Bicycle Safety

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Summer is nearly half way done! More and more bicyclists are riding their bicycles and it's up to everyone to ensure the roads stay safe.

In Florida, the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle and the bicyclist is a driver. Bicyclists have the same rights to the roadways, and must obey the same traffic laws as the drivers of other vehicles.

These laws include stopping for stop signs and red lights, riding with the flow of traffic, using lights at night, yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway and yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks.

A bicyclist who is not traveling at the same speed of other traffic must ride in a designated bike lane or as close as possible to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. Florida law also requires motorists to give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing on the road.

On MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., bicyclists need to follow Air Force Instruction 91-207 on bicycle safety.

Bicyclists need to wear highly visible outer garments during the day and outer garments containing retro-reflective material at night. A white front light, visible for 500 feet, and a red reflector or light visible from the rear for 300 feet, must be attached to the bicycle. Bicyclists also need to wear a properly fastened and approved bicycle helmet.

Simply following the rules and practicing risk management can decrease accidents and improve safety. Summer is a great time for family and friends to come together and create lasting memories. Utilizing simple safety tips can help keep everyone safe and out of harm's way.