Florida’s Bicycle Laws

In Florida the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle. Bicyclists have the same rights to the roadways, and must obey the same traffic laws as the operators of other vehicles. These laws include stopping for stop signs and red lights, riding with the flow of traffic, using lights at night, and yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway.

There is only one road and it is up to bicyclists and motorists to treat each other with care and respect. Strict adherence to the law is the foundation for this respect.

Below is a summary of the sections of code pertaining to bicycles. For the official version you can dig through the code here.

TRAFFIC LAW HIGHLIGHTS

Bicycle Regulations (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)

• A bicyclist must obey all traffic controls and signals.
  
• A bicyclist must use a fixed, regular seat for riding.
  
• No bicycle may be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped.
  
• At least one hand must be kept on the handlebars while riding.
  
• Parents and guardians must not knowingly allow a child or minor ward to violate any provisions of this section.
  
• Every bicycle must be equipped with a brake or brakes which allow the rider to stop within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.

Sidewalk Riding (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)

• When riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks, a bicyclist has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian.
  
• A bicyclist riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before passing.

Lighting (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)

• A bicycle operated between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from 500 feet to the front and both a red reflector and a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from 600 feet to the rear.
  
• Additional lighting is permitted and recommended.

Roadway Position (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)

• A bicyclist who is not traveling at the same speed of other traffic must ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. A bicyclist may leave the right-most portion of the road in the following situations: when passing, making a left turn, to avoid road hazards, or when a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to share safely. (see Roadway Position Explained)
  
• A bicyclist operating on a one-way street with two or more traffic lanes may ride as close to the left-hand edge of the roadway as practicable.
  
• Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, and shall ride within a single lane. (see Impeding Traffic Explained)

Left Turns (see Section 316.151 (1)(b)(c), F.S.)

• A bicyclist intending to make a vehicle left turn is entitled to full use of the lane from which the turn is made. After scanning, signaling, and moving to the center of that lane, the bicyclist must check the signal, then proceed when it is green and safe to do so.
  
• In addition to the normal vehicle left turn, a bicyclist may proceed through the right-most portion of the intersection and turn as close to the curb or edge as possible at the far side. After complying with any official traffic control device, the bicyclist may proceed in the new direction.

Signaling Turns (see Sub-section 316.155(2) and 316.157(2), F.S.)

• A signal of intention to turn must be given during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. If a bicyclist needs both hands for control, the signal need not be given continuously.
  
• A bicyclist may signal intent to turn right either by extending the left hand and arm upward or by extending the right hand and arm horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.

Headsets (see Section 316.304, F.S.)

• A bicyclist may not wear a headset, headphone, or other listening device other than a hearing aid when riding. Wearing a headset blocks out important audio clues needed to detect the presence of other traffic.

Civil Penalties (see Sub-section 318.18(1),(2),&(3), F.S.)

• Non-moving violations, such as failure to use required lighting equipment when riding at night, failure to have working brakes
  
• Moving violations, such as running stop sign or signal, riding against traffic
  
• Violations of Chapter 316, F.S. by a bicyclist 14 years of age or younger

Local Ordinances

The local governments of counties, cities, towns, and other municipalities can adopt ordinances regulating bicycle riding. Some towns may also have registration and licensing ordinances. Sidewalk riding may be prohibited entirely or only in certain areas such as business districts. Local law enforcement agencies can provide copies of local ordinances.

Florida Bicycle Law Enforcement Guide

This booklet was created specifically to help familiarize law enforcement officers with portions of the Florida vehicle code that relate to two-wheeled human-powered vehicles. Included are motor vehicle responsibilities related to sharing the road with bicycles. FBA will send you a 4.25 x 5.5" booklet or download a PDF.

Roadway Position Explained

State Law says you must ride as far to the right as practicable. It does NOT say as far to the right as possible. Practicable means capable of being done within the means and circumstances present.

