bicycle lanes and bicycle laws.

[Megabox]

If a road has a bicycle lane, do bicycle riders legally have to ride their bikes in that lane when riding on that road? Or is using the bicycle lane optional?

[lastdaysoffla]

I don't think it is a legal obligation. A cyclist may leave the lane if conditions are deemed safer in the roadway or if making a turn.. That being said, a cyclist on the road has to follow all of the same traffic laws as a vehicle and must be treated as such by other vehicles.

http://floridabicycle.org/bicycle-traffic-law/

Also

Just a friendly reminder for motorists reading this thread: 3 feet is the minimum amount of space required by law to be given to cyclist when passing and you are supposed to stop at the white line next to the stop sign and not cross over the sidewalk and stop right before you hit traffic.



/rant

[BridgeTroll]

I don't think those laws apply when someone is texting a meaningless and pointless message while driving...

[BridgeTroll]

I dont get bent outta shape either... of course I refuse to ride on streets without a physical barrier between me and the people who could kill me by their lack of attention.  I take my bike out on the trails where it is just me and any tree I might run into...

[Megabox]

I think riding a bicycle on the road is dangerous, even when using a bicycle lane. I would never ride a bike on the road.

[lastdaysoffla]

Depends on the road and the traffic IMO. Sometimes there is no choice. Riding on the sidewalk can be dangerous too. People aren't paying attention when they are pulling in and out of parking lot entrances.

Every single time I go on a ride and stay on the sidewalk I have to deal with motorists that just pull blindly out over the sidewalk or into the crosswalk. That bold white line next to the stop sign is the place to stop. Not the crosswalk lines.




A cyclist on the sidewalk is considered a pedestrian and always has right of way even if that means costing a motorist 10 seconds of their time.

I swear driving has some sort of hypnotic effect on people where they forget that they are piloting a 2000 pound machine.

When you pull through the stop line and stop on top of the sidewalk it should be a ticketable offense.. oh wait it's called running a stop sign..

[BridgeTroll]

Someone would have to enforce this...lol

[TimmyB]

I never get too bent outta shape at cars when riding around riverside/Avondale.  that said I'm super cautious not really expecting motorists to see me.  because iphones and trump took duval lol.  motorists could definitely pay better attention

BUT.  cyclists could help the cause by consistently obeying traffic laws.   then I think you have a fair argument to expect the same respect from motorists as is given autos. however, 99% of people on bikes just ignore traffic rules when convenient for them and then get pissy when they want to be treated like a car

gotta remember that second part, "same rules", too

Right.  Because I notice the nearly identical percentage of cars that follow the traffic laws by driving at or below the posted speed, always coming to a full and complete stop behind the limit line at a stop sign, never running through lights after they've changed, etc.  It never ceases to amaze me how people can deride cyclists for ignoring traffic laws but will completely accept it from people who are driving vehicles which can kill them!

[TimmyB]

Because I notice the nearly identical percentage of cars that follow the traffic laws by driving at or below the posted speed,

riiight, because I see a lot of cars who hop the curb up on the sidewalk or peel through a parking lot when traffic slows and then cut back in when it's moving again.  or all those motorists who give nothing but a quick glance before blowing through a long turned red light or stop sign without even slowing down- which is absolutely incomparable to a rolling stop or going through a yellow that just turned

great comparison.  and stopping over the sidewalk line?  that probably annoys you when you're illegally riding on the sidewalk, to my point.  act like a vehicle, get respect. 

if you make the decision to ride in traffic, which I do often, take some responsibility.  its a risky choice and you cant put your safety in the hands of other people. 

Cyclists are remarkably self-centered.  "The hundreds or thousands of motorists I'll encounter on my ride should all be looking out for ME FIRST!"

So, because you knew I was correct, you ignored my assertions about the percentage of cars that DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW, and tried to turn it back onto the cyclists as the problem.  I ride my bicycle, and I also have about 700,000 miles of driving experience, so I'd say I'm qualified to do both.  There are just as many idiot drivers as there are idiot cyclists; however, an idiot on a bicycle isn't likely to kill anyone through his selfishness.  That can't be said about those who drive 2-ton vehicles and DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW.

[acme54321]

Clearly there is some built up anger towards cyclist with this one

[Tacachale]

No, you're not correct.  First off you almost NEVER see a cyclist consistently obeying the law.  At least not in riverside/Avondale/DT.  Most cars may break a small law on a technicality during the course of their journey, but what you and other cyclists fail to grasp is that often cyclists travels are one big unlawful act

How many cars do you guess today in the areas I mentioned will complete their entire journey on a sidewalk dodging pedestrians?  riiiight.  You could camp out in 5pts and you might see MAYBE a handful of bikes navigate it lawfully while hundreds and hundreds of cars will do so.

Cyclist seem to think motorists cause all the problems.  You know what else may contribute to a lack of safety?  Riding on roadways and within a framework that, whether you agree or disagree, is not designed for bikes. Or that bikes are barely visible when compared to a car, especially if its dark or raining.  Or that when bikes do actually have lights theyre barely visible among headlights, streetlights etc.  Or that you cant tell if a cyclist is signaling a turn, or adjusting their headphones.

