As Florida Students Return to School, Florida Bicycle Association Encourages Families to Ride Smart and Ride Safe

As students head back to school, the Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) encourages parents to review bicycle safety with their children before they ride to school or around their neighborhoods.

A few simple safety habits can help prevent crashes and save lives.

Bicycle Safety Tips for Students

• Always wear a properly fitted helmet. Florida law requires all bicycle and e-bike riders under the age of 16 to wear a helmet. FBA encourages every rider, regardless of age, to wear one every ride.

• Ride in the same direction as traffic. Never ride against traffic. Motorists expect bicycles to travel with the flow of traffic, making this one of the most important safety rules.

• Slow down on sidewalks. Watch carefully for vehicles entering or leaving driveways, parking lots, and intersections. Drivers are often looking for other vehicles—not bicycles approaching on a sidewalk.

• Obey all traffic signs and signals. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other road users.

• Ride predictably. Be visible by wearing bright clothing, make eye contact with drivers when possible, and use hand signals before turning.

• Know Florida's e-bike laws. A legal electric bicycle in Florida must have fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. Do not modify an e-bike to exceed its legal speed or power, and always operate it responsibly.

A Reminder for Drivers

As schools reopen, expect to see more children walking and bicycling.

• Slow down in school zones and residential neighborhoods.

• Give bicyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing.

• Look carefully before pulling out of driveways or parking lots.

• Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists in crosswalks

• Eliminate distractions and put your phone away while driving.

"Every child deserves a safe trip to and from school," said the Florida Bicycle Association. "Parents, children, and drivers all play an important role in preventing crashes. By following a few simple safety rules, we can help ensure students arrive safely every day."

The Florida Bicycle Association is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing safer, more comfortable, and more accessible bicycling through advocacy, education, and strategic partnerships.

For more information, visit floridabicycle.org.