George C. Palaidis, The Bike Lawyer

09/28/2026

Putting my money where my mouth is on this one.

In a couple of weeks, I'm riding the 2026 Bike MS: Breakaway to the Keys. From today through October 3, I'll match every dollar donated to my fundraising page — up to $3,000. If we max it out, that's $6,000 going toward research, care, and support for people living with MS.

Six days. Whatever you give gets doubled.

Scan the QR code in the video or use the link in the comments. Share it with someone who rides, too.

Get out and ride. 🚴

09/11/2026

56 kids under 14 were killed nationwide last year while riding a bike to school. Kids ages 10 to 14 already have the highest rate of ER-treated bicycle injuries of any age group, according to the CDC.

Before your kid rides to school this fall, do this first: map the route with them. Not the shortest route, but the safest. Watch for busy intersections, driveways, and any place the bike lane ends, and walk the drop-off zone itself.

This is 1 of 7 things I cover in the full video: 5 for parents and 2 for every driver on the road. The full video is up on YouTube. Link in bio. 🚲

Not legal advice. I am not your lawyer. For informational purposes only.

09/09/2026

Everyone assumes “three feet” is the proven safe distance to pass a cyclist.
It’s not. Most states just copied the number because it was already on the books elsewhere, not because anyone tested it.
Full breakdown of how all 50 states actually handle this on the channel now. Link in bio. 🚲

08/20/2026

Two killed, 7 others injured, and a community is grieving over a crash that can easily be prevented. While the charges against the driver suggest criminal intent, we can still work to prevent these crashes.

Milligan said Brayden Rogers and Haylan Engdahl were killed in the crash Wednesday. John Benfield has been charged with vehicular homicide.

08/15/2026

Florida's own Department of Transportation measured 2,185 drivers passing a bicyclist on Florida roads. Then they recorded what each rider was wearing.
Riders in ordinary clothes got about four inches more room than riders in a cycling kit.
The state's researchers could not explain it. What they wrote was: "it is possible that motorists perceived less risk passing riders who were in bicycle outfit."
I also get into the 2023 study where people were shown photographs of cyclists and asked which one looked less human. The riders in safety vests scored worse than the riders in nothing.
New video is up.

Researchers showed 563 people pairs of photographs of cyclists and ...

08/07/2026

Roughly 1 in 10 bike crashes is caused by an opening car door.

Police data from Boston and San Francisco, two different cities, two different decades, land in almost the same place. Here’s what you can do about it.

Full breakdown is up now on The Bike Lawyer YouTube channel, link in bio.

08/04/2026

65% of bike crashes happen at intersections.

Only 30% of bicycle fatalities do.

Read that again. The crashes pile up at intersections, but that’s not where fatalities happen for cyclists. 60% of fatal crashes happen away from intersections, and overtaking crashes alone cause 1 in 4 deaths.

I break down the federal crash data and what it actually means for how you ride, full video is up on YouTube now (link in bio). 🚲

This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.

07/08/2026

Florida law: drivers must give cyclists at least 3 feet when passing — even in a bike lane. 🚴‍♂️

Too many drivers ignore it, and close passes lead to side swipes, forced runoffs, and dangerous high-speed passes. That’s not just scary — it can be a legal violation. If it causes a crash, it’s often clear driver liability.

Cyclists are entitled to their space. Drivers are required to respect it.

🎥 Full video is up now on our YouTube channel, The Bike Lawyer — link in bio!

06/26/2026

A cyclist taking the whole lane isn’t being difficult. It’s safer.

If a lane is too narrow for a car and a bike to fit side by side with three feet between them, there’s no safe pass inside it. Hugging the curb just creates the illusion there’s room to squeeze by, and that’s how close-pass crashes happen. Taking the lane forces the driver to change lanes or wait.

Full video on bike crash prevention on my YouTube. Link in bio 🔗

Ride visible. Ride predictable. And stay safe out there.

06/25/2026

Don’t stare at the wall.

Racers and motorcyclists learn that on day one. If you fixate on the thing you’re trying not to hit, you drift right into it. It’s called target fixation, your hands follow your eyes, and whatever you stare at is often where you steer.

The same rule that protects racers protects cyclists and drivers. Look where you want to go.

Full breakdown on how this causes bike crashes (and how to prevent it) on my YouTube channel. Link in bio 🔗

Ride visible. Ride predictable. And stay safe out there.