New Bicycle Law effective July 1, 2021
 

Just to share information to all of us: The governor signed into law CS/SB 950 on bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Some of the bicycle provisions that all automobile and golf cart drivers need to know:

1) Providing that no-passing zones do not apply to motorists who safely and briefly drive to the left of center of the roadway to overtake a bicycle, provided that such a passing continues to give the cyclist the necessary three feet passing clearance. If a motorist cannot safely pass at a distance of 3 feet or more, the law clearly states they must wait until a safe moment to pass.

2) Requiring a vehicle making a right turn while overtaking and/or passing a cyclist to do so only if the cyclist is at least 20 feet from the intersection and at a distance that the driver of the vehicle may safely turn. [Trying to prevent what bicyclists refer to as a "right hook"]

3) Authorizing cyclists riding in groups, after coming to a full stop, to go through an intersection in groups of 10 or fewer. Motorists are now required to let one such group pass before proceeding. [This should allow for better traffic flow for all vehicles.]


4) Providing guidelines for riding a bicycle in a substandard width lane and authorizing cyclists to ride two abreast to avoid dangerous conditions. [This allows bicycle groups to shorten up the length of their group, making passing easier for faster motor vehicles]

5) Requires at least 25 questions in the test bank for the driver license test to address bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Hope this clarifies some misunderstandings that will inevitably occur.

Cheers!

I like #3. But I'd also like to see a "rolling stop" proviso for bicyclists. Even if it is only applicable for cyclists coming to a stop on an incline (hill). I'd also like to see some regulations for e-bicycles, specifically. There've been a few times that I've been cut off by them zipping past at speeds faster than 20mph, on the MMPs.

I would like a 'yield to pedestrians in the cross walk' for the SUV who tried to run over my wife in a recumbent at Pinellas Place and 466a yesterday.

No wait, that IS a law already.

Had I not been blocking the SUV with my two wheeled bike you would be reading about her death today. Slow down and LOOK for cyclists!

Disagree with the "rolling stop"...anywhere. You want to ride a bike? You have to abide by motor vehicle laws where applicable. Most of the cyclists I observe do NOT do even a rolling stop. If you can't do a track stand then you'll have to put your feet down. If you don't like to have to do that then pick routes that don't have lights or stop signs. Also learn to signal your intent when approaching an intersection. Thanks.

Agree, and would add, in the OP's own summary of the law:

3) Authorizing cyclists riding in groups, after coming to a full stop, to go through an intersection in groups of 10 or fewer. Motorists are now required to let one such group pass before proceeding.

That does NOT mean blow through stop signs in a group of 30.

Imo, a safe rolling stop proviso for bicyclists would be very reasonable. It is already law in several states.

REALITY. Law is an attempt to deal with reality. To do that it assumes that people will know the law and follow it. We all know from life experience that is not so.

People, so typical read the posts on any thread. All are why I am right and everyone not me is wrong. Simply explains why the conflicts.

Indeed it does :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

If you want to use the crosswalk get off your bike and walk

It is beyond my understanding why a cyclist would like to be in competition with a 6500 pound vehicle on these roadways in the villages.

Your wife isnt a pedestrian when shes on a bike and was she riding or walking it across the street? How about giving more detailed info rather than slamming the suv drivet

I hope #2 “right hook “ would apply to cars overtaking golf carts. I’ve had several close calls when cars” right hook” me turning into gates and streets. =60North;1971709]Just to share information to all of us: The governor signed into law CS/SB 950 on bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Some of the bicycle provisions that all automobile and golf cart drivers need to know:

1) Providing that no-passing zones do not apply to motorists who safely and briefly drive to the left of center of the roadway to overtake a bicycle, provided that such a passing continues to give the cyclist the necessary three feet passing clearance. If a motorist cannot safely pass at a distance of 3 feet or more, the law clearly states they must wait until a safe moment to pass.

2) Requiring a vehicle making a right turn while overtaking and/or passing a cyclist to do so only if the cyclist is at least 20 feet from the intersection and at a distance that the driver of the vehicle may safely turn. [Trying to prevent what bicyclists refer to as a "right hook"]

3) Authorizing cyclists riding in groups, after coming to a full stop, to go through an intersection in groups of 10 or fewer. Motorists are now required to let one such group pass before proceeding. [This should allow for better traffic flow for all vehicles.]


