![[08-13-26] Colorado State Patrol Reminds Motorcycle Riders Lane Splitting Is Illegal and Dangerous After Crash in Denver](https://www.denverlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/08-13-26-Colorado-State-Patrol-Reminds-Motorcycle-Riders-Lane-Splitting-Is-Illegal-and-Dangerous-After-Crash-in-Denver.jpg)
DENVER (KKTV) – Colorado State Patrol is reminding motorcycle riders that while lane filtering is legal in the state of Colorado, lane splitting is not and can be dangerous after one rider was riding between vehicles in traffic, leading to a crash.
At about 7 a.m. Friday, two state patrol vehicles were traveling westbound on I-76 near East 88th Avenue in northeast Denver, where a motorcycle was seen riding between the two vehicles while traffic was moving, state troopers said.
As seen from dash cam footage shared by troopers, the motorcycle was seen crashing into the rear of a white sedan as it changed lanes.
The maneuver shown in the video is lane splitting, troopers said, which is different from lane filtering because the surrounding vehicles were moving.
“Lane filtering is legal only when vehicles in the rider’s lane and the adjacent lane traveling in the same direction are completely stopped,” troopers said. “The rider may carefully pass on the left at no more than 15 mph when there is enough room to do so safely and without entering a lane of oncoming traffic.
Troopers also explained what lane splitting is.
“[Lane splitting] occurs when a motorcycle rides between lanes or rows of vehicles while traffic is moving. Slow-moving or congested traffic is still moving traffic and does not qualify for legal lane filtering,” troopers said.
Troopers provided a list of rules riders must know before lane filtering, those include:
Traffic in the rider’s lane and the adjacent lane traveling in the same direction must be completely stopped.
The lane must be wide enough for the motorcycle to pass safely.
The motorcycle may not exceed 15 mph while filtering.
The rider must maintain control and pass safely.
The rider must pass on the left and may not enter a lane of oncoming traffic.
Lane filtering is optional, troopers said. If traffic begins moving, there is not enough space or conditions are otherwise unsafe, the rider must remain in or return to the normal flow of traffic.
Drivers should also check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes, avoid distractions and give motorcycles adequate space.
Source : KKTVÂ
(Credit : CBS News)
