Bicyclists from across Pennsylvania are being asked to gather in Harrisburg Tuesday for the first statewide bicycle rally.
Bicyclists will gather at the Farm Show Complex, off Cameron Street, beginning at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., they will begin a ride to the state capitol building, at Third and State streets. The rally at the capitol begins at 10 a.m.
The rally is intended to mark the beginning of National Bike Month. State Rep. David Kessler, of Berks County, will lead the event with the reading of a House resolution in support of Bike Month. The rally will also be a show of support for proposed bicycle safety legislation.
State Reps. Ron Miller and Rick Geist have introduced House Bill 1110 that would require motorists passing a bicyclist in the same direction to allow at least four feet of passing distance. The bill also allows the motorist to cross the center line when doing so. Another stipulation in the bill would prohibit a motorist from interfering with a bicyclist going straight, such as making a right turn in front of the cyclist and cutting them off.
The House bill has 35 co-sponsors, including Rep. P. Michael Sturla of Lancaster. No other members of Lancaster County’s House delegation are supporting the measure. A companion bill, S.B. 776, has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Mike Folmer, of Lebanon County, who also represents northwestern Lancaster County. The Senate bill has 14 co-sponsors.
The rally is being organized by PA Walks & Bikes, in cooperation with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Bike Pittsburgh, WalkBike Berks and the Lebanon Valley Bicycle Club. Harrisburg Bicycle Club members are also expected to participate.
Bicyclists interested in participating in the rally are being asked to register in advance at http://www.pawalksbikes.org. The event will be held rain or shine.
Following the rally, bicyclists are encouraged to meet with their representatives and senators to encourage their support of the bills. A simple majority is needed for passage in both chambers, but significant support is needed. There are 203 representatives in the House and 50 state senators. Bicyclists are being asked to dress in appropriate business attire. Rally organizers warn that cleats and spandex will be frowned upon in the capitol corridors.
There will be bicyclists’ forum, at 1:15 p.m., presented by the Bicycle Access Council. The forum will be in the the nearby Keystone Building, Public Utilities Commission Hearing Room 3, located on the plaza level.
Those who cannot attend the rally are still being encouraged to help bring bicycling issues to the forefront in Pennsylvania. They should contact their legislators and schedule appointments in the legislators’ district offices to discuss the importance of the bicycling safety bills.
