Rules of the ROAD for Bicycles & CARS
 

Learn and understand the laws related to bicycling and driving on the streets in the Villages and on any road in the state of Fl.

A) Bikes & Cars
Same Roads
Same Rights
Same Rules


B) Cars should pass NO closer than three (3) feet to any biker on the road.
IT'S THE LAW

C) Every lane is a bicycle lane.
IT'S THE LAW

D) Share The Road:it is the right thing to do.

We just came up Poweel Road and there was a bicycle car accident on the South bound side

Yes..Bicyclist
 

Exactly same rules of the road... I passed a bicycle two days ago legally near Sumter Landing... as he approached the STOP Sign interesection.. Yes he did straight on through at full speed...

I am only posting this as the rider gave me a terrible look and a little horn as I passed him... I also know who you are but I will withhold the name
for now... as I sometimes ride also... but this is not right!

Plain and simple, obey the laws of the road, not just the rules!!! Stop signs and speed signs are there for a reason, some think they are there for everyone else.

I know rules are the same but I get sick of seeing so many cyclists just breeze right thru stop signs.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Bikes should not run the stops signs. As a rider I've observed that only about 10% of bikers stops. Which makes them roughly twice as likely to stop as a car.

Maybe it is just me but all these bikes around here are just an accident waiting to happen. Why on earth do they want to be on a road with 3 to 5 thousand pound vehicles zooming by them. The bikers visibility is very poor with helmets and tiny mirrors for viewing. I bike but stay in safe quiet neighborhoods. I know we hear about golf cart accidents here but I would imagine there are as many or more bike accidents of one type or another. Would not the bikers be safer on the paths?

I always think about a person jumping in the ocean knowing they are surrounded by sharks, sooner or later you're going to get bit, but hey, they have the right to swim with the sharks. I do wish that the bicyclist were as passionate about about obeying the laws as they are about making sure vehicles obey the laws.

See the current thread on "Multi-modal paths" started by dotti! That might answer your quandry!

Many regular cyclists prefer the roads over the cart paths because we believe it is actually safer. The cart paths can be very crowded with golf carts and walkers/joggers and there is a lot going on where the cart paths cross the various Village entrances. Visibility is not an issue - I can see fine and I have a relatively large mirror on my handlebars. My helmet does not restrict my peripheral vision. The biggest issue I see is cars pulling into the roundabouts with their view of traffic partially blocked by the neighborhood signs in front of many of the guard shacks. Also, a fair number of people pull into the roundabouts without really watching for cyclists. This time of year I try to limit my riding on Buena Vista unless I am riding with a group.

Same Old Same Old Here
 

I suspect bicyclists choose main roads because they can go full throttle and in doing so prefer nothing break their momentum. And many the time when I had to dodge their reluctance.

I moved down from a big city and as recollection serves me people were more observant of the rules of the road, signalling their intentions etc.

I am left with the impression that either one of two things permeate the thinking of car/cart drivers, bicyclists and in some instances jogger/pedestrians, here in The Villages and that is "ëntitlment" or "an unawareness". Translated you wait for me because I am more important than you or holy jez I never even saw that .... or worse totally ignorant of their surroundings just plain spaced out

I don't think the rules are exactly the same. In Florida, my understanding is that bicyclists are supposed to stay as far over in the right lane as safely as possible unless turning left or passing another vehicle or stationary object. Also, bicycles do not have to be licensed and therefore do not contribute to maintenance of the roads they share.

Good reminder.......Thanks!!

The other day I was cycling on the MMP behind a string of about 7 or 8 golf carts moving verrrrry slowly behind two cyclists on road bikes in full "racing" gear!!plodding along at a leisurely pace of about 6 to 8 mph. They were riding abreast, using the entire lane. Then they decided to stop in the middle of a long stretch of pathway. They didn't bother to move over to the side, but just stood there taking up the whole lane while they waited for an even slower companion to catch up. I have to say I wouldn't have been upset if they had been "persuaded" into the trees by a golf cart.

