Texting While Cycling

Question

Robert asked: Is it illegal to text and ride a bike?

Answer

No. The law applies to operators of moving motor vehicles. A bicycle is not a motor vehicle. Not recommended while cycling though.

s. 316.305 – Wireless Communications Devices; Prohibition

(1) This section may be cited as the “Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law.”

(3)(a) A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications device or while sending or reading data on such a device for the purpose of nonvoice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, communication methods known as texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging. As used in this section, the term “wireless communications device” means any handheld device used or capable of being used in a handheld manner, that is designed or intended to receive or transmit text or character-based messages, access or store data, or connect to the Internet or any communications service as defined in s. 812.15 and that allows text communications. For the purposes of this paragraph, a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being operated and is not subject to the prohibition in this paragraph.