Bicyclist killed on SR 26, east of Newnans Lake
June 26, 2025
Staff report from Florida Highway Patrol release
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – A bicyclist was killed last night when a vehicle hit him on NE State Road 26 near NE CR 234 (east of Newnans Lake).
At about 9:37 p.m. on June 25, the bicyclist was riding westbound on NE SR 26 near NE CR 234 when a sedan driven by a 33-year-old Gainesville man hit him from the rear. The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene.
At the time of the release, Florida Highway Patrol had not identified the victim.
I’ve always thought the problem on 26 was the narrow bridge with rumble strips in the bike lane, forcing cyclists to ride in the roadway.
The rumble strips are definitely a problem, for the cyclists who ride that road over Hatchett Creek. (Why does FDOT think it is a good idea to force cyclists onto the high speed highway at Hatchett Creek???) But in this case, riding at that time of night might have been the issue, since that was not the location of the crash. Was the driver distracted? Impaired? Did the cyclist have adequate lights to be riding in the dark? Will we ever know what really happened? Probably not. We hardly ever learn the results of the law enforcement investigations into these tragedies. Which is regrettable. If we could learn from them, we might be able to prevent more tragedies from happening. But, I doubt we will learn anything from this tragic event. (And FDOT won’t get rid of those rumble strips until someone dies, riding a bike at Hatchett Creek, and a successful lawsuit forces them to get rid of those rumble strips…)
Think about the number of cars that use the roadway and think about the number of bikes. Does it make more sense to keep cars from hitting the narrow bridge or for bikes to stay on the shoulder and ride over some rumble strips?
Don’t ask Gainesville’s idiots.
They’ll suggest taking away a traffic lane, and making a passing lane, (think SR 40 through Ocala National Forest).
I don’t think the rumble strips prevent drivers from hitting the bridge. Drivers shouldn’t be driving in the paved shoulder. The rumble strips do make it almost impossible for cyclists on road bikes with narrow tires to ride on the shoulder. The rumble strips go on and on and on. They force the cyclists out into the high-speed highway with the vehicles. I don’t understand how those rumble strips are a safer option. I rode this once on a group ride years ago, and that was enough for me.
those rumble strips are not rideable
Exactly!! I can’t imagine that the rumble strips are helpful in any way to anyone. Especially not to cyclists. Can someone explain how the rumble strips help the drivers? The shoulder is so narrow there, and the rumble strips and bumpy reflectors go on for half a mile, approaching the bridge from both directions. The shoulder is so narrow. Cyclists are forced into the road long before they reach the bridge. FDOT should just let the cyclists ride the shoulder, and decide for themselves when it is safe to get in the traffic lane so they can quickly cross that little bridge.
Are we sure it was at Hatchett Creek? SR 26 is a lot of road. As they put it, east of Newnan’s Lake I can recall an area where there is a road off of it that leads straight to Newnan’s. You can see the lake. Kind of residential but my memory is from long ago. About 20 years ago.
The biggest corrective action for bicycles on a road would be ride on left facing traffic, like pedestrians are supposed to look. Then they could see danger. Too many people seem happy to let laws and strangers be responsible for their safety. Walk or ride with unknown traffic behind you, that could kill you? Insanity!
Of course, we don’t know the actual circumstances, color of clothes, lights on bike, where the victim was riding, etc.
My mother told me this when I would ride my bike. You never know who is in back of you. And most bikes aren’t equipped properly.
A mirror is essential equipment on a bike, just like in our vehicles.
Florida statutes:
316.2065(5)(a) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing must ride in the bicycle lane or, if there is no bicycle lane on the roadway, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
That is just ridiculous, as well as illegal. your closure speed would be in the neighborhood of 80 mph, as opposed to 40.
Always walk facing traffic if you have to walk in the street. Always ride a bike in the same direction that the vehicles are traveling. Use the bike land or shoulder when there is one. If there is no bike lane or shoulder, cyclists have a right to ride in the travel line. That is the law, and it is safer than riding against traffic. Always wear a helmet and use a mirror and front and rear lights when riding a bike. They are readily available at Walmart and at any bike shop, as well as on Amazon. (They make mirrors that can attach to the handle bars, or to your helmet or your eyeglasses.)
I knew the fellow. It is said he had a light but a s far a I know he did not wear a helmet. He rode from Gaineville to Keystone Heights and this was on a return trip. One of his brothers is a housemate.