Driver cited under new bicycle law after striking cyclist on Fahy Bridge [The Morning Call]

Editor's Note: It seems the news is reporting a lot of cyclists being hit from behind. I think it occurs a lot more than what people think or state. High profile stories include the woman from NYC hit in Columbus in February, professional Levi Leipheimer, and the first person to be charged under the new Pennsylvania 4 foot passing law hit a cyclist from behind.


Frank Pavlick was riding his bicycle on Fahy Bridge Monday when he was struck by a car. He suffered minor injuries, but the driver of the car will be cited under the state's new bike safety law. (Kathleen Cook, TMC / April 1, 2006)

By Tracy Jordan, Of The Morning Call

12:55 p.m. EDT, April 4, 2012

One of the Lehigh Valley's leading bicycling safety advocates became the region's first victim under a new law meant to protect cyclists from passing vehicles when a car struck him from behind on the Fahy Bridge in Bethlehem Monday.

The law allows motorists to drive over double yellow lines when passing cyclists, but it requires drivers to give four-feet clearance. The law went into effect 12:01 a.m. Monday. About 15 hours later, a car driven by a 17-year-old Bethlehem driver drove into Frank Pavlick as he was pedaling north on the Fahy Bridge on S. New Street.

Pavlick, manager of the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation's Bethlehem Bicycle Cooperative, survived the impact with some bruises and a damaged bicycle.

He was lucky. On Dec. 4 in a similar accident on the bridge, 53-year-old Patrick Ytsma, who was well-known locally for his bicycle safety advocacy, was struck by a southbound car and died a few days later

[Keep reading at The Morning Call]