Sharing the road with bicyclists — Florida Permit Test

Florida law requires you to give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance and to use caution and slow speed when driving next to or passing them.

Three feet is the width a rider needs to wobble without being under your wheels.

Florida law requires that you give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance and use caution/slow speed when driving next to or passing them.

In Florida the bicycle is legally a vehicle, with the same privileges, rights and responsibilities on public roads as a motor vehicle, except on limited access highways.

A rider is not a guest on the road. They have the same claim to it that you do.

In Florida, the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle and has all of the privileges, rights, and responsibilities on public roads (except limited access highways) that a motor vehicle operator does.

A bicyclist may use the full lane even while traveling below the speed of traffic, if the lane is too narrow for a car and a bicycle to share safely.

A rider holding the middle of a narrow lane is stopping you from squeezing past them.

A bicyclist may use the full lane even while traveling below the speed of traffic if the lane is too narrow for both a car and bicycle to share.

At intersections, assume bicyclists are traveling straight unless they signal otherwise, and yield to bicycles as you would to any other vehicle.

Assuming a rider will turn out of your way is how a driver turns into one.

At intersections, assume bicyclists are traveling straight unless they signal otherwise. Yield to bicycles as you would to any other vehicle.

When you must cross into a bike lane to make a turn, yield to any bicyclist and make your turn behind them.

Turning in front of a rider takes away the only piece of road they were using.

When you must cross into a bike lane to make a turn, yield to any bicyclist and make your turn behind the bicyclist.

Check for bicyclists approaching from behind before opening a car door, do not follow a bicyclist too closely, and avoid honking and startling a rider.

A door opened into a rider gives them a choice between the door and the traffic.

Before opening a car door, check for bicyclists who may be approaching from behind.

On a two-lane road, pass a bicyclist as you would a slow-moving vehicle, and only when it is safe. At night, avoid using high beam headlights when a bicyclist is approaching.

A rider dazzled at night has no lit road left to steer by.

On a two-lane road, pass a bicyclist as you would a slow-moving vehicle, and only when it is safe to do so.

How much clearance must you give a bicyclist?

At least three feet of clearance. Three feet is the width a rider needs to wobble without being under your wheels. Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.81: “Florida law requires that you give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance and use caution/slow speed when driving next to or passing them.”