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!