Cart Lanes and Bicycles

[CathyandJohn]

I have a question I would like to ask. When traveling on our streets, in the cart lane, if a bicycle is in front of you are you allowed to pull in the street to go around if your cart is not street legal? We have been in a situation where bikes were ahead of a group of carts and some carts that are not street legal go around everyone to get in front of the bicyclist. We do not want to pull out to go around if that is not legal. We would appreciate some insight as we want to do what is legal when this situation comes up again. Thank you.

[DonH57]

I have always passed bicycles or pedestrians in the cart lane in a safe manner not going over the 20 mph limit. I've never been stopped for it yet and I only do it because it's been stated in a past POA bulletin article written by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. To my knowledge nothing has changed. They will ticket you for doing it unsafely. Always best to directly ask law enforcement than the internet.

[Golfingnut]

Don is right. Only confusion comes whe folks in carts think they have more rights than the bicycle. In reality, the bicycle has some rights the cart does not. Give them respect and a little courtesy. Remember they are burning more calories than you.LOL

[CathyandJohn]

Thanks for the input. Didn't even think of asking the sheriff's office.

[al & jane]

There is also a 3 foot rule in Florida law that says a motor vehicle must allow 3 feet between their vehicle and a bicycle.

[Golfingnut]

There is also a 3 foot rule in Florida law that says a motor vehicle must allow 3 feet between their vehicle and a bicycle.

And I think it should be a lot more. You need to ride a bike with a cart or car right on yor butt to see how intimidating it is.

[Bogie Shooter]

To make a left turn you have to move your cart into the lane and that is legal. Making a left turn from the cart lane is illegal. So passing in that lane at golf cart speed is legal.

[DonH57]

I forgot to add Morse Blvd is a very busy road and I personally would not try to pass a large group of bikes. I believe most ride at certain times of the day.

[Carl in Tampa]

This sounds like an "ask a cop" issue, but logic says you can leave the golf cart lane and enter the street for a variety of reasons, including left turns and situations when the golf cart (multi-use) lane is obstructed.

Otherwise, when you encounter someone parked in the golf cart lane, as some contractors often do, you would not be able to proceed.

Accordingly, logically, if a bicycle is traveling slower than your cart will go it is obstructing your progress and you should be able to leave the lane to pass it.

I often have other carts pass me when in the cart lane on streets, even when I am at my cart's wide open legal speed of 20 mph. They aren't street legal, just hopped up a bit.

Let us know what the deputy tells you.

[njbchbum]

This sounds like an "ask a cop" issue, but logic says you can leave the golf cart lane and enter the street for a variety of reasons, including left turns and situations when the golf cart (multi-use) lane is obstructed.

Otherwise, when you encounter someone parked in the golf cart lane, as some contractors often do, you would not be able to proceed.

Accordingly, logically, if a bicycle is traveling slower than your cart will go it is obstructing your progress and you should be able to leave the lane to pass it.

I often have other carts pass me when in the cart lane on streets, even when I am at my cart's wide open legal speed of 20 mph. They aren't street legal, just hopped up a bit.

Let us know what the deputy tells you.

Your response is EXACTLY what the S.C. Sheriff told us when we asked him the other night! We were told that it is okay to pass an obstruction in the cart lane if/when it is safe to do so when going outside of the cart lane into the traffic lane! We were cautioned that one must ONLY pass when such a move is SAFE - when there is no oncoming car in the car lane into which you must proceed to pass the bicycle/runner. IOW - don't be a jerk and try to play chicken with oncoming traffic and/or the obstruction!