Legalize Lane Splitting in Your State! Lessons From Minnesota's Success | Ep. #2- Phil Stalboerger

The subject of the second interview of the Aerostich Podcast is a fellow rider and full-time legislative lobbyist Phil Stalboerger. Phil shares his experiences as a rider growing up, his time and dedication within courtrooms, a life-changing accident, and how he used these experiences to advocate for the successful legalization of lane splitting in Minnesota, making it the 6th state to pass this law. On July 1, 2025, all motorcycle riders in MN will be able to filter through congested traffic.
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[@reecemullins8978]

The cool thing about lane splitting laws is that it doesn’t “force” anyone to lane split or filter.

[@davidmathers1141]

In 2022 my Ducati riding friend and me (on a 1200rt) were riding back from one of the Normandy D Day beaches to our accommodation when we came across traffic. We were connected via intercom so I asked him how confident he was with filtering (lane splitting) OK he said. So I approached the queue with appropriate caution whereupon the lines of traffic just parted before us. We shot through at 50mph confident that we were being looked after. This is in contrast to the UK. Where mean minded and aggressive drivers block any motorcycle just because they can and they don’t like people “jumping the queue”. Lane splitting is completely legal in the UK. So I guess whether or not it works out in Minnesota is dependent on how mean people are. In small congested UK most car drivers are either focussed on their mobile or asleep. Very few pay any attention to what they are doing. BTW, I recently completed 5,000 miles around the Northern states. Including a stop in Duluth where I bought some AD1 pants because I had rather stupidly assumed the weather was fine for jeans.

[@epmrealtyericmccormack6534]

I watched the whole podcast. I am out here I Oregon. I cannot believe the previous Governor did not sign our lane splitting bill into law, when she had the opportunity. The law as explained in the pod, is very sensible. I would love to participate in getting that bill back in the Oregon Legislature.

[@aerostich]

Call Phil Stalboerger (his number is on the video), and he will assist. We, too, would love to see Oregon have lane splitting!

[@PaulLobb-f6s]

I lane split (filtered or lane shared) albeit, illegally in the Philadelphia area for years when traffic was congested. While I am 100% for lane sharing, I understand it isn’t universally popular. So, it’s encouraging to hear that money was appropriated for the education needed to ensure successful adaptation to the new law. Unfortunately, most of our laws have been paid for in blood and sadly more blood will be spilled before all of the states adopt a similar statute. On a personal note, each and every time I decided to lane split it was with some trepidation. The sources of my trepidation were, am I a good enough rider, am I perceived as making a bad situation (traffic congestion) worse and am I going to get a traffic ticket. Having done my research, I believed in the safety benefit and I realized that I wasn’t negatively impacting the drivers of the other vehicles. However, I was fairly sure the drivers of the other vehicles felt a range of emotions as you might have expected. And the reality of the situation is, I definitely got better at lane splitting as I continued. Which is another way of saying, I started out a novice with novice level skills. It’s a skill that is foreign to most riders in the U.S. having never attempted to lane split. I do think, the law as written and as I practiced, is poised for success. I think you are right on the money, riders and other vehicle drivers are definitely going to need some time and training. Your estimate of a decade or more is realistic. Good luck Minnesotans and thank you for your time, patience and passion. Please, if you’re a rider and you haven’t tried it… don’t knock it without getting some education or responsibly trying it. As mentioned, it’s our responsibility to know our bike’s dimensions. Also, sharpen your low speed skills. If you’re not ready, feeling it or your bike’s too wide or your mirrors are positioned to smack other vehicles for Christ sakes… don’t do it. But please don’t rundown something you aren’t comfortable with without educating yourself first, thanks… This soap box is getting slippery, I’d better get down.

[@jimhofner264]

I've been rear ended twice while on my motorcycle stopped in traffic. I'm all for filtering/splitting. Lets catch up with the rest of the world.

[@thealternativevlog]

Almost everyday, in San Antonio, Texas, I lane split on all interstate highways whenever there is start and stop traffic conditions. I'm actually a slow rider, yet as everything slows down I make my way to lane one, and ride the broken white line (between lanes one and two) until I get past the congestion. Then, I move back over to the right lane as everyone starts to speed up. Yes, it's not legal. But neither is driving over the speed limit, which lots of people do when the condition permits. And I lane split when conditions permit too.

