Where to Find Central Florida's Best Bike Trails and Local Shops

The number of Central Florida cyclists has risen considerably. Amid a pandemic, people are doing their best to remain positive and care for their health both emotionally and physically.

To avoid feeling stir-crazy, people are seeking ways to stay active outside of the home (while still following CDC guidelines). For some, pool time is the answer, still, for many others, cycling has become a new hobby. In fact, NPD reports, “overall bike sales were up almost 54% compared to March 2020 and 140% over March 2019.”

More and more people in Central Florida are taking to the roadways and trails with their trustee bicycles.

The thrill of the wind in your hair as you pedal around parks and roads is exhilarating but it is not without its inherent risks. Florida is among the top three most dangerous states for cycling. Since 2020 there have been nearly 600,000 bicycle accidents across the state of Florida and over 5,000 fatalities.

We share these alarming numbers not to stop you from practicing your pedal power but to educate and protect you. The majority of these fatal accidents were the result of relatively simple mistakes made on the part of both the driver and cyclist.

Wearing a helmet is a necessity – if you are under 16 years of age, it’s the law. However, according to a AAA survey, “36 percent [of Florida cyclists] don’t wear a helmet while riding their bike.” No matter what your age, it’s always a good idea to wear a helmet. But the number one thing to understand when it comes to bicycle safety is that bicycles are legally considered “vehicles” on roadways. That means cyclists must obey the rules of the road just like drivers of any other vehicle and must also be treated as such by all other vehicles.

Along with wearing a helmet, it’s essential that you learn the rules of the road as they apply to you as a cyclist. Some of those include using proper hand signals, going with the flow of traffic (not against!), and not riding more than two side-by-side when you ride with other Florida cyclists. So before you hit the road, brush up on the bicycle laws in Florida.

Did you know, that while on busy streets, bicyclists have the same legal rights to the roadways? Bicyclists also keep all rights and privileges as a pedestrian would while on the sidewalks unless otherwise posted. Note, however, that while riding on the sidewalk, pedestrians have the right of way.