Quote:
Originally Posted by Donegalkid
Thanks! An excerpt and explanation of bike laws prior to the 7/1/21 changes. Much of it still applies. Note bikes can use sidewalks and crosswalks in FL. The link provides more good explanation.
“What Rules of the Road Must a Bicyclist Follow in Florida?
That depends on where you are riding. If you are riding on the street, you must obey the same traffic laws and rules of the road as the drivers of motor vehicles as well as laws about bicyclists. This requirement includes yielding to all traffic signs and signals. Despite what you may see some other bicyclists doing, you must stop for stoplights and stop signs. You cannot go through a red light even if there is no traffic coming.
If, however, you are riding your bike on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, Florida law will treat you as a pedestrian. In that situation, you must follow all the Florida laws that apply to walkers, and you have the same rights as them, except that you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and call out before passing them.”
Source: Florida Bicycle Laws: What Drivers & Cyclists Should Know |
"You cannot go through a red light even if there is no traffic coming."
I am forced to break that law occasionally at intersections where a light for a side street turns green only when tripped by a car. I will cross only if no cars are even in sight. I think it's unreasonable to require a biker to sit there until a car comes along and trips the stop-light. In some places and at some times of day, that can be a very long wait.