this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2024
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You know, I was actually curious about the legality of lane splitting. I've never really done it cause I never bike on roads with more than one lane in each direction. I looked it up state-by-state (all 50), looking only at the actual law, or official state department of transportation documents.
I did not see a single law that prohibits bicycles from lane splitting. Most states that have laws against lane splitting specify that it applies to "motorcycles". Most states are literally just copy-pasted from each other.
Another good chunk of states say that "vehicles" can't lane split, but the official legal definition (which I checked for each state) specifically excludes human-powered devices like bikes from being called "vehicles". In those states, e-bikes and other motorized bicycles would not be allowed to lane split.
One state (virginia) even goes so far to have a law that explicitly states that lane splitting is legal on bikes.
None of that means that you won't get harassed by cops, but it's at least fair to say that there is no state where lane splitting on a regular bicycle is illegal.
if you can get a dui on a bike it is a vehicle, there is no exemption for bike-type vehicles on lane splitting. There ARE exemptions for lane splitting on motorcycles in stupid places like California.
I literally just looked it up for every state. I found no state with a law against lane splitting for bicycles. It's legal in every state.