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Pennsylvania Bike Laws

The following is taken from [this page]http://www.dot.state.pa.us/bike/web/bikelaws.htm on the DOT website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  It describes all of the laws pertaining to bicycles in Pennsylvania.  

 
 
 
PENNSYLVANIA BICYCLE LAWS 
 
Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes contains the laws which govern the operation 
of vehicles on Pennsylvania roads.  
 
In Pennsylvania, a bicycle is considered a vehicle and, as such, is governed by a general set of 
rules (common to all vehicles) and a specific set of rules (designed for bicycles). The following 
annotated list provides all of the important sections of the Vehicle Code which a Pennsylvania 
bicyclist should know. Keep in mind that the laws themselves often describe only what a bicyclist 
is required to do, not how to do it. This manual addresses how to bicycle safely and efficiently by 
following the rules of the road.  
 
Chapter 35 - SPECIAL VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS 
Subchapter A - Operation of Pedalcycles (Bicycles) 
 
Section 3501. Applicability of traffic laws to pedalcycles. 
(a) General rule. -- Every person riding a pedalcycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the 
rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, 
except as to special provisions in this subchapter and except as to those provisions of this title 
which by their nature can have no application. 
 
(b) Application of subchapter. -- The provisions of this subchapter apply whenever a pedalcycle 
is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of pedalcycles 
subject to the exceptions stated in subsection (a). 
 
Comment: Bicycles are considered vehicles under Pennsylvania Laws and must obey all the 
rules of the road which apply to vehicles. These are the "responsibilities" mentioned above. The 
"rights" refer to the roadway space required to operate the bicycle in a safe, lawful manner. 
 
 
 
Section 3502. Penalty for violation of subchapter. 
Any person violating any provision of this subchapter is guilty of a summary offense and shall, 
upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $10.  
 
Section 3503. Responsibility of parent or guardian. 
The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit the 
child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this title relating to the operation of pedalcycles. 
 
Section 3504. Riding on pedalcycles. 
(a) Use of seat by operator. -- A person propelling a pedalcycle shall not ride other than upon or 
astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the pedalcycle. 
 
(b) Number of riders. -- No pedalcycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the 
number for which the pedalcycle is designed and equipped, except that an adult rider may 
transport a child in a pedalcycle or in a child carrier which is securely attached to the pedalcycle 
or in a trailer which is towed by a pedalcycle. 
 
 
Section 3505. 
(a) General rule. -- Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), every person operating a 
pedalcycle upon a highway shall obey the applicable rules of the road as contained in this title. 
 
Comment: This statement reiterates the necessity for cyclists to conform to the expectations of 
other road users in order to ensure the safety of all. 
 
 
 
 
 
(b) Operation on shoulder. -- A pedalcycle may be operated on the shoulder of a highway and 
shall be operated in the same direction as required of vehicles operated on the roadway. 
 
Comment: A bicycle may be operated on either a shoulder or on the roadway (the travel lanes). 
The locations will be based upon traffic volume, the physical condition of the travel lanes or the 
shoulder, traffic speed, the bicyclist's intended direction, and other safety factors. 
 
 
 
(c) Slower than prevailing speeds.-- A pedalcycle operated at slower than prevailing speed 
shall be operated in accordance with the provisions of Section 3301(b), unless it is unsafe to do 
so. 
 
[3301(b). Vehicle proceeding at less than normal speed.  
Upon all roadways, any vehicles proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time 
and place under the conditions than existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available 
for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when 
overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a 
left turn at an intersection or into an alley, private road or driveway. This subsection does not 
apply to a driver who must necessarily drive in a lane other than the right-hand lane to continue 
on his intended route.] 
 
Comment: Taken together, 3505 (c) and 3301 (b) state that slower vehicles should keep to the 
right, which is the normal expectation of all road users, while permitting bicyclists to make 
movements consistent with their intended route. 
 
 
 
(d) One-way roadways. -- Any person operating a pedalcycle upon a roadway, which carries 
traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left- 
hand curb or edge of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing 
vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. 
 
Comment: Bicycles may ride in the left lane of a one-way street which contains two or more 
lanes. However, this does not apply to pedalcyclists on freeways. See Section 3511(d), below. 
 
 
 
 
(e) Limitation on riding abreast. -- Persons riding pedalcycles upon a roadway shall not ride 
more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of 
pedalcycles. 
 
Section 3506. 
No person operating a pedalcycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the 
driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars. 
 
