Required Bike Facilities and Exceptions

Question

Frans asked: I cannot find the exact description of what roads anymore, however the statement was: When widening roads within 1 mile of a rural area, a bicycle facility was to be added. (One exception only if not financial feasible).

My question, does this only apply to roads outside city limits and / or maintained by the county or state?

Answer

I’m not sure if you are asking about the statutes or FDOT guidance.  Both are discussed below.

Actually, there are three exceptions stated in the statute that might justify not adding bicycle facilities when changing state roadways. Also, the statute that requires bicycle ways applies only to state roads, not municipality or county roads.

This is the part of the statute that shows the exceptions:

s. 335.065 – Bicycle and Pedestrian Ways Along State Roads and Transportation Facilities

(1)(a) Bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be given full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities, including the incorporation of such ways into state, regional, and local transportation plans and programs. Bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be established in conjunction with the construction, reconstruction, or other change of any state transportation facility, and special emphasis shall be given to projects in or within 1 mile of an urban area.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), bicycle and pedestrian ways are not required to be established:

1. Where their establishment would be contrary to public safety;

2. When the cost would be excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use;

3. Where other available means or factors indicate an absence of need.

There is more discussion of that statute here:

http://flbikelaw.org/2012/06/bike-lanes-required/

The statute goes on to discuss trails and other bicycle matters that do not apply to your question.

Florida Department of Transportation documents provide guidance for county and municipality roadways.  See this post:

http://flbikelaw.org/2015/03/bike-lanes-required-on-county-roads/

Other FDOT documents provide guidance for bicycle facilities on state roadways. You can see all of the FDOT requirements for state roadways in Chapter 8 of the Plans Preparation Manual here:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rddesign/PPMManual/2015/Volume1/Chap08.pdf