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Bicyclists in Crosswalks

2012 May 8

Question

Mike asked:  I understand that a cyclist is considered a pedestrian when they travel on the sidewalk although they must yield to “real pedestrians” who are afoot.

What happens when a cyclist is using a sidewalk and then cycles across a crosswalk on the street?   Does the cyclist still maintain status as a pedestrian while in the crosswalk?  Or, do they become a cyclist the moment they move into the street? read more…

Bicyclists on Bike Paths

2012 May 8

Question

Mike also asked: Florida Statues define a crosswalk as existing within the lines of sidewalks approaching a street.   And the statutes are strong regarding the rights of pedestrians within those crosswalks.

What if it is an intersection of a trail, like the Legacy Trail, and a street?   Does Florida Statute define it as a crosswalk when a trail crosses a road?

My concern is that someone could argue that since it is trail crossing, that it is not technically a crosswalk, because there are not sidewalks approaching the road. read more…

Walking on a One-Way Street

2012 May 3

Question

Nathan asked: Is there a legal way to walk with traffic on a one-way street without sidewalks? Or do you have to go to the next block? read more…

Crash Reports

2012 April 29
by Geo

Question

Ron asked: Two touring cyclists were rear-ended and killed in Darien, Georgia over the weekend:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/west-volusia/2012/04/28/2-osteen-cyclists-killed-in-georgia.html

Last year I we all lost a great friend when he was rear-ended and killed on SR11 north of DeLand:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/breakingnews/2011/08/bicyclist-killed-in-collision-with-van.html

My question is this: is information regarding the outcome of investigations into such tragedies a matter of public record and available to anyone interested?

Attempts I have made into the DeLand accident received no response form FHP.

Answer

This is the link to the information about obtaining crash reports.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/CrashReport/

Bike Lanes at T-Intersections

2012 April 23

Question

Mark asked: I live (and ride) along the East Coast of Florida (in Fort Lauderdale) and when I am in the bike lane on A1A (headed north) there is no traffic on my right hand side, as of course it is the Atlantic Ocean. Do I still need to stop at a red light if I am going straight and I am in the bike lane? The only possibility of an accident would be someone turning from a perpendicular road that would be heading north (as it is a one way road) and if that driver turned too wide and went into the bike lane. Obviously this is a very real possibility, however I was just wondering if I am still required by law to stop at said red light or can I proceed at my own risk? read more…

Lane Splitting (Que Jumping)

2012 April 16

Question

Eric commented:  Every once in a while people like to argue about why lane splitting or filtering should be legal. In my experience, people that make a habit of passing cars on the right, whether in a designated bicycle lane or not, have many “interesting” stories about how dangerous bicycling is. So, when I arrive at a line of stopped cars, I get in line behind them. This, of course “wastes time”, but I can assure you that the small amount of time I waste waiting for the light to change is nothing compared to the time this man will be wasting.  Hazard a guess as to which statute they charged this fellow with?

http://www.news-press.com/article/20120415/NEWS0102/120416001/Naples-bicyclist-injured-February-crash-ruled-fault read more…

Right Turn Only Lanes

2012 April 12

Question

Nathan asked: You’ve said that FDOT no longer uses undesignated bike lanes. Is this why I’ve been recently seeing bike lanes that exist only to the left of right-turn lanes, and revert to shoulder before and after (forcing a cyclist to use the shoulder after the intersection, since it’s illegal to change lanes in an intersection)? I’ve seen these both at new right-turn lane installations on existing roads: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=29.777816,-81.641454&spn=0.008325,0.016512&gl=us&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=29.777492,-81.641273&panoid=krMJ6TrqfD7Owavx0C42MQ&cbp=12,335.97,,0,8.36

and on recent widenings of rural highways: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=30.605358,-86.950672&spn=0.008255,0.016512&gl=us&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=30.605241,-86.950558&panoid=X4-X3CdhvVO_ptMWbvB8SA&cbp=12,330.83,,0,9.24 read more…

Lights During Rain

2012 April 12
by Geo

Question

Scott asked:  Are lights required (for a bicycle) during daylight when it is raining? read more…

Narrow Lanes Again

2012 April 12

Question

Scott asked:  Last week I was stopped by a LEO in Palm Springs, FL while riding my bike on a 25mph 10′ wide lane on a residential street.  My lane position was slightly left of the right tire track.  The LEO insisted first that I must ride 3 feet from the road edge, then after reviewing the statute he insisted all the way to the road edge.  He threatened to cite me if I didn’t comply. What is the correct lane position on such a road and am I required to move over for traffic wishing to travel at a higher rate of speed. Or are they required to pass when it is safe to do so? read more…

Cyclist Passing a Stopped Bus

2012 April 11

Question

Frugopolis asked: What is the proper side to pass a bus stopped at a bus stop? Sometimes they stop in the lane of traffic leaving the shoulder open for me to pass on the right, but departing bus passengers are a hazard. Likewise, passing on the left requires riding into the lane of traffic. read more…