Bicycles on the Sidewalk
Question Ronald asked: Does it mean that I am legally allowed to use an eBike on a bike path or a sidewalk if I am just manually pedaling it?
Category: Sidewalks & Crosswalks
[caption id="attachment_2061" align="alignright" width="300"]
All sides of the intersection are crosswalks — marked or not, regardless of whether the sidewalk is paved or not.[/caption]
All sides of the intersection are crosswalks — marked or not, regardless of whether the sidewalk is paved or not.[/caption]
Sidewalk Operation:
316.2065 (9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
316.2065 (10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
Bicycles can be legally operated on all Florida sidewalks and crosswalks unless a local ordinance prohibits it. When on a sidewalk, the operator is operating a vehicle and must use helmets and lights when required, and is subject to the DUI laws. Otherwise, the operator has the rights and duties of a pedestrian, but must yield to all pedestrians.
Resources:
The rights and duties of pedestrians are explained in more detail at Best Foot Forward, an Orlando-based initiative for pedestrian safety.
CommuteOrlando offers a visual primer on crosswalk challenges.
Bicycles on the Sidewalk
Question Mary asked: Are children under the age of 16 allowed to ride on the sidewalk in Leesburg, Florida? They were removed from bus transportation because they live within disallowed distance.
Dismount When Crossing Roadway?
Question Leo asked: Must a person legally have to get off the bicycle and walk crossing the street or can he or she ride the bicycle across? Please give me the references if possible.
Advice about a Crash
Question Tim asked: My son was riding his bike on the sidewalk and was hit by a police car as the sidewalk crossed an exit from a parking lot. He hired some lawyers, which used up the PIP funds and …
Bicyclists as Pedestrians
Question Rachel asked: I was involved in an accident that happened when a bicyclist decided to enter the roadway, attempting to cross horizontally across the road into vertically traveling traffic. This was on a busy road, during the day and …
More About Driveways
Question Jo asked: We have a bike lane in front of our condo home but a lot of people ride on the sidewalk instead. My question is, since we have a limited view of the sidewalk as we are exiting …
More About Crosswalks
Question Thyme asked: In Miami Beach, I have not found a local ordinance forbidding riding a bike, on the sidewalk, against the flow of traffic. While doing so, and crossing a crosswalk (white ‘go’ sign), I was hit by a …
Bicycles in Crosswalks
Question David asked: I often ride on sidewalks with the flow of traffic though there is a bike lane. My question has to do with right turning vehicles, the drivers of which often think they can turn faster than I …
Bicycles in Crosswalks
Question Herta asked: If a bicycle is on the sidewalk on a right of way and crosses an intersection with a car coming out of a side street with a stop sign, who goes first, the bicycle or the car …
Bikes on Sidewalks
Question Peggy asked: Is it legal to ride bikes on sidewalks in Florida?