Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), AAA East Central, and the Shaler Township Police Department hosted a bicycle safety media event, highlighting bicycle safety as part of National Bicycle Safety Month.
The safety partners discussed both bike and driver safety tips as each should practice sharing the road. The Shaler Township Police promoted their upcoming annual bicycle rodeo event on May 16 at Kiwanis Park. The community event is free to the public and educates young riders and their families on bicycle safety. For more details about the event, please visit Shaler Township’s website.
May is National Bicycle Safety Month. As the weather breaks and children begin summer vacation, motorists can expect to see plenty of bicycle riders outside, especially young riders. All riders are vulnerable on the road; however young riders are less experienced and harder to see from a vehicle.
Pennsylvania law states that anyone under the age of 12 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. This applies to anyone operating the bicycle, riding as a passenger, or riding in an attached restraining seat or trailer. PennDOT strongly recommends bicyclists of all ages wear a properly fitted helmet.
Bicyclists are encouraged to make themselves more visible by wearing brightly colored clothing, reflective gear, flashing lights, or carry a flashlight, when riding in darker conditions.
Additionally, PennDOT addressed bicycle safety and “Share the Road” tips for all riders, which include following the same responsibilities as a vehicle driver. Bicyclists are expected to obey all traffic laws, including but not limited to riding on the right side of the road, abiding by traffics signs and signals, and using turn signals. However, they may travel at less than the posted minimum speed. Bicyclists may also operate on the shoulder or berm but are not required to do so.
Finally, drivers are reminded it is illegal to force a bicyclist off the road and violators may face criminal charges. When passing a bicyclist, drivers must provide at least four feet between their vehicle and the bicycle. Drivers should check for bicyclists in mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections, as bicycles are small and may be difficult to see.
For more information on traffic safety, visit pa.gov/dotsafety.
PennDOT’s media center offers social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving, and distracted driving for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
For regional updates, follow PennDOT on X and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.
MEDIA CONTACT: Yasmeen Manyisha, ymanyisha@pa.gov or 412-429-5044
# # #