Citations for Three-Foot Law
Question Jack asked: I would like to know how many tickets have been given to motorists that have violated the 3 foot law? Is there a web site that shows all the tickets that have been given and counties in …
Category: Overtaking & Passing
[caption id="attachment_2100" align="alignright" width="215"]
“Control & release” is a cooperative technique used by savvy cyclists to discourage unwise/unsafe passing.[/caption]
“Control & release” is a cooperative technique used by savvy cyclists to discourage unwise/unsafe passing.[/caption]
Generally, the rules about overtaking and passing apply to operators of all vehicles. Passing must be accomplished safely and without interfering with the vehicle being passed. Overtaking drivers must change lanes to pass another vehicle unless the lane is wide enough (14-16 feet, depending on vehicle size) to pass a bicycle safely, allowing a minimum of 3 feet of clearance, while remaining within the lane. If on-coming traffic, a blind curve or other hazard exists, the overtaking driver must wait until the hazard is no longer present.
Bicyclists in narrow lanes are not required to keep right or ride single file, regardless of the presence of drivers desiring to go faster. Bicyclist must only move right and ride single file if the lane is wide enough to share. A bicyclist remaining far to the right in a narrow lane is at risk of unwittingly encouraging drivers to attempt to unlawfully and unsafely pass within the lane. Moving to the center of the lane communicates to the overtaking driver that there is not room to safely pass within the lane. Bicyclists may even move to the left side of the lane to discourage a pass where there is oncoming traffic, limited visibility to the oncoming lane or a stop sign, stop light or queued traffic ahead. Motorists often try to pass without taking such things into account, smart and assertive bicyclists will attempt to stop an unwise pass.
Passing Slower Traffic
Question Ette asked: If a cyclist wants to make a left turn from the left turn lane, and straight traffic on the left is slow, may the cyclist pass the traffic on the left to get access to the turn …
Crash Report
Question Alex asked: I was riding in a marked bicycle lane when a vehicle made a right turn through me. I was already at the hospital by the time the police officer arrived at the accident site. The driver of …
Wide Load
Question Ron asked: I just experienced a rather close call with a semi transporting a rather wide boat. The semi was immediately preceded by a “safety vehicle” with flashing lights, etc. I was riding the paved shoulder of SR40. The …
Lane Splitting (Que Jumping)
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 …
Cyclist Passing a Stopped Bus
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 …
Passing a Bicyclist in a No-Passing Zone
Question Harry asked: I know other states (WI & PA) have recently passed a law that allows cars to cross the double yellow to give enough clearance to pass a cyclist. Is there a FL law that allows cars to …
Three Foot Law in Bike Lane
Question Herman asked: I was talking to an acquaintance a while back and she was telling me that the 3′ law applies even when we’re in the bike lane. Is that true?
Bicycles May Use Full Lane Signs
Question Frank asked: In Florida, weren’t they SUPPOSED to put out Bicycles May Use Full Lanes signs EVERYWHERE in 2011 that had roads that have “substandard-width” lanes, meaning too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel …
Passing on the Right
Question Alan asked: I do a lot of riding in downtown St Augustine. It’s close, cramped, and traffic is poorly regulated. These streets were laid hundreds of years ago and weren’t meant for heavy traffic. When I’m late for work, …