Safety Concerns for Florida Bicyclists

According to the Florida Bicycle Association, 70 percent of bicycle-motor vehicle crashes involve a bicyclist who was not observing safety and traffic regulations. Because bicycle riders are sometimes hard to spot for motorists, it's important that these rules are observed at all times. Thankfully there are a lot of good organizations and programs that strongly advocate bicycle safety within the state of Florida.

Safety Equipment

A front-facing lamp is to be used on all bicycles traveling after sunset in the state of Florida. A red reflector installed on the rear of the bicycle is also required, per Florida state traffic law. All bicycles are required to have an adequate braking system and a fixed seat for the rider to sit on.

Turn Signals

You are legally required to give a hand signal during the last 100 feet traveled before making a turn on your bicycle. A proper signal to turn left is given by extending your left arm out horizontally to the side of your body, while a proper signal to turn right is given either by raising your arm and hand up or by extending your right arm and hand horizontally to the side of your body.

Road Traffic

Because bicycles are considered slow moving vehicles, bicyclists must obey all of the traffic laws just as if they were driving a motor vehicle. This includes obeying all road signs and traffic signals. Finally, make sure you always ride with traffic, never against it. According to the Florida Bicycle Association, bicyclists who ride towards oncoming traffic are two to four times more likely to be involved in an accident than bicyclists who ride with traffic.

Riding In Florida Roadways

Bicyclists should always ride in the designated bicycle lanes when they are present. When bicycle lanes are not available, sidewalks are an acceptable alternative. If there are no designated bicycle lanes or sidewalks available, according to Florida state law bicyclists should always ride as far to right as practicable. This means that bicyclists should maintain no less than two feet of clearance between their bike and the usable pavement. When riding in an extra-wide lane, bicyclists can ride a little bit farther to the left.

Riding on a Sidewalk

When riding on a sidewalk, bicyclists are considered the same as pedestrians. This means they must follow the regulations that are in place for pedestrians. Bicyclists riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks must always give the right-of-way to other pedestrians and must make an audible signal before passing.

References:

http://www.floridabicycle.org/rules/bikelaw.html

http://www.floridabicycle.org/resources/pdfs/PEGLEG_2009.pdf

http://www.smbc.us/safety.html

http://www.roadguardian.com/home/