehicles being passed begin moving § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(II)
  8. Do not pass on the right shoulder § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(III)(A)
  9. Do not pass to the right of a vehicle in the farthest right-hand lane if the highway is not limited access § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(III)(B)
  10. Do not pass in a lane of traffic moving in the opposite direction § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(III)(C)
  11. Authorization repealed effective September 1, 2027 (sunset) § 42-4-1503(3)(b)(IV)
  12. A violation of the section is a class A traffic infraction § 42-4-1503(6)

“the driver of a two-wheeled motorcycle may overtake or pass another motor vehicle in the same lane as the motorcycle if: (A) The overtaken or passed motor vehicle is stopped”

The law asks the Colorado Department of Transportation to study the safety effects of filtering. When we checked on October 26, 2026, we did not find a bill extending the 2027 expiry, but that search was not exhaustive.

Ask your legislators

If you ride in Colorado, the law already allows this. Riders in other states can point their legislators to it as a working example. Find yours on the Colorado General Assembly legislator lookup or at mystatereps.com.

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