An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-833.2, relating to regulation of traffic; bicycles and certain other devices; bicycle signals.
HB812 adds a new section to the Code of Virginia establishing rules for bicycle signals at intersections. The bill requires people operating bicycles and other devices allowed in bicycle lanes or shared-use paths to obey bicycle-specific traffic signals when approaching or entering an intersection. It defines the meaning of steady green, steady amber, steady red, flashing amber, and flashing red bicycle indications, largely mirroring standard traffic-signal concepts but tailored to bicycle movement and yielding requirements.
The bill also addresses what happens when bicycle signals or other traffic lights are out of service, directing riders to follow existing rules for signal outages under current law. A violation of the new section is treated as a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of up to $350. In practical terms, the measure creates clearer, separate traffic-control rules for bicycles and similar devices at intersections where bicycle signals are installed.
The bill amends Virginia traffic law by adding § 46.2-833.2, creating a specific legal framework for bicycle signals and expanding the set of traffic-control rules applicable to bicycles and other devices permitted in bicycle lanes or shared-use paths. It affects cyclists, users of other authorized micromobility devices, and motorists and pedestrians interacting with bicycle-controlled intersections, while also giving law enforcement and courts a defined penalty for violations. The measure does not broadly change general traffic-signal law, but it supplements existing provisions with bicycle-specific signal definitions and compliance requirements.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or opposition in the provided materials. The bill’s enactment as chapter law suggests it moved successfully through the legislative process. Based on the text alone, the measure appears to be a straightforward traffic-safety and operational clarification bill rather than a controversial policy change.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee or vote history. Potential areas of concern, if raised, would likely involve how the new bicycle-signal rules interact with existing traffic laws, whether the rules are clear enough for riders and drivers, and the enforcement of a fine up to $350. However, the supplied materials do not identify any legislators, stakeholders, or advocacy groups taking opposing positions.