Modern Vespa

Hey folks, MN just allowed lane splitting and filtering as of yesterday, 7/1/25. Today I got to try a short bit of it in a traffic jam. I'd been a bit nervous about it but had no problem for a short bit till traffic sped up. It felt quite safe with plenty of room between cars.
I've reviewed all the MN rules but it doesn't say anything about, say, do I use my turn signal when I'm re-entering a lane of traffic (or leaving one)? Is there any other communication necessary with drivers in either lane or fellow riders to keep things safer? On a 3 lane highway (where I spend most of my commuting time) is there a better side to split (between lanes 1 - 2 or 2 - 3)?
Or are there any hints about allowing both lanes to fully slow down before venturing out (seemed safer).
Anyway, just a splitting noob looking to make this as safe and useful as possible.
Thanks

I'll let you know what has worked for ME. Other people have their own techniques that work for them. I've been doing this since 1989 and have never had an incident.

My number one rule is, ride like nobody knows you're there.

I never beep my horn or rev my engine. If someone is in the way, I wait for an opportunity then pass.

I almost always split between lane 1 and 2. People seem to expect that more in California and that gives you a slight advantage. You're going faster so why not be next to the fast lane, right?

If someone tries to pinch you, be cool and find another way around them. No use being tough and risking getting hurt, the car will always win in a contact.

I cover the front and rear brake whenever I'm splitting. Expect the unexpected. Never pass between a car and a big truck or vehicle. Leave yourself a way out if you can. Pick a safe speed and be on high alert. If another rider comes up behind you, get over and let them pass. Be courteous.

It takes some time to get the hang of it. Set limits for yourself and don't break them. The main thing is to stay safe. I hope this helps.

Just remember as much as you have to get used to it, so do the cars and trucks.

No idea where MN is but here in UK a Police Instructor on a course I was on suggested not to travel at more than 5 miles per hour faster than the traffic you are filtering through.

I've never used turn signals to lane swap but I sometimes stick my arm out to notify a driver I'm entering their lane as it's much more visible in congested traffic.

MN is the state of Minnesota, USA. As of July 1 lane splitting and filtering is allowed at no more than 15 mph faster than traffic, or 25 mph max.

Good idea to use hand signals (I think). How many drivers today know what hand signals are?

I think a good idea. Even if drivers don't quite understand the signal, it's at least a "HEY! I'M DOING SOMETHING HERE!" Of course, this coming from the guy catching someone signaling left on a monkey bike thinking he's waving at me.🙄

The advantage you folks have in Minneapolis is the pervasive "Minnesota Nice" culture.

I have recently finished ten years of scooter-commuting on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles. (about which which an LA Times columnist wrote today: "He (her husband), for example, thinks the 405 is just another freeway while I know it is a shimmering sliver of hell designed by Satan to suck the life out of unwary motorists."

I echo everything BajaRob wrote.

Stay safe, and give drivers a chance to get used to the change.

I'll add - don't just think looking at and avoiding the cars, think about looking for and riding into the gaps in front of and behind them. This can making lane splitting/filtering much smoother.

I always use my signals, and if someone in a car makes it a point to give me space, I always give them a 'thank you' wave or nod if it's safe to do so.

I feel like the more positive acknowledgment riders give cars, the stronger the rapport, and more acceptance/tolerance is earned… even if it's just for the next rider behind me.

As was QUITE wisely observed; cover both brakes! This means you need to be careful with hand signals.
Indicating should be a reflex.

Rules in MN are very similar to here in Belgium.

Being in my car in a traffic jam I almost never notice bikes that are filtering until they are next to me passing by.
So, on the BV, when filtering myself, I assume nobody notices me and keep it safe and be careful. If not enough room to filter safely then no filtering.
I do not use the blinkers, nor hand signals.

Agreed. Look where you want to go. Maybe keep half an eye on where the car's front wheel is pointing too.

I only filter on surface streets when traffic is stopped at a light and always pull up at least even with the cars front bumper so they know that I'm there.

Splitting at speed on the freeway is just too hairy, someone changing lanes could ruin your day.

Hence why you should only go 5mph faster than the vehicles you are passing.

Minnesota ain't so nice any more! We're tops on riots, a few years back Minneapolis was labeled Murderapolis. The big news this weekend is to stop the violence with people firing fireworks at each other and starting street fights like last year...
Plus, come to a MN Loons soccer game; that crowd is not very nice to opposing teams!

Thanks all, good to know. I think it can be a positive experience; I just want to consume some of the wisdom of the Vesparati who have lived with it.

Cheers!

Also watch out for any other rider going faster and catching up with you in lane one-and-a-half - bad juju to hold them up.

I do it on every ride, and as has been said, assume you're invisible, expect the worst out of all of them, and cover the brakes. By that I mean learn to do everything with your fingers over the brakes, on the right hand side this means keeping your index finger and middle finger over the brake lever and working the throttle with your ring finger, pinky, and opposable thumb. This allows you to react faster and to "paint" subtle speed variations and it really helps your control.

One thing I recently learned to look out for is a foot sliding to the side in stopped traffic. I was between some stopped cars and had to wait because the gap wasn't big enough for me to get through and when I put my foot down it slid to the side on some oil or something. I didn't drop the bike but my foot went directly in front of the rear tire of the car to my right, as in pretty much right under the tire. I got it out of there in a flash and nothing came of it but had the car moved forward at that exact moment...not good.

Slow down just a bit before heading past any side view mirrors, the cars can kinda shift to where you can suddenly lose the space you had and you risk dinging someone's mirrors and making them mad. Best to split if you have a good three four of space and traffic isn't going faster than 25, never wanna do it too fast. I do it here but it's ilegal. But Illinois needs to catch up, lane splitting is safer than becoming invisible in traffic.

The answers cover this well. I split often on the freeway and in local traffic on the streets. Two very different sets of reality. On the freeway it's very dangerous to split when there's an open space in either lane that a car from the other lane can quickly slip in to. You don't want to be there when someone jumps over a lane.

In city traffic I often end up riding between the single lane of traffic and the parked cars. There you really have to be on the lookout for cars coming out of parking spots, cars jumping into an open spot, people getting out of the car they just parked, driveways and cars that turn a corner in front of you. Also pedestrians who step off the curb without looking for you. It's lots more challenging than on a freeway.

No one seems to notice turn signals. If you have 4 way flashers, use them.

In the state that has allowed "lane-sharing" the longest, "riding between the single lane of traffic and the parked cars" is actually not legal. Lane-splitting is allowed only between two lanes going in the same direction. California AB51 defines lane-splitting as: "driving a motorcycle … that has two wheels in contact with the ground, between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways." Here, "in the same lane" means that, technically, we're not allowed to straddle the line between the lanes. This is not enforced, and I see law enforcement motorcycle officers doing this all the time.

Also, "California law does not generally permit the use of hazard lights while a vehicle is in motion. Under California Vehicle Code (CVC) 25250" https://tinyurl.com/27mf3glr

Personally, I have no objection to to these two practices.

Shortly after this law was passed, I was pulled over by the CHP for lane-splitting on my MP3. When I explained that the MP3 wasn't technically a three-wheeler (like a Can-Am Spyder, for example), but has a dual front wheel he wished me well and off we rode.

So true. I've seen way to much death and carnage on the 405 over the years.