Craig D. Rosenbaum | September 16, 2026 | Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists stuck in heavy traffic often wonder whether they can legally ride between lanes to get around the congestion. The answer depends entirely on where you are riding. Only a handful of states currently permit any form of this practice, and the rules vary quite a bit from one state to the next.
If you ride a bike in New York, this is an important topic to learn about. Lane splitting can carry legal consequences here and can also affect your ability to recover compensation if you are involved in a motorcycle accident.
Read on to learn more about how these laws work across the country and what they mean for New York riders specifically.
What Are the Differences Between Lane Splitting and Lane Filtering?
Lane splitting and lane filtering are easy to confuse; however, they actually describe different maneuvers. Lane splitting refers to riding a motorcycle between lanes of traffic that is actively moving. This typically happens on highways during periods of congestion but can happen in other contexts as well.
Lane filtering, meanwhile, is a more limited version. It involves riding between vehicles that are stopped or barely moving, such as at a red light. Since the speeds involved are much lower, many lawmakers view filtering as the less risky of the two practices.
Which States Allow Riders to Lane Split and Filter in 2026?
California is the only state that broadly permits lane splitting in moving traffic as of 2026, although riders must still comply with applicable traffic laws and operate safely and prudently. There is no speed cap written into its statute.
Several other states have passed laws allowing lane filtering under strict conditions. Specifically, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Montana have enacted legislation to that end. Minnesota joined the group on July 1, 2025, and became one of the more permissive states outside California, allowing both lane filtering and limited lane splitting in slow traffic.
Is Lane Splitting Legal in New York State?
No. Both lane splitting and lane filtering are illegal in New York under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1252. That statute prohibits motorcyclists from operating between lanes of traffic or passing another vehicle within the same lane. The only exception applies to law enforcement officers acting in an official capacity.
Riders who are caught lane splitting in New York can face traffic citations. Note, however, that lane sharing is a separate issue entirely. Two motorcycles riding side by side in a single lane is legal in New York, as long as there are no more than two bikes in the same lane at once.
How Lane Splitting Can Affect Liability After a Motorcycle Accident
If a crash occurs while a rider is lane splitting in a state where the practice is illegal, the rider may be found partially or fully at fault. That said, New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still pursue compensation even if you share some of the blame. Your recovery would be reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated altogether.
Other parties can share liability as well. A driver who changed lanes without signaling, for example, could bear significant responsibility for the collision even if the motorcyclist was between lanes at the time.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With a Bronx Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers
Lane splitting laws are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to motorcycle accident claims. If you were injured in a collision in New York, whether lane splitting was involved or not, it is worth reaching out to an experienced attorney for guidance.
For more information, please contact Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We have three convenient locations around Manhattan, NY, near you in New York City, The Bronx, and Brooklyn.
Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers – New York City Office
100 Wall St 24th Floor, New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007
Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers – Bronx Office
1578 Williamsbridge Rd suite 3b, Bronx, NY 10461
(212) 514-5007
(917) 905-2339
Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers – Brooklyn Office
32 Court St #704, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(212) 514-5007
(917) 920-7332
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