Fact Sheet: Riding Two Abreast

Fact sheet prepared by the Virginia Bicycling Federation ahead of the 2026 General Assembly session.

You can view this document in PDF form here.

OVERVIEW

Improve safety by removing ambiguous language and allowing bicycling two abreast except on roadways with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH or greater and with only one travel lane in the direction of the bicyclists’ travel.

Reasons to Support

Improves the safety of people bicycling.
- Riding two abreast makes people on bicycles more visible to drivers and promotes safer overtaking by changing lanes to pass.
- Allows parents and others to ride beside less-experienced riders.
- Shortens the length of a group, which can make it easier for vehicles to pass.
Requires two-abreast bicyclists to “not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic” on two-lane roadways with a posted speed limit 35 MPH or greater, in recognition of a concern of Senator Stuart in 2022. This bill would continue to prohibit two-abreast bicycling on higher-speed two-lane roadways when an overtaking vehicle is present.
Removes ambiguous language not found in the Uniform Vehicle Code, namely, “and shall move into a single-file formation as quickly as is practicable when being overtaken from the rear by a faster-moving vehicle.”
Twenty-three states allow two-abreast bicycling on roadways with no restrictions.
States that allow two-abreast riding with restrictions commonly use language recommended by the Uniform Vehicle Code: “Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.”

Problems to be solved

Virginia’s current law prohibits a parent from riding a bicycle next to their child on a neighborhood street when “being overtaken from the rear by a faster-moving vehicle”. Virginia’s law contains ambiguous language that differs from clearer, simpler standards used by most other states. This bill updates the statute to allow two abreast riding on low-speed roads and provides clearer, commonly-used language for limiting riding two-abreast on higher speed roads.

Why is allowing riding two abreast on bicycles safer?

Visibility. Compared to riding single file, riding two abreast makes people on bicycles more visible from behind and in front.
Easier Passing. Riding two abreast shortens the length of the group by half.
Enough Room to Pass. Riding two abreast discourages drivers from attempting to pass bicyclists in the same lane when there is not enough room in that lane to safely do so.

What studies have been done?

A 2020 North Carolina legislative study concluded that two-abreast bicycling is safer than riding single file and recommended no state restrictions on two-abreast bicycling.
A 2020 Australian study of risk factors for cyclists concluded that riding two abreast in a traffic lane decreased risk.
A 2021 study in Spain, found a higher the level of compliance with safe passing distance for riders riding two abreast

Has the Virginia General Assembly considered this bill before?

In 2004, HB 552, Hargrove, the Code of Virginia was updated to remove a blanket restriction on riding two abreast and instead allow riding two abreast if the rider does not impede the flow of traffic.
In 2021, HB 2262 (Hurst) removed all restrictions on two-abreast bicycling in Virginia as is the norm in 23 other states.
In 2022, SB 362 (Stuart) restricted two-abreast bicycling in Virginia, including language introduced in 2004 that is not used in any other state code, namely, that “Persons riding two abreast …shall move into a single-file formation as quickly as is practicable when being overtaken from the rear by a faster-moving vehicle.”

More about Virginia Legislation

Virginia's legislative sessions are brief and hectic. Over the course of the year, WABA works with a variety of partners including the Virginia Bicycling Federation to build support for bike-friendly legislation, as well as funding for trails and street safety improvements.

Past victories include law requiring drivers to pass bicyclists with at least three feet of space, allowing bicycles on VRE Trains, and funding for the Long Bridge bike and pedestrian crossing over the Potomac River. Current priorities include legalizing the Bicycle Stop-as-Yield, an e-bike purchase incentive program, and allowing bicyclists to proceed on the Leading Pedestrian Interval at stop lights.

More about Laws & Policy

WABA works with grassroots advocates at the local, county and state level to support laws and policies that make it easier and safer to walk, bike, and take transit. And we work to changes ones that make biking less safe, make it harder to build bike infrastructure, or that deprioritize the safety and convenience of people walking, biking, or taking transit.

In practice that means advocating for robust and transformative Vision Zero programs, enforceable Complete Streets policies, and funding for new infrastructure that supports biking, walking and transit.

Other regional legislative priorities include:

Reforming Contributory Negligence (passed in DC, in the works in Maryland and Virginia).
Getting rid of the Level of Service engineering standards in transportation decision-making.
Funding E-bike purchase rebates.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.