Is Lane Splitting Legal In New York?

The other day I was driving home after a long day of work. As I was heading down I-90, I got stuck in stop-and-go traffic for about 20 minutes. Obviously it was infuriating, but when all three lanes are backed up, there's nothing you can do.

All of a sudden, I hear an engine revving, and see a man on a motorcycle blaze past all the traffic, swerving in between lanes of cars and splitting the lane to get ahead. All I could think was "There's no way this is legal, right?"

What is Lane Splitting?

You've likely seen this before, even if you don't know the term. Lane-Splitting is defined as someone on a motorcycle riding in between lanes of traffic, typically using the lines provided on roadways that cars aren't meant to cross.

This is a method used by cyclists to bypass traffic, as their vehicle is small enough to weave in between lanes of cars, but this action is incredibly dangerous. Lane-splitters are known to move fast, and if someone decides to merge without a visible signal, the cyclist could wind up getting hit.

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Is Lane Splitting Legal?

Due to the unsafe nature of Lane-Splitting, the action is heavily illegal in New York State. This also includes passing in the same lane as the vehicle you are passing.

Penalties vary, but the maximum sentence for a first conviction is a $150 fine, 15 days in jail, a processing charge of $88, and two points on your license. Obviously, these get worse on every following infraction, so avoiding using this method is in your best interests legally, and medically.