If you're a rider in the state of Washington, you probably know that lane splitting isn't legal where you live. And while that's not something that state representative Ed Orcutt wants to change (it's something he views as unsafe, and has publicly stated as much), he is instead proposing an alternative in the state legislature: Legalizing shoulder riding.
Introduced in January 2026, as part of the 2025-26 Washington State Legislature session, HB 1367 would allow for a few changes to legalized motorcyclist behavior, as it's currently written. On highways or expressways (also called "limited access roadways" in the text of the bill), motorcycles would be allowed to "temporarily travel on the right shoulder" when traffic is either at a complete stop or else traveling at a speed of 25 miles per hour or slower.
Some restrictions would be in place, as well. Motorcycles engaging in this behavior could not legally travel above 10 miles per hour faster than the speed of the traffic around them. Additionally, motorcycles could only ride one abreast (so not in pairs, as sometimes occurs in regular lanes of traffic). If a car or other vehicle is parked on the shoulder, the motorcycle must then re-enter the flow of traffic.
