Florida Bicyclists Should Know About The New Law

Fortunately, the law does not MANDATE that cyclists always have to ride in a bike lane. The law gives allows exceptions for when the cyclist is passing another bicycle, when preparing to turn left, when attempting to avoid any dangerous condition present in the bike lane, etc. However, some times the bike lane is not the safest spot. Some bike lanes are right next to parked cars so that driver's doors could be opened into the cyclists' path.

In my judgment, the passage of this bill is disappointing. Here is the Florida law:

​316.2065 Bicycle regulations.-

(5) (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed af traffic at the time and place and under the conditians then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable 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, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, or substandard-width lane, that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the lefthand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.