Florida Highway Patrol Continues Investigation Into Crash That Left Several Injured. No Charges For Now.
Did Bicyclist Cross Into Oncoming Lane Causing Chain Reaction?
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — As Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the Thursday crash on Ocean Blvd. that left several “herd bicyclists” critically injured following a head-on collision involving an elderly driver in an SUV, we are being inundated with messages from South Palm Beach County drivers who say bicyclists need to be brought under control.
“It’s insane,” wrote one woman. “These spandex-clad herds take over Palmetto Park Road, they take over Lyons Road, they take over A1A, and expect everyone else to yield. Why don’t they ride in safe places?”
Wrote another reader: “The crash on Ocean Boulevard is tragic, but completely preventable. If the bicyclists were biking in a safe location, and not on a road not made for cars, this would have never happened.”
Investigators and witnesses say the herd of bicyclists was heading north on Ocean Blvd. in the early morning hours of Thursday when a woman from Lantana, driving southbound, apparently hit them head-on. It was unclear if the woman suffered a medical problem, or if one of the bicyclists accidentally crossed into the oncoming lane, triggering a chain reaction accident. Six bicyclists were transported to Delray Medical Center. It is believed two remain hospitalized Tuesday morning. There is no bicycle lane on that stretch of A1A.
“Why do these people believe wearing spandex and riding in a group is safe? It’s silly,” wrote another reader. “We have great parks with bike lanes. Why can’t they ride there?”
Florida law does permit bicyclists to ride on roads where there is no specific bike lane. (But Florida law also permits people to jump out of an airplane without a parachute). The actual Florida Statue for bicyclists (316.265) mandates that they ride no more than two across, and yield to motor vehicles. It’s unclear if the bicyclists involved were obeying the statute:
“Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or in a bicycle lane may not ride more than two abreast except on a bicycle path. Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and must ride within a single lane. Where bicycle lanes exist, persons riding bicycles may ride two abreast if both are able to remain within the bicycle lane. If the bicycle lane is too narrow to allow two persons riding bicycles to ride two abreast, the persons must ride single-file and within the bicycle lane.”
“BocaNewsNow.com is horrible,” wrote one reader, apparently livid that we even asked whether bikers should be banned from the area’s dangerous roads. “Drivers in cars need to yield to us, not the other way around.”
“How could you be so insensitive?” asked another. “The woman driving the car should be executed and BocaNewsNow.com should be shut down.”
“Is it Time To Ban 77-year old people from major Roads In Delray Beach, Boca Raton? Did you even research the facts of this particular accident? This elderly and inept woman could have hit another oncoming car and this would have resulted in deaths too.”
“(BocaNewsNow.com) may be able to hide from scrutiny and backlash now, but god will judge you in time.”
Following the crash, which is being investigated by Florida Highway Patrol, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced an initiative to educate bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists to safely coexist.
Do you have photos of bicyclists behaving badly in South Palm Beach County? Share them with us through the news tips menu item, above. Please do not risk your safety, or the safety of others, while taking photos of bike herds that may be violating Florida Statute.
South Florida wakes up to Andrew Colton and South Florida’s First News, weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on NewsRadio 610 WIOD, streaming live worldwide in the iHeart Radio App, and simulcast on 105.9HD2.
“Micromobility” is the wave of the future. It’s also great for the environment and our planet. Micromobility transportation includes traditional bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds and more. We need more BIKE LANES NOW, City Of Boca Raton ! In the meantime, DRIVE SAFETY and CAREFULLY, and RESPECT non-automobile transportation users – Cars do not rule the roads anymore.
Yes we need more and wider bike lanes on some roads but it is important to follow the rules of the state of Florida when riding bikes as to not cause car accidents with other cars and bikers who are not following the bike lane laws. I give their butts a little honk of my horn if the bikers are being careless and selfish toward the drivers on the road. We want everyone to be safe on our roads drivers and bikers.
We need more bicycle lanes, not less, in all of Palm Beach County. If a guy walking (the other article today) got hit then what hope is there for anyone not in a car? I mean really, we can’t say we want more ‘green’ energy and get mad about someone not using a car.
Incoming from the Spandex Squad.
The hundreds of cyclists riding in several packs through Boca Raton on A1A every weekend, steal parking from The Cove in Deerfield Beach and various Publix parking lots. Using municipal parking pays for things like bike lanes. I have been riding my bike to the beach since 1995 from my home. I am pro-bicycle, however I have observed packs of cyclists impede traffic purposely by riding more than two abreast.
There will be no pictures, because cyclists on the stretch of A1A are extremely cautious and attentive when traveling in front of that Golf Club. The reality is that if there was a bike lane or shoulder at that stretch of road, this tragedy would probably hot have happened. So, the State of Florida MUST improve the stretch of the road to promote public safety and protect residents, tax paying, productive citizens of the community, who happen to like exercising and riding bicycles. Second, I am still at awe knowing that a driver of a KIA Soul SUV blatantly broke the law, causing SERIOUS bodily harm on other law-abiding citizens, almost killing them on the spot, and is not arrested, not even given a ticket for reckless driving. One of the problems here is that POLICE is not enforcing the laws on A1A…. I really question what these fine officers are doing there in their patrol cars all day long …. tough job they must have. I say, get back to work, start enforcing the laws and give out some tickets… that little stretch of the road of A1A where this accident happened is a 35 mile an hour zone. Get your radars out and start ticketing speeding drivers. And accident will no longer happen there, right?
These “bike herds” are selfish and give responsible cyclists a bad rep..
WE are the ones that get “coal rolled” or side swiped because they assume that anyone that rides in “spandex” is part of those idiots.
As a 16 time IronMan, it sickens me to see these jerks hog up the road and prevent people from using the road (not bike lane) as it was intended.
While it appears this accident wasn’t due to a bike herd, it is leading to more frustration that will ultimately come down to who has the right of way.. 150-200 lbs vs 2000 lbs.
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