Bike Lane Obstruction
Question Bernadette asked: Can trash containers be placed in a bicycle lane? Is this illegal?
A bicycle lane is a part of the roadway intended to provide bicyclists with a more “comfortable” experience. Feeling safe does not equate to being safe. Research into the relative safety of bike lanes and shared lanes is inconclusive. The Federal Highway Administration does not have a crash reduction factor for bicycle lanes. Bicycle lanes are intended as “preferential use” lanes, not mandatory use lanes (although Florida statute 316.2065(5) now makes their use mandatory, with exceptions for unsafe conditions and situations).
In order to meet the statutory language, the paved area in question must be marked with a bicycle symbol and a directional arrow. There are numerous spaces on area roads that do not meet minimum width standards and other characteristics of correct bike lane design. Bicyclists are permitted to use such spaces, but are not required to. The width of the adjacent lane then determines whether or not the bicyclist is required to share that lane.
The minimum standard width for a bicycle lane is five feet from the lane stripe to the curb face, and a minimum of four feet of asphalt beyond the gutter pan. For state roadways with design speeds 50 mph and higher, the minimum width is 6.5 feet.
— Enforcement for Bicyclist Safety, a publication for law enforcement by MetroPlan Orlando. read online | download pdf
Question Bernadette asked: Can trash containers be placed in a bicycle lane? Is this illegal?
Question Luis asked: I have a Surrey Bike, that’s a 5-person bicycle that looks like a golf car. Can I drive my bike on the bike lane or this kind of bike is merely exclusive for a tourist zone like …
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 …
Question Bob asked: Is it illegal to ride a bike in a bike lane against the traffic if the rider feels it is dangerous to cross a four-lane highway that has a lot of speeding traffic?
Question Howard asked: I received a ticket for parking in a bicycle lane. There were cars parked on both sides of the street and you could not see any bicycle symbols. How frequent and how far apart do these markings …
Question Sandra asked: I see drivers constantly drifting into designated bike lanes. If there are no bicyclists riding in the lane can a cop still pull them over and give them a ticket or is the bike lane considered part …
Question Christine asked: Are bicyclists supposed to ride in the same direction as auto traffic while in bike lanes, especially those with arrows pointing in that direction painted on the ground within the bike lanes? If a cyclist is injured …
Question Carl asked: The county I live in is planning to build a middle school in a residential community. Currently there are no bike lanes on the road approaching the site and the road is not wide enough to simply …
Question Steven asked: Our county has adopted Complete Streets and will be installing dedicated bike lanes on a street near my home. The county reduced the travel lane sizes to install bike lanes. It is a four-lane street. There is …
Question Ryan asked: Am I allowed to ride my moped in a bike lane?