Virginia HB 661: Traffic reg.; bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, etc., yielding at stop signs.

Bill Text

2027 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104850D

HOUSE BILL NO. 661

Offered January 14, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.32-833 and 46.2-905 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-821.1, relating to traffic regulation; bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and motorized skateboards or scooters.

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Patrons—Willett, Hernandez, Keys-Gamarra and Seibold; Senator: Roem

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Referred to Committee on Transportation

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 46.32-833 and 46.2-905 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-821.1 as follows:

§ 46.2-821.1. Exception to stopping requirement; bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter.

Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 46.2-821 and 46.2-830, any person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter may yield instead of stopping at an intersection controlled by a stop sign if all the following conditions are met:

1. Each intersecting highway has no more than two motor vehicle travel lanes;

2. The person is at least 15 years of age or accompanied by an adult;

3. The person slows to a reasonable speed based on existing conditions; and

4. Before proceeding into the intersection, the person stops for any pedestrian within the crosswalk, as required pursuant to § 46.2-924, and yields the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching or entering such intersection from another direction.

§ 46.2-833. Traffic lights; penalty.

A. Signals by traffic lights shall be as follows:

Steady red indicates that moving traffic shall stop and remain stopped as long as the red signal is shown, except in the direction indicated by a steady green arrow.

Green indicates the traffic shall move in the direction of the signal and remain in motion as long as the green signal is given, except that such traffic shall yield to other vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection.

Steady amber indicates that a change is about to be made in the direction of the moving of traffic. When the amber signal is shown, traffic which has not already entered the intersection, including the crosswalks, shall stop if it is not reasonably safe to continue, but traffic which has already entered the intersection shall continue to move until the intersection has been cleared.

Flashing circular red indicates that traffic shall stop before entering an intersection. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.

Flashing red arrow indicates that traffic shall stop before entering an intersection. After stopping, traffic may cautiously enter the intersection to turn in the direction of the signal. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.

Flashing circular amber indicates that traffic may proceed through the intersection or past such signal with reasonable care under the circumstances. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.

Flashing amber arrow indicates that traffic may turn in the direction of such signal with reasonable care under the circumstances. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic lawfully within the intersection.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a driver of a motorcycle or moped or a bicycle rider person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic light, the driver or rider person may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only if the:

1. The driver or rider person (i) comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for two complete cycles of the traffic light or for two minutes, whichever is shorter,; (ii) exercises due care as provided by law,; (iii) otherwise treats the traffic control device as a stop sign,; (iv) determines that it is safe to proceed,; and (v) yields the right of way to the driver of any vehicle approaching on such other highway from either direction; or

2. For a person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or motorized skateboard or scooter, (i) the pedestrian control signal corresponding to the person's direction of travel and to the parallel crosswalk to the right of the person exhibits words, numbers, or symbols meaning "Walk"; (ii) such person stops for pedestrians and yields the right-of-way to other traffic lawfully within the intersection and to any vehicle approaching the intersection from the