PA becomes yet another state to pass a safe passing law to protect people on bikes

It’s true, the safe passing law is now in effect.

HB 170 amends PA’s motor vehicle code to provide the following protections:

• Every car that passes a bike must give a minimum of 4-feet of clearance at a “prudent reduced speed”
• No turn by a motorist may interfere with a bicycle proceeding straight (the classic right hook)
• Bicycles may be operated at a safe and reasonable speed appropriate for bicycles
• Bicycles must be operated in the right hand lane, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of roadway.
• This does not apply to a bicycle using any portion of the road due to unsafe surface conditions.

It’s garnered a good amount of media attention.  Here’s some of the highlights.

• The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gives a good rundown of the law in their article, New law in effect to protect bicyclists, including an, ahem, lively comments section.
• WTAE’s coverage includes a video as well as some bonus footage of a foot’s view of riding downtown
• KDKA covers the story, with video, in their piece, New Bicycle Law Aims To Make Roadways Safer
• You can find some real comment gems in the Washington Observer-Reporter’s article, New state law aims to protect bicyclists
• The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s article has a “New law sets distance for vehicles passing bicycles  Read more: New law sets distance for vehicles passing bicycles“

You can join a conversation on the BikePGH Messageboard about the media coverage and commenting

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