With mild winters and plenty of flat terrain, Punta Gorda is a wonderful year round place to ride a bicycle.  Whether you haven’t ridden a bicycle in years or ride dozens of miles at a time, Punta Gorda has something for everyone.  For the person that doesn’t own a bicycle the local business community in cooperation with TEAM Punta Gorda (501c3 non-profit), offers a Free Bicycle Loaner program that operates at several area hotels and marinas.  The Punta Gorda Pathways a system bicycle and pedestrian trails winds along the waterfront & through historic neighborhoods connecting many interesting destinations. Learn more about bicycle safety and the Team Punta Gorda loaner bike program at (14) PRMP Video Update #21 - YouTube .

Bicycle Etiquette and Florida Law

In Florida the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle and the bicyclist is a driver

Bicyclists have the same rights to the roadways, and must obey the same traffic laws as the drivers of other   vehicles.

These laws include:

• Obey Traffic signals & signs
• Riding with the flow of traffic
• Using lights at night
• Yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway
• Yielding to pedestrians in crosswalk

Other Bicycle Related Laws

• Bicyclists are allowed on all roadways in Florida except where specifically prohibited
• Bicyclists have the right to occupy the travel lane if the travel lane is not wide enough for the safe passage of both a vehicle and a bicycle
• A vehicle passing a bicycle must give a minimum of 3 feet of clearance to the bicyclist
• Bicycles are permitted on sidewalks
• Helmets are required for any rider under 16 years old

Shared Path Etiquette

• Keep right
• Bicycles ride slowly
• Stop at driveways and intersections
• Audibly warn when passing
• Keep pets under control
• Listen for audible warning from passing joggers and bicycles
• Groups or couples give way to passers of oncoming traffic