By Dave Lawrence
According to The Villages Commercial Property website, The Villages population has risen from 77,435 in 2008 to 92,635 in 2013 and is projected to grow to over 100,000 by 2015. This makes for a lot of miles travelled on Villages county roads and multimodal paths by cars, golf carts, motorcycles, motor scooters, and yes, bicycles.
Currently there are two Villages sanctioned bicycle clubs that are serving the needs of about 500 resident cyclists. There is also a tandem bicycle club. Each club rides at least 3 days per week and club rides travel from 15 to 100 miles at speeds of 10 to 25 or more miles per hour. Additionally, there are many thousands of Villagers, renters, visitors and residents from surrounding areas that enjoy riding our roads as well. At cycling club meetings, time is spent stressing vigilance, safety, courtesy and rules of the road.
A bicycle is defined as a vehicle and has the right to be on any roadway except where they are specifically excluded (like I-95). As bicycle drivers, cyclists must obey all traffic controls and signals.
Florida law says we must all “share the road”. But what does that mean to automobile drivers and bicycle drivers?
When properly placed, these (SHARE THE ROAD) signs indicate that there is a good chance there will be bicycles traveling on the road and that the roadway is NOT wide enough for side by side travel (cars and bikes in the same lane). Once the cyclist (or group of cyclists) is traveling in the lane, the cyclist has full use of the lane and a motorist wishing to pass must yield until it is safe to pass. Bicycle drivers usually ride to the right side of the lane which helps the motorist’s visibility and should make passing safer. Please remember that Florida and many other states have enacted a minimum 3 foot horizontal passing distance (section 316.083, F.S.) measured from the car to the bicycle.
As Villagers, motorists and cyclists, we need to be aware of our rights and our responsibility to proceed in a consistent, predictable and courteous manner allowing us to more fully enjoy Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
Villager Dave Lawrence is the past president of the Sumter Landing Bicycle Club and current Safety Director and Sumter County’s bicycle/pedestrian representative to the Lake Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization.