All motorists must understand and respect the lane-jumping law.
Colorado legalized lane filtering in August 2024. While the law continues to spark some controversy, both riders and drivers are now required to learn this law and respect its legality. Any change in road rules takes time to catch up with all motorists. However, vocalizing a “lack of knowledge” of the law won’t help you avoid a ticket, especially if you are caught acting aggressively.
“Aggressive driving will not be tolerated by anyone using the roadway. This includes a driver tailgating, brake-checking or intentionally blocking a motorcycle from re-entering the lane position,” explained Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Bad behavior can escalate, creating a dangerous situation on the road. Your responsibility is to not participate in illegal, risky, or uncivil behavior.”
If a driver feels that a rider is doing something illegal or aggressive, they should distance themselves from the rider and call *CSP when in a stopped and safe location. If there is a passenger in the vehicle, they can make this call and even take a photo or video of the rider.
“Motorists need to respect the legality of lane filtering even if they don’t always understand a rider’s decision to use the maneuver,” explained Col. Packard. “There are frequent gaps of empathy and tolerance between roadway users, regardless of vehicle type. It’s not a hierarchy out there; the roads are meant to be shared, and safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
According to Colorado’s new filtering law, five rules riders must follow to filter legally are:
- To pass, traffic in the rider’s lane and adjacent lanes going in the same direction must be at a complete stop.
- The lane must be wide enough to fit the vehicle and motorcycle while passing.
- The motorcycle must go 15 mph or less.
- The rider must pass safely and control the motorcycle.
- The rider must pass on the left and not enter the oncoming traffic lane.
“Take a minute and put it in perspective,” stated Col. Packard. “Riders are in a much more vulnerable position than a person in a vehicle. A rider holds the responsibility to practice lane filtering safely and legally because they are most at risk. It is also the responsibility of every motorist to share the road.”