I believe that only applies where is only one lane in each direction. On roads like Morse or Buena Vista, they have the right to occupy the whole lane. Other traffic can use the other lane to get around them safely.

nope, you are wrong, bikes must stay as far right as possible, except where conditions dictate otherwise (lane closure or road damage). learn the rules before endangering lives. maybe reading the rules governing bike riding would help dispel these misconceptions, I did, that's why I know you are wrong.

You probably are right but I'm guessing you're not a cyclist. I ride on the roads after first trying the mmp's .I don't get the workout I'm looking for there.All the stopping & starting just doesn't get it done.Also I found it unsafe with the way some drive their carts.After I tried the mmp's next I went on the shoulder of the roads.Talk about insanity people would be so close to me when passing that I was almost knocked off my bike several times . I'm pretty sure that a 3 foot clearance is the law when passing a bike ! The funny thing is that most of the folks passing me that close had the whole left lane to move over but because the were going to need to be in the right lane in a mile they wouldn' t move over. Then there was the time when I caught up to one of these vehicles at a gate where they had to wait. I asked why they had to pass me so close.The answer I got was the person in the left lane wouldn't let him move over.I asked him if he had brakes and pointed out that slowing down until it was safe to pass me sure would have been nice.
Now I take up the whole right lane.Right or wrong it's the safest way to ride.People get ****ed but I know I'm in control of the way you pass me.Oh I forgot to mention I ride only on 4 lane roads. I also wear bright colors, have flashing lights in front & back & I live in my mirrors. That's my story & I'm sticking to it!

it just amazes me.. Yes you can ride you bikes on the roads in Fla. And yes you can drive your grandchildren around in golf carts without child seats. But why? you have worked your whole life to retire! Why do you want to risk it now just because you can? Please Please Cyclist .. Stop at the stop signs. Grandparents. protect your grandchildren. Driving around 3 thousand pound vehicles in a bike or a golf cart is really not safe. People make mistakes when driving especially when they don't know the rules. Traffic circles etc.. Think twice before you go! Be extra diligent and above all watch out for the other guy.. And be safe!. Please

The law does NOT say ride as far right as possible, it says ride as far right as practicable. This means as far right as the cyclist feels safe, as stated by the Orlando Police bicycle patrol.
Buena Vista, Morse south, El Camino Real, and Stillwater have lanes that are 11 feet wide. When a cyclist rides 3 feet from the curb and the bicycle takes up 3 feet and a car (by Florida law) must stay 3 feet away from the side of a bicycle, only leaves 2 feet of lane left. That mean a car must either shrink to 2 feet wide, slow down and follow, or move safely to the other lane.
Another part of that law states bicycles must not ride MORE than 2 abreast. That means it is OK to ride side by side in the State of Florida.

Copied right from the state of Florida site - 316.2065 Bicycle regulations:

(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
(6) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and shall ride within a single lane.

I don't believe the lanes on Morse and Buena Vista are 14 feet wide which FL deems the minimum width to allow cars to pass bikes safely without entering the other lane. Bikes are allowed space from the gutter for safety and visibility, usually about 3 feet. When you add the 3 foot minimum space you must give a bike when passing to the 2.5 feet standard width of a bike and rider, that puts a normal width car into the next lane. Why not make it a completely safe maneuver and just give the bike the entire lane when passing instead of trying to squeeze by and create a stressful situation?

BTW, thanks for the advice, but I don't ride. I just watch out for others when in a car or cart so I don't endanger lives either way.

Sorry for double post
 

Sorry - I didn't think I could edit my previous post but I could - so this is the same info as my previous post.
Please be kind :) - I don't post very often!

(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
(6) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and shall ride within a single lane.

After reading everything on this thread and the other thread on "Multi-Modal Paths," unless I'm driving in my car, I, too, think I'll walk. Yes,, I'll be walking on someone's grass. Too bad, folks; their ain't no sidewalks and I ain't walking in the street!

The only place in all of The Villages that there is a marked bicycle lane is Morse north of Rt 466. All the diamond marked lanes are designated golf cart lanes, not bicycle lanes, and the multimodal paths are for all modes of transportation. That means bicycles MAY use them but are not REQUIRED to use them.

