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.
HB819 amends Virginia’s pedestrian roadway rules in § 46.2-928. Under existing law, pedestrians generally may not use roadways unless sidewalks are absent or unsuitable, and if they must walk on the roadway they are required to keep to the extreme left side or edge and face oncoming traffic. The bill adds a specific exception for pedestrians walking on a roadway that is part of a divided highway with a physical barrier or unpaved median and no shoulders: in that situation, pedestrians may keep to the extreme right side or edge of the roadway, regardless of the direction they face.
The measure is a narrow traffic-safety and roadway-use clarification focused on divided highways where the usual “walk facing traffic” rule may be impractical or unsafe because of barriers and the absence of shoulders. It does not broadly change pedestrian rights or duties on all roads, but instead creates a limited alternative rule for a defined roadway configuration. The bill was enacted as Chapter 431 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly.
HB819 updates § 46.2-928 of the Code of Virginia by carving out an exception to the general pedestrian rule requiring travel on the left side of the roadway facing traffic. For divided highways with a physical barrier or unpaved median and no shoulders, pedestrians may instead walk on the extreme right side or edge. The change affects pedestrians, motorists, and law-enforcement interpretation of pedestrian conduct on certain divided roadways, while leaving the broader prohibition on roadway walking and the general sidewalk preference intact.
The available record shows no committee transcript, vote tally, or recorded opposition, so there is no documented debate to indicate strong controversy. The bill’s enactment suggests it was viewed favorably or as a practical clarification of pedestrian safety rules. Overall sentiment appears neutral to positive, with the measure likely seen as a targeted adjustment rather than a major policy change.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. The only potentially debatable issue is whether allowing pedestrians to walk on the right side of a divided highway roadway, even in limited circumstances, could create confusion or safety concerns compared with the traditional rule to face traffic. However, the bill text itself narrows the exception to roadways with barriers or unpaved medians and no shoulders, indicating an effort to address a specific roadway-safety scenario rather than a broad relaxation of pedestrian restrictions.