4) Providing guidelines for riding a bicycle in a substandard width lane and authorizing cyclists to ride two abreast to avoid dangerous conditions. [This allows bicycle groups to shorten up the length of their group, making passing easier for faster motor vehicles]

5) Requires at least 25 questions in the test bank for the driver license test to address bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Hope this clarifies some misunderstandings that will inevitably occur.

Cheers![/QUOTE]

Bicycles should have license plates so the riders actions can be recorded and reported. Bicyclist are very dangerous and a tragedy is coming.

And yet the other day A large group of bicyclists did not pull over to let me pass they were riding six or eight of breast taking up the full Lane

Bicycle rules
 

Thanks for posting, my husband and I ride our bikes almost every day, we have been almost hit several times by inconsiderate golf cart drivers. They continued to go around with little or no space and almost hit us very very close calls around curves, without waiting no patience, beeping, it's horrible.
None will observe or read these rules.

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

In five years I have yet to see a bicycle obey a stop sign.

bikes that run through stop signs aren't just a danger to themselves and others, but **** me off. its a sort of arrogance. especially the ones that wear shirts like they are training for the Olympics or something - we used to call them "Spandex Douchebags" on the Pinellas County trails.

Generally, good laws. Generally, nothing in there that a reasonably considerate person wouldn't abide by naturally. Unfortunately, actually writing the laws down and making it all "legal" does little to change behaviors. Mostly, all it accomplishes is a methodology to settle arguments over who is right and who is wrong, and even then it often doesn't work. Case in point, the poster who on another thread bragged that he/she refused to turn left at a blinking yellow arrow, even if he/she could clearly see no oncoming traffic. The law is written down, but that person refuses to abide by it. So, be careful, be patient. Try not to hurt anybody, and try not to get hurt.

Everyone, no matter the means of transportation, must be on alert. Driving, riding, jogging, and walking, please be careful. Please, when out having a few drinks, DO NOT GET BEHIND THE WHEEL! You could regret something for the rest of your life

take all sins down and stop lights down and go for it

In some states, that is the law. You have to walk the bike.

That isn't just a problem down there, it applies to every place I've ever lived or visited. While I make sure to give cyclists a minimum of 3 feet and to watch them closely to not put them in danger should they wobble or have another problem (instant flat tire), the double-standard gets old. Almost all of them are not shy about reminding non-bikers about the laws, yet when it comes to obeying traffic signs and signals that also apply to them - all too many feel entitled to completely ignore them. Still, I love watching the Tour de France every year. lol

We have a conflict in this thread.

Girlcopper who I would suspect is a cop writes with absolute certainty

Then Donegalkid writes citing a website:

One of you is wrong. One of you cited a source from an attorney who practices in Florida. The other simply made a definitive statement that a person is not a pedestrian when crossing the street at a crosswalk and demanded to know whether the person was on the bike or walking the bike. It turns out, if the lawyer knows the law, that it does not matter. On the bike or off the bike, if you are crossing a street at a crosswalk you are a pedestrian under Florida law.

This is a perfect example of why it is a good idea to include a citation in your posts. Turns out the cop is wrong if the lawyer is right. To see the actual law go HERE and read section (9)

Most auto drivers know and abide by this. Now the golf cart drivers are something else. In fact most don't think a walker, jogger or biker should be on the trails. Most will not give 3 feet clearance. It's a sad situation this has turned into. This will continue until someone gets killed.

I fear for those who ride the recumbent bikes. They are not easy to see even with the flag. Especially if they are riding rather than walking across the street.
BTW, your picture makes it hard to take you seriously. Grumpy.

{sarcasm}Isn’t just annoying how cyclists think yielding at intersections and not coming to a complete stop is OK, but motorists always come to a complete stop and lock their brakes at stop signs?{/sarcasm}

The law is that if the lane is less than 14’ wide, the cyclists own the whole lane. There are no lanes in TV that are 14’ wide. That was what point 4 was in the original post. And, we never ride six wide. What you saw was an illusion as the riders were shifted forward and backward from each other, but they might have looked six wide from your point behind the group.

You can't fix stupid and drivers in cars and carts think they own the road and will continue to treat bikers as having NO rights on the road. That's the Entitled attitude of the Villages, JMHO
P.S. Golf cart path seems to be worse to ride than the roads, its a crap shoot in the villages!

