Share the Road License Plate
Help make Florida a bicycle-friendly state with the purchase of a Share the Road license plate. To purchase the license plate, visit the ShareTheRoad website, or go to your local tax collector.
The license costs $27, which includes a one-time $10 fee for a new metal license plate. Annual renewals for the Share the Road license plate are $17. The proceeds collected from the sale of the license plates are split between Bike Florida and the Florida Bicycle Association.
Mini License for Your Bicycle
Florida was the first state to have a specialty license plate to promote safer cycling. After you purchase a Florida "Share the Road" specialty license plate for your vehicle, you are eligible to receive a free "Share the Road" replica bike plate for your bicycle. Upon receipt of your online request, a replica bike plate will be mailed by the Florida Bicycle Association within 30 days.Visit the ShareTheRoad website for additional information.
FYI - Florida Laws
- Bicycles are vehicles
- Automobiles and bicycles have the same right to the roadway
- Automobiles and bicycles must obey the same traffic laws
- As of 10/01/07 automobiles are required to pass bicyclists at a minimum distance of 3 feet
Bicycles Ticketed Like Cars
A month or so ago, my son, who was 17 at the time, received a $60 ticket for riding his tricycle bike at night without a light. He was riding around our neighborhood, which is a housing development in western Delray Beach. There is only one road in and out of the development. The rest of the neighborhood is surrounded by canals. My son didn't think he would need a light to ride his bicycle in our neighborhood. To save gas, he usually bikes to his friends house, after getting home from work or school.
The day he got the ticket, he left the house before the sun went down. We never thought he would need to put a light on that bike, just to go to and from his friend's houses. He didn't pay the ticket on time, and ended up having his license suspended and the ticket fee increased from $60 to over $100 dollars. We thought his license was suspended from a speeding ticket he got months ago, while driving his girlfriend home at 2 AM. He never got around to paying that ticket either. When his father took him to the court house to straighten everything out, they were both surprised to find out it was the bicycle ticket which caused his license to be suspended.
Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva
I just purchased a Share the Road license plate online. It only took a couple of days to get here. I wonder how many weeks it will sit in my office before I actually install it on the van!?!
Posted by: thebikediva | 04/06/2009 at 12:00 AM