There are several Florida laws in place to make sure residents are safe while walking, riding a bike or driving on the roadways.
And although automobiles are responsible for sharing the road with bicyclists, there are certain rules of the road that are in place but are still not widely understood.
As an example, bicyclists are considered as vehicles and therefore are required to follow all the traffic laws in place by Florida law just as someone driving a car would.
These rules include coming to full stops and looking both ways at stop signs and riding in the same direction as the automobile traffic on the road.
This differs from those walking or running on roadways, who the law insists must do so going in the direction opposite of the automobile and bicycle traffic.
The idea behind the difference is because it is considered safer for the person walking or running along the road because they would have the opportunity to see veering traffic heading toward them and would be able to react and avoid it in a timelier manner than if they were going with traffic and it could save their life.
Walkers and runners are advised to wear reflective clothing at night and/or a light to give a greater opportunity to be seen, especially from a distance.
Pedestrians do have the right of way over all vehicles, but whenever possible it is recommended that they use sidewalks when available to decrease the safety risks.
Any cyclists riding on a sidewalk should yield the right of way to pedestrians walking or running along it, and drivers are required by law to provide at least three feet of distance or more when driving alongside or near cyclists.
Golf carts are a popular vehicle choice in the Ponte Vedra Beach area, so it is important to remember that they are seen by the law as the same as any other vehicle, so they must also follow all traffic laws in place, such as stopping at stop signs and being directed by traffic signals.
And just as with an automobile, it is illegal to be underage and not licensed to drive.
The law also requires all golf carts to be licensed and insured if they share the public roadways.
The Ponte Vedra Community Association continues to work closely with the Ponte Vedra Municipal Service District and St. Johns County officials to continue to advocate for the more sidewalks in order to continue the growth of roadway safety measures in the area.
