Romania passes traffic reform allowing motorcycles to filter past queues and use bus lanes

Parliamentary approval and vote breakdown

Romania's Chamber of Deputies passed legislation on 7 October 2026 to amend Emergency Ordinance 195/2002 on public road traffic, establishing explicit rules for motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles. The bill passed with 238 votes in favour, three against, and 15 abstentions as the decision-making chamber. The measure originally cleared the Senate tacitly in June 2025 after exceeding the standard debate deadline. Initiated alongside the motorcycle advocacy group MotoADN, the project received cross-party backing from 37 parliamentarians representing PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR, with co-sponsors including Ionuț Moșteanu, Kelemen Hunor, and Sebastian Burduja. The adopted text now heads to the president for formal promulgation.

Filtering rules and intersection safety zones

Under the revised traffic code, two-wheeled motorized vehicles and bicycles gain legal permission to filter past queues stopped at red traffic lights and railway crossings. Drivers must maintain a speed of no more than 20 km/h during the manoeuvre, ensure sufficient lateral distance, and avoid obstructing other road users. Passing another vehicle in the same travel lane without crossing lane markings is no longer legally classified as overtaking. To protect riders at junctions, road administrators must mark a three-metre safety box across the full width of the lane directly before the stop line at signalized intersections and barrier-equipped rail crossings.

We created this safety space at traffic lights, three metres wide across the entire lane width, where once you pass the car and reach the front, you can pull to the left or right so all motorcycles can enter. When the light turns green, the scooters leave first, and that helps road safety immensely.

Bus lanes and municipal infrastructure requirements

The legislation allows motorcycles and mopeds to use designated public transport lanes, subject to conditions set by local road managers and traffic police approval. City councils and local administrations face mandatory obligations to build dedicated two-wheeler spaces in all public parking facilities that have at least six automobile spots. Municipalities must also construct pedestrian sidewalks, bike lanes, and safety zones in high-traffic areas under applicable technical standards. Furthermore, riders must wear helmets that are strictly certified for their specific vehicle category and properly secured at all times.

I have been riding motorcycles since I was 16, and I know how much clear rules matter. Every motorcycle or scooter means one fewer car in the queue and a free parking space, so the law helps even those who will never get on two wheels. Traffic has no political colour, and the draft law adopted today is aligned with the best practices in the West, where these rules have been in place for years.

Implementation timeline and public reception

Following promulgation by the president and publication in the Official Gazette, the Romanian government has 60 days to adapt the secondary regulatory framework to enforce the rules. While motorcycle advocacy groups, such as the Union of Romanian Moto Clubs, and UDMR deputy Andrei Molnar welcomed the reform as a step to reduce commuting times and fuel consumption, some motorists voiced concern over collision risks when two-wheelers navigate tight spaces between stationary queues. Local road authorities will determine specific urban rollout timelines across Romanian cities once technical guidelines are finalized.