Can motorcycles ride on the shoulder in Texas? How about lane splitting? What to know
Motorcycle riders are part of everyday traffic in Texas, but do laws for motorcycles differ from those driving a car?
Nearly 10 million motorcycles were registered across the country in 2021, according to Statista. Of those motorcycle registrations, New York had the most at 969,825, while Texas was a few spots below at 343,292.
Drivers may have seen motorcyclists weave through traffic or pass them on the shoulder, but is that exactly legal? Here’s what we know:
Can motorcycle riders drive on the shoulder in Texas?
Yes and no, according to Texas law.
Texas Transportation Code section 545.058 states that drivers are legally able to drive on an “improved” or paved shoulder in certain instances. Those include:
- To stop, stand or park.
- To accelerate before entering the main highway.
- To decrease to make a right turn.
- To pass a vehicle that is slowing or stopped in the middle of the road.
- To allow another vehicle to pass in front of them.
- To avoid a collision.
- As permitted or required from traffic signs or devices.
So while motorcycle drivers are permitted to drive on the shoulder in some occasions, passing other drivers to get ahead of them on the highway is not one of them.
Is lane splitting legal in Texas?
No, lane splitting is illegal in Texas.
Lane splitting, also known as white lining, is when a motorcycle rides between rows of slow moving or stopped vehicles in the same lane. The method is used to weave through and pass traffic, but is highly dangerous.
House Bill 4122 was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott and went into effect on Sept. 1, making lane splitting illegal in Texas.
The amendment made to Texas Transportation Code 545.0605 states that, “The operator of a motorcycle may not operate the motorcycle between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.”
Motorcyclists who violate the transportation code by lane splitting could face multiple $100 fines and/or jail time, according to Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs law firm. HB 4122 is the first Texas legislation to formally outlaw lane splitting in the state.
The only state that legally allows lane splitting is California.
Can motorcyclists share a lane in Texas?
Yes, motorcyclists can share a driving lane side-by-side in Texas.
While HB 4122 outlawed lane splitting in Texas, on the flip side it made it legal for two motorcyclists to ride together in the same lane side-by-side. However, the law states that only two riders are allowed to ride together in the same lane.
“The operator of a motorcycle may not operate the motorcycle more than two abreast in a single lane with other motorcycles,” Texas Transportation Code section 545.0605 states.
