Comments on: Can Pedestrians Use Bicycle Lanes? http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/ Questions, answers and news about Florida bicycle laws and law enforcement Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:48:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Geo http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-1045 Geo Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:21:32 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=397#comment-1045 Bicycle lanes are not for non-vehicular travel, nor are they for pedestrians. They are for the exclusive use by bicycles. They are part of the roadway, which is intended for use by vehicles. Bicycles are vehicles. You are correct that pedestrians are required to use the sidewalk when present rather than the roadway. Bicyclists may also use the sidewalk, even if there is a bicycle lane. See: http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/bicycles-on-sidewalks/ And: http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/ You can also click on the tag cloud on the front page at http://flbikelaw.org for more information about sidewalks and bike lanes. Bicycle lanes are not for non-vehicular travel, nor are they for pedestrians. They are for the exclusive use by bicycles. They are part of the roadway, which is intended for use by vehicles. Bicycles are vehicles.

You are correct that pedestrians are required to use the sidewalk when present rather than the roadway. Bicyclists may also use the sidewalk, even if there is a bicycle lane.

See: http://flbikelaw.org/2009/07/bicycles-on-sidewalks/

And: http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/

You can also click on the tag cloud on the front page at http://flbikelaw.org for more information about sidewalks and bike lanes.

]]> By: JL http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 JL Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:23:56 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=397#comment-1044 I live In Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and I am still confused about this law. IF there is a sidewalk provided and IF there is a designated bike lane, is it against the law for a runner to use the bike lane? I read where a runner has to use the sidewalk where one is provided and read another that says runners can use bike lanes since they are disignated for non-vehicular traffic but haven't seen one where they combine the two.....any lawyers out there that knows the answer here? Thanks. I live In Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and I am still confused about this law. IF there is a sidewalk provided and IF there is a designated bike lane, is it against the law for a runner to use the bike lane? I read where a runner has to use the sidewalk where one is provided and read another that says runners can use bike lanes since they are disignated for non-vehicular traffic but haven’t seen one where they combine the two…..any lawyers out there that knows the answer here? Thanks.

]]> By: oger http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-1022 oger Thu, 26 May 2011 00:30:55 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=397#comment-1022 I ride on A1A almost every morning in Fort Lauderdale. Runners and walkers should not use the bike lant at all, but if they dom they should run in the direction of traffic. If the run into traffic, the cyclist is forced into the automobile traffic lane. but the real problem of course is the parking crs who open their dorrs without looking, or use the bike lane as a changing room. I have found a shout of 'Door" helps a bit. I ride on A1A almost every morning in Fort Lauderdale. Runners and walkers should not use the bike lant at all, but if they dom they should run in the direction of traffic. If the run into traffic, the cyclist is forced into the automobile traffic lane. but the real problem of course is the parking crs who open their dorrs without looking, or use the bike lane as a changing room. I have found a shout of ‘Door” helps a bit.

]]> By: tony http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-928 tony Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:19:56 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=397#comment-928 This really gets my goat. Here in Fort Lauderdale beach there is a sidwalk for the pedestrians and a "Bike Lane" for cyclists. If joggers, walkers, skaters, choose to use the bike lane they should jog/walk/skate against traffic while cyclists ride with traffic. When they see a cyclist coming both parties should stay to the right (or even better get out of the bike path when you see a cyclist. Come on morons, it is easier for you to see the traffic coming towards you unlike me on my bicycle. I have to turn around and look behind me. This also goes for those cyclists who are going the wrong way. STAY TO THE RIGHT OR GET OUT OF THE BIKE PATH. And for those idiots that jog/walk/skate with traffic thats just plain STUPID..... I happen to enjoy both walking/jogging and cycling along the beach. I walk on the sidewalk and ride in the bike path. Just think people..... This really gets my goat. Here in Fort Lauderdale beach there is a sidwalk for the pedestrians and a “Bike Lane” for cyclists. If joggers, walkers, skaters, choose to use the bike lane they should jog/walk/skate against traffic while cyclists ride with traffic. When they see a cyclist coming both parties should stay to the right (or even better get out of the bike path when you see a cyclist. Come on morons, it is easier for you to see the traffic coming towards you unlike me on my bicycle. I have to turn around and look behind me. This also goes for those cyclists who are going the wrong way. STAY TO THE RIGHT OR GET OUT OF THE BIKE PATH. And for those idiots that jog/walk/skate with traffic thats just plain STUPID…..

I happen to enjoy both walking/jogging and cycling along the beach. I walk on the sidewalk and ride in the bike path. Just think people…..

]]> By: Michael Young http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-594 Michael Young Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:17:23 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=397#comment-594 I had a run in with a pedestrian who was walking toward me in a bike lane. This particular part of the island of Oahu in Hawaii called Lanikai has no sidewalk. It is clearly posted by multiple signs as a designated Bike route. I stayed to the inside and so did he. He yelled at me that he had the right of way for pedestrians always do. I told him not in a bike lane they don't. The local police dept. agreed with me and he stated that pedestrians in that circumstance must walk on the undeveloped portion that is between the bike lane and the houses. This all is referred to as the cities easement whether developed or not. I owned a piece of property in rural California that had the fence right to the edge of the road. Yet my neighbors across the street had a sidewalk in front of their property. Upon building new homes within city limits that have roads and curbing. The builder must improve the property if the home is new construction. Thus the explanation why some had sidewalks in frt. of their house or not. With sidewalks the pedestrian always has the right of way. I had a run in with a pedestrian who was walking toward me in a bike lane. This particular part of the island of Oahu in Hawaii called Lanikai has no sidewalk. It is clearly posted by multiple signs as a designated Bike route. I stayed to the inside and so did he. He yelled at me that he had the right of way for pedestrians always do. I told him not in a bike lane they don’t. The local police dept. agreed with me and he stated that pedestrians in that circumstance must walk on the undeveloped portion that is between the bike lane and the houses. This all is referred to as the cities easement whether developed or not. I owned a piece of property in rural California that had the fence right to the edge of the road. Yet my neighbors across the street had a sidewalk in front of their property. Upon building new homes within city limits that have roads and curbing. The builder must improve the property if the home is new construction. Thus the explanation why some had sidewalks in frt. of their house or not. With sidewalks the pedestrian always has the right of way.

]]> By: Geo http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Geo Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:03:56 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=397#comment-148 Good point Dan. I didn't think of the possibility that the reference may be confused with bike paths, which are defined in the statutes. I'll add that to the post. Thanks Good point Dan. I didn’t think of the possibility that the reference may be confused with bike paths, which are defined in the statutes. I’ll add that to the post.
Thanks

]]> By: danc http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/can-pedestrians-use-bicycle-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-147 danc Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:40:28 +0000 http://flbikelaw.org/?p=397#comment-147 Dear Geo, What do you think of the Mayor's office reply, maybe a second opinion from law enforcement? Sound like someone is confusing bike lane with share use path (aka bike path, "actually designated for Non Vehicular use ... generally bikers are to yield to pedestrian traffic.”) Only positive thing is, if the cyclist was traveling with traffic, then the runner was facing traffic, which is appropriate if there is no usable sidewalk or shoulder. Dear Geo,

What do you think of the Mayor’s office reply, maybe a second opinion from law enforcement? Sound like someone is confusing bike lane with share use path (aka bike path, “actually designated for Non Vehicular use … generally bikers are to yield to pedestrian traffic.”)

Only positive thing is, if the cyclist was traveling with traffic, then the runner was facing traffic, which is appropriate if there is no usable sidewalk or shoulder.

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