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scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,732
3,330
Sowal
According to the rules posted on the 30-a BIKE PATH, everyone under the age of 16 is supposed to wear a bike helmet. :wave:

Ski resorts are making helmets mandatory for their staff and kids up to a certain age (who rent their equipment or take lessons), so it is common/possible to require it.

Basically they make it mandatory to a certain age, then strongly recommend it past that age for all guests regardless of age or ability.

Frankly, I find it surprising given the level of over protectiveness/helicopter parenting that all kids don't already wear them. My pediatrician was telling us decades ago to wear bike helmets.....................and that was when we rode them miles to get to school.
 

jenbrown

Beach Comber
Apr 6, 2010
7
0
According to the Destin Log, the 15 year old boy is still alive but in critical condition. This was updated 8 minutes ago online, so hopefully it is accurate. Continue your prayers that this young man will pull through.
 

pennstater

Beach Comber
Jul 10, 2005
43
10
NJ/Inlet Beach
Many good points.

We will probably find that this tragedy had more than one contributing factor. A teenager making a poor decision as most are apt to do while riding a bike without a helmet. Maybe a distracted driver.

However, for all the reasons cited I believe the speed limit through Seagrove is too high. It should be 25 MPH just like Watercolor, Seaside, Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach. This sad incident happened in a 35 MPH zone where many vehicles routinely travel at 40 MPH. Way too many driveways, turning vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

This is approximately a 1.5 mile stretch of road. If my math is correct it would take 62 seconds longer at 25 MPH vs 35 MPH.

It is impossible to legislate and enforce most types of safe and courteous behavior. It is easier to enforce speed limits. A 62 second solution I am more than willing to accept if it decreases the chance of anything like this happening again.

An additional North South connector to US 98 from 30A east of Seagrove would be nice.

Also please don't text and drive, or use your cell phone and drive. Don't eat and drive. Don't apply make-up and drive. Don't do anything when you drive except drive. Distracted drives are as dangerous as impaired drivers.

Wear those bike helmets even if not required by law. And don't just put them on your children. I applaud parents that require their children to wear bicycle helmets but what message are they sending when those same parents don't wear helmets themselves.
 

30ABandMan

Beach Fanatic
Apr 1, 2007
731
77
SGB
Well, this is the age old fight here. I bicycle and drive Seagrove to Grayton nearly everyday. I'm amazed at how many bikers do not yield for anything, cross the road where ever they wish and act oblivious to everyone and everything. Correct me if I'm wrong, but bike riders are supposed to follow the rules of the roadway too, correct? Manu of them blast right they stop signs etc. I saw some approach 395/30A today, of course, there were a line of cars in all directions negotiating the three way stop. The cyclist blasted right infront of one of the other cars without stopping. What are they thinking???

I feel the bike rental companies should have some responsibility in the helmet issue too.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,732
3,330
Sowal
If the driver is who I think it is, he is a very good & careful driver and used to the idiocy of tourists. It's one of the few vehicles I know will look for me/stop when I am riding my bike. (Ironically the ones I fear the most belong to bike rental companies impatient to make deliveries.)

Changing the speed limit doesn't really address the key issue - at this time cars are usually going slower than the speed limit anyway due to traffic.

At any speed, bike vs. car rarely ends in the biker's favor. Or as my father puts it "vehicles outweigh you by thousands of pounds, who do you think will win every time?"

Helmets do save lives and reduce injuries and I think they should be worn by everyone.
 

John

Beach Fanatic
Dec 3, 2005
397
91
SoWal
He is OK

Harrison Blain is the young man's name and he is doing well according to friends and family. The word is that he has a bunch of staples in his head and a fractured hip. It's miraculous that he's sitting up, watching ESPN and wanting to go home, which is a good sign.

Evidently one side of traffic had stopped and Harrison "assumed" the other side would stop. Anyway, his little brother and a friend came in this morning for some helmets. They have now seen the light.

The family and friends thank everyone for their concern and prayers.
 

pennstater

Beach Comber
Jul 10, 2005
43
10
NJ/Inlet Beach
Very happy to hear the good prognosis.

Many motor vehicles exceed the posted speed limit in this area. I've even been run off the bike path by a pick-up truck passing to the right of a left turning box truck.

Not only is it difficult to cross 30A as a pedestrian, It is challenging to pull out of a driveway or a side street as a motorist while avoiding cyclists, pedestrians and speeding traffic.

Installation of stop signs at the busier public beach access points would also go a long ways towards calming traffic.

1.5 miles - 62 seconds. Where's the fire?
 

GoodWitch58

Beach Fanatic
Oct 10, 2005
4,816
1,921
Florida Bicycle Helmet Law

Florida Bicycle Helmet Statute
FLORIDA STATUTES
TITLE XXIII. MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 316. STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

316.2065. Bicycle regulations

(1) Every person propelling a vehicle by human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter, except as to special regulations in this chapter, and except as to provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

(2) A person operating a bicycle may not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

(3)(a) A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped, except that an adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his or her person in a backpack or sling.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a), a bicycle rider must carry any passenger who is a child under 4 years of age, or who weighs 40 pounds or less, in a seat or carrier that is designed to carry a child of that age or size and that secures and protects the child from the moving parts of the bicycle.

