STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) – Drivers: if your second favorite ride is a bicycle, PennDOT has a treat for you. A new specialty license plate for your car or truck is making biking enthusiasts very happy.

Dan Whitehead owns Vertical Earth Mountain Sports in downtown Stroudsburg where it’s all about the bike.



“I mean, we’re in the business of making people happy and having fun. And you know, biking is a pretty good avenue to do that. So we’re a full service family bike shop,” explains Dan Whitehead, owner of Vertical Earth Mountain Sports.



Whitehead says a lot of customers pick up ‘road bikes’ which work best on paved roads.



“Whether they’re commuting or doing it as a hobby or fitness, you sure do have a lot of people out on the roads these days as pedestrian cyclists,” adds Whitehead.



Under state law bicycles are considered vehicles. When drivers pass a cyclist on the road, they must keep a four feet distance. When passing, PennDOT says it is legal for drivers to cross the center double yellow line.



A new license plate PennDOT’s offering is teaching drivers to share the road with bicyclists. That’s something people in the bike shop are happy about.



Lynn Byrne is a road biker and notices sometimes both bikers and drivers get frustrated. She thinks the new plate will help raise awareness.



Byrne adds, “they don’t understand why you’re over further than you are sometimes. And they don’t realize there could be garbage or trash or holes or God knows what on the side of the road.”



PennDOT’s “Share the Road” plate became available August 8th. All proceeds go toward the Department’s bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts and highway signage for bikers.

TO APPLY FOR PLATE: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DVSPubsForms/BMV/BMV%20Forms/mv-917.pdf