Riders who have ridden in California often ask whether they can split lanes in Texas, or filter to the front at a red light on Loop 410. The short answer is no. Since September 1, 2023, the Texas Transportation Code has had a section written just for motorcycles in traffic lanes, and it settles the question. This article goes through what that section says, what it gives riders as well as what it takes away, and how it comes up after a crash.
What Section 545.0605 says
Section 545.0605 of the Transportation Code, titled Operation of Motorcycles on Roadway Laned for Traffic, was added by House Bill 4122 in 2023 and took effect on September 1, 2023. In Subsection (a) it says the operator of a motorcycle:
- is entitled to full use of a lane, and a motor vehicle may not be driven in a manner that deprives a motorcycle of the full use of a lane;
- may operate the motorcycle two abreast in a single lane with another motorcycle; and
- may not operate more than two abreast in a single lane with other motorcycles, may not operate between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, and may not pass a motor vehicle while in the same lane as the vehicle being passed.
Subsection (b) says those limits do not apply to a police officer performing official duties.
Lane splitting, lane filtering and lane sharing
| What riders call it | What it means | Allowed in Texas? |
|---|---|---|
| Lane splitting | Riding between lanes of moving traffic going the same way | No |
| Lane filtering | Moving between stopped or slow cars to the front at a light | No: it is still riding between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction |
| Passing in the lane | Overtaking a car while sharing its lane | No |
| Riding two abreast | Two motorcycles side by side in one lane | Yes |
| Three or more abreast | Three motorcycles side by side in one lane | No |
Riding on the shoulder to get around traffic is a separate question. Section 545.058 allows driving on an improved shoulder only in listed situations, such as to stop, to slow before a right turn, to let a faster vehicle pass or to avoid a collision. Getting past a backup on I-35 is not one of them.
The half of the law that protects riders
It is easy to read the 2023 law only as a ban. Its first line matters just as much: a motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a lane, and a car or truck may not be driven in a way that deprives it of that. Before 2023, Texas relied on the general lane rule in Section 545.060, which tells every driver to stay as nearly as practical within a single lane and to leave it only when that can be done safely. Section 545.0605 now says in so many words that a driver may not crowd a rider within the rider’s own lane.
That helps in the crashes we see on Loop 1604 and US 281: the driver who drifts toward the lane line beside a motorcycle, or tries to squeeze past a rider in the same lane. It also answers the insurer who says a rider was weaving. Moving within your own lane, to be seen or to avoid debris, is using the full lane the law gives you.
What happens to a claim if the rider was splitting lanes
Breaking a traffic rule does not end an injury claim on its own. Texas decides fault under Chapter 33 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code: the jury gives each person a percentage of responsibility for the harm. Under Section 33.012 the rider’s damages are reduced by the rider’s percentage, and under Section 33.001 the rider recovers nothing if that percentage is greater than 50.
So if a rider was filtering between stopped cars and a driver swung out of the lane without looking or signalling, the jury weighs both. The rider’s lane position will count against the rider; the driver’s unsafe lane change under Sections 545.060 and 545.104 will count against the driver. The outcome depends on the evidence, and an insurer will push hard to get the rider past 50 percent. That is when the rider needs a motorcycle crash lawyer San Antonio riders can call.
Practical points for riders
- Take the full lane where you need to be seen. The law gives it to you.
- Riding side by side with one other bike in a lane is legal; three is not.
- Do not filter at lights, even when traffic is stopped. It is not legal in Texas, and an insurer will use it.
- If a driver crowds you in your lane and you crash, write down where each vehicle was in the lane as soon as you can. Lane position is often the whole case.
For the other Texas rules that matter to riders, including the helmet law and the insurance minimums, see our page on Texas motorcycle laws.
Questions people ask
Is lane filtering legal in Texas?
No. Section 545.0605 bars riding between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, and Texas has no exception for stopped traffic.
Can two motorcycles ride side by side in one lane in Texas?
Yes. Section 545.0605 allows two motorcycles to ride two abreast in a single lane, but not more than two.
Can a car share my lane?
No. Section 545.0605 entitles a motorcycle to the full use of a lane and says a motor vehicle may not be driven in a way that deprives it of that.
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