In the near future, we will be introducing legislation authorizing the use of parking-protected bike lanes by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) into its roadway designs and reconstruction projects across the Commonwealth.  This legislation will follow versions in prior sessions by providing PennDOT with the option of using parking-protected bike lanes and will not mandate its adoption.

Parking-protected bike lanes are a proven safety enhancement that places a row of parked vehicles between moving traffic and a designated bike lane, providing a physical buffer that improves safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, calms vehicle traffic, and increases comfort for riders of all ages and abilities. These lanes are widely used in cities across the country and endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a best practice for complete streets design.

Currently, the Pennsylvania vehicle code does not permit PennDOT’s ability to implement these modern street designs, despite strong support from municipalities and transportation planners. To resolve this, our legislation will explicitly authorize PennDOT to incorporate parking-protected bike lanes into their designs on state-owned roads, as they see fit and in coordination with local governments.

As we work to build safer, more sustainable, and more equitable transportation networks, enabling PennDOT to use current, evidence-based design standards is a commonsense step forward. We invite you to join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation to improve safety and expand transportation options for all Pennsylvanians.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 882 (Jun 03, 2025): 75-3354(d)(2.1)