Section 3507. Lamps or other equipment on pedalcycles. 
(a) Lamps and reflectors. -- Every pedalcycle when in use between sunset and sunrise shall be 
equipped on the front with a lamp which emits a beam of white light intended to illuminate the 
pedalcycle operator's path and visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, a red 
reflector facing to the rear which shall be visible at least 500 feet to the rear, and an amber 
reflector on each side. Operators of pedalcycles may supplement the required front lamp with a 
 
 
white flashing lamp, light-emitting diode or similar device to enhance their visibility to other traffic 
and with a lamp emitting a red flashing lamp, light emitting diode or similar device visible from a 
distance of 500 feet to the rear. A lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a pedalcycle shall 
comply with the requirements of this subsection if the lamp or lamps can be seen at the distances 
specified. 
 
Comment: Many car-bike crashes occur at night and involve a poorly illuminated bicyclist. 
Bicyclists should understand that headlamps serve two purposes: a) primarily, they advise other 
road users of their presence (vitally important to prevent unsuspecting motorists from cutting 
across the paths of cyclists they cannot even detect), b) secondarily, illuminate the bicyclist's 
path. 
 
 
 
Section 3508. Pedalcycles on sidewalks and pedalcycle paths. 
(a) Right-of-way to pedestrians.-- A person riding a pedalcycle upon a sidewalk or pedalcycle 
path used by pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible 
signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian. 
 
(b) Business districts.-- A person shall not ride a pedalcycle upon a sidewalk in a business 
district unless permitted by official traffic-control devices, nor when a usable pedalcycle-only lane 
has been provided adjacent to the sidewalk. 
 
Section 3509. Parking. 
(a) Sidewalks. 
(1) A person may park a pedalcycle on a sidewalk unless prohibited or restricted by an official 
traffic-control device. 
(2) A pedalcycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of 
pedestrian or other traffic. 
 
(b) Roadways. 
(1) A pedalcycle may be parked on the roadway at any angle to the curb or edge of the roadway 
at any location where parking is allowed. 
(2) A pedalcycle may be parked on the roadway abreast of another pedalcycle or pedalcycles 
near the side of the roadway at any location where parking is allowed. 
(3) A person shall not park a pedalcycle on a roadway in such a manner as to obstruct the 
movement of a legally parked motor vehicle. 
(4) In all other respects, pedalcycles parked anywhere on a highway shall conform with the 
provisions of Subchapter E of Chapter 33 (relating to stopping, standing and parking). 
 
Section 3510. Pedalcycle helmets for certain persons. 
(a) General rule.-- A person under 12 years of age shall not operate a pedalcycle or ride as a 
passenger on a pedalcycle unless the person is wearing a pedalcycle helmet meeting the 
standards of the AmericanStandards Institute, the American Society for Testing and Materials, 
the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standards for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling or any 
other nationally recognized standard for pedalcycle helmet approval. This subsection shall also 
apply to a person who rides: 
(1) upon a pedalcycle while in a restraining seat attached to a pedalcycle; or  
(2) in a trailer towed by a pedalcycle. 
 
Comment: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation strongly recommends that all 
bicyclists wear approved helmets whenever they ride. 
 
 
 
Section 3511. Pedalcycles prohibited on freeways. 
 
 
(a) General rule.-- No person shall ride a pedalcycle on a freeway. 
 
(b) Exceptions. 
(1) On State-designed freeways, pedalcycles may be authorized under the following limitations: 
 
(i) The pedalcycler is 16 years of age or older and is accompanied by a pedalcycler 18 years of 
age or older.  
 
(ii) A written request for review of the freeway route based on the potential unavailability of a 
reasonable alternate route is made to the department.  
 
(iii) The department determines that no reasonable alternate route exists. 
 
(iv) The department publishes a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin authorizing pedalcycle access 
to the freeway. The notice shall constitute approval for the persons authorized under 
subparagraph (i) to ride a pedalcycle on the State-designated freeway. 
 
 
 
(c) Action by local authorities.-- Action taken by local authorities regarding permission to use 
pedalcycles on freeways under their jurisdiction shall be: 
 
(1) by ordinance of the local governing body; or  
(2) by a commission or public official authorized to act on specified matters. 
 
 
 
(d) Operation on shoulder.- - If the department authorizes pedalcycle access to a freeway, the 
pedalcycle shall be operated upon the shoulder of that freeway whenever practicable. 
 
Comment: Bicycles may be permitted on freeways in Pennsylvania with permission of the 
Department. The applicant must submit a written request (form) to the Department for review. In 
addition, Section 3511(d) requires the bicycle to be ridden on the shoulder of the freeway.