By Mary Hladky
The Beach Condo Association of Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach is all about safety.
To that end, members have surveyed the Spanish River Boulevard bridge and portions of State Road A1A, documenting needed road and pavement repairs and giving that information to the state Department of Transportation so the work can be done.
They also lobbied Boca Raton officials to install 11 crosswalks on A1A. Pedestrians can press a button to activate flashing lights that alert motorists to stop.
On Nov. 21, they invited Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann and Boca Raton Bicycle Club President Michael Simon to speak on how drivers and bicyclists can coexist safely on the road.
Their presentations answered questions many residents have, such as why do bicyclists often travel in large packs and why do they veer out of the bike lanes onto A1A.
Bikers ride in groups because it is safer to do so, Hartmann said. “The bicycle club will tell you to ‘ride big.’ Bikes are hard to see. They will tell you it is safer in bigger groups.”
It is perfectly legal for bicyclists to leave the bike lanes and ride on A1A, Hartmann said.
That’s because the existing bike lanes are not actually lanes. They are paved shoulders. That distinction allows travel on A1A.
But that will change when the FDOT installs new actual bike lanes on A1A in Highland Beach next year and in Boca Raton in 2027. That is part of a large and long-awaited road improvement project.
Highland Beach’s lanes will be 4 feet wide, and Boca Raton’s will be 6 feet.
Once the new bike lanes are completed, bicyclists will have to use them exclusively.
Simon offered safety tips.
He said bicyclists can buy a radar detector that informs them when cars are behind them and getting closer, giving them time to pull over to the right side of the road.
He urged bicyclists to wear reflective clothing so they can be easily seen. And even though they can ride on A1A, he encouraged them to use the existing bike lanes for greater safety.
Above all, Simon said wearing a helmet is a must. In fatal accidents, 97% of the bicyclists were not wearing one.
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