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HB819 • 2026

Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways.

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-928 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Carr
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly state what happens when shoulders are available, leaving this detail unspecified.

Walking Rules for Pedestrians on Divided Highways

This law allows people walking on divided highways without shoulders to walk on the right side of the road instead of the left, regardless of which way cars are coming.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the rule that pedestrians must walk on the left side of the road when there is no shoulder available and they are on a highway with barriers or unpaved areas between lanes.
  • Allows pedestrians to walk on the right side of such roads, even if it means facing traffic coming from behind them.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Pedestrians who need to walk on roadways without sidewalks or shoulders in areas with physical barriers or unpaved spaces between lanes of a highway.

Terms To Know

divided highways
Highways that have separate sections for traffic moving in opposite directions, often separated by a barrier or an unpaved area.
shoulders
The edge of the road next to the main travel lane where pedestrians can walk safely.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if there are shoulders available on divided highways.
  • Does not address situations where sidewalks are present but not suitable for walking.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 431 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0431)

  3. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  4. 2026-03-14 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  5. 2026-03-11 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB819)

  6. 2026-03-10 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-10 House

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-10 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB819ER)

  10. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Read third time

  11. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  12. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Rules suspended

  13. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  15. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-02-26 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation (14-Y 0-N)

  18. 2026-02-16 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB819)

  19. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  20. 2026-02-10 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

  21. 2026-02-09 House

    Read third time and passed House (88-Y 10-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-02-06 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  23. 2026-02-05 House

    Read first time

  24. 2026-02-03 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation (20-Y 1-N)

  25. 2026-01-28 Highway Safety and Policy

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

  26. 2026-01-22 Highway Safety and Policy

    Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy

  27. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100641D

  28. 2026-01-13 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways.
Permits pedestrians, when walking on a roadway that is part of a highway divided by a physical barrier or barriers or an unpaved area, and when there are no shoulders of the highway present, to keep to the extreme right side or edge of the roadway, regardless of the direction of traffic they face. Under current law, pedestrians, when permitted to walk on a roadway, are required to keep to the extreme left side or edge thereof. The bill also clarifies current law, which requires pedestrians walking on a roadway to face oncoming traffic.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
An Act to amend and reenact §
46.2-928
of the Code of Virginia, relating to pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
46.2-928
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
46.2-928
. Pedestrians not to use roadway except when necessary; keeping to left.
Pedestrians shall not use the roadways for travel, except when necessary to do so because of the absence of sidewalks which are reasonably suitable and passable for their use. If they walk on the hard surface, or the main travelled portion of the roadway, they shall keep to the extreme left side or edge thereof, or where the shoulders of the highway are of sufficient width to permit, they may walk on either shoulder thereof.
Pedestrians walking on a roadway shall face oncoming traffic.
However, when walking on a roadway that is part of a highway divided by a physical barrier or barriers or an unpaved area, and when there are no shoulders of the highway present, pedestrians may keep to the extreme right side or edge of the roadway, regardless of the direction of traffic they face.