Steele Olmstead responds after St. Petersburg police ticket 16 bicyclists as safety campaign begins

Following a recent crack down on bicyclist behavior reported by the St. Petersburg Times today, FBA member and personal injury attorney Steele Olmstead responded to the staff writer with the following:

Mr. Boyle:

I thoroughly enjoyed your article.  I do agree law violators should be ticketed.  But I believe ALL the violators of traffic statutes should be ticketed.

Now, can we do another story about the law that requires cars to give bicyclist 3 feet of room when passing? (Florida Statutes 316.083(1); How cars are supposed to give the right of way to bicyclist and pedestrians when they cross sidewalks? (Florida Statutes 316.125(2)) or when riding two abreast on a four lane road, the car MUST change lanes? (Florida Statutes 316.083(1); How cars don’t treat bicycle like other cars, even though the law  clearly STATES bicyclist are entitled to all the rules and rights of the road? (Florida Statutes 316.2065 ); How cars are supposed to wait for cyclist and pedestrians when they are in a lined crosswalk?  This last constant violation is what killed Admiral Leroy Collins, J.   (Florida Statutes 316.130(7)b(b); And most importantly, and fundamentally the problem here:  how police and sheriff’s CONSTANTLY FAIL to ticket drivers for these blatant violations of Florida law, basic road safety and common sense?

I just settled a case wherein  a commercial van hit my client on a four lane road while he was riding 18″ from the white line at the furthermost edge of the right side of the road.   It is a very common occurrence.  Cars think we cyclists are just a nuisance.  The law enforcement doesn’t protect us by enforcing the law though the LAW does.  When will we see that story?

I am a personal injury attorney, but I was a cyclist ever since college.  We have good laws protecting cyclists but they are constantly ignored and not enforced.   It is a very real problem that never gets addressed and your article carries on the overlooking of these laws.

If the Mayor is St. Petersburg is going to “crack down” on violators, let him crack down on all of them, including those that don’t give cyclist the rights on the road that the law provides.

Please, do give me a call and I’ll tell you all about what my clients, friends and family endures on the roads and sidewalks in the second most dangerous area for cyclists and pedestrians in the United States.

J. Steele Olmstead