ST. PAUL – Motorists are urged to use extra caution this weekend as thousands of motorcyclists take to the road for the Fall Flood Run beginning Friday. The route takes riders along the scenic Mississippi and St. Croix Valley roadways between the Twin Cities and Winona.

This is the first Flood Run since lane splitting and filtering became legal, which is a new concept for a lot of Minnesotans. Riders and motorists should be alert, but also patient as Minnesotans become familiar with lane sharing. Cooperation from both riders and motorists is needed to ensure a safe event, said Jay Bock, motorcycle safety administrator for the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center.

“Making smart choices can save lives,” Bock said. “Motorcyclists should use their best judgment about if and when they can lane split and filter safely. Motorists and riders should work together to make sure everyone can have a safe and enjoyable ride.”

Law enforcement agencies in southeast Minnesota, along with Minnesota State Patrol troopers, will be out patrolling the area during the event to ensure a safe riding environment. 

The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center offers these safety tips:

Motorists:

• Watch for motorcycles. Due to their smaller size their speed and distance is more difficult to judge.
• Always look twice before entering a roadway or changing lanes.
• Give riders room and check blind spots before changing lanes or making a turn.

Riders:

• Be prepared for inattentive drivers by staying focused on riding and keeping your speed in check.
• Lane splitting is never allowed at more than 25 mph, and no more than 15 mph over the speed of traffic. Lane filtering is never more than 15 mph over the speed of traffic. Wear the gear. Motorcyclists should wear a Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved helmet and brightly colored protective gear for visibility and protection.
• Ride sober. One-third of all motorcycle fatalities involve impaired riders.

More information on lane splitting and filtering can be found at motorcyclesafety.org.

About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s more than 2,400 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.

About the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center 
The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) is part of the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and provides high-quality rider education, training and licensing to prevent motorcycle crashes and the resulting fatalities and injuries. It was created in the early 1980s to address record high motorcyclist fatalities.

MMSC provides rider training courses, develops awareness campaigns and informational materials, and coordinates third-party skills testing for motorcycle license endorsement through the Basic Rider Course and evening testing at select DVS exam stations.

Motorcycle safety is a component of Toward Zero Deaths (TZD), the state’s primary road safety initiative. A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.