About Bicycling
2021 City of Boca Raton Awarded Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community Award
The City of Boca Raton was one of 55 destinations nationwide to be awarded a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community Award by the League of American Bicyclists – again! The City previously received this recognition in 2018 – and has held this designation since 2003. The League represents bicyclists in the movement to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a Bicycle Friendly AmericaSM – through education, advocacy, and promotion.
City leaders and staff have long been committed to promoting and encouraging bicycling as a safe, economical, environmentally friendly, and health-conscious mode of transportation and recreation. With over 84 miles of bike lanes, as well as shared use paths and trails, the City’s bicycle network has been enhanced by unique and highly successful projects such as the A1A bicycle lanes, the Patch Reef Trail, and the El-Rio Shared Use Trail. On the El-Rio Trail, recent upgrades surrounding the I-95 interchange construction near Yamato Road allow bike riders and pedestrians to travel safely through an underpass that connects the north and south ends of the trail.
The City’s Bronze Award designation is valid for four years, through 2025.
To read more about the City’s award, visit: https://bikeleague.org/bfa/awards.
New Florida Bike Law in Effect
Beginning July 1, 2021, new bicycle regulations went into effect in the state of Florida. These new regulations apply to all bicyclists and include how bicyclists ride on City streets. Visit www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/950 to learn more about the new regulations.
Among the new rules is that cyclists can only ride two abreast in a bike lane if it is wide enough to fit both riders and clearly designated by pavement markers and signs that it is a bike lane. Riders two abreast is also allowed if the bike lane is separated from traffic by a physical barrier. Otherwise, all bicyclists must now ride single file and as close as possible to the curb or edge of the roadway to give passing traffic a minimum of three feet to pass. Cyclists may only ride more than two abreast if riding on a designated bike path.
Motorists must ensure at least three feet of space when passing riders and remain a safe distance behind the cyclists until able to pass. Also new, motorists wanting to make a right turn must be at least 20 feet past the bicyclists before making that turn.
When cycling groups are at a stop sign, the cyclists must come to a complete stop. Motor vehicles must allow one group of ten cyclists to travel through the intersection before moving forward.
Please take the time to watch the video below explaining the new law.