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 Karen asked: “On the roadway”, does this also include the sidewalk? As is a person riding the bike against traffic runs into the car pulling out of a shopping plaza. Who would be at fault? The driver of the …
Question Susan asked: Is it illegal to ride bikes on sidewalks in Seminole County?
Question Heather asked: Can a jaywalking ticket be legally issued to a bicyclist that never put a foot off the bicycle, or even legally issued at all?
Question Allison asked: If you are riding your bicycle strictly on the sidewalk, do you have to have lights on your bike? My brother is a Hillsborough County Sheriff, & he told me that no, I did not have to, …
Question Lance asked: Here’s the situation: I’m about to make a right turn into a shopping center, and a bicyclist is riding on the sidewalk and enters the roadway in front of me. Was he supposed to stop for me, …
Question Joel asked: I live in Fort Lauderdale and own an old Puch moped (not a scooter) from the 70s with pedals and that is 50cc or less. I have recently been fined for parking on the sidewalk. Am I …
Question Alex asked: So I got a ticket while riding my bike in Lake Mary at the intersection of Lake Mary Blvd. and Rhinehart Rd. for essentially failing to obey the pedestrian “walk” signal (316.130), even though I rode my …
Question Lynn asked: What is the significance of the orange bikes which are chained to sign posts around Western Delray Beach? The number of bikes keeps growing! There are at least four of them along the Atlantic Ave. corridor between …
Question Bill asked: What is the Florida law regarding riding bikes on sidewalks?
Question Nancy asked: In the Spring 2016 Messenger, Positive Spin article, it stated that motorists are required to stop or yield to a pedestrian crossing the street. Does that apply to cross walks or anywhere? I see a lot of …