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Bicycle Regulations

LAWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

In Florida, the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle, and the bicyclist is a driver. Bicyclists have the same rights to the roadways and must obey the same traffic laws as drivers of other vehicles. 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.

It is up to bicyclists and motorists to treat each other with care and respect. Adherence to the law is the foundation for this respect, but the law itself is simply a codification of the rules of movement that make all road users predictable to one another.

(SOURCE: Florida Bicycle Association: Bicycle Traffic Law)

To learn more about safe, predictable bicycling, see the Florida Bicycle Association‘s Info for Bicyclists and Info for Group Riding pages. To learn more about how motorists can safely share the road with bicyclists, see the Florida Bicycle Association’s Info for Motorists page.

BICYCLE LAW SYNOPSIS

For purposes of reducing high-crash-risk behaviors, we’ve highlighted some important sections below. You can download all of  Florida’s Bike Laws here.

  • Bicyclists have all the rights and duties of a driver and must obey all traffic controls and signals.
  • When riding on a sidewalk, yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking a pedestrian. Local ordinances may prohibit bicycling on sidewalks in certain areas (example is sidewalk circling Lake Eola).
  • Bicyclists must use a fixed, regular seat for riding.
  • The number of riders/passengers on any bicycle is limited to the maximum number for which the bike was designed.
  • At least one hand must be kept on the handlebars at all times while riding.
  • Every bicycle must be equipped with a working brake.
  • Bicyclists under the age of 16 must wear a helmet.
  • Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a white lamp on the front and a red lamp and reflector on the rear of the bicycle.
  • A bicyclist may not wear a headset, headphone, or other listening device other than a hearing aid when riding.
  • Generally speaking, parents and guardians have a responsibility to ensure that their children obey all the provisions of Florida’s bicycle law.
  • Share the road!  This goes both ways for drivers and bicyclists.  Bicyclists have the right to be in traffic lanes but should let motor vehicles pass when safe to do so.
  • Persons may 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 on roadways may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed and shall ride within a single lane.  However, reducing a motorist’s speed for a few seconds until it is safe to pass does not constitute an impediment or an obstruction.