According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 783 pedal cyclists were killed in the U.S. last year, and 125 of these deaths were in Florida. Florida leads the nation in bicycle fatalities, and with the debut of electric scooters in Tampa Bay, road safety for all needs to rise on the agenda.
The most commonly reported factors for bicycle fatalities include 38% failure to yield right of way, and 10% not visible to drivers due to dark clothing and no lighting. These factors, coupled with the latest AAA survey of Florida cyclists which finds 36% of cyclists not wearing a helmet and 21% of cyclists riding against traffic, indicate that many of these deaths could be avoided.
“Bicyclists who do not go with the flow of traffic are putting their lives in danger. Although it may be more comforting for a cyclist to see approaching motorists, this creates scenarios where drivers may not see them. That's because drivers do not always check for wrong-way traffic before entering an intersection. Traffic laws and safety recommendations are there to help protect you the next time you take a spin," said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman.
In Tampa Bay, these issues haven't gone unnoticed. Last November, Hillsborough County voters approved Amendment 2, which is aimed at funding new transportation options, safety issues, and traffic congestion.
Although drivers need to be alert of bicyclists, Floridians must be better behind the handlebars, too. Cyclists and electric scooter users, take advantage of bike lanes, wear a helmet if you’re cycling long distance or in traffic, wear bright colors, ride with traffic and make sure your lights are working.
Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter to get the most up-to-date news + views. Subscribe to our newsletter, too.
This article appears in May 23-30, 2019.