Rules
State of Florida's bicycle laws
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Florida Bicycle Law Enforcement Guide
City of Gainesville
- Bicyclists have all the rights/duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle.
- A bicyclist can't ride bicycles on sidewalks, across a roadway, along a crosswalk.
- All bicycles must have brakes which enable the bicycle to stop within 25 feet from a speed of 10 mph on dry, level, clean pavement.
- No person shall operate a bicycle in the city unless it is either equipped with a bell or has its operator possessing a bell of sufficient size and sound to serve as a warning device.
- A bicyclist must give a right-of-way to pedestrians.
- A bicyclist shall give an audible signal with the operator's bell before overtaking and passing the pedestrian.
- A bicyclist can park on a sidewalk as long as it doesn't impede on the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrians/other traffic (unless otherwise noted).
- A bicyclist can park near or secure bicycle to any publicly owned pole or post for a period of not more than 72 consecutive hours.
- A bicyclist cannot secure a bicycle to a fire hydrant, police/fire call box, blocks or obstructs any building entrance or exit, ramp, breezeway, or loading dock.
- A bicyclist cannot secure a bicycle to a tree in a manner that the tree is damaged.
- A bicyclist cannot park a bicycle where it obstructs the movement of any legally parked vehicle.