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Vol. 15, No. 2+3 Spring+Summer 2012 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BICYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC. City Manager is proud of Punta Gorda’s bike/ped facilities by Dan Moser, FBA Program Director

he March 31, 2012, Pedal and Play in Paradise, an annual ride hosted by Team Punta Gorda and managed by Peace River Riders Bicycle Club (www.peaceriverridersbicycleclub.com), included a post-event tour that those of us working to improve our cycling envi- ronment would like to see replicated elsewhere. After cyclists completed their rides and had lunch, City Manager Howard Kunik led anyone interested—including many who didn’t take part in the prior ride— on a tour of Punta Gorda’s bike and pedestrian infrastructure, pointing out improvements, articulating plans, and

Please see City manager, page 2

This daunting view of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway bridge on the way to St. Joe faced travelers on Bike Florida’s Forgotten Coast Tour this past March 24 - 30. The climb was part of a day three detour necessitated by a forest fire. Photo: Larry Varney PAID NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE U.S. PERMIT No. 2840 PERMIT No. JACKSONVILLE FL JACKSONVILLE Clarification to bike lane mandate signed into law overnor Scott put his pen to as practicable to the right-hand curb or somewhat archaic term that’s rarely used a revised highway safety act edge of the roadway except... 3. When in “walking around” language for most (CS/CS/HB 1223 –Highway reasonably necessary to avoid any condi- people, so it’s frequently misinterpreted Safety and Motor Vehicles), tion or potential conflict, including, but by law enforcement personnel. sections of which clarify “sit- not limited to, a fixed or moving object, This verbiage is almost always inter- uations in which a bicyclist is parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, preted to mean “as close to the curb as not required to ride in the marked bicy- pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn possible,” which is not correct, but it fre- cle lane (if the roadway is marked for lane, or substandard-width lane, which quently leads to cyclists erroneously bicycle use) or as close as practicable to makes it unsafe to continue along the being ticketed when they shouldn’t be. the right-hand curb or edge of the road- right-hand curb or edge or within a bicy- FBA would like to see this language way.” cle lane. For the purposes of this subsec- cleaned up in a future session of the leg- The Safety Act changes Florida Statute tion, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane islature to prevent further misinterpreta- 316.2065 Bicycle regulations, clarifying that is too narrow for a bicycle and tions. that a bicyclist is exempt from this another vehicle to safely side by Other sections that affect cycling requirement when a “potential conflict” side within the lane....”* include a change in helmet compliance or a turn lane interrupts the roadway or Readers may note the use of the word with federdal safety standards. P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791 Box 916715, Longwood, P.O. bicycle lane. (316.2065(5)(a)3). “practicable” in the paragraph above. *Underlines indicate new language. The specific language instructs cyclists This is the same verbiage that’s always to stay in the bike lane or keep “as close been used in 316.2065. However, it is a Please see Legislative, page 6 ADVOCATING A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY FLORIDA 2 Florida Bicycle Association City manager enjoys ‘tour guide’ role Ask a cycling attorney... when Punta Gorda’s bike/ped Progress left the brain behind infrastructure is the subject from page 1 by J. Steele Olmstead, Esq.

Attorney J. Steele Olmstead practices law statewide from offices in Tampa. One of his specialties is bicycle law and he’ll even come to you...wherever you got broken.

