[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

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.

Sorry, with all due respect for riders, walkers etc. riding those recumbents anywhere near
5000 lb. vehicle traffic lanes, (even with a 20' flag), you have to have a death wish.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by ThehappypeopleLOL

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.

It's also important to know that this does NOT give the right for pedestrians to just start crossing at the crosswalk while cars are already approaching it.

If you're already in the crosswalk, cars MUST stop to let you get to the other side. If you're not in the crosswalk yet, you MUST wait until it's safe to do so. It sounds like a no-brainer but apparently it needs to be said. There are people who will just start walking without even trying to look for oncoming traffic, because they just assume people will stop for them. Most of the time people WILL stop for them. But sometimes they don't. And if you are one of the people who is sent to the hospital because you stepped off the curb WHILE someone was already on his way through, you don't get to say "I had the right of way" in the lawsuit.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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.

Originally Posted by Windguy

As someone who rode MMPs for years before switching to the boulevards, I assure you that the roads are actually safer than the MMPs. Plus, it's hard to get a 50-mile ride into just a few hours if on the MMPs.

....

Fair enough. I wasn't thinking about the major, multi-lane roads (BV, Morse, 466x). Since there are two lanes available, vehicles should not be impeded by bicyclists on those roads anyway. I'm surprised that the lanes on those roads are narrower than 14' but I'm not likely to go measure them.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's also important to know that this does NOT give the right for pedestrians to just start crossing at the crosswalk while cars are already approaching it.

If you're already in the crosswalk, cars MUST stop to let you get to the other side. If you're not in the crosswalk yet, you MUST wait until it's safe to do so. It sounds like a no-brainer but apparently it needs to be said. There are people who will just start walking without even trying to look for oncoming traffic, because they just assume people will stop for them. Most of the time people WILL stop for them. But sometimes they don't. And if you are one of the people who is sent to the hospital because you stepped off the curb WHILE someone was already on his way through, you don't get to say "I had the right of way" in the lawsuit.

Absolutely, positively 100% correct (except in California)

[Dan9871]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Care to cite any of them?????
Also, I believe the number of traffic engineers, past , present and future are finite, and therefore not "countless"
Also, since I'm in a picky mood, decades is a pleural, therefore there ARE decades of data...

Since your are in a picky mood... being countable and finite are not the same things.

Thanks to Georg Cantor we know that there are countable and uncountable infinities. Among other things Probability and Alan Turing's "On Computable Numbers..." depend an infinite set of elements that is countable. The integers represent a countably infinite set of elements but the real numbers do not.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Dan9871

Since your are in a picky mood... being countable and finite are not the same things.

Thanks to Georg Cantor we know that there are countable and uncountable infinities. Among other things Probability and Alan Turing's "On Computable Numbers..." depend an infinite set of elements that is countable. The integers represent a countably infinite set of elements but the real numbers do not.

I concede---you "out-pickied" me

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Fair enough. I wasn't thinking about the major, multi-lane roads (BV, Morse, 466x). Since there are two lanes available, vehicles should not be impeded by bicyclists on those roads anyway. I'm surprised that the lanes on those roads are narrower than 14' but I'm not likely to go measure them.

I did about 2 years ago when the Florida Cyclist Assoc. adopted a "own the road" policy.
The cyclists are correct, the lanes are just under 12 feet on Morse by Sarasota. (wasn't willing to go measure a bunch of places)

[toeser]

Originally Posted by Skunky1

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

That is not required by the law.

[toeser]

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.

[toeser]

Originally Posted by HogPilot

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

We are not in those states. We are in Florida.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by Girlcopper

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

In the state of Florida, you are considered a pedestrian on your bicycle, unless you travel on the roadway with other motorists. Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...-_cOgYFby90hoH

But to be Uber specific we used the signal controlled crosswalk and crossed with the signal in the painted, designated cross walk lane when a SUV attempted to run us over. Even more specifically, do automobiles have to yield to pedestrians in a cross walk'? Why yes they do in every state in the union and every US possession. Still more questions? Florida statute 316.130(7) requires drivers to stop for pedestrians who are in a crosswalk with a walk signal.

Not sure why this is a difficult concept to grasp but if it is please voluntary turn in your driver's license before you maim or kill someone. You no longer have the ability to hold a license and safety share the road with the rest of us.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by HogPilot

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

Not in Florida, but again in every state every driver MUST yield to pedestrians. Do you have any more with comments?

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by kendi

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.

Very true. This is why I always ride 'defensive guard' for her. Immediately to her left on multi modal paths to prevent carts from driving into her while attempting to pass or running a block in parking lots or anywhere near motor vehicles.

But remember we are, as members of this community, getting older. Not everyone can ride a two wheeled bike.

Look, be aware of your surroundings and look again.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

In the state of Florida, you are considered a pedestrian on your bicycle, unless you travel on the roadway with other motorists. Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...-_cOgYFby90hoH

But to be Uber specific we used the signal controlled crosswalk and crossed with the signal in the painted, designated cross walk lane when a SUV attempted to run us over. Even more specifically, do automobiles have to yeild to pedestrians in a cross walk'? Why yes they do in every state in the union and every US possession. Still more questions? Florida statute 316.130(7) requires drivers to stop for pedestrians who are in a crosswalk with a walk signal.

Girlhopper please voluntary turn in your driver's license before you main or kill someone. You no longer have the ability to hold a license and safety share the road with the rest of us.

Can I assume since this occurred at Pinellas and 466A we are talking about Pinellas Plaza and the traffic light at the east entrance???? If you were crossing with the light, that means the SUV ran a red light. Is that correct???

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Can I assume since this occurred at Pinellas and 466A we are talking about Pinellas Plaza and the traffic light at the east entrance???? If you were crossing with the light, that means the SUV ran a red light. Is that correct???

I don't know what the driver saw other than we were crossing with a crosswalk signal in a designated crosswalk lane. I do know they attempted to run us over.

If they had how would this have played out for the motorist? Failure to yield for a pedestrian. On civil side this would be negligence. Pretty clear cut.

Ask yourself, as a driver, is it worth it to lose everything that you own, everything that you have worked for your entire life to harm a cyclist or 'cut it close' because you are irritated, in a rush, or convinced you are correct? Is it the right thing to do, to teach 'the spandex crowd a lesson", ever?