New Law Will Help Cyclists and Motorists Share the Road More Safely
On April 2 at 12:01 AM, new bicycle safety laws took effect, making it safer for cyclists to travel on the same roads as cars. It is important that both cyclists and drivers share the road and obey traffic laws at all times, so I wanted to pass along some information from Penn DOT on the changes to help everyone stay safe.
Under the new law:
- When drivers pass a cyclist, they are now required to keep a distance of four feet between the car and the bicycle. Drivers would be permitted to cross over the center line in the road to maintain this “cushion of safety” if there is no opposing traffic.
- If a driver is turning left, he or she must allow cyclists travelling in the opposite direction to pass before they may turn.
- Cyclists are required to make all efforts to avoid interrupting the flow of traffic. This includes maintaining a reasonable speed when travelling in the same lane as cars. If the road has only one lane per direction, the cyclist may use any part of that lane to avoid hazards.
Additionally, I encourage all cyclists to wear properly-fitting helmets at all time. And, if visibility is low, wear reflective gear and use a headlight and/or blinker to be seen at all times.
Visit here for more information about bicycle safety.
Changes to Pennsylvania Turnpike Employment Application Process
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has announced that all applicants for employment with the Turnpike must complete a new online application.
Paper applications will no longer be accepted; however, applications for summer employment for 2012 will still follow the paper process.
Anyone with a current paper application on file with the Turnpike will receive notification via postcard that they must now complete an online application by July 2, 2012 to keep any previous applications current.
Applicants can register and apply for employment by visiting www.PaTurnpike.com and clicking on the employment box. Once registered, applicants can input demographic, education and work history data. Resumes, scanned copies of licenses and other documents, such as training certificates, can also be uploaded to an applicant’s profile.
Please note that applicants must have a valid email address to submit applications for employment, although they can create an account and input and save personal data without an email address. Those without an email account are encouraged to create a free one (via Google, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.).
Further assistance in using the new application system is available at local PA CareerLink centers (www.cwds.state.pa.us or 866-858-2753). Applicants with questions may contact the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-331-3414.
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