f you don’t mind I’d like to slip Look at it another way, and you can into medical mode for all you see why people who ran faster than 12 cyclists out here. Here’s a discus- mph are not in our genetic pool. So the sion that I have with my injured human body, specifically to our discus- cyclists clients and the parents of sion, the skull, evolved to tolerate speeds young cyclists. less than the fastest the body could run. The human brain weighs approximate- You run faster you are going to get ly 3.0 pounds. It is sitting in a semi- hurt. Your body isn’t designed to go that opaque fluid called cerebral spinal fluid. fast. It is inside your skull surrounded by One alarming thing about our body’s seven layers of protective tissue and design: if you were standing completely you’re a custom-fitted housing, the cra- upright and were to lose all motor con- nium (bone). That skull (which may trol and collapse to the ground from an sound über bullet proof) is only (think average height, let’s say 5’9 inches/.5’4” really carefully about this number) one- [average man/woman], you would injure tenth of an inch thick (2.945-2.972mm, yourself, including your brain, pretty male/female). seriously. So, humans That’s it. And your brain who pass out spontane- City Manage Howard Kunik has led an annual tour of Punta Gorda’s bicycle/pededs- is attached to the human ously are also not in our trian infrastructure for the past seven years. body only at its base (with genetic pool. the various veins that flow People who ran answering questions, all while in the been done to rebuild this historic city into it, nourishing, enrich- Hurting the brain saddle. after devastated the faster than 12 Let’s talk about hurting This is the seventh consecutive year place in 2004 and their commitment to ing and taking away the brain activity by-prod- mph are not in the brain. When the he’s done so, a tradition that’s evolved making the place pedestrian and bicycle- brain wobbles, it collides over time to now becoming the icing on friendly as one of their major goals. ucts). our gene pool. That’s it! The attach- with the inside of your the cake of Pedal and Play in Paradise. And what a comeback! Historic ele- skull. There’s a name for While many of us struggle to get elect- ments were preserved and the bike/ped ment, in its basest analy- sis, makes the brain like a the injury to the brain ed officials and staff people at all levels and parks infrastructure all vastly from this internal trauma onto a bike so they could see for them- improved, thanks to a successful public- neural punching bag wob- bling back and forth on your brain stem. of the punching bag: “coup-contrecoup.” selves how things really are—something private partnership led by Team Punta This is a bad thing. Gorda (www.teampuntagorda.org) and The human body has been essentially that’s very hard for them to do from Trauma to the front, back, or sides is behind a car windshield —Manager the city. unchanged for the last 200,000 years. going to cause your brain to experience Kunik turns that practice on its head by A visit to Punta Gorda is enlightening. That long ago there was no pavement or trauma with coup-contrecoup. It will leading the way. While in town you can stop in and chat sidewalks—no trucks, trailers, helmets, damage the neural cells’ bodies, the Accompanied by two Punta Gorda with FBA board member Earl Lang at wheels, houses, buildings, gas tanks, sheath coating the connections between Police Officers on bikes and one on a his Acme Bike Shop, just south of down- steel, plastic, glass, wire, or anything the cells, or the connection, or cause motorized vehicle similar to a Segway, town, and check out JRA Bike Shop, a that humans invented in the last 10,000 blood vessels to burst—also resulting in almost 200 residents joined Howard as very urban establishment in the heart of years. brain damage. they rode along the city’s beautiful river- the historic district that symbolizes the The human body at that time, as it is And this is without fracturing your front trails and through its now-thriving progress made since 2004. today, could walk at approximately downtown. If you don’t want to schlep your own 3.1mph/5.0kph. The average human skull. So if you were not genetically bike, you can always use one from the could run 12-15 mph/19.3-24.1kph. designed to pass out, you’d fall, and Bike Friendly Community free bike share program, another great The folks that ran faster would have chances are, sooner or later, injure your Punta Gorda was named FBA’s Bike- example of a successful public-private exceeded their body design tolerances, brain - maybe pretty bad. Friendly Community of the Year in 2010, partnership. and injured themselves with any type of primarily because of the work that had fall. Please see Brain, page 13 Spring+Summer 2012 3

