Bicycle crashes are on the rise in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
The state reported more than 1,300 last year alone, and according to PennDOT, the majority of crashes, resulting in injuries, happened at intersections.<\/p>\n
Right now, bicyclists are required to follow standard traffic laws. Republican state senator Jarrett Coleman wants to change that.<\/p>\n
Eric Boerer is the advocacy director for Bike Pittsburgh. He said he supports the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see that in other states that have implemented this type of legislation that it is safer,\u201d Boerer said.<\/p>\n
It would allow bicycles to yield at stop signs and traffic lights instead of needing to come to a complete stop.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a challenge for bikes to stop, put their foot down,\u201d Boerer said. \u201cJust like a yield on a highway, you\u2019re expected to slow down to a point and go if it\u2019s safe to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says this proposal would mirror what\u2019s actually happening on the streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf everybody knows what the rules are and it\u2019s predictable in a way how we approach these stop signs and stop lights, then it just makes sense to make the law align with how things are in the real world,\u201d Boerer said.<\/p>\n
At least 13 states have already adopted similar rules.<\/p>\n
According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:<\/p>\n
Idaho was the first to implement a \u201cstop-as-yield\u201d law in 1982. Bicyclist injuries from traffic crashes dropped more than 14% the next year.Delaware adopted a similar law in 2017. Traffic crashes involving bicycles at stop signs fell 23%.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve already seen the safety benefits in other states and I think it\u2019s just something that would make bicycling more appealing to more of the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coleman has yet to formally introduce the legislation.<\/p>\n
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