Motorists and Pedestrians Also Part Of Enforcement Action.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — As two bicyclists remain hospitalized this morning after their “pack” was hit by an SUV driver Thursday morning on A1A in South Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is reaffirming its commitment to educate bicyclists, motorists, and pedestrians. Bicyclists are to be reminded that they must obey traffic laws as they ride in herds across South Palm Beach County.
PBSO issued this statement to BocaNewsNow.com.
“Palm Beach County ranks sixth (top 35%) in the State of Florida, for counties with a population of over 200,000, for traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. From January 1, 2023 to November 5, 2023, in Palm Beach County, pedestrians and bicyclists were involved in 1,412 collisions, resulting in 119 serious injury crashes, and 45 fatal crashes.
In an effort to protect the safety of those most vulnerable roadway users, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has been conducting High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) Details since August 30, 2023 at specific intersections throughout central Palm Beach County.
HVE details are funded through a contract with the University of North Florida, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation’s focused initiative to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.
The goal of this enforcement effort is to increase awareness of and compliance with traffic laws that protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
Our enforcement efforts focus primarily on education to drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. However, violations have resulted in warnings or citations being issued depending on the circumstance.
Remember:
Bicyclists, obey traffic laws, ride in the direction of traffic flow, always use lights when riding at night.
Pedestrians, cross in crosswalk or at intersections, obey pedestrian signals, and make sure you are visible to drivers when walking at night.
Drivers, obey speed limits, never drive impaired and always watch for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially in intersections.”
When I am on my bicycle riding single I particularly like to ride against traffic. There are several reasons for this. One I like to see the traffic coming towards me. Rather then feel like I am going to get hit from behind. Two when there are vehicles Parallel parked at the curb they tend to see you better. Giving you a better chance they will not swing their car door open on you.
It seems that bad interaction between Bicycles and motorist occur when large groups of bicyclist try to dominate the road. Especially on federal highway where there isn’t a bike lane. ( Even if there is a bike lane it is for possibly two abreast ). But these very large bike groups they try to dominate the entire vehicle lane of traffic. Which is unfair to a vehicle that wants to travel the legal speed limit slot them.
Riding against traffic on the road is not legal as bicycles are considered vehicles on the road and must obey road rules with a few exceptions. Consider riding at 15 mph hit head on by a car at 30 mph – 45 mph impact. Riding with traffic, 15 mph impact. Clear as to your odds of survival each way. Use a test view mirror or radar type rear light.
Bad interactions happen when people don’t follow the established rules of the road because they come up with several reasons for just doing things the way they particularly like.
Bad interactions happen when people ignore the established rules of the road and just do things the way they want, without regard to whether or not it’s right.
It is idiotic to imply that this latest SUV crashing into cyclists involved cyclists doing ANYTHING wrong. It is also idiotic to suggest that this crash would be affected by bikes in single file versus two abreast. No one is asking the really big questions. 1.) Why was a 77-year-old woman driving her SUV on A1A before 7am ? 2.) Was she coming home from a party or some other event that could have caused impairment? 3.) What was her blood alcohol? No report on this has been released, and was her blood tested for any other drugs? 4.) Whether passing a car through the double yellow, or just going faster than she could control her car, reckless driving is the least of what she was guilty of, and still no word on charges filed. I believe Criminal charges are in order unless the medical determination is that she had a stroke or heart attack, or other catastrophic medical event that caused her to lose control–but even this does not excuse the high rate of speed the video exposes. 5.) People over 65 SHOULD need to prove mental and physical health to continue driving. Whlle some 75-year-olds are as sharp and healthy as some 40-year-olds, MANY elderly people are driving on A1A that can barely handle their vehicles, and that have no right to drive with their functional impairments—and yet, no one wants to discuss this obvious truth, at the heart of this terrible cycling accident.
The question is really: why where these bicyclists on a road with no bicyclists during the morning rush.
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