New law in Pennsylvania will help protect vulnerable road users

A new law in the US state of Pennsylvania will help boost safety for cyclists. This sets rules for Pennsylvania drivers to follow when encountering a cyclist. Drivers now have to leave a 1.22m space when overtaking cyclists. To achieve this, drivers may have to cross the centre line when passing a bicycle on the left, but only when opposing traffic allows. Drivers attempting to turn left must also yield the right of way to bicycle riders travelling in the opposite direction. The new law also calls for bicyc
April 3, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A new law in the US state of Pennsylvania will help boost safety for cyclists. This sets rules for Pennsylvania drivers to follow when encountering a cyclist. Drivers now have to leave a 1.22m space when overtaking cyclists. To achieve this, drivers may have to cross the centre line when passing a bicycle on the left, but only when opposing traffic allows. Drivers attempting to turn left must also yield the right of way to bicycle riders traveling in the opposite direction.

The new law also calls for bicycle riders to avoid impeding the normal flow of traffic. When there is only one travel lane, cyclists may use any portion of the lane to avoid hazards on the roadway, including maintaining a safe distance from stopped and parked cars. Cyclists and motorists should obey all traffic signs and signals. 2535 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation also recommends bicyclists always ride predictably and provide signals before proceeding.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Developments in cycle way monitoring
    February 13, 2012
    A new cycle way monitoring system developed by consultant Cowi and laser electronics company Dynatest in Denmark adds a new dimension to monitoring local road networks. It is developed from standard road condition measurements but is specially tailored for the bicycle path and the particular ride conditions needed for cyclists. The need is growing as the bicycle lane becomes increasingly important around the world. In London a number of special bicycle "super highways" have been introduced, marking off bicy
    Read More
  • Smombies! Look out!
    February 12, 2021
    Our city streets are being invaded by smartphone zombies, but help is on the way
    Read More
  • Philipp Swarovski lays down the marker
    June 10, 2019
    Swarco’s chief operating officer Philipp Swarovski shares his thoughts on highway safety and infrastructure in an age of uncertain future needs. David Arminas reports It was in Austria in 1969 when Manfred Swarovski opened his first glass bead factory. Five years later, operations started in the US. As the years rolled by there followed acquisitions and expansion of manufacturing facilities as well as a shift into intelligent transportation systems globally. Fast forward to 2019 and the family compan
    Read More
  • VIDEO: The ‘Hey! Watch out!’ traffic lights system
    September 5, 2016
    Time for a taxi ride around New York City, but back in 1928. Sit back and take a cruise, albeit tongue-in-cheek, around some of central New York’s better streets. But look closely. Rail lines were a prominent feature of those wider city streets as cars and trams mixed it along the boulevards, with people happily running between vehicles any which way. The roads surface looked as if there were no wear course, but simply a base course.
    Read More

Highlighted Content