Side by Side riding.
Howard Tessler
Is it Legal to Ride Bicycles Side-by-Side?When you ride your bicycle with a group, are you legally allowed to ride side-by-side? How many riders across are you allowed to ride? How wide can your pace line be? Are there good reasons to ride more than single file, or is single file always safest? What does Florida Law allow?
Riding more than single file in a group bicycle ride can actually be more safe than riding single file. Safety is enhanced by cyclists being able to communicate clearly with one another. When bicycle riders are side-by-side they can talk clearly to one other. Riding single file, communications become a shouting match or a series of hand gestures. I am aware of only one state that requires all bicycling be single file – Nebraska.
Yet, we bicyclists must also be aware of road rage. Many motorist can be enraged when they think that cyclists are blocking their travel. Too many motorists think of cyclists the same way – they should not even be on the road, they are obstacles, and when they ride side-by-side, they are arrogantly trying to invade the cars’ proper space. This can also lead to bicycle accidents injuries or even fatal cycling tragedies.
Florida Statute 316.2065 (6) says:
Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may 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 may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing.
What does this Florida bicycle safety law really mean?Let me give you some examples:
- Bike Lane or Bike Path - two or more cyclists abreast is legal - If you are riding in a bike lane or bike path, you are allowed to ride two abreast, or even more than two, within this designated area.
- Sharing the Road with Motorists – up to two (2) bicycle riders across is legal, depending on the road width.
There are two important components of the law that apply to riding bicycles on the road, sharing the road with motorist. First, motorists must give you three (3) feet when passing you. Second, you must not impede motorist by riding two across. What does this mean?
On very wide roads, it is possible for a motorist to pass two cyclists abreast, giving three feet, by staying in the lane. Here the cyclists are not impeding the motorist. Riding bikes two across is perfectly legal in Florida.
On many roads, the lanes of travel are narrower than 14 feet. Then bicyclists are not “impeding traffic” if they ride two abreast, as compared to one abreast. In order to give the cyclists three feet of passing room, the motorist needs to take the opposing lane. Because these roads are narrow, the motorist would have to take part of the opposing lane no matter if there was one rider or two riders abreast, in order for the motorist to pass and give 3 feet. The fact that that a second cyclist is present doesn’t change what the motorist must do – go all or partially into the opposing lane - when no traffic is coming the opposite direction. The second cyclist does not impede traffic any more than a single cyclist does. The motorist couldn’t pass with three feet by staying in its lane even with one cyclist.
There are some occasions when riding two abreast would impede traffic. Then cyclists should ride only one across. This is where the lane of travel is about 14 feet, allowing for a car to stay in the lane to pass one cyclist with three feet. If two riders are across, the motorist won’t be able to pass by staying in the lane and giving three feet. If there is opposing traffic, the 2nd cyclist is then impeding traffic, because the motorist must wait for opposing traffic to clear.
Don Pratt
On Apr 25, 2023, at 10:23 AM, Howard Tessler <howard....@gmail.com> wrote:
From Laurel Phillips:Hello Howard, my husband and I have lived on Norton St for 7 years and love our bikes. Am writing a note of concern about danger of tandem riding- our bike lane along GOM is very narrow and the road is only one lane each way as you know. I have had to cross the yellow lines for tandem riders and deeply resent the danger presented to all concerned. In discussing this with other neighbors I have heard some horror stories- let’s avoid these. Your group would be instrumental in putting out the message that GOM is not safe for side by side riding. Do you agree?
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Phil Tucker
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Laurel Phillips
On Apr 25, 2023, at 11:26 AM, Phil Tucker <ptuc...@comcast.net> wrote:
The GOM bike lane is too narrow and dangerous period for this and other reasons. Riding side by side invites an even higher level of vulnerability.
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ARTHUR WOOD
jame...@comcast.net
3 feet is the minimum required by law… but it doesn’t feel like much when a car passes you at 50mph on GMD. When driving my car, I regularly give bikers far more than 3 feet as a matter of safety and common courtesy … and I don’t hesitate to cross the double yellow when it’s safe to do so, especially since GMD is almost entirely double yellow. I certainly appreciate when cars do that for me when I’m on my bike. As for riding tandem, while it may be legal on GMD, it strikes me as rather foolish.
Jim Haft
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Howard Tessler
Jumping into the fray…. One thing that worries me is the drivers on their phones (or whatever they’re doing) routinely weaving in and out of the bike lane. I stay as far to the right as I can and have been passed by cars with their tires on the white line and even inside of it. What concerns me even more is something that happened today. Driving south (don’t recall the exact location), a car was waiting to turn left. The car in front of me swerved into the bike lane to go around the waiting car. I stopped and waited, but the car behind me swerved into the bike lane and went by both of us. I have never seen that before. He (or she) was going full speed, too. Where are Longboat Key’s finest when these things happen? Isn’t it illegal for cars to use the bike lane to pass other vehicles on the right? And passing two cars? I love riding and I love using the designated bike lanes, but there are times when I wonder how long before I get hit.
Drew Cotterman
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Howard Tessler
Phil Tucker
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