A cyclist should maintain no less than 2 feet of clearance from the edge of usable pavement to have room to maneuver around obstructions and to be more visible to crossing traffic. (NOTE: useable pavement does not include the gutter pan or any area frequently obstructed by debris or other hazards.)

In an extra-wide lane a cyclist should ride farther left—about 4 feet from the flow of traffic—to operate in the focus area of crossing traffic and reduce vulnerability to common collisions

When a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to share safely, the cyclist is entitled to the use of the entire lane. Within this lane, the cyclist usually rides on the right half to facilitate visibility for overtaking motorists, but should ride far enough left to discourage motorists from trying to squeeze past within the lane.

Although the law uses the term "substandard" to discribe a lane that is not wide enough to share, these narrow lane-widths make up most of our roads. The less common "standard," wide curb lane is described below.

Other “practicable” considerations:

On-steet parking — A cyclist riding past parallel-parked cars should maintain a clearance of 4 feet to avoid risk of collision with an opening car door.

Intersection positioning — A cyclist going straight through an intersection in a lane that serves thru traffic and right turns, should ride in the center or left half of the lane to avoid common collisions. Cyclists should never ride straight in a lane marked exclusively for right turns, i.e., one marked or signed with the word "ONLY."

One-way streets — A bicyclist operating on a one-way street with two or more traffic lanes may operate in the left lane.

Paved shoulders — Where a curb is not present, the right-hand edge of a roadway is the line between the roadway and the shoulder. Since the
definition of "roadway" excludes the shoulder [§316.003], cyclists are not required to ride on paved shoulders, although they may prefer to do so. A cyclist may ride only along a right-side paved shoulder, i.e., must ride in the direction of traffic, since this is the only practical way to comply with the requirement to obey all applicable traffic signals and signs [§316.074]. A cyclist operating in the shoulder is vulnerable to common crossing collisions where many streets and driveways are present.

Wide Curb Lanes (WCLs) Defined

A WCL is a lane wide enough for side-by-side operation. These are typically 14-16 ft wide. The Florida Department of Transportation's Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards recommends an outside lane width of 14 feet as the "minimum width that will allow passenger cars to safely pass bicyclists within a single lane," i.e., without the need for passing motorists to use part of the next lane.

Here's how they get the minimum:

• A cyclist is defined as being 2.5 ft wide with a minimum operating space of 4 ft. This includes the minimum safe distance from the edge of useable pavement (2 ft).
• The legal minimum passing clearance for an overtaking vehicle is 3 ft.
• A typical passenger vehicle is 5.5 ft (car) - 7 ft (SUV) wide.

NOTE: The minimum does not account for commerial vehicles and utility trailers which are
8.5 ft wide and can have mirrors extending to
~10 ft. Those vehicles MUST use part of another lane to pass safely.

Impeding Traffic Explained

The only place "impeding traffic" appears in the bicycle law, is with regard to riding 2 abreast. However, cyclists should pull over — at their discretion and only when it is safe to do so — if a significant line of traffic accumulates behind them.

The 2-abreast rule only applies to roads on which a single rider can operate side-by-side with a motor vehicle (i.e. a lane 14 ft or wider, or a road with a bike lane). A single cyclist (or single line of cyclists) is entitled to the full use of a lane less than 14 ft wide, therefore it makes no difference in the flow of traffic for riders to be 2-abreast. In many cases it actually facilitates overtaking by reducing in half the distance needed to pass.

Additionally, 2-abreast riders do not impede traffic if: (the below applies to any width lane with or without the presence of a bike lane)

• on a multi-lane road - motorists can pass in the next lane over
• on a road with a center two-way left turn lane in which motorists can pass
• there is sparse oncoming traffic and motorists can safely use the oncoming lane to pass
• the cyclists are travelling at or near the speed limit
• the cyclists are traveling at or near the speed of traffic

"Impeding traffic" is not defined in the law, but reducing a motorist's speed for a few seconds until it is safe to pass does not constitute an impediment or an obstruction.