On Thursday, Senate Bill 24-079 ‘Motorcycle Lane Filtering and Passing’ was signed into law in Colorado, which will make it legal for motorcycles to pass other vehicles between lanes in certain scenarios later this year.

The decision to pass the bill was based on several studies that determined lane filtering can be safer for motorcyclists compared to stopping in traffic, including one that noted motorcyclists were seven times more likely to be hit while stopped compared to when filtering.

A big part of this new law is that lane filtering is only allowed in very specific scenarios – the vehicle being passed must be stopped, the motorcycle can only be moving at up to 15 miles per hour, and the road must have lanes that are wide enough to make the pass safely.

There are also rules about when its set to still be illegal to lane filter – on the right shoulder, to the right of a vehicle in the farthest right lane on a non-limited access highway, and between lanes where traffic is moving in opposite directions.

It’s also worth noting that original text of the bill would have allowed passing in the event of the other vehicle is moving slowly and for motorcycles to be traveling at up to 20 miles per hour while lane filtering. Both of those rules were struck from the bill before it was signed.

Two key instances where the new ‘lane filtering’ law will apply will likely be in standstill traffic and at traffic lights.

As for when the law goes into effect, the bill reads “this act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly.” That will be August 7, 2024.

Currently, the law is set to be in effect until September 2027. Data related to the law will be analyzed, and it’s reasonable to believe that if the change is deemed a success, it will be extended.

Read the full text of the law here.

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