Sarcasm noted and appreciated.

Personally, I think coming to an absolute complete stop at a stop sign with no one around is a total waste of time, does nothing to improve safety, and as stated above, not practiced by most drivers of anything with wheels.

I also think 90% of the stop signs on MMPs should be yield signs---they are being treated that way anyway.

That being said, the yield signs should be STRICTLY OBEYED. Want to guess the number one cause of all accidents???? That's right, it is FAILURE TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY.

There are many great examples:

*****On the BV MMP headed north from the Hillsborough gate, you round the curve and have the option of going straight or making a left to go through the tunnel to get to Hendry. There have been severe accidents and many near misses because the person making the left to the tunnel fails to yield to the southbound cart. Because it is only a 30 degree left turn, many think they are going straight and not turning left. They need a sign similar to that by the tunnel under Morse at Saratoga that states "left hand turn yield to straight traffic"
*****Just about any RB as you round towards your exit, a pack of 30 cyclists will blow through the yield sign right in front of you as a single entity. I love to see their faces as I pull up to 3 feet short of them as I lean on the horn. It's like "who, me? I was just playing follow the leader"
*****Then of course , there is the perennial nightmare of the Morse/Paige Pl. RB
*****The tendency of other cart drivers on roads with a cart lane to run right through a stop sign of a side street to get in front of you (and then usually crawl at 13 mph)
*****Then there's the drivers and cyclists who don't bother to stop or yield when exiting a tunnel. This applies to the occasional car that exits a tunnel on a MMP as well

And there's plenty more like this
Bottom line I rather see rolling stops at stop signs than failure to yield when required.

I'm going to push for skate boards, roller blades, and golf carts to all share the road with bicyclist. If bikes can use the roads designed for safe and efficient flow of vehicle traffic, than anything with wheels should be allowed on roads. Right?

Right.

Bicyclists in The Villages think they DON'T have to STOP at ANY stop sign here. They break all kinds of laws.

I'm sure that is quite an exaggeration, 6 or 8 cyclists can not fit into one lane when next to each other, 3 is even tight. Also, they do not have to move over to let you pass. Read the new law.

Not ALL bicyclists. Many driver's here in the Villages also don't stop at stop signs and break all kinds of laws, so what is your point? Terrible driver's and cyclists move to the Villages? Or were you just venting?

Are you the one in a thousand who comes to a complete stop in your car at every stop sign? If so, my hat's off to you!

That’s your opinion, there is decades of data and countless traffic engineers that would disagree. However, if you roll through a stop because you did not see the oncoming motorcycle and it results in a death, you should be charged with reckless homicide.

I am all for replacing all intersections with round-abouts. But as long as there are stops signs. It is important to stop.

Wow. What a nice guy! And, such an open mind! Talk about arrogance...

I can't speak for the casual cyclist who doesn't know the rules of the road and foolishly rides without a helmet, but I assure you that there is exactly zero arrogance involved with serious cyclists. Unlike you, we know the rules of the road with regards to cycling and we do what is safest for us and people around us and we don't pull out in front of motorists and are not a danger. We are not just cyclists, but we are motorists, too, and we have a much better idea of what is safe than you do.

And we "Spandex Douchebags" wear cycling jerseys for damn good reasons. When riding 30-50 miles at 15-20 mph, it is necessary to stay cool. A cotton t-shirt won't do that. The jerseys are also more visible than a standard t-shirt. They have tight sleeves and necks to prevent wind and insects from getting underneath. Nothing like having a ****ed off hornet inside your shirt!

Agree that "six or eight of breast [sic]" is an exaggeration but "own the whole lane" is a rather strong interpretation of the words in the law.

I wonder what road this was on. Where in TV, and outside the squares, is there a roadway used by large groups of bicyclists that does not have a bicycle/MMP lane? No, there is no MMP or bicycle lane on my street but it is so short that a car would not have room to pass a group of eight bicyclists anyway.

The Villages should install crosswalk signs.
 

Florida law 316.130(7) prohibits interfering with a pedestrian lawfully in the crosswalk. If there are no traffic control signals or signs, the driver MUST YIELD to a pedestrian in the crosswalk. To help motorists comply with Florida law The Villages should install crosswalk signs at all crossings for pedestrian safety.