Learn what PA requires/suggests for safe driving. Save 5% on auto insurance costs for three years.
Cost $14 ($12 AARP members)
8 class hours (two 4-hr sessions)
If you can show proof of taking an 8 hr class, you may choose a 4-hr refresher to continue the discount.
On line classes are now state approved and available at additional cost  @www.aarp.org/drive
Questions: 761-4822 Instructor: HBC member Owen Moore

Checkout the Pennlive Opinion piece posted Saturday, February 4th about the new 4-Ft. Law in PA (opens in a new window).

Positive comments by bicyclists could help sway a few drivers but feel free to disagree with any or all.  I disagree with one statement, "In reality, the four-feet rule does seem like too much, especially on narrow roads" because a wider margin of safety is needed on the two-lane road with no shoulder more than anywhere else.  The four-ft. rule if followed will cause drivers to slow down more and wait for a safe place to pass.  Riding a bike on the far edge of a two-lane road and a lesser margin of safety encourages more drivers to try and squeeze by vs riding a little further out makes the cyclist more visible and a prudent driver realizes he/she needs to move into the other lane to pass.

Jeff McPartland
Camp Hill, PA

Unfortunately, by a vote of 27 to 29, the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee just moments ago voted down the bipartisan Petri/Johnson/Lipinski amendment that would have fixed many of the deficiencies in the House transportation bill, particularly as they relate to the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School programs. The amendment would have also restored eligibility of rail-trails. *But all is not lost. *The many thousands of you who contacted your representatives during the past few days about this amendment made a strong and powerful statement that Americans from all across the country want, need and deserve more trails and walking and bicycling opportunities. See how your representative voted now.

Please stay tuned as we craft a follow-up strategy.

Thank you again for all of your actions, time and energy.

Sincerely,

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

A Patriot-News reader responded to the Safe-Passing bill story with her opinion about "preferential treatment" for cyclists and gave an example of Fishing Creek Valley Road/ Rt. 443 where "arrogant cyclists" refuse to move out of the way.

Click for the PennLive article.

I respect this reader's opinion but I feel we bicyclists owe it to her and the general public why we feel differently.  It also helps educate the public because the average driver sees bicyclists as just one more annoyance to be put up with on their daily drive and they may or may not know it is legal for us to be there and we can even take up a lane of traffic when this is the safest place to ride our bikes.  They may think it's dangerous and ill advised but this does not change the law and drivers have a responsibility and legal obligation to look out for slower moving vehicles, including bicycles, and to provide a safe distance when passing. The new law better defines what is meant by a safe passing distance and it also allows a vehicle to legally cross the traffic lines when it is safe to do so.