No, and New York says so in those words
Most states leave you to work this out from a general lane-discipline rule. New York does not. Its Vehicle and Traffic Law has a section devoted to motorcycles and lanes, and one subdivision of it addresses the maneuver directly:
“No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.”
That is section 1252(c), and it settles the question. No interpretation of “as nearly as practicable” needed, no argument about whether a line counts as a lane. Lane splitting and lane filtering are both prohibited in New York, in stopped traffic and in moving traffic alike, because the wording covers “lines or rows of vehicles” as well as marked lanes.
The whole section, because the rest of it is in your favor
Read only 1252(c) and New York looks restrictive. Read the section whole and it is a genuinely pro-motorcycle piece of law — three of its five subdivisions protect riders rather than constrain them.
(a) Full use of a lane.
“All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle or motorcycle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. However, this subsection shall not be construed to prevent motorcycles from being operated two abreast in a single lane.”
(b) No overtaking within a lane. “The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.”
(c) No riding between lanes or rows. Quoted above.
(d) Two abreast maximum. “Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.”
(e) Police exception. “Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.”
The three things riders miss
1. You have a right to the whole lane, and a driver squeezing you out is breaking the law. Subdivision (a) is written as an entitlement. A car edging into your lane space because “there is room for both of you” is doing something the statute expressly prohibits. That is a useful thing to know exists, whether or not you ever rely on it.
2. Two motorcycles side by side in one lane is legal here. Subdivision (a) says so — the full-use rule “shall not be construed to prevent motorcycles from being operated two abreast in a single lane” — and (d) caps it at two. So a pair riding staggered or abreast is fine; three across is not. This is the distinction people collapse when they say “New York bans lane sharing”. It bans sharing a lane with a car, not with another motorcycle.
3. The police exception is to (b) and (c) only. An officer on duty may overtake within a lane and may ride between lines of vehicles. Subdivision (a) — your right to full use of a lane — is not disapplied for anyone.
Where New York sits among the states
Having covered five states in statute now, the drafting patterns fall into three groups:
| Approach | States | What the statute does |
|---|---|---|
| Names it and prohibits it | New York, Texas, Georgia | A motorcycle-specific section: full use of a lane, no overtaking in-lane, no riding between lanes or rows, two abreast permitted, police exception |
| Names it and does not prohibit it | California | Defines lane splitting and authorizes educational guidelines. No prohibition, no speed limit |
| Does not name it at all | Illinois, Ohio | Prohibited by the general requirement to drive within a single lane — or, in Ohio, within a single lane or line of traffic |
New York’s wording is close to identical to Texas’s and Georgia’s, which is why the same four elements keep appearing. The full picture is in lane splitting laws in every state, and the individual pieces are Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, Illinois and Ohio.
New York City does not have its own rule
Worth saying, because the assumption is common. Riders in Manhattan traffic sometimes suppose that the density of the city creates a practical exception, or that filtering is tolerated in a way it is not upstate. Section 1252 is state law and applies across New York State. The traffic is worse in the city; the statute is the same.
What to do in stopped traffic instead
The risk that makes riders want to filter — sitting stationary between two vehicles with nowhere to go — is real. Manage it within the lane:
- Stop offset rather than centred, so you have somewhere to move.
- Leave a gap in front you could actually use.
- Watch the mirror until the vehicle behind has stopped, then relax. It is the cheapest habit in city riding.
- Stay in gear until traffic behind has settled.
- Use your right to the full lane. Subdivision (a) means you are entitled to position yourself where you are most visible rather than tucking into a corner of the lane.
New York also requires headlights and rear lights to be on whenever you are riding, which does more for conspicuity than most riders credit.
Gear, which New York does not leave optional
Universal helmet law — the IIHS records New York as covering “all riders” — and the state manual states that all operators and passengers must wear helmets meeting the federal FMVSS 218 standard. Eye protection is required of all operators even if the motorcycle has a windshield, to the ANSI Z87.1 standard.
That windscreen point is a real difference from states that treat a screen as satisfying the eye protection requirement. Motorcycle helmet ratings explained covers the standards, and the helmet size chart covers fit.
If you are still getting licensed, the New York process — including a pass mark of 14 out of 20 and a supervisor who must stay within a quarter of a mile — is in the New York motorcycle license, and the training in the New York motorcycle safety course.
Frequently asked questions
Is lane splitting legal in New York?
No. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1252(c) states that “no person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles”. The wording covers rows of vehicles as well as marked lanes, so filtering is prohibited too.
Is lane filtering legal in New York City?
No. Section 1252 is state law and applies throughout New York State, including New York City. There is no city-level exception for dense traffic.
Can two motorcycles ride side by side in one lane in New York?
Yes. Section 1252(a) states that the full-use-of-lane rule “shall not be construed to prevent motorcycles from being operated two abreast in a single lane”, and (d) limits it to two. Three abreast is not permitted.
Do motorcycles have a right to the full lane in New York?
Yes. Section 1252(a) entitles all motorcycles to full use of a lane and provides that no motor vehicle or motorcycle shall be driven so as to deprive a motorcycle of it.
Can police lane split in New York?
Yes, on duty. Section 1252(e) provides that subsections (b) and (c) — overtaking within a lane and riding between lanes or rows of vehicles — do not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.
What is the penalty for lane splitting in New York?
It is a moving violation under the Vehicle and Traffic Law. We have not verified the current fine schedule and do not publish figures we have not read, so check the current penalty with the New York DMV or the court handling the citation.