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The 2016 Legislative Session is over, and while a number of bills passed both chambers, many did not -- including a bill that was seeking to change certain provisions regarding bicycle safety. Supporters of the state measure noted that its passage would boost certain pedestrian and cyclist protections.

House Bill 253 and SB 332 sought to change the provisions related to the operation of bikes and automobiles, particularly with regard to making turns at intersections, passing bikers and driving carelessly.

The new provisions would require automobile drivers to give bikers and other more vulnerable users of the road at least three feet of distance when passing by them. Under the new rules, drivers would face penalties and fines if they are caught cutting off such users.

Additionally, with respect to bikers who were traveling in groups of four or more, the changes to the rules would have required a driver to allow an entire group of bikers to travel through an intersection prior to the driver proceeding through the intersection.

The current law only permits one cyclists at a time to travel through an intersection; however, the change would have allowed for as many as 10 bikers at a time to proceed through.

A Group of Bikers Tested the Intersection Scenario

According to a recent News-Press.com article, 30 bikers in Naples took part in a test to see how the changes would work in “the real world.”  The bikers reached the intersection of Second Street South and Fifth Avenue. They went through the intersection as a group and it took 26 seconds for them to get through.

The bikers then approached the intersection of South and Broad. On this occasion, they went through the intersection 10 bikers at a time. This scenario took seven minutes to complete and the article noted that drivers who were waiting were blowing their horns and displaying great frustration.

One of the bill’s sponsors noted that the bill offers more protections for bikers than the existing law. It was further noted, however, that lawmakers cannot totally disregard the interests of the drivers sharing the roads too.

Still, pedestrian and biker safety activist state that the law needs to be passed, primarily because it was the first one written to truly make an impact on lowering the incidents of pedestrian and bicycle injuries in South Florida.

Concerns over changes to the bill has caused it not to pass thus far (however, other companion bills have passed). Still, proponents of the bill remain hopeful that a version will be passed in order to provide bikers (and pedestrians) with more safety as they travel along Florida roadways.

The Florida Department of Health provides bikers with a number of links to information about general biking safety, as well as statistics related to bike and pedestrian accidents and injuries. Randall Spivey and the Ft. Myers personal injury lawyers at his firm are quite aware of the dangers facing cyclists, particularly those that occur because some automobile drivers do not take care to ensure they watch for cyclists and provide enough room for them to safely travel with them on the roadway.

If you or someone you love has sustained injuries from a bicycle accident, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. right away to discuss the specifics of your case.