Road Cyclists, Drivers, and The Law

Road cyclists who log lots of miles tend to have fairly frequent interactions with discourteous and even homicidal drivers. About once a week I have some pass very close or at very high speed. About once a month someone will pass on a blind corner of hill and then dive back right (towards me) when faced with incoming traffic.

Every so often I catch the driver at a light or stop sign. It never goes well.

Here are the usual brilliant retorts:

• "All you guys think you own the road!"
• "Get off the road! You don't belong on the road!"
• "You guys roll through stop signs all the time!"

(I have to ask which "you guys" they are referring to, since there are no "you guys" --just me)

This results in cognitive dissonance ("This guy on a bike dares reply to ME, a Driver!!?!"). Unable to engage in discussion,  they commence expletive-filled tirades and drive off.

This before I have the opportunity to tell them I own two cars and a motorcycle and probably drive more and pay more taxes then they, and that they are, in fact, not owed Total Road Ownership.

It's very frustrating.

So I think I'm going to print up a bunch of cards and hand them out when I catch these idiots (I also carry a few other items to ensure the encounter doesn't go too far).

Fortunately, in 2012 the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code was amended to enhance safety for cyclists and guide motorists' behavior with respect to cyclists.  The key provisions are:

Four Foot Buffer Requirement: When passing, drivers must allow at least four (4) feet between the right side of the vehicle and the left side of the bicycle [75 Pa.C.S. § 3303 (a) (3)] . When safe to do so, it is legal to cross the center double yellow line if necessary to provide the required four feet when passing a bicycle [75 Pa.C.S. § 3307 (b.1)].

Right to Lane of Travel: Bicycles have the right to be in the lane of travel and there is no requirement that a bicycle be ridden at the right side of the right lane. It is only where a bike is moving at less than the prevailing speed of traffic that a cyclist must take reasonable steps to avoid impeding traffic [75 Pa.C.S. § 3364 (b) (2)]. While this can and should include moving as far to the right as is practicable, the law specifically states that a bicycle need not move to the right where:

1. it is unsafe to do so due to road conditions [75 Pa.C.S. § 3301 (c) (2) and 3505 (c)],
2. the road is only one lane in each direction [75 Pa.C.S. § 3301 (c) (2)],
3. the right hand lane is for turns only and the rider is going straight [75 Pa.C.S. § 3301 (b) (2)],or
4. the bicycle needs to move left to make a left turn [75 Pa.C.S. § 3301 (c) (1)].

Prohibition Against Forcing Off the Road: It is illegal to force a bicyclist off of the road. A driver may face criminal charges.

No Right/Left Hook: No turn by the driver of a motor vehicle shall interfere with a bicyclist proceeding straight on a roadway or shoulder [75 Pa.C.S. § 3331 (e)].

May Proceed Through Red when Traffic Signal does not detect Bicycle: Standard traffic signals sometimes do not detect bicycles. A cyclist may treat the signal as malfunctioning and proceed with caution [75 Pa.C.S. § 3112 (c) (2)]

PA VEHICLE CODE (TITLE 75)