Hatboro Police Issue Rules Over Unruly Juvenile Bikers

HATBORO, PA —As residents continue to complain about bike gangs roaming borough streets this summer, Hatboro Police have issued a warning that those who violate bicycle safety codes will be held responsible.

The Hatboro Police Department said Friday that they have responded to many calls regarding bicyclists over the past several months.

In April, Police Chief Mark Ruegg spoke before the Borough Council to address "unruly juveniles" on bikes bothering residents and disrupting drivers.

Police said that anyone who spots someone on a bike driving unsafely should contact 911 and provide as much information as possible.

Police also issued information about bike safety and PA Law relating to the responsibilities of both bicyclists and drivers.

Bicycles are considered a vehicle and riders must obey all traffic laws. Drivers also must exercise care when passing a bicycle and are required to be at least 4 feet away from the bike when doing so.

Bicycle Safety and Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code considers "pedalcycles" as vehicles and provides that every person riding a pedalcycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and responsibilities applicable to a driver of a vehicle.

Likewise, if you ride in violation of the traffic laws, you can be issued a traffic citation, you greatly increase your risk of a crash, and will likely be found at fault in the event of an accident.

Riding on the Roadway Bikes may be ridden on the shoulder of the road (in the same direction as the flow of traffic) but are not required to do so.

Bikes may also ride on the right half of the roadway as follows:

• On a multilane roadway, bikes may be ridden in the right-most travel lane. On a two-lane roadway, a bike may be ridden in the right lane. On a roadway with no center line, a bike may be ridden anywhere on the right side of the roadway.
• Bikes may move from the right lane when overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing to make a left turn when an obstruction exists that makes it necessary to change lanes or cross the center line with due care.
• Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast (side-by-side), unless on paths or parts of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
• A bicycle or motor vehicle may, with good caution, treat an intersection with an inoperable or malfunctioning traffic signal as a stop condition when red or as a caution condition when green or yellow.
• Often signals with embedded detectors will not respond to the bike awaiting a green light, and this is treated as "inoperable" under the law.
• Motor vehicles must allow 4 feet of distance when overtaking a bicycle and travel at a careful speed. It is the motorist’s responsibility to provide this distance, not that of the cyclist.
• Motor vehicles may also overtake a bicycle in a no-passing zone to avoid excessive delays, but this must be done carefully and while providing the required 4 feet of clearance. Traffic Signals
• All traffic signals must be obeyed by standard vehicle laws. If a traffic signal does not detect your bicycle, try positioning the bicycle directly over the saw cuts in the pavement that detect vehicles.
• If the signal still does not detect you, you may treat the red signal as a stop sign and proceed through the intersection after yielding to all intersecting traffic (including pedestrians).
• Equipment If you use your bike between sunset and sunrise, it must be equipped with a front lamp and rear and side reflectors that are visible from at least 500 feet. This is both to help other motorists see you and also to illuminate your path.
• Your bike must be equipped with brakes that will stop the bike 15 feet from an initial speed of 15 mph on dry, level pavement.
• Hand and Arm Signals. To signal a left turn, extend the left hand and arm horizontally. To signal a right turn, extend the right hand and arm horizontally, or extend your left hand and arm upward. To signal a stop or decrease in speed, extend the left hand and arm downward. Sidewalks Pedestrians have the right-of-way on sidewalks and bicycle paths. You must give an audible signal as you approach and pass a pedestrian.
• Automobiles are not required to yield to bicycles being ridden across a crosswalk (at a trail crossing for example) as the bicycle is treated as a vehicle. A better choice is to dismount and walk your bike across.
• You are not permitted to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk in a business district (except where permitted by official traffic control devices) or where there is a bicycle-only lane available.