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Operating in traffic is
a cooperative activity, conducted according to rules. Following
the rules and applying the skills needed to observe them promotes safe
and efficient travel. Drivers who see and can predict each other's
actions are less likely to conflict with each other. The Florida
Uniform Traffic Control Law (Chapter
316, Florida Statutes; clicking on this link will open another
instance of the web browser) governs the operation of all vehicles
operated on public roads in Florida. For the actual wording of the
sections cited below, the text of the Uniform Traffic Control Law should
be consulted.
Legal status of
bicycles
(Sections 316.003(2), (10) and 316.2065(1), F.S.)
A bicycle is classified as a vehicle. A person in control of a
vehicle on a street or highway is a driver. As a driver, a cyclist
must follow the traffic rules common to all drivers. As the driver
of a bicycle, he must also obey regulations adopted specially for
bicycles. A person riding a bicycle has all the rights applicable
to any driver, except as to special regulations for bicycles.
Definition of "Bicycle"
(Section 316.003(2), F.S.)
Every vehicle propelled solely by human power, and every motorized
bicycle propelled by a combination of human power and an electric helper
motor capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of not more than 20
miles per hour on level ground upon which any person may ride, having
two tandem wheels, and including any device generally recognized as a
bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels. The
term does not include such a vehicle with a seat height of no more than
25 inches from the ground when the seat is adjusted to its highest
position or a scooter or a similar device. No person under the age
of 16 may operate or ride upon a motorized bicycle.
Comment: A motorized bicycle that satisfies this definition is
nevertheless subject to restrictions on sidewalks (see "Sidewalk
riding" below).
Traffic law highlights - for cyclists
Driving on right side of roadway
(Section 316.081, F.S.)
Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a
vehicle shall be driven on the right half of
the roadway.
Comment: A cyclist on a roadway
must ride on the side reserved for his
direction of travel. Riding in the
opposite direction, so as to face oncoming
traffic, doubles the risk of collision with
a motor vehicle and is a
contributing factor in about 15 percent of
bicycle-motor vehicle crashes.
Motorists entering and leaving roadways at
intersections and driveways do not expect
traffic to approach from the wrong
direction.
Equipment requirements and carriage of
passengers
(Section 316.2065(2), (3), (7), (8), and
(14), F.S.)
A bicycle operated between sunset and
sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the
front exhibiting a white light visible from
500 feet to the front and both a red
reflector and a lamp on the rear exhibiting
a red light visible from 600 feet to the
rear.
Comment: Over half of fatal
bicycle crashes in Florida occur after
sunset, even though most cycling is done
during daylight hours. Battery-and
generator-powered headlamps are available.
If a cyclist uses battery-powered lamps, it
may be necessary to carry spare batteries or
to mount additional lamps as spares (some
LED lamps last for many hours). Rear
reflector and taillamp should be aimed
straight back.
A bicycle rider or passenger under 16 years
of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is
properly fitted, fastened securely, and meets a
nationally recognized standard.
Comment:
Head injuries
account for about one third of hospital
emergency room visits for bicycle-related
injuries. Bicycle helmets, properly
fitted and worn, have been found effective
in reducing the incidence and severity of
head, brain, and upper facial injury.
The role model effect of adults is an
important factor in enhancing helmet wearing
by youth. By federal law,
bicycle helmets sold in the US are required to meet the
standard of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission.
Bicyclists must use a fixed, regular seat for riding.
A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons at one time than the
number for which it is designed or equipped.
An adult bicyclist may carry a child in a backpack or sling, child
seat or trailer designed to carry children.
A bicyclist may not allow a passenger to remain in a child seat or
carrier when not in immediate control of the bicycle.
At least one hand must be kept on the handlebars while riding.
Every bicycle must be equipped with a brake or brakes which allow
the rider to stop within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean
pavement.
Sidewalk riding
(Section 316.2065(10) and (11), F.S.)
A person propelling a vehicle by human power
upon and along a sidewalk, or across a
roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all
the rights and duties applicable to a
pedestrian under the same circumstances.
Comment: Sidewalks are not
designed for bicycle speeds, but a bicycle
propelled by human power may be used except
where prohibited by local
ordinance (e.g. in the central business
districts of many cities).
No bicycle may be propelled by other than
human power on a sidewalk. Although a
cyclist riding on a sidewalk has the rights
and duties of a pedestrian, he is still a
"bicycle rider" and his bicycle is still a
"bicycle". Consequently, laws that
pertain to required equipment and to
carriage of passengers (see above) are still
applicable.
Since a cyclist riding on a sidewalk does
not have the duties (or rights) of a driver,
he may ride in either direction. (However,
it is safer to ride in the direction of
traffic, since drivers do not expect
cyclists to come from the other direction at
driveways and crosswalks. Crash risk is 3 to
4 times as great for sidewalk riders who
ride facing roadway traffic as for sidewalk
riders who ride in the direction of
traffic.)
At a signalized
intersection, a sidewalk rider must obey the instructions
of any applicable pedestrian control
signal. That is, he may start to cross
a roadway in a crosswalk only during a
steady Walk phase, if one is
displayed. If no pedestrian signal is
provided, the cyclist may proceed in
accordance with the signal indications for
the parallel roadway traffic flow (Section
316.075, F.S.).
A person propelling a bicycle upon and along
a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and
along a crosswalk, shall yield the
right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall
give an audible signal before overtaking and
passing such pedestrian.
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