It's not selfish to drive a car and go 40 in a 35.  It's selfish to expect everyone to be on high alert at all times because we may encounter some precious snowflake who makes the inherently risky decision to ride a bike to work.

If my friend died commuting down a major roadway or while on a motorcycle or the like, I would be devastated.  But my second thought would be what the hell was he thinking. 

You're like a guy who goes snowboarding without a helmet and then blames his concussion on the guy who cut in front of him

Regardless of who's better about following the laws, there are a lot more drivers and there's a much greater danger level associated with cars. Even slight moving violations can be fatal to others, which isn't the case with either bikers or pedestrians. I can't tell you how many times I've been walking and gotten cut off by or nearly hit by cars violating clearly marked yield for pedestrians crossings.

[lastdaysoffla]

No, you're not correct.

While I agree a great deal of cyclists do not ride responsibly. (especially ones delivering for Jimmy Johns for some reason) I happen to be a cyclist that does his very best to ride as safely and within the rules as I possibly can and I think the brunt of the responsibility must rest upon the person driving the 2000 pound machine with a built in steel cage.

The cyclists are the vulnerable ones in this situation, even the irresponsible ones. To have a superiority complex on behalf of motorists is what I find to be most frustrating. People in cars run afoul of cyclists all the time because they simply are not thinking about them. Cyclists don't have a steel frame, steel body panels, airbags, seatbelts, crumple zones, etc. It is on the motorist to be aware of cyclists in places where cyclists frequent Downtown/San Marco/Riverside/the Beaches.

You may have a laundry list of things that irresponsible cyclists do that grind your gears, but try seeing it from their perspective. In practicing their chosen hobby they put their selves at risk of grave bodily harm. Partly from the nature of the sport but mostly from the danger of reckless, careless, and unthinking motorists.

Most cars may break a small law on a technicality during the course of their journey, but what you and other cyclists fail to grasp is that often cyclists travels are one big unlawful act

So motorists can break many "small" laws all day, but an irresponsible cyclist's entire ride is one big breach of law. Great real, man. A broken law is a broken law. Don't try to justify it.

It's not selfish to drive a car and go 40 in a 35.  It's selfish to expect everyone to be on high alert at all times because we may encounter some precious snowflake who makes the inherently risky decision to ride a bike to work.

It is selfish to break the laws regarding speed limits. You're putting yourself and the community at risk when you do that. I wonder if you were to kill a child or a commuting adult riding their bike along a residential road because you were breaking the law in your car if you'd tell the kid's parents that they shouldn't have raised a snowflake. You've shown how highly you regard the life of a human being. Selfish indeed.

[TimmyB]

No, you're not correct.

While I agree a great deal of cyclists do not ride responsibly. (especially ones delivering for Jimmy Johns for some reason) I happen to be a cyclist that does his very best to ride as safely and within the rules as I possibly can and I think the brunt of the responsibility must rest upon the person driving the 2000 pound machine with a built in steel cage.

The cyclists are the vulnerable ones in this situation, even the irresponsible ones. To have a superiority complex on behalf of motorists is what I find to be most frustrating. People in cars run afoul of cyclists all the time because they simply are not thinking about them. Cyclists don't have a steel frame, steel body panels, airbags, seatbelts, crumple zones, etc. It is on the motorist to be aware of cyclists in places where cyclists frequent Downtown/San Marco/Riverside/the Beaches.

You may have a laundry list of things that irresponsible cyclists do that grind your gears, but try seeing it from their perspective. In practicing their chosen hobby they put their selves at risk of grave bodily harm. Partly from the nature of the sport but mostly from the danger of reckless, careless, and unthinking motorists.

Most cars may break a small law on a technicality during the course of their journey, but what you and other cyclists fail to grasp is that often cyclists travels are one big unlawful act

So motorists can break many "small" laws all day, but an irresponsible cyclist's entire ride is one big breach of law. Great real, man. A broken law is a broken law. Don't try to justify it.

It's not selfish to drive a car and go 40 in a 35.  It's selfish to expect everyone to be on high alert at all times because we may encounter some precious snowflake who makes the inherently risky decision to ride a bike to work.

It is selfish to break the laws regarding speed limits. You're putting yourself and the community at risk when you do that. I wonder if you were to kill a child or a commuting adult riding their bike along a residential road because you were breaking the law in your car if you'd tell the kid's parents that they shouldn't have raised a snowflake. You've shown how highly you regard the life of a human being. Selfish indeed.

Well said.  +1000

[Megabox]

https://issuu.com/northfloridatpo/docs/tech_memo__8_-_needs_plan?e=19110718/30156224

The 2040 needs plan includes projects consisting of adding a bike lane on Old St. Augustine Rd. from Losco Rd to San Jose Blvd, a bike lane on San Jose Blvd from Julington Creek Rd to Plummers Cove Rd and a bike lane on San Jose Blvd from Old St. Augustine Rd to Baymeadows Rd. Would adding bike lanes in those areas really be an improvement?

[cowford]

Yes.  That would be a wonderful improvement.