Florida Has New Laws to Protect Pedestrians and Bike Riders

By: Robert S Weinroth

Did you know that traditional and electric bikes on the roadway are vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as motorized vehicles? In Florida, new bicycle regulations went into effect on July 1st! . These new regulations include how bicyclists ride on county streets. 

The following is a summary of the rules of the road.

(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle or an electric bicycle occupying the same travel lane or occupying a bicycle lane must pass must pass at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet or, if such movement cannot be safely accomplished, must remain at a safe distance behind until the driver can safely pass at a distance of not less than 3 feet and must safely clear the overtaken bicycle or other non-motorized vehicles, unless the bicycles or other non-motorized vehicles occupy a separated bicycle lane. Pedestrians or cyclists who got injured by a negligent driver may seek the services of a personal injury attorney to help them get compensated for their injuries and other damages. 

(2) The FDOT has been directed to provide an annual awareness and safety campaign informing the public about the safety precautions to be taken when overtaking a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle or an electric bicycle. 

(3) Where signs or markings are in place to define a no-passing zone, a no driver may not, drive on the left side of the roadway within with such no-passing zone or on the left side of any pavement striping designed to mark such no-passing zone throughout its length. However, a driver may safely and briefly drive to the left of the center of the roadway to safely overtake and pass a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle or an electric bicycle. When overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, the driver may make a right turn only if the bicycle is at least 20 feet from the intersection, and is of such a distance that the driver of a vehicle may safely turn. 

(4) A person riding a bicycle and intending to turn left is entitled to the full use of the lane from which the turn may legally be made. Whenever practicable, the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection.

(5) A bicyclist riding upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic must ride in the bicycle lane marked for bicycle use or, if there is no bicycle lane, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except:

a. when overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.; or

b. when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.;  or

c. when reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. A “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. 

(6) A person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable. 

(7) People riding bicycles upon a roadway or in a bicycle lane may not ride more than two abreast except on a bicycle path. People riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic and must ride within a single lane. 

(8) Where bicycle lanes exist, people riding bicycles may ride two abreast if both are able to remain within the bicycle lane. If the bicycle lane is too narrow to allow riders to be two abreast, they must ride single-file and within the bicycle lane. On roads that contain a substandard-width lane, bicycle riders may temporarily ride two abreast only to avoid hazards in the roadway or to overtake another person riding a bicycle. 

(9) When stopping at a stop sign, people riding bicycles in groups, after coming to a full stop, and obeying all traffic laws may proceed through the stop sign in a group of 10 or fewer at a time. Motor vehicle operators must allow the group to travel through the intersection before moving forward. 

Know the rules of the road. Stay attentive, stay safe!