Thanks to Our Donors! 1st Q 2012: City names denote board member distribution. Is your area represented? Contact a board member today! Lifetime members Advocating a Mighk and Carol Wilson Orange Park Mr. & Mrs. H. Middleton Raynal bicycle-friendly Florida James Nash Duke Breitenbach P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791-6715 Gainesville Kimberly Cooper Dr. Joe Warren Executive Director Membership Director Program Director DeLand William R. Hough Tim Bustos Deb Devoe Dan Moser Orlando Earle and Laura Reynolds 336 N Woodland Blvd. 2738 Gables Drive 1449 Linhart Ave. Polk County Sports Marketing Deland, FL 32720 Eustis, FL 32726 Ft. Myers, FL 33901 Phone: 850-238-5328 [email protected] Phone/Fax: [email protected] 239-334-6417 [email protected] Paceline Leaders ($1,000+) Polk County Sports Marketing Program Assistant Delray Bch Becky Afonso Port Charlotte Florida Freewheelers, Inc. Board of Directors 250 Strathmore Ave, Boynton Bch Gainesville Cycling Club Oldsmar, FL 34677 David Henderson, President Stephanie Striefel [email protected] Golden Gears ($250 - $499) 111 NW First Street, Suite 910 401 W. Atlantic Ave, Ste 0-11 Miami, FL 33128 Delray Beach, FL 33444 Sarasota-Manatee Tom and Lynda Bicycle Laws Program Director Bicycle Club, Inc. Stevenson Phone: 305-666-4718 Phone: 561-404-7261 x 152 TBA [email protected] [email protected] Silver Spokes ($100 - $249) Mighk Wilson, Vice President Ted Wendler Chapter Director 737 S. Mills Ave. 716 Ohio Ave. Jeff Hohlstein Central Fla. Chapter Director Joseph Brooks Coastal Cruisers Orlando, FL 32801 DeLand, FL 32724 P.O. Box 442246 Brad Kuhn Phone: 407-488-9990 Phone: 386-235-0057 Jacksonville FL 32222 9138 Queen Elizabeth Ct. Lake Shore Bicycles Bicycle Club [email protected] [email protected] Phone: 904-291-8664 Orlando FL 32818 Sun Cycle Centers Green Mobility [email protected] Phone: 321-287-7243 Capital City Cyclists Network Secretary: TBA [email protected] Garvin Law Firm Acme Bicycle Shop Jodi Hohlstein, Treasurer Penny Levin Gator Cycle, Inc. 3838 Cardinal Oaks Circle Thomas Hauser , LLC Orange Park, FL 32065 J & B Importers, Inc. Donald Brody and Phone: 904-282-2180 Steve and Maureen Family [email protected] Smith Jim Dodson Don Braverman Advisory Board Wheels of Wellngton Law Offices of Nancy Flaherty Jeanne Coleman 27A Stratford Lane West Herb Hiller, Journalist Carol Pulley Lisa Blount, Public Affairs Sunshine Cycles Volusia Boynton Beach, FL. 33436 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Phone: 561-742-8074 Ken Long Transportation [email protected] Keri Caffrey, Webmaster Dwight Kingsbury, Historian Bianca Pyko Bonita Bay Bicycle Planning [email protected] dwightkingsbury@floridastate. [email protected] Club Organization Hope Howland-Cook com Patrick Donovan Polk Area Bicycling PO Box 5295 Paul Casazza, Law Enforcement Louis Rossi Lawrence L. Jaffe Association Gainesville, FL 32627 [email protected] Henry N. Lawrence, III, Special [email protected] American Classic Billys Bike Shop Phone: 352-224-8601 Programs Tina Russo Raphael Clemente Terence N. Deeks National MS Society [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] West Orange Trail Phillip Scanlan Jessica Meurer Earl Lang Dan Connaughton, Director, Robert Seidler, Filmmaker Bikes & Blades Ken and Michelle [email protected] 1700 Tamiami Trail, E-5 Florida Traffic & Bicycle Safety [email protected] Walter Long Languedoc Port Charlotte, FL 33948 Education Program Laura Minns John Sinibaldi, Jr Jessica Kinnee Stuart Pechter Phone: 941-258-3400 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] William Gaines Fred and Rhonda [email protected] Richard and Robin Leonard Steve Diez Danny Page Randall Williams, Newsletter [email protected] [email protected] Abedon Ellen Kirtley [email protected] Steve Bayard Hal Downing Roger Pierce, Touring Calendar [email protected] [email protected] Bronze Pedals ($50 - $99) William and Gail Tom and Linda Byers Wentzell Patrick McNulty Laura Hallam Join FBA Visit FBA’s Website Messenger Deadlines Gregg Spieler Jerry Webb Alfredo Gutierrez Donald and Nancy Use the application form on page www.floridabicycle.org Copy and Advertising Deadlines: Mario Zanotti Mackson 15. Suggested contributions (tax Summer Messenger - May 15 Morris and Miriam Sharon Harvey Fall Messenger - August 15 Futernick Carswell deductible): Subscribe to FBA Winter Messenger - November 15 John and Kathy Eric Hankin News, and FBA Blog Spring Messenger - February 15 Stamp William Varani Individual $25 Robert Timberman Rodney Youngblood Stay up-to-date on bicycle issues Family $35 Inquiries and submissions: Michael and Ann Tim Karanovich and with these statewide forums. Megler Marjorie Graziano Student/living lightly $15 tim@floridabicycle org Bicycle Club $100 To subscribe to Florida Bicycle Welcome New/Rejoining Members! Corporate/Agency $100 Association's FBAlink, go to FBA’s Membership Categories: Stuart Pechter Peter and Yvonne Higher donations are greatly appre- home page at the website URL listed Paceline Leaders ($1,000+) Terrone and Carolyn Kulach ciated! See membership categories, here and click on the “Sign up for Rosenberry Glenn and Elizabeth Titanium Partners ($500-$999) below. FBA News Updates by E-Mail” link. Brett Robison Pryor Golden Gears ($250-$499) John Sawyer James Borchert Make check payable and mail to: FBA's Blog is on the website Silver Spokes ($100-$249) Solomon Dees Rohe Pennington Florida Bicycle Association, Inc. James Porter Sherman Klausner Bronze Pedals ($50-$99) Steve and Jane Terry Ready P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL www.floridabicycle.org Membership includes a subscrip- Waller Timothy Bischke 32791-6715 tion to the FBA Messenger. Michael and Judith Mick Osman or join online at floridabicycle.org. Jamison oontinued page 5 4 Florida Bicycle Association

