PA House Transportation Committee Unanimously Backs Parking Protected Bike Lane Legislation – Pennsylvania Capital-Star
By John Cole
During its first voting meeting of the session, the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee unanimously advanced three pieces of legislation, including one intended to make city streets safer for cyclists.
House Bill 291, sponsored by state Reps. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) and David Maloney (R-Berks), would allow municipalities to create parking-protected bicycle lanes between curbs and parked vehicles, allowing bicyclists to ride separated from vehicular traffic.
Current state law requires vehicles to park within 12 inches of a curb and does not take pedestrian plazas or bicycle lanes into consideration.
State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia), chair of the House Transportation Committee, said that the legislation gives the local authorities the ability to install pedestrian plazas and parking protected bicycle lanes if they chose, but does not mandate they to do so.
