HB 1367
In CommitteeHouse
Right shoulder/motorcycles
Improving motorcycle safety by authorizing the use of the right shoulder of limited access roadways.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill allows motorcycles to use the right shoulder of limited access highways during heavy or slow traffic to improve safety and mobility, under strict conditions. It also clarifies that police officers may use shoulders and lane splitting for official duties, while maintaining existing bans on general lane splitting and riding more than two abreast.
- Allows motorcycles to use the right shoulder of limited access roadways when traffic is stopped or moving at 25 mph or less, but only under specific conditions.
- Limits motorcycle use of the right shoulder to one abreast and requires speeds no more than 10 mph faster than adjacent traffic.
- Requires motorcyclists to reenter traffic lanes if the shoulder is blocked by parked vehicles, emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or other roadside assistance vehicles.
- Prohibits continuing on the right shoulder past an exit that leads to an alternative route or visible food/fueling services.
- Permits police officers to bypass normal lane-passing rules while on duty.
- Maintains existing rules that motorcycles cannot ride between lanes of traffic (lane splitting) or more than two abreast in a lane.
Who is affected
- Motorcycle riders — Motorcycle riders gain the legal right to use the right shoulder of limited access highways under specific conditions, which may improve safety and reduce frustration during heavy or slow traffic.
- Drivers of other vehicles — Other drivers may experience changes in traffic flow near shoulders and need to be aware of motorcycles using shoulders in certain conditions, especially during congestion.
- Law enforcement officers — Law enforcement officers gain flexibility to maneuver around traffic when responding to emergencies or enforcing traffic laws.
- Emergency and roadside service personnel — Emergency responders and roadside service providers may encounter motorcycles using shoulders, requiring awareness of shared space during incidents.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Allowing motorcycles to use the right shoulder during heavy or slow traffic may reduce the risk of rear-end collisions — a leading cause of motorcycle fatalities — by enabling riders to avoid stopped or slow-moving vehicles directly behind them, especially in blind spots.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)By giving motorcyclists a legal option to bypass congestion, the bill may reduce rider frustration and aggressive riding behaviors (e.g., weaving, unsafe lane changes), potentially lowering overall crash rates and improving traffic flow consistency.
TransportationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)Explicitly permitting police officers to use lane splitting and shoulder use while on duty enhances their ability to respond quickly to emergencies and enforce traffic laws without being impeded by congestion — improving public safety response times.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(6)Limiting shoulder speed to 10 mph over adjacent traffic provides a clear, enforceable standard that balances mobility with safety — reducing the risk of excessive speed differentials while still allowing meaningful time savings during congestion.
TransportationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(a)Requiring motorcyclists to vacate the shoulder when it is blocked by emergency or roadside vehicles protects first responders and promotes safer shared use of the shoulder during incidents — reducing risk to both motorcyclists and service personnel.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(c)
Potential Concerns (5)
The prohibition on continuing on the right shoulder past an exit with visible food/fueling services may create confusion and inconsistent enforcement, as visibility of such services can be subjective and vary by time of day, weather, or driver perception — potentially leading to unsafe last-minute lane changes or hesitation by motorcyclists.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(5)(d)(ii)Requiring motorcyclists to reenter traffic lanes when the shoulder is blocked by emergency or roadside vehicles may place them at risk if traffic is still slow or stopped — especially if they must merge into a lane with vehicles moving faster than 10 mph over the shoulder speed limit, increasing collision risk during merging.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(c)Allowing motorcycles to travel up to 10 mph faster than adjacent traffic while on the shoulder may create speed differentials with adjacent vehicles that are not expecting this, especially if drivers misjudge the speed of the motorcycle relative to traffic flow — increasing risk of side-swipe or merge collisions.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(a)The bill does not require motorcyclists to signal before entering or exiting the shoulder, nor does it define safe distances for merging back into traffic — creating ambiguity that could increase crash risk during shoulder use, especially in high-density congestion where reaction windows are short.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)Limiting motorcycles to one abreast on the shoulder may cause bottlenecks if multiple motorcycles approach a congested segment simultaneously — potentially forcing unsafe lane changes or causing traffic to bunch up, undermining the bill’s stated goal of improving mobility.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Motorcycle riders gain a legal, safer option to avoid rear-end collisions in congestion — especially beneficial for commuters on high-traffic corridors like I-5 or SR-167. However, they face new responsibilities (e.g., monitoring shoulder obstructions, speed differentials) and potential enforcement ambiguity.
Drivers of other vehicles may experience slightly longer merge times or unexpected motorcycle movements near shoulders, but overall traffic flow may improve due to reduced motorcycle frustration and erratic behavior. The net effect is likely neutral to modestly negative for this group.
Law enforcement gains explicit legal authority to use shoulders and lane splitting for official duties — improving response efficiency and officer safety. This is a clear win for operational flexibility without added cost or liability risk.
Emergency and roadside service personnel may face increased awareness demands when working near active shoulders, but the requirement for motorcyclists to vacate the shoulder during their operations reduces collision risk and improves their own safety.
State and local transportation agencies benefit from reduced crash frequency and severity involving motorcycles in congestion — potentially lowering long-term costs for emergency response, property damage, and infrastructure maintenance.