President’s Report... The best ship is the partnership

David Henderson

recently spoke at the ribbon-cutting their 16-state network of paved paths). street, but maybe you need to pay it for- that puts the correct event for a new paved path in This was in addition to throngs of regu- ward first. You never know how it may emphasis on the Miami. The new path is only a mile lar citizens who had attended meetings, come back to you. problems of im- and a half long, but it fills an impor- or written messages of support during In your community, who are your paired, distracted, tant gap between two existing trails: development. media partners? Do you provide them and careless driving? it connects to a Metrorail station at I don’t think the project would have with story ideas, information and If you want to make your community a one end, and to a transit-oriented devel- flopped without all of these partners, but advance notice of significant events? Do better place for cycling, leave the bike at opment project on the other end. I know it would have been more success- they cover traffic safety issues in a way home, and get onboard the partnership! There was a nice crowd for a rainy ful if we had worked more with repre- Thursday morning that included elected sentatives from healthcare, environmen- officials, staff from FDOT (project man- tal organizations, advocates for kids and agement), Miami-Dade Transit (owner- the elderly, other user groups (runners, operator), MPO (funding), Bicycle/ skaters, dog walkers), and more busi- Pedestrian Advisory Committee (review nesses (why wasn’t the ice cream shop and comment), consultants and contrac- there?). tors (design and construction), and the The fact is, even though we usually Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (the seek out other “bike people,” it is always trail crosses one of their roads). useful to reach beyond and connect with However, the event was also well people that have other perspectives, attended by many of our partners that resources, connections and needs. included representatives from the Green Don’t you think that some members Mobility Network (pathway advocates), from the senior center would like to ride Ribbon cutters include (from left) John Hopkins, Green Mobility Network; Tim Bustos, FBA; the Bicycle Club (trail users), to the park, but need a ride leader to help Irma San Roman, MPO; Ysela Llort (in red), Miami-Dade Transit; Herb Hiller, East Coast supportive businesses (bike-friendly des- them get their tires pumped up and Greenway; David Henderson, FBA; Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez; Alina Hudak, County tinations), and the East Coast Greenway shown a low-traffic route? Manager; Harold Desdunes, FDOT (in dark suit). In back behind the Mayor is Mary Jane Alliance (designator of the project into Of course a partnership is a two-way Mark, Mack Cycles.

