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"Bike lanes are everywhere around Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties. These lanes are designed to provide safe places for bicyclists to co-exist with motorists. Many bicyclists and motorists alike have questions about how to both travel safely.  We, at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. are providing the following information to help prevent bike accidents," says Bicycle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Florida Regulations -

Bike lanes are marked with a stripe, and the official symbol on the right.  Florida bicycle regulations - 316.2065 (S5a & b) state:

(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions 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 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, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. 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 left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.

The Florida Bicycle Association (Bike Lane Law Explained) provides:

The basic rules for safety:

• First come, first served.
• Always ride the same direction as traffic.
• Yield to traffic before entering a road.
• Yield to overtaking traffic when changing lanes.
• Obey all traffic control devices.

Road lanes may not be wide enough for cars and bikes to safety share when bikes are operated side-by-side.  If this happens, the bicyclist is allowed to the full lane if it is not wide enough to share, recommends Florida Bicycle Association. They believe communicating to motorists that the lane is too narrow by riding to the left as close as possible will allow the motorist to know that the space is not large enough.

Bike Safety 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.