In Florida, even when you ride a bicycle you are considered to be a driver of a vehicle. Therefore, you must follow the same traffic laws that you obey when driving a car. In addition to those traffic laws, there are also bike laws that you need to be aware about as well. Some of these laws include:
- Stopping for stop signs and red lights
- Riding with the flow of traffic
- Using lights at night
- Yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway and yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks
In addition, there are also several bicycle equipment regulations that need to be followed while operating a bike. These include:
- Must use a fixed, regular seat for riding
- Must be equipped with brakes that allow the rider to stop within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement
- If used at night, between sunset and sunrise, then the bicycle must be equipped with a front lamp exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 ft and a red reflector and lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 ft. Additional lighting is allowed and recommended
- Must not carry more persons than it is designed or equipped to carry (Exception: An adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his or her person in a backpack or sling or in a proper seat or carrier)
Roadway and Sidewalk Regulations
While there are plenty of things to think about while riding your bike, make sure to keep some of the roadway and sidewalk regulations in mind as well.
- No person riding upon any bicycle may attach onto any vehicle upon a roadway
- A bicyclist may not wear earbuds, headphones, or any other listening device other than a hearing aid while riding
- A bicyclist riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks must yield right-of-way to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before passing
So just remember to be as responsible when riding a bicycle as you are when operating a vehicle. This includes riding your bike while under the influence. If you or someone you know needs help with a bicycle violation, contact us today.