Bicycle Accident on AIA Gulfstream

PAY ATTENTION AND AVOID HITTING BICYCLES

Here is a collection of new stories that

I was riding in an Uber the other day and boy was the driver anti-bicyclist. She and her friends who live on A1A are trying to ban ALL BIKES from AIA. She said the following, in no particular order

She cannot get out of her driveway due to the large number of bicyclists
Bike Riders go 5 mph and ride right in the middle of the lane obstructing traffic
Bikes run red lights
Bikes swerve into traffic
Bicyclists are arrogant
Bicyclists are entitled

What got me really interested was her assertion that an accident on January 4th 2024 was caused by 8 bicyclists leaving the right (correct) side of the road and crossing the center line and then hitting the vehicle.

This was not what I had heard. I had heard that an older lady driving a KIA SUV had crossed the line and hit 8 bicyclists.

How could her account be so different than what I heard? Well, I decided to do some research. It turns out that yes, the lady did cross the centerline and was charged with "Failing to Maintain her Lane"

Early Morning on January 4th 2024 on A1A in Gulfstream Florida a 77-year-old Lantana Woman left her lane, crossed the road and hit 8 bicyclists

Three traffic citations were issued at the scene

1) Failing to maintain her lane

2) No proof of insurance

3) Unknowingly driving with a suspended or revoked license

No further charges were made regarding maintaining control, causing grave bodily harm, vehicular assault, etc. etc.

Florida law requires a 3' minimum passing distance.
When turning, yield to any bicyclist in the bike lane and make your turn behind the cyclist.

Police later reported that she suffered a seizure and blacked out.

The police also failed to show for the arraignment and so the three traffic citations were dismissed

Interesting fact: 670 Bike Crashes in PBC in 2023

What can you do to deal with bicyclists?

Here are suggestions to dealing with bicyclists

Be aware of bikes especially when turning across your lane - making a left turn
The double yellow line means do not pass.
BUT
Florida Law says to stay 3' away from a bicyclist when you are passing.
These laws conflict.
The resolution is to pass the bike safely with 3' between your car mirror and the bicyclist.
This is a SAFE pass.
Not crossing the double yellow and coming dangerously close to the bicyclist is driving dangerously.
If bicyclists are riding two abreast that is legal. If they impede you from passing after 30 seconds or so try a short tap on the phone. If that does not work then you will simply have to wait for a safe place to pass.
Don't try to pass a bike unless it is safe. Your vehicle may very well kill a bicyclist if you clip them with your mirror. If you don't care about the bicyclist then think of yourself. If you hit a biker you will be charged with is not worth the hassle, paperwork

Here are the links to the various news stories on the crash

WPBF News 1/4/2024

6 bicyclists hospitalized, 3 trauma alerted in Gulf Stream crash with SUV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le_pdLoUMbI

WPTV News 1/5/2024 Joel Lopez

Three patients are in the hospital, two critical one serious condition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B644EtDfmMI

WPBF News 1/4/2024

Interview with women rider hit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pGVAK2KWI4&t=25s

WPTV News 2/16/2024 Lady reporter

Charges against women / Florida Highway Patrol says a 77-year-old driver suffered a seizure and blacked out