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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63829</law_id><section_number>46.2-905</section_number><catch_line>Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards or scooters, and mopeds on roadways and bicycle paths</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Regulation of Traffic</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="12">Bicycles</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any person operating a bicycle, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span>, <span class="dictionary">motorized skateboard or scooter</span>, or <span class="dictionary">moped</span> on a <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under conditions then existing shall ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of the <span class="dictionary">roadway</span>, except under any of the following circumstances:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> When overtaking and passing another <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> proceeding in the same direction; <a id="paragraph-232532" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-905/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> When preparing for a left turn at an <span class="dictionary">intersection</span> or into a <span class="dictionary">private road or driveway</span>; <a id="paragraph-232533" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-905/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving <span class="dictionary">objects</span>, parked or moving <span class="dictionary">vehicles</span>, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width <span class="dictionary">lanes</span> that make it unsafe to continue along the right curb or edge; <a id="paragraph-232534" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-905/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> When avoiding riding in a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> that must turn or diverge to the right; and <a id="paragraph-232535" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-905/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> When riding upon a one-way road or <span class="dictionary">highway</span>, a person may also ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> as safely practicable.
			For purposes of this section, a &#x201C;substandard width <span class="dictionary">lane</span>&#x201D; is a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> too narrow for a bicycle, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span>, <span class="dictionary">motorized skateboard or scooter</span>, or <span class="dictionary">moped</span> and another <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> to pass safely side by side within the <span class="dictionary">lane</span>.
			Persons riding bicycles, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility devices</span>, <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycles</span>, or motorized skateboards or scooters on a <span class="dictionary">highway</span> shall not ride more than two abreast. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and shall move into a single-file formation as quickly as is practicable when being overtaken from the rear by a faster-moving <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span>. However, the failure to move into a single-file formation shall not constitute <span class="dictionary">negligence</span> per se in any <span class="dictionary">civil action</span>. This section shall not change any existing <span class="dictionary">law</span>, rule, or procedure pertaining to any such <span class="dictionary">civil action</span>, nor shall this section bar any claim that otherwise exists.
			Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span> to the contrary, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Conservation and Recreation shall permit the operation of <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility devices</span> on any bicycle path or trail designated by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> for such use. <a id="paragraph-232536" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-905/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1974, c. 347, &#xA7; 46.1-229.1; 1980, c. 130; 1981, c. 585; 1989, c. 727; 2001, c. 834; 2002, c. 254; 2003, cc. 29, 46; 2004, cc. 947, 973; 2006, cc. 529, 538; 2007, cc. 209, 366; 2013, c. 783; 2019, c. 780; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 462; 2022, c. 341.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
