Watch CBS News

Montco Sheriff Warning Drivers Of PA's "4 Foot Law"

By David Madden

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- The Montgomery County Sheriff wants to make people aware of a three-year-old state law that's meant to protect bicyclists on the road.

It took a YouTube video of an argument between a cop and a bicyclist to make Sheriff Russell Bono aware of a mandate that drivers must provide at least four feet between their car and a bike rider when trying to pass on the street.

 

"The legislature's constantly amending the laws of Pennsylvania, both motor vehicle and criminal, and a lot of times it doesn't get out." Bono told KYW Newsradio. "They just amend it, put it in to a new edition and it possibly slipped through the cracks."

bono
(credit: David Madden)

No more.

His department is putting up 250 bright yellow signs, mostly along high traffic routes near the 60 miles worth of bike paths in the county, informing motorists of the law.

While he says sheriff's deputies are empowered to write tickets to violators, "our position is that it should be handled at the local level. We're here to try to educate the public, and maybe some of the police departments about this law."

And just so you know, that law covers every street in the Commonwealth, regardless of how heavily it's used.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.