CYCLING EDUCATION

SAFE RIDING

Remember:

  • Florida law allows people to ride their bikes on the sidewalk, however local municipalities can prohibit bikes from certain areas.

  • Bicyclists and micro-mobility users should always yield to pedestrians at intersections and crossings.

  • It is recommended that cyclists keep 3 feet from parked cars.

  • If you are wearing headphones it is recommended that you use just leave one earbud in so you can hear your surroundings.

Learn More: https://floridabicycle.org/bicycle-traffic-law

In Florida, a bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle and the bicyclist is a driver. This means that people riding bicycles have the same rights to the roadways as motorvehicles, and that they need to follows the rules of the road. This includes:

  • Stopping at stop signs and red lights

  • Riding with the flow of traffic

  • Using lights at night

  • Yielding to pedestrians

  • Yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway

Helmets

  • Up to 85% of head injuries can be prevented by wearing a properly fitted bike helmet.

  • A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet.

  • Replace your bike helmet every 5 years, regardless of visible damage and always replace your helmet after a significant fall. 

  • Click HERE for tips on how to properly fit a helmet.

ABC cycling pre-check 

Riding on the road

Trail riding

Bike lights

SIGNALS

Cyclists must signal that they intend to make a turn within 100 feet of the turn, one way is to use hand signals to let drivers and pedestrians know which way you are turning.

SIGNS & MARKINGS

Sharrow Pavement Markings

  • Pavement marking alerts motorists where to expect bicyclists.

  • Alerts bicyclists on where to use a full lane, under Florida Law.

  • Encourages safe passing.

  • Reduces wrong-way bicycling.

May Use Full Lane signs

  • informs road users that bicyclists might occupy the travel lane.

DRIVERS

The law requires motorists, who are passing the slower moving cyclist, to give the cyclist a cushion of safety of at least 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle.

Pedestrians (and cyclists) always have the right of way at crosswalks and it is a traffic violation to not let them cross once they are within the crosswalk.

Every intersection is considered a crosswalk, whether it is marked or unmarked.