Bicycle Safety Information

Published on 2/5/2021

Last updated: 2/5/2021 3:45 PM

As the weather starts to warm up, it is likely that more bicyclists on the roads. Alachua County Public Works would like to help raise bicycle safety awareness by sharing a few facts and tips.

FACTS

In 2017, Florida had the highest number of bicyclist fatalities in the nation and the highest fatality rate per million population.
In 2019, there were 161 bicyclist fatalities in Florida.
The majority of pedestrian and bicyclist accidents in Alachua County occur outside of designated crosswalks or bike lanes.
Bicyclist deaths occur most often between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. on the weekdays and 9 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on the weekends.

TIPS

Those riding bicycles after dark should always have a bike light. Florida law requires lights on both the front and back of bikes.
Ride bicycles in the same direction as the car traffic. Florida considers bikes to be vehicles. Cyclists must follow the same rules as drivers.
Make sure bicycles are the right size. Riders shouldn’t struggle to reach the pedals. A bike that’s too big is hard to control.

More information about bicycling, bicycling laws, and bicyclist safety can be found at the following websites:

For more information, contact Alachua County Public Works Senior Engineer Technician Beth Dodd at 352-316-5609 or bdodd@alachuacounty.us.