Alright, so folks have been asking, and I’ve been hearing the chatter: can you actually lane split here in Minnesota? It’s one of those things where you hear a bit from one guy, something else from another. So, I figured, let me get to the bottom of this myself. Been riding long enough to know you don’t mess around with road rules unless you’re sure.
My Dive into the Rules
So, I did my digging. Didn’t just wanna rely on hearsay, you know? Went and looked up the official stuff, because the last thing I need is a friendly chat with the highway patrol that costs me money. What I found out was pretty straightforward, and actually good news for us riders.
Turns out, things changed recently. Big news: Lane splitting and lane filtering became legal in Minnesota as of July 1st. Yep, you read that right. We can finally do it, but it’s not a free-for-all, and that’s the crucial part I wanted to understand before even thinking about trying it.
The Nitty-Gritty: How It Works in Practice
Now, just because it’s legal doesn’t mean you can weave through traffic like a maniac. There are some very specific conditions, and this is what I focused on learning and now, practicing. Here’s what I’ve been following based on the rules:
- Your speed has to be 25 mph or less. So, this isn’t for when traffic is flowing nicely. This is for when things are jammed up and crawling.
- You can’t go more than 15 mph faster than the surrounding traffic. Again, common sense, right? If traffic is stopped, you’re creeping. If it’s moving at 10 mph, you can do up to 25 mph, but no faster.
So, how’s it been going? Well, I’ve started to use it, cautiously. When I’m stuck in that bumper-to-bumper mess, especially downtown, I’ll now slowly filter through. My first few times, I was probably overly cautious, triple-checking mirrors, making sure car drivers saw me. It’s a new thing for drivers here too, so you can’t assume they’re expecting you.
My biggest takeaway from actually doing it? You have to be hyper-aware. More than usual. I’m constantly scanning, watching for people about to change lanes without looking, doors opening, you name it. It’s not about being fast; it’s about being smooth and safe. If a gap looks too tight, or if I get a funny feeling about a driver, I just hang back. No point pushing your luck.
It definitely helps beat some of the gridlock, and it’s nice to keep moving, however slowly, instead of just sitting there cooking in the sun. But it’s a responsibility. The law gives us the option, but it’s on us riders to do it smart. So, yeah, you can lane split in Minnesota now, but I’m making darn sure I do it by the book and with a whole lot of attention.
