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As of December 20, 2016, the News Press reported that the number of bicycle accidents in Collier County exceeded triple digits at 122. This put Collier County in seventh place among Florida counties in the rate of bike crashes. 

Most recently, on December 17, according to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, two men were riding bikes on Pine Ridge Road when the driver of a Hyundai Electra struck the rear of the first bicycle. The driver did not stop and offer assistance but continued down the road hitting the second bicyclist and dragging him several feet. The men were transported to Naples Community Hospital with critical injuries. 

Why is Florida such a dangerous state for bicyclists? 

Florida has more and more people riding bikes as their main transportation either out of necessity or for health reasons. However, doing so may be dangerous. Health News Florida said in 2015: 

1. Florida spent decades building roads designed to move commuters from homes in sprawling suburbs as fast as possible. Conventional wisdom says these roads were built for speed. 
2. Experts believe the rise in bicycle accidents can be linked to affordable housing. Many people work in the service industry in downtown Naples and near the beach. However, they cannot afford to live there so they bike miles and miles from work to home. 

Naples Pathways Coalition confirms Collier County has the highest percentage of people in the state who use a bicycle as their main form of transportation. 

Is anything being done to make Florida more bicyclist friendly? 

Making bike lanes wider 

The Florida Tribune reported in August 2015 that, “From an engineering perspective, roads and speed limits in Florida were not created to accommodate cyclists and their safe travel. The transportation department has set a new standard for wider bike lanes on state roads, expanding the minimum width from four feet to seven feet to give cyclists more room when traveling side-by-side with speeding motor vehicles.” 

Florida laws passed to protect bicyclists 

Florida does have laws to make the roadways safer. This includes the “three-foot” rule mandating that motorists stay at least three feet away from bicyclists. Also, Florida bicycles are treated as other vehicles on the roads and have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities. 

Increase penalties for cutting off and/or injuring vulnerable road users proposed 

In October 2016 the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill presented by

Southwest Florida lawmakers, Representative Kathleen Passidomo, Representative Heather Fitzenhagen and others. 

Following is a Summary Analysis of the bill: 

The bill amends and creates various sections of the Florida Statutes, which are designed to protect bicyclists and other vulnerable users of a roadway. 

Specifically, the bill: 

• Defines “bicycle lane,” “bodily injury,” and “vulnerable user of a public roadway or vulnerable user;”
• Requires a vehicle to pass at a safe distance of not less than three feet between any part of or attachment to the vehicle, anything extending from the vehicle, or any trailer or other thing being towed by the vehicle and a vulnerable user;
• Allows a driver to briefly and safely drive on the left side of a roadway in a no-passing zone when passing a vulnerable user in order to provide at least three feet between the vehicle and the vulnerable user;
• Requires a person making a right turn that overtakes a vulnerable user traveling in the same direction to signal appropriately and to complete the turn only if it can be achieved by maintaining a safe distance from the vulnerable user;
• Prohibits a person operating a vehicle who overtakes and passes a vulnerable user of a public roadway proceeding in the same direction from making a right or left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway unless the turn can be made at a safe distance from the vulnerable user with reasonable safety and will not impede the travel of the vulnerable user;
• Requires a person operating a vehicle to allow a group of bicyclists to proceed through a stop sign as a group in specified instances;
• Requires a law enforcement officer to note on specified traffic citations if the violation contributed to the bodily injury of a vulnerable user and permits the hearing official to impose a fine of no more than $2,500; and
• Requires the recipients of citations for infractions of specified sections which result in bodily injury to a vulnerable user to appear before a judge for a hearing. 

“Bicyclists and walkers are particularly vulnerable on Southwest Florida roadways. We at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., remind motorists to share the roads. If you are injured in an accident, contact our team of bicycle and pedestrian accident experts to determine your rights,” said Fort Myers Bike Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey. 

Fort Myers Bicycle Accident Attorney,Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.