On A Bicycle
75 Pa.C.S. 3303 — four feet to pass, two abreast at most, and a helmet under 12
In Pennsylvania, a bicycle is a pedalcycle under the Vehicle Code, and its rider obeys the rules of the road that apply to vehicles, with a few rules of its own.
Four feet to pass. The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a pedalcycle going the same direction passes to the left of it within not less than four feet, at a careful and prudent reduced speed.
- A pedalcycle may be ridden on the shoulder, in the same direction as traffic on the roadway.
- One slower than prevailing speed keeps to the right side of the roadway, unless it is unsafe to do so.
- On a one-way road with two or more marked lanes, a rider may ride as near the left edge as practicable.
- Riders do not ride more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for pedalcycles.
Lights, reflectors and brakes. Between sunset and sunrise a pedalcycle has a white front lamp visible at least 500 feet, a red rear reflector visible at least 500 feet, and an amber reflector on each side; a lamp the rider wears counts if it meets those distances. Its brakes stop it within 15 feet from 15 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement, and it carries no siren.
A helmet under 12. A person under 12 years of age may not operate or ride as a passenger on a pedalcycle, including in a child seat or a towed trailer, without an approved helmet fastened securely. The fine may not exceed $25, the charge is dismissed if a helmet is shown to have been acquired, and the parent is jointly liable for it. It is never evidence of negligence in a civil case.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA driver may pass a bicycle as closely as there is room | What the law actually doesNot less than four feet, at a reduced speed |
| The assumptionA child's helmet ticket must be paid | What the law actually doesIt is dismissed if the rider shows a helmet was acquired, and the fine may not exceed $25 |
Sidewalk riding, which local ordinances often govern, and electric assist bicycles are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3303 — Overtaking vehicle on the left
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3505 — Riding on roadways and pedalcycle paths
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3507 — Lamps and other equipment on pedalcycles
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3510 — Pedalcycle helmets for certain persons
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.