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HB1367 • 2026

Right shoulder/motorcycles

Improving motorcycle safety by authorizing the use of the right shoulder of limited access roadways.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Orcutt, Representative Klicker, Representative Couture, Representative Simmons, Representative Mena, Representative Griffey, Representative Barkis
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Transportation
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Right shoulder/motorcycles

Right shoulder/motorcycles

What This Bill Does

  • Right shoulder/motorcycles

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

Official Summary Text

Right shoulder/motorcycles

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to improving motorcycle safety by authorizing the 1
use of the right shoulder of limited access roadways; and amending 2
RCW 46.61.608. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 46.61.608 and 2013 c 139 s 1 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no 7
motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any 8
motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply 9
to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.10
(2) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in 11
the same lane or shoulder occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. 12
However, this subsection shall not apply when the operator of a 13
motorcycle overtakes and passes a pedestrian or bicyclist while 14
maintaining a safe passing distance of at least three feet.15
(3) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic 16
or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. 17
(4) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a 18
single lane. 19
(5) Motorcycles may temporarily travel on the right shoulder of a 20
limited access roadway when traffic is stopped or when the average 21
H-0150.1
HOUSE BILL 1367
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Orcutt, Klicker, Couture, Simmons, Mena, Griffey,
and Barkis
Read first time 01/17/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 HB 1367
speed of the vehicles on the travel lanes of the limited access 1
roadway is 25 miles per hour or less, subject to the following 2
restrictions: 3
(a) A motorcycle may not use a right shoulder at a speed greater 4
than 10 miles per hour faster than the speed of traffic in the lane 5
adjacent to the shoulder;6
(b) Motorcycles may not be operated more than one abreast on a 7
right shoulder;8
(c) A motorcycle must reenter traffic lanes if the shoulder is 9
occupied by a parked vehicle, emergency vehicle, tow truck, or other 10
vehicle providing roadside assistance until the motorcycle is safely 11
past the obstruction; and12
(d) A motorcycle is prohibited from continuing to operate on the 13
right shoulder of a limited access roadway when the motorcycle 14
reaches an exit:15
(i) From which the driver can access an alternative route; or16
(ii) That can be used to access nearby food or fueling services 17
that are visible to the motorcycle driver from the limited access 18
roadway.19
(6) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall not apply to 20
police officers in the performance of their official duties.21
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1367