I don't think that is correct. The diamond lanes are for bikes and carts. I certainly don't want to push those reclining bikes into the road by restricting the diamond lanes to carts only.

Not quite. On 4 lane roads, bikes can take up an entire lane.

Thank you. If:bigbow:

That is correct. And then there are people who walk and run in the diamond lanes, when there is a sidewalk right beside it (Canal Street is a good example). So carts come up behind a walker or walkers going two abreast in the diamond lane, and they will NOT move over when the carts have to almost halt behind them because car traffic on their left does not permit them to veer left to go around the walker/runners.

They defy 1200 lb. vehicles going 20mph as if to say, "C'mon. Hit me. Then you'll see who's right." Insanity!

Florida Department of Transportation
3. Bicycle Lane: A bicycle lane (bike lane) is a portion of a roadway (either with curb and gutter or a flush shoulder) which has been designated by striping, special pavement markings, and signing for the preferential use by bicyclists.

marked with a stripe, and the official symbol on the right. Florida bicycle regulations - 316.2065 (S5a & b) state: - See more at: Bike Lane Safety - Fort Myers, FL Personal Injury Attorney | Spivey Law Firm

To meet the statute language
To meet the statute language “a lane marked for bicycle use,” the lane must have this stencil in it.

The stencil is the shape of a bicycle, not a diamond.

The only place in The Villages that has this stencil is on Morse north of Rt.466.

I think Florida law says you run/walk AGAINST traffic. So those people are on the wrong side of the road to begin with. even if it isn't the law, it is just good old life preserving common sense.

The law allows for you to take up an entire lane on a 4 lane road such as Buena Vista. As you pointed out, this is actually the safe thing to do because it forces over taking cars into the left hand passing lane instead of trying to squeeze pass you in the right hand lane with a another car in the left hand lane. Most cyclists come to realize this quickly. Also, on 2 lane roads, moving left into the middle of the lane on curves is also a safe thing to do as it prevents cars from passing you unsafely when there isn't room in the lane for both a car and a cyclist. Most automobile drivers have no idea how scary it is when a cyclist is passed on a curve on a 2-lane road and a car appears in the other lane and the overtaking car nearly clips you trying to avoid a head on collision. Moving left to the middle of the lane on curves is often required for safety and fully permitted by the law. Be safe out there.

Confrontations between golf carts, walkers, bikers and cars last a few seconds most of the time. Be the bigger person and let it go. I try to laugh it off and go on with my day knowing that I did the right thing. No sense letting your blood pressure go up. Sometimes common sense should override the law. Don't be the one in the laying in a hospital bed because you had the "law" on your side. Use your head.

Walkers face the traffic so they can jump out of the way when a driver gets a phone call but bikes have to go on the right side so there is a slower closing speed between them and the cars and carts.

Bicyclists ride on the right because they are considered street legal and therefore must follow the traffic laws.

I don't have a dog in this race, but isn't this portion of the rule pretty important...

"Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic"?

"Traveling less than the normal speed of traffic" is the crux of almost all the problems with cyclists and cars/golf carts.

Next on the list would be cyclists who do not observe stop signs and change lanes while riding thru a roundabout, cutting left in front of a car that is exiting the roundabout to continue going straight on the same street.

Sat. I was exiting from Aldi's and turning right onto 441.. As I was making my turn I saw a bicycle coming at me at a high rate of speed, going in the wrong direction against traffic. I had been looking to my left so as to merge with the traffic. I never expected there would be something coming at me from my right.

The "problem" is actually cars not respecting the right of cyclists to use the roads and their failure to meet their legal obligation to pass the slower moving cyclist in a safe and lawful manner, just as they would with a slower moving car. Cyclists do often roll through stop signs when it is clear and safe to do so - probably with the same frequency as cars. Cyclists can be invisible in roundabout and are generally interested in getting through the roundabouts as quickly and safely as possible. Just as cars can be seen doing things they shouldn't, so it goes for some cyclists.