DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
Bill Bone, Esq.
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
▸ Commissioned study on attitudes of motorists and cyclists
▸ Designed to answer key questions regarding motorists vs. cyclists
▸ 54% of motorists don’t know 3-foot rule
▸ Nearly 31% of motorists don’t think bicycles belong on the road
FLORIDA IS THE DEADLIEST STATE IN AMERICA FOR CYCLISTS
▸ Ranked among least friendly states for cyclists
▸ Deadliest state for cyclists by virtually any measure
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
“I SHOULD HAVE HIT THEM HARDER!”
-Lee Luenser
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
STORY OF LEE LUENSER AND MILTON QUINONEZ▸ “You were in the road!”
▸ Attitude and perception fueling war between motorists vs cyclists
▸ Lack of acceptance for cyclists sharing roadways
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
BY THE NUMBERS*
▸ 7,077 total bicycle crashes in 2014
▸ 6,680 total cyclist injuries in 2014
▸ 135 total cyclist fatalities in 2014
*SOURCE: A SAFER FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES, “TRAFFIC CRASH FACTS ANNUAL REPORT 2014”
CRASHES
INJURIES
FATALITIES
0 2000 4000 6000 8000
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
▸ Many different theories
▸ FDOT cites as reasons:
1.Education & Licensing
2.Highway & Traffic Engineering
WHY ARE FLORIDA ROADWAYS SO DANGEROUS FOR CYCLISTS?
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
TRAFFIC LAWS DON’T VALUE THE SAFETY OR LIFE OF CYCLISTS
▸ Minimal consequences when cyclists hit, maimed, and killed
▸ What were the consequences for Lee Luenser?
▸ Not unique to Florida—it’s a nationwide problem
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
▸ Introduce traffic laws similar to those in the Netherlands
▸ Presumption of motorist’s fault in any bicycle-motor vehicle collision
▸ Admittedly, an aspirational goal right now
A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR CHANGING ATTITUDES
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
CYCLISTS ARE NOT BLAMELESS
▸ Cyclists who flagrantly flout traffic laws contribute to dangerous conditions and motorist’s hostility.
▸ But it’s illogical to argue that all cyclists don’t belong on the roads because some cyclists disobey traffic laws.
▸ Millions of motorists similarly break traffic laws, but we don’t conclude motorists don’t belong on the roads.
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
▸ Both motorists and cyclists must know rules of the road
▸ Florida law treats bikes as ‘vehicles’ and cyclists as ‘drivers’
▸ Cyclists have same rights and responsibilities as any other driver
▸ Understanding cyclists’ legally permissible Roadway Position
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE RULES OF THE ROAD IN FLORIDA
DRIVER VS. CYCLIST: FLORIDA’S STRUGGLE TO SHARE THE ROAD
▸ Numerous societal and individual benefits with increased cycling activity
▸ Bicycle infrastructure improvements cost a faction of motor vehicle upgrade costs
▸ $2 million per mile to widen existing roads for motor vehicles
▸ Only $89,470 per mile to construct bike lanes
▸ Bike infrastructure projects create more jobs than motor vehicle spending projects
THE CASE FOR INVESTING IN BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Contact BILL BONE BIKE LAW475 Hibiscus StreetWest Palm Beach,FL, 33401Phone: (800)-300-4074
www.billbonebikelaw.com
THANK YOU!