[@thomasbrogan8036]

Hmm

[@TWDay-sy6nq]

You are definitely jumping the gun calling it "Minnesota's success." We'll see. My bet is the fallacy of "Minnesota nice" is going to meet, head on, with Minnesota's more violent passive aggressiveness. I believe it was a stupid idea to try to slip in lane-splitting without getting control of exhaust noise. So, we'll see.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

You need to Educate the 4 wheeler drivers, because they are not used to it and they go into Road Rage..

[@reecemullins8978]

Yep, that’s exactly what we are doing.

[@JayBee-cr8jm]

I didn't know that lane splitting was now legal in Minnesota. That being said, I won't do it.

[@aerostich]

Starts July 1, 2025.

[@feloniousmonk3049]

You guys are clueless, FILTERING was legalized in MN. California is the only state that permits SPLITTING, on multiple lane freeways and highways, generally performed between the High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (HOV) and #1 fast lane, with a wider striped gap in the paint left between the 2 lanes you are SPLITTING. Splitting may be performed at any speed between moving cars or stopped cars, and motorcycles.. Filtering is generally in Controlled cross traffic lanes going the same directions on multiple lane streets or BLVDs with speed limits at or under 45 mph, between cars that are MOTIONLESS and stopped. You FILTER between the stationary objects. You SPLIT when you and the CAGERS ( or cars ) are in motion. Get it RIGHT.... from a Californian.

[@aerostich]

Thank you for your comment. The new Minnesota law was carefully written to allow both filtering and splitting and on all highways and surface streets. Where traffic is moving slowly, riders may split lanes up to 15mph faster than the speed of the moving traffic up to a maximum speed of 25 mph. Where traffic is fully stopped, riders may filter through. Both filtering and splitting are allowed between lanes, and also on the shoulder, and drivers face penalties for interference.

[@TWDay-sy6nq]

You are delusional if you imagine that lane splitting can be done at any speed in California. The CHP made it quite clear that there are speed limits, regardless of how poorly you may be riding

[@shawnerickson8074]

No! You’re trying to place an idealistic assumption in drivers that don’t give a damn what around them. Legal or not, lane splitting is tempting death. Y’all go ahead. I’ll pass. Curious: what’s the harm of not lane splitting?

[@GTAIVisbest]

Curious: what's the harm in allowing people to lane-filter?

[@PaulLobb-f6s]

I lane split (filtered or lane shared) albeit, illegally in the Philadelphia area for years when traffic was congested. While I am 100% for lane sharing, I understand it isn’t universally popular. So, it’s encouraging to hear that money was appropriated for the education needed to ensure successful adaptation to the new law. Unfortunately, most of our laws have been paid for in blood and sadly more blood will be spilled before all of the states adopt a similar statute. On a personal note, each and every time I decided to lane split it was with some trepidation. The sources of my trepidation were, am I a good enough rider, am I perceived as making a bad situation (traffic congestion) worse and am I going to get a traffic ticket. Having done my research, I believed in the safety benefit and I realized that I wasn’t negatively impacting the drivers of the other vehicles. However, I was fairly sure the drivers of the other vehicles felt a range of emotions as you might have expected. And the reality of the situation is, I definitely got better at lane splitting as I continued. Which is another way of saying, I started out a novice with novice level skills. It’s a skill that is foreign to most riders in the U.S. having never attempted to lane split. I do think, the law as written and as I practiced, is poised for success. I think you are right on the money, riders and other vehicle drivers are definitely going to need some time and training. Your estimate of a decade or more is realistic. Good luck Minnesotans and thank you for your time, patience and passion. Please, if you’re a rider and you haven’t tried it… don’t knock it without getting some education or responsibly trying it. As mentioned, it’s our responsibility to know our bike’s dimensions. Also, sharpen your low speed skills. If you’re not ready, feeling it or your bike’s too wide or your mirrors are positioned to smack other vehicles for Christ sakes… don’t do it. But please don’t rundown something you aren’t comfortable with without educating yourself first, thanks… This soap box is getting slippery, I’d better get down.

[@TWDay-sy6nq]

The first time you pass a cager with open windows on your unmuffled blubber bike, you're going to find out