(c) A bicycle rider may not allow a passenger to remain in a child seat or carrier on a bicycle when the rider is not in immediate control of the bicycle.

(d) A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger's head by a strap, and that meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 Bicycle Helmet Standards), the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation (1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling), or any other nationally recognized standards for bicycle helmets adopted by the department. As used in this subsection, the term "passenger" includes a child who is riding in a trailer or semitrailer attached to a bicycle.

(e) Law enforcement officers and school crossing guards may issue a bicycle safety brochure and a verbal warning to a bicycle rider or passenger who violates this subsection. A bicycle rider or passenge
r who violates this subsection may be issued a citation by a law enforcement officer and assessed a fine for a pedestrian violation, as provided in ? 318.18. The court shall dismiss the charge against a bicycle rider or passenger for a first violation of paragraph (d) upon proof of purchase of a bicycle helmet that complies with this subsection.

(4) No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle may attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway. This subsection does not prohibit attaching a bicycle trailer or bicycle semitrailer to a bicycle if that trailer or semitrailer is commercially available and has been designed for such attachment.

(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, or substandard-width lane, that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For the purposes of this subsection, a "substandard-width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.

(6) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. 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 shall ride within a single lane.

(7) Any person operating a bicycle shall keep at least one hand upon the handlebars.

(8) Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a lamp and reflector on the rear each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 feet to the rear. A bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by this section.

(9) No parent of any minor child and no guardian of any minor ward may authorize or knowingly permit any such minor child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this section.

(10) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

(11) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

(12) No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device, may go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk; and, when so crossing, such person shall be granted all rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians.

(13) This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street authorized herein or as designated by state, county, or municipal authority.

(14) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake or brakes which will enable its rider to stop the bicycle within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.

(15) A person engaged in the business of selling bicycles at retail shall not sell any bicycle unless the bicycle has an identifying number permanently stamped or cast on its frame.

(16)(a) A person may not knowingly rent or lease any bicycle to be ridden by a child who is under the age of 16 years unless: 1. The child possesses a bicycle helmet; or 2. The lessor provides a bicycle helmet for the child to wear.

(b) A violation of this subsection is a nonmoving violation, punishable as provided in ?. 318.18.

(17) The court may waive, reduce, or suspend payment of any fine imposed under subsection (3) or subsection (16) and may impose any other conditions on the waiver, reduction, or suspension. If the court finds that a person does not have sufficient funds to pay the fine, the court may require the performance of a specified number of hours of community service or attendance at a safety seminar.

(18) Notwithstanding ? 318.21, all proceeds collected pursuant to ? 318.18 for violations under paragraphs (3)(e) and (16)(b) shall be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund.

(19) The failure of a person to wear a bicycle helmet or the failure of a parent or guardian to prevent a child from riding a bicycle without a bicycle helmet may not be considered evidence of negligence or contributory negligence.

(20) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a pedestrian violation as provided in chapter 318. A law enforcement officer may issue traffic citations for a violation of subsection (3) or subsection (16) only if the violation occurs on a bicycle path or road, as defined in ? 334.03. However, they may not issue citations to persons on private property, except any part thereof which is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.

We do have a bicycle helmet law; and it was for everyone until the Legislature in their "wisdom" changed the law; there was a motorcycle helmet law too; until the bikers protested and had it removed completely.
 
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scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,732
3,330
Sowal
Does anyone else constantly get frustrated about all of the rules, signs, laws, etc. that never get followed or enforced? :bang:
 

GoodWitch58

Beach Fanatic
Oct 10, 2005
4,816
1,921
Does anyone else constantly get frustrated about all of the rules, signs, laws, etc. that never get followed or enforced? :bang:

Yes, and I got totally disgusted with the members of the Florida legislature who agreed to modify this law because, and this is a direct quote:

"I never wore a helmet, and I am fine today."

Not taking into account the changes in population, urbanization, traffic, etc., not to even speak of whether or not anyone else in the audience of the committee room would agree with him!

I, and many others, lobbied for this bill for three years against this type of mentality and for three years, the bill passed, only to have the governor veto it--because of "individual rights". Then, only after a Republican neurosurgeon member of the Senate stood up and testified for the fourth year about how dangerous the lack of a helmet is, did the bill withstand the veto pen;

in 1997, it was modified to only include those under 16, primarily because of the motorcycle riders' protest.

Never mind that brain injuries are some of the most difficult to treat and the most expensive...and the cost of caring for someone with a TBI is extremely expensive, often to the state because regular people can't afford it after so much $$$ is spent.

Frankly, I am afraid as the 30A area grows...our safety issues will just escalate. I would much rather see Law Enforcement institute some sort of traffic safety program than some of the marijuana programs they are spending time and money on. Not that I think those are unimportant, but I think they are way out of proportion to the traffic issues we have in the tourist season.

At the very least perhaps we could get some funding and have a bicycle education program...there are countless ones available, nothing has to be written from scratch--just someone, as Susan says, needs to show some leadership before some one does die and some poor driver who was just doing his job and trying to be careful, has to live with that for the rest of his or her life...So Sheriff Atkinson, how about it? Can we get some help here?
 
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