Archive of questions, answers about Florida bicycle laws and law enforcement
All sides of the intersection are crosswalks — marked or not, regardless of whether the sidewalk is paved or not.[/caption]
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.
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.
Question Dorcas asked: My neighbors block my husband’s wheel chair by parking their 6-bikes and 1-motorize child motorcycle on the sidewalk. We can never get down the sidewalk in front of our building. We go in the other direction hoping …
Question HarryB asked: STOP signs are common traffic control devices facing people on shared-use paths that run parallel to the road and are located within the highway’s right-of-way. Contrary to conventional wisdom, I believe that their installation defies state law, …
Question Nikki asked: I understand that a bicyclist has the same rights and must follow the same rules as a pedestrian but is it true that once a bicyclist rides across a cross walk he gives up that right and …
Question Kirsten asked: My friend and her husband got hit by a woman in a car, while they were on their bikes in a crosswalk. No one was injured but their bikes got messed up. The woman who hit them, …
Question Barry asked: If I’m driving a car and approach an intersection with a stop sign. Do I yield to pedestrians and cyclists approaching on a sidewalk or are they supposed to yield to vehicles in this instance?
Question Kevin asked: I know that there are some areas (usually city centers/downtown) that ban bicycle riding on sidewalks altogether but have been having trouble finding local laws concerning bicycle riding. Is it legal to ride a bicycle on sidewalks …
Question Caroline asked: When a cyclist is on the sidewalk crossing a road that has a light, does the cyclist have to stop if a pedestrian doesn’t have the “walking man.” I live in Gainesville and have seen so many …
Question Juliet asked: I was wondering after an incident with a crosswalk guard if it was illegal to bike across a crosswalk? I was crossing the street, near my old high school, and a crosswalk guard started yelling at my …
Question Stacey asked: I wish to know if biking on sidewalks is allowed in Charlotte and Sarasota Counties in Florida.
Question Harry asked: Is it legal for a pedestrian or bicyclist (who is riding on the sidewalk) to cross Norvell Bryant Hwy between the signalized intersections of Ottawa Ave. and Forest Ridge Blvd. in Citrus County? ( https://goo.gl/maps/andZDgvsff52 ) Section …