Bike/Walk Chapter... Earth Day, trails, crosswalks (Hey! I’m walkin’ here!) Brad Kuhn he forecast called for thun- The weather held until about 5 p.m., the county personally requesting removal derstorms, and for some when we saw the big green blob on the of these dangerous hazards. This has walks and encouraging pedestrians to reason that kept people from weather radar and packed it in. We were been a long-time goal of ours. We should use those crosswalks. riding their bicycles to Earth all home, high and dry, when the weather have more to report in our next update. This so-called “Triple-E” approach Day—go figure. hit. combines low-cost engineering with edu- Still, it’s nice to be remembered, Trail update Pedestrian Crossing cation and high-visibility enforcement, and Ms. Nature must have approved, The Orlando Urban Trail, which opened Hey—if crosswalks are good enough for to fundamentally change the crosswalk despite the big-old carbon footprint, in May, is only 1.2 miles long, but that’s John, Paul, George and Ringo, they’re culture in support of ongoing efforts by because the weather, though breezy, was an important mile, winding its way good enough for you. cities, counties and the Florida beautiful. toward becoming a bicycle gateway to Now, if only we can get cars to stop. Department of Transportation, to make Volunteers outnumbered customers, downtown. Statistics show that in the Orlando- our streets safer. but we were conveniently located next to Officially, the city now has more than Kissimmee Metro area, we kill one At our first law enforcement training the Aveda beauty school, and at least one 280 miles of bike trails and marked bike pedestrian each week, and injure two a operation, Orlando Police issued warn- volunteer availed herself of the opportu- routes—enough to garner a “Bike day. ing fliers to drivers failing to yield at nity to get a salon-quality cut for only Friendly City” designation from the Bike/Walk Central Florida, and our problem crosswalks around the city. $10. League of American Bicyclists. community partners, MetroPlan Orlando, More than 400 drivers were stopped Thanks to all of our great volunteers: And while we’re on the subject of trails Winter Park Health Foundation, Orlando over the course of three hours. Research Anna McCambridge, Andrew Harrell, . . . Looks as if AASHTO – the folks Health, Lynx, Orange Cycle, David’s has shown that those drivers will tell at John Randle, Keri Caffrey, Darlyn Kuhn, who set national design standards for World Cycle, Track Shack, the mayors, least six people each, for a total reach of and Diana Steele. roads and recreational bike trails, are police chiefs, and engineering depart- 2,800 drivers. Big ups to our new friend, diabetes finally getting around to finalizing their ments of the Cities of Orlando, Winter Orange County Sheriff training will warrior Cesar Cesareo, of the Tour de new recommendations that include a Park, Maitland, Eatonville, other cities, begin in June. Cure, for loaning us bike racks that met thumbs down on bollards – those con- plus Orange County, are going to change The Orange County School Board Orlando Parks & Rec requirements pro- crete or steel posts used to keep cars out, that. plans to review our pedestrian education hibiting sprinkler-killing stakes. but more often than not, serve to send On May 30, we plan to launch a coun- curriculum this summer for possible use, Special mention, as well, to Andrew, cyclists to the hospital. The new urban ty wide initiative in Orange County, district-wide, in the fall. who went above and beyond to pick up trail was designed without bollards, and aimed at increasing the percentage of This is a significant development. the bike racks and drop them off. the director of the Orange County drivers yielding to pedestrians in cross- Keep your fingers crossed. Department of Health has sent a letter to http://BikeWalkCentralFlorida.org Spring+Summer 2012 5

Executive Director’s Corner... Some good news, some bad; much still to do Tim Bustos

