Florida Bicycle Safety: How To Stay On The Right Side Of The Law

BRADENTON, FL — With school back in session, the snowbirds can't be far behind and that means more cars, more pedestrians and more bicycles on Florida's roads. Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies want you to know the rules of the road, particularly if you or your children ride bicycles around the Sunshine State.

FHP has been conducting what they call Pedestrian Education and Developing Safety campaigns at various locations around the state, according to Trooper Kenneth R. Watson, who is based in Venice, Florida. Troopers gave out bicycle lights and offered traffic safety tips around Bradenton on Thursday. They were planning a similar program in Port Charlotte on Friday and at other locations in an effort to reduce injuries and deaths. See also Florida's New Texting Law: How To Avoid 'OMG' Moment

"Because school is now in, we have so many kids that are now riding their bikes to school or walking to school. It is incumbent upon us to try to get out there and provide education," Watson told Patch. "Something like this allows the troopers to get out there and talk to pedestrians, talk to bicyclists."

According to Florida state records, there had been 1,695 crashes involving bicycles and 40 deaths in 2019 as of Sept. 12.

Watson said troopers take note when they see bicyclists without appropriate safety equipment, including lights and helmets. Adults should also wear helmets but only children are required to do so under state law.

"If we see a kid and he's on his bike and she's on her bike, and they're going to school and they don't have any L.E.D. lights, we'll give them a couple," he explained. "We'll give them a red one for the back and a white one for the front. They're small. They hook right to the bicycle. They come with a battery so mom and dad don't even have to get them additional batteries. Everything is ready to go."

Watson urged motorists to put down their coffee and phones while they are driving and remember that bicycles have the right of way in crosswalks. Bicyclists should know they are required to follow basic traffic rules like stopping at traffic lights and stop signs. Bicycles are permitted on sidewalks but they must alert people on foot to their presence.

"When the bicyclists are approaching pedestrians and they are coming up behind them, they are supposed to give them a verbal warning," Watson said. "It would be something like this: 'Hey, I'm on your right."

Motorists are sometimes confused by the rules surrounding bike lanes. "The cars are not allowed to go within those lanes. It's designated for the bicycles," Watson said. "They could be ticketed for violating the bicycle's right of way if they were to enter into that zone." In the case of shared bike lanes, motorists are expected to give bicyclists three feet of space.

Not everyone understands the rules of the road. So Patch recently invited the Miami Beach Police Department's Traffic Homicide Investigations team to clarify 10 things that people may not know about bicycle safety in Florida.

Our questions were pretty basic, but just have a look around the roads and sidewalk if you think people understand the rules. Answers were provided by Officer Eric Dominguez of the Miami Beach Police Department.

1. Is it legal to drive a bicycle on the sidewalk? A bicycle may ride on the sidewalk as long as the bicyclist yields the right of way to pedestrians and gives an audible signal before overtaking pedestrians.
2. For the purposes of bike laws, are electric bicycles treated the same as traditional bicycles? Electric bicycles are treated the same as traditional bikes.
3. Must adults and children wear helmets in Florida? Only children under 16 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
4. Can bikes go through red lights and stop signs without stopping? Bicycles must respect all traffic laws just like other vehicles.
5. Must bicycles be equipped with a light if they are used at night? When a bicycle is used between sunset and sunrise it must be equipped with a white lamp on the front and a red lamp on the rear. Additional lights are permitted but not required.
6. Can bicycles drive in the opposite direction of traffic, particularly in the case of a road that is one way? Bicycles are not allowed to ride against traffic.
7. Do police have the authority to issue citations to bicyclists? If so, what are the most common? Police officers cite bicyclists under the Florida Uniform Traffic Citations. Most violations are written under Florida Statute 316.2065.
8. Do bicycle laws vary in Florida by municipality? Municipalities are allowed to add their own ordinances with respect to bicycles. For example: No bikes allowed on the Boardwalk or Lincoln Road in the case of Miami Beach.
9. Must bicyclists signal their intention to turn? A bicyclist must signal when turning but they do not need to give an arm signal continuously as in the case of a motorized vehicle.
10. Do pedestrians still have the right of way on bicycle paths? Pedestrians are not allowed on bicycle paths since the paths are part of the roadway.