Fall Time is Bike Riding Time - Bike Safety Tips From Wishart

Pedal Safely - Know the Florida Bicycle Laws

Bicycles are a great way to get around town, especially in beautiful areas like St.

Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, and Treasure Island, FL. Bikes are fun, healthy, and much

more environmentally friendly than other modes of transportation. Not to mention,

they’re a great way to get outside and get some exercise while social distancing. But of

course, as with anything involving traffic, there are some dangers that come with

sharing the road on your bike. Florida bicycle laws were recently redesigned to better

protect cyclists with a focus on your safety. 

If you’re thinking about grabbing your helmet and getting on the road, make sure you

understand Florida bicycle laws in order to stay safe and avoid getting a citation.

Below, we’ve done our best to summarize most of the current Florida bicycle laws so

you don’t have to decipher law speak. But if you’re into that type of thing, you can find

them here. Note that this is not a comprehensive list, but it does include those most

frequently inquired about. 

If you have any questions about your rights or have been hit by a car on your bike, we

can help. Contact us today at 813-902-0431.

Traffic signals

According to Florida bicycle laws, a bicyclist must obey all traffic controls and signals.

That includes stop signs and yield signs, Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065.

Seats and handlebars

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. If you

have a properly installed children’s seat, that’s ok. But no handlebar riding. 

At least one hand must be kept on the handlebars while riding. Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065.

Carrying children on a bicycle

An adult rider may carry a child securely attached to their person in a backpack or sling,

Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(3)(a). In addition to the backpack or sling method, if your

passenger is under four years of age or weighs 40 pounds or less, they must be in a

seat or carrier that’s designed to carry a child of that age or size. The seat/carrier must

secure and protect the child from the moving parts of the bicycle, Fla. Stat. s.

316.2065(3)(b).

When the adult rider wants to get off the bike, they must not leave the passenger to

remain in the seat/carrier when the adult rider “is not in immediate control of the

bicycle,” Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(3)(c). In other words, do not walk away from your bike

with your kid in it. 

Helmet law 

A bicyclist or passenger under 16 years old must wear a bicycle helmet that’s properly

fitted and fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap and that meets the

federal safety standard for bicycle helmets. The term “passenger” includes a child who

is riding in a trailer or semi-trailer attached to a bicycle, Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(4)(d).

A bicyclist or passenger who violates this subsection may be issued a citation by a law

enforcement officer and assessed a fine for a pedestrian violation. The court may

dismiss the charge against a bicycle rider or passenger for a first violation upon proof of

purchase of a bicycle helmet that complies with this subsection, Fla. Stat. s.

316.2065(4)(e). 

Where to ride your bike on a roadway

If you’re operating a bike on a roadway less than the normal speed of traffic (the speed

of cars), then you’re required to ride in the lane marked for bicycle use. If no lane is

marked for bicycle use, you’re required to ride as close as possible to the right-hand

curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including but not

limited to a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal,

surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane (too narrow for a bike and another

vehicle to travel side by side), which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb

or edge or within a bicycle lane, Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(5)(a). 

If you’re riding on a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes, you may

ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.

Two people riding bikes on a roadway may not ride more than two side by side except

on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding

two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of

traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and shall ride within

a single lane, Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(6).

Bikes and sidewalks 

This section of the Florida bicycle laws is probably the least known or understood. But

the statute states, “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,” Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(9).

That means a cyclist on a sidewalk maintains the same rights as a pedestrian. 

However, they need to yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and give an audible

signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian, Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(10). 

Bike lamps for late night and early morning

Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the

front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a

lamp and reflector on the rear, each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600

feet to the rear, Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(7). 

A bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those

required by this section. A law enforcement officer may issue a bicycle safety brochure

and a verbal warning to a bicycle rider who violates this subsection or may issue a

citation and assess a fine for a pedestrian violation as provided in s. 318.18. The court

shall dismiss the charge against a bicycle rider for the first violation of this subsection

upon proof of purchase and installation of the proper lighting equipment, Fla. Stat. s.

316.2065(7).

Bikes and brakes 

Every bicycle should be equipped with a brake or brakes, which will enable its rider to

stop the bicycle within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean

pavement, Fla. Stat. s. 316.2065(13). 

Left turns

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, Fla. Stat. s. 316.151 (1)(b)(c)

Signaling turns 

A signal of intention to turn must be given during the last 100 feet traveled by the bicycle

before turning. If a bicyclist needs both hands for control, the signal need not be given

continuously, Fla. Stat. s. 316.155(2). 

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, Fla. Stat. s.316.157(2). 

Headsets 

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, Fla. Stat. s. 316.304.