I’ve felt the frustration of sitting idle in sweltering heat while cars inch forward. Like many riders, I’ve wondered: Could lane splitting make this safer and faster? But as of 2025, the answer remains a hard no—Texas lawmakers have doubled down on banning the practice.

Here’s what every motorcyclist needs to know about the current laws, the uphill battle for filtering, and why this issue matters.

Lane Splitting Remains Illegal, But Filtering Gets a Glimmer of Hope

In 2023, Texas lawmakers left no room for debate. House Bill 4122 (HB 4122) sailed through the legislature with rare bipartisan support (124-10 in the House, 30-0 in the Senate) and was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. The bill added Section 545.0605 to the Texas Transportation Code, explicitly stating that motorcycles cannot:

  • Operate between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.
  • Pass a vehicle within the same lane.

Violators face fines up to $175, potential reckless driving charges, and insurance headaches (more on that later). The law also clarifies that lane sharing—two motorcycles riding side-by-side in one lane—is perfectly legal.

But 2025 brought a flicker of change. Representative Ron Reynolds introduced HB 2957, a bill to legalize lane filtering—allowing riders to inch between stopped or slow-moving traffic (under 10 mph) at speeds up to 20 mph on divided highways. Think of it as a compromise: not full splitting, but a way to avoid becoming a hood ornament for distracted drivers.

Texas ban on motorcycle lane splitting

Why Lawmakers Won’t Budge (For Now)

The core argument against lane splitting boils down to safety—or the perceived lack of it. Opponents, including many lawmakers, worry about:

  • Visibility issues: “Motorcycles appearing out of nowhere” in drivers blind spots.
  • Unpredictable reactions: Drivers swerving or opening doors unexpectedly.
  • Enforcement challenges: Cops struggling to monitor speed differentials.

HB 4122’s supporters argued that keeping bikes in their lanes reduces chaos. But riders aren’t buying it. On forums like r/TexasRiders, many share stories of near-misses in stopped traffic. “I’d rather risk a ticket than get rear-ended by a pickup texting,” one rider posted.

Pro-filtering advocates counter that Texas is ignoring data from states like Colorado and Utah, where filtering is legal and tied to fewer rear-end collisions. Colorado’s 2024 law even includes a public awareness campaign to educate drivers.

Real-World Consequences and Road Rage

Let’s say you filter through stopped I-35 traffic anyway. Beyond the ticket, here’s what’s at stake:

  1. Insurance claims: Texas 51% comparative negligence rule means if you’re caught splitting lanes during an accident, you could be barred from claiming damages—even if the other driver was texting.
  2. Premium spikes: A single citation could hike your rates.
  3. Road rage: Let’s face it—some drivers hate seeing bikes advance in traffic.

Local enforcement varies. DPS troopers and city cops can ticket you, but I’ve heard mixed anecdotes. A Houston rider told me he’s been waved past stopped cars during a crash cleanup, while an Austin rider got slapped with a $175 fine for filtering at a red light.

The National Trend

While Texas digs in its heels, other states are cautiously embracing filtering:

  • Colorado (2024): Legalized filtering in stopped traffic at ≤15 mph.
  • Arizona (2022) and Utah (2019): Similar laws for roads with speed limits ≤45 mph.
  • California: The OG lane-splitting state, where splitting is woven into the commuting culture.

Even with these examples, Texas remains skeptical. Lawmakers argue that our highway infrastructure (narrow lanes, aggressive drivers) isn’t suitable for filtering. However, riders point to states with comparable traffic, like Colorado’s Denver metro, where the practice is now routine.

What’s Next for Texas Riders?

Texas motorcyclists must navigate a firm anti-splitting landscape in 2025. While HB 2957 offers a sliver of hope, the political roadblocks are real. Until then, keep your bike in lane, stay hyper-aware at stoplights, and maybe—just maybe—avoid I-35 at 5 p.m.

For now, the ban stands. But the conversation isn’t over. One San Antonio rider said: “We’re not asking to weave through traffic at 80 mph. We just want to survive rush hour.