SB 390, sponsored by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach...would revise the much-reviled “mandatory lane law” which unnecessarily restricts cyclists from leaving the bike lane, even when safety dictates it. With Bogdanoff’s bill, cyclists would be allowed to leave the bike lane if a potential conflict existed. .... Similar language to SB 390 is included in HB 4017, sponsored by Rep. Ritch Workman, R- Melbourne and SB 1122, a Transportation Committee bill.
Both bills passed the Transportation Committee and were referred to the Budget Committee. This activity, preliminary to the Legislative Session, bodes well for eventual passage of the language in these bills.UPDATE - MARCH 22, 2012 -- Mike Lasche advises that the Florida legislature passed the legislation which "allows the cyclist to leave the bike lane for any 'potential conflict.'”
It made sense to give cyclists flexibility to leave a bike lane if safety requires, as the video below illustrates:
