FBA 2014 Awardees Aimed High for Better Bicycling
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Vol. 18, No. 3 Summer 2015 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC. FBA 2014 awardees aimed high for better bicycling Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee: Jacksonville BPAC, Chris ast issue we Burns, Chairperson revealed names For the last four years, the of organizations, Jacksonville groups and Bicycle/ individuals whose Pedestrian efforts during 2014 Advisory Committee has helped forward FBA’s worked toward vision for Florida’s establishing the bicyclists to be safe, Cyclist’s and respected and Chris Burns Pedestrian’s Bill of Rights as BPAC policy, building a rela- encouraged to bicycle tionship with City of Jacksonville for transportation and Transportation Planning Division, pro- recreation. posing a DOT operation and land use feasibility study, and complimenting the In this issue we give you introduction of context sensitive design the reasons why they policy within the city. Through the deserve recognition and BPAC’s efforts in following the 5 E’s— Club Scrub off-road bicycle club, Jupiter, FL your praise. education, engineering, enforcement, support of this campaign. The North sharpen skills. No other trail system in evaluation and encouragement—the Florida Bicycle Club is working hard to Palm Beach County has been as consid- Read on... Transportation Planning Organization be a good community partner and to erate for new MTB riders. Club Scrub has committed funding to a downtown reduce the number of cyclist crashes in continues to maintain and improve the bicycle plan; the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville. MTB trails at Camp Murphy in JD State the Mayor have secured the city’s first Park, and hold events to encourage off- full-time bicycle pedestrian coordinator; Off-Road Bike Club: Club Scrub at road riding for children and adults. the City Council has created a Context Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Dorsey Sensitive Streets Committee and Bike to Tennant and Juliana Catalfumo Enforcement Agency: Punta Gorda PAID Tampa, FL Tampa, Work Day is now looking toward being U.S. Postage U.S. Permit Permit #2899 Club Scrub was organized in May 2000 Police Department, Chief Albert an annual city event. NON-PROFIT NON-PROFIT ORG. in conjunction with Jonathan Dickinson Arenal State Park officials to coordinate and The agency has shown, since the first Bike Club: North Florida Bicycle Club, promote off-road bicycling. In December outreach by a bicyclist, that they are will- Mark Atkins, of 2000 the club became a “special com- ing to partner and work towards better President mittee” operating under the Friends of cycling in the city. For example, the The North JDSP, a non-profit organization with a Peace River Riders Bicycle Club Wheels Florida Bicycle mission to assist park management in and Wings event uses police radar equip- Club, working in meeting the natural and cultural resource ment to gauge speeds for cyclist aware- conjunction with management objectives established for ness and the club donates proceeds from Flagler College, the park. Since then many volunteers the event to the PGPD’s “Do the Right created and is have helped build and maintain the Thing” program for kids. The bicycle executing “One approximately 8-mile trail system into club assisted in a 3-foot passing law traf- Road, A Cycling Mark Atkins what it is today...a destination for cyclists fic enforcement program, and the PGPD Safety Campaign.” of all ages. Membership dollars help displays the 3-foot law on patrol cars. This two-year media campaign is to edu- develop new trails and support trail The PGPD’s bike Team Leader serves on cate motorists and cyclists to improve maintenance. In October 2014, Club the Bicycle Friendly Communities P.O. Box 2452, Oldsmar, FL Box 34677 2452, Oldsmar, P.O. cycling safety in Jacksonville and all of Scrub hosted “Take a Kid Mountain Committee. The agency hosts bicycle northeast Florida. The club has recently Biking Day,” especially for novice riders. been given a $10,000 grant from CSX Club Scrub also created practice pits to Please see Awards, page 2 and a $2000 grant from Bike Florida in ADVOCATING A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY FLORIDA 2 Florida Bicycle Association FBA Annual Award recipients Let the good times roll continued from page 1 by Sharon Shea (photos by Mick Shea) rodeos, safety classes and routinely pro- fy the top 10 highest priority counties in he car is loaded with camp- vides bicycle law/safety presentations to Florida. Another of the outstanding ing gear, kayaks and bikes. local civic organizations. PGPD enthusi- efforts was to create, brand, and promote We are ready for another astically supports Share the Road and an educational campaign, called Alert adventure weekend in White haT the goal of making Punta Gorda the Today Alive Tomorrow, via various paid Springs. bicycle mecca for Florida. media and outreach activities. Members I sigh with relief as we exit I-10 hosted and participated in numerous onto Hwy 41. The wild flowers are abun- Educator: Lisa Indovino, Safe Routes community events across the highest pri- dant with a profusion of yellow, orange to School Program Educator, All ority counties. The Alert Today Alive and purple, carpeting the country roads Children’s Tomorrow education campaign has part- and open fields. Hospital nered with FBA to have the Governor April showers have made for spectacu- The hospital’s proclaim March as Florida Bike Month lar May flowers and the river is running. program operates and co-created the Pause for People Day It’s going to be some great pedaling and in seven counties, as an annual event for the third paddling. and Lisa heads Wednesday of March. We hop on our mountain bikes to ride up the Lee Foster’s Hammock Loop, an eight-mile County branch. Program: OnBikes, Inc., Julius Tobin, off-road trail in Stephen Foster Cultural The program’s Executive Director Center State Park. Suwannee Bicycle primary focus is OnBikes, Inc., a Association (SBA) took advantage of nat- Lisa Indovino to combine class- non-profit organi- ural terrain and created this challenging room instruction, educational outreach zation founded in trail with some nice elevation and and experiential learning to educate chil- 2011, organized a switchbacks. For more experienced rid- dren and parents how to walk and bike community bike ers, this is a fun single-track trail. more safely. To do this, the program uses ride during the Friday morning we switch gears for SBA members enjoy back roads and spring developed classroom lessons, conducts holiday season some truly awesome road rides. scenery. safety assemblies at schools, presents at with about 150 A symphony of cicadas serenades us as PTA/PTO meetings, coordinates walking riders to raise we pedal past verdant woods and tran- The next morning we again hop on our schools buses and walk/bike to school funds to purchase quil fields dotted with majestic live oaks. mountain bikes. SBA has 50+ miles of days, conducts bike rodeos, and partici- 100 new bikes and Our destination is Falling Creek, a water- really fun single-track off-road bike trails pates in various community and school helmets for at-risk Julius Tobin fall about 12 miles outside of White in White Springs, running along the events. The Lee County program started children in the Springs. When the river is high, the banks of the Suwannee and through in 2013, making it one of the most recent Tampa Bay area. Their efforts have more waterfall looks just like liquid caramel. hardwood and pine forests. additions to the All Children’s Hospital than doubled each year. In 2014, 500 After a great lunch of Fat Belly’s fried Leaving SBA headquarters, we ride to Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program. bikes were distributed to at-risk and fos- cat fish, we take our kayaks to the boat the nearby trailhead for the Bridge to While the Lee County program is new, ter children. Their efforts go well beyond ramp at the Hwy 41 bridge, just south of Bridge trail. About 4.5 miles long, this Lisa has taken initiative and turned the the children’s thrill of first receiving the town. We paddle down the Suwannee trail is great for all types of riders. program into a success, reaching 16 bikes by giving them an opportunity to and take out at Stephen Foster State Park. The trails are in great shape and we’re schools and more than 8,000 students. experience the sense of freedom, self- The white limestone karst topography ready for some more miles. Next up is reliance, mobility and a healthy lifestyle along this natural and scenic river creates Gar Pond. We cross the Hwy 41 bridge, Supporting Agency: FDOT Safety for years to come. The OnBikes motto, huge rock sculptures, surrounded by with a great view of the Suwannee below, Office, Trenda McPherson, State “You can’t buy happiness but you can buy cypress, oak and palmettos. where we started Saturday’s paddle. Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety a kid a bike and that’s pretty close,” indi- We stretch our legs on white sandy The Gar Pond trail is about five miles Program Manager cates their outstanding level of dedica- beaches and swim in the clear tannic long and fast riders can really push the In May 2012, Trenda McPherson was tion. waters. After an easy paddle, we are back pace. I love these fun and flowing trails at the park and a short bike ride brings through diverse and beautiful terrain, Bicycle Professional: DeWayne Carver, us back to the car. including some impressive sinkholes. State Bicycle/ Pedestrian Coordinator, American Canoe Adventures in White On our last morning, the sun is shining FDOT Roadway Design Office Springs is always helpful in planning a and we have time for one more good Each District Bicycle and Pedestrian river trip, including shuttling your boats.