t’s been a busy time for the Many of these crashes have occurred this year, ostensibly due to the legisla- As a result, we Florida Bicycle Association since in Orange City, which, as many of our ture’s preoccupation with the budget and have only two our last issue of the FBA readers know, is very close to FBA’s new redistricting, FBA and its partners things to ask of Messenger. Many things have hap- headquarters in DeLand. pressed on nonetheless. you, our loyal pened that give us cause to cele- As a result, FBA has been trying to Consequently, we have some positive members and other cyclists: brate, yet many things have also hap- provide staff time and resources to help changes in the works as a result of pened that give us cause to be con- reverse the trend in Volusia County as working with FDOT and the legislature. 1. Be careful out there! If you’re a rel- cerned. well. We go into more detail about what ative newcomer to cycling, consider tak- Every day, when I get up and check This is truly sad, but contrary to what we’ve achieved this year in the article on ing a bicycle education class, such as Facebook, various blogs, and other news certain websites have maintained—there legislative updates in this issue. FBA’s acclaimed “Cycling Savvy” outlets, I see good things happening for is light at the end of the tunnel. Overall, At the federal level, we are not where course (cyclingsavvy.org). cycling in Florida, and other things that our crash statistics are going down state- we would like to be, but we have been If you’re an experienced rider, consider show me we still have much work to do. wide, and we’d like to think it’s at least able to stave off partisan attacks on the mentoring a new rider. Be sure you have partially a result of aggressive counter- current federal Transportation Bill. lights at night, practice your riding First, the bad news. measures we’ve been pursuing at the However, it has only been through the skills, and refresh your memory about There have been multiple bike crashes in state level. dedicated work of FBA staff, our mem- Florida traffic laws that govern the Tampa area over the last six months FBA is ramping up our enforcement bers, and the countless e-mails and let- cyclists—and all road users. Yes, auto- that, sadly, have included multiple fatali- programs, and we’re expanding the ters we’ve wrought on congress that we mobile drivers do contribute to a signifi- ties. Cycling Savvy program and other educa- have been able to make a difference. cant number of bicycle/motor vehicle Unfortunately, these fatal bike crashes tional efforts. Our current status at the federal level crashes—too many—but not all of them. continue a sad trend the The Florida Department of Transpor- is also detailed further in the article on Please take responsibility for your has been experiencing for the last one to tation is stepping up to the plate as well. legislative updates. actions, and be aware of your surround- two years. At a press conference on the steps of the As this issue of the FBA Messenger ings at all times. Be visible—be predict- We have a number of people in the state capitol a couple of months ago, heads to press, we’re already easing able! Tampa Bay area who are working very FDOT Secretary Ananth Prasad stated through spring, and rapidly approaching hard to reduce this trend, including Alan that bicycle and pedestrian safety is now summer, so we decided to do a 2. Have fun! That is, after all, the reason Snel with the South one of his “top priorities.” Spring+Summer issue this year. most of us started riding a bike—right? Bicycle United Dealers (SWFBUD), and As a result of these new priorities, and Fortunately, our winter was not severe, Whether we learned to ride at age 6 or J. Steele Olmstead, a local attorney that staff turnover, new staff is being put into so most of us were not sidelined by 60, cycling should still be as much fun just donated $2000 to the Tampa Bay place with FDOT to help ensure that weather, and consequently, we’ve been as it was the first time we ever set foot Police Department to install more “Share bicycle and pedestrian safety does riding all year (yay!). However, most of on a pedal. the Road - It’s the Law” on police cars. improve. us are riding even more now. Yes, it’s good for the environment, and In Volusia County, there have been 24 Our hats (and helmets) are off to We’re getting up earlier, and riding it helps to improve air quality. It’s also children hit while walking or riding their Secretary Prasad, and we hope FDOT even later into the evening. We’re doing good for our health, a heck’uva lot bikes to school—just since the beginning considers FBA as a resource while we group rides, century rides, and for the cheaper than driving, and good for our of the current school year—and two of endeavor to make Florida safer for all lucky ones—extended tours like the cities. But never lose sight of the fact these have been fatalities. road users. “Forgotten Coast Tour” recently com- that cycling is supposed to be fun. Do We also fared well in the legislature pleted by our “sister organization,” Bike your part to put the “wheeee!!” factor this year. Despite being told nothing Florida. back in cycling. Welcome New/Rejoining Members! “substantive” would probably happen from page 3 Eric and Myrian Todd Sahner Some Online Resources Steinbaugh Howard Blank Robin Vaudreuil Carl Longeri Have you a subscription to the Share the Road ask your own burning question. We reprint some of Daehyun Kim Michael Zimmerman Newsletter? It’s filled with information about bicycling the questions and answers in the FBA Messenger, but David Shivley, Jr. Chris Spire events, people and places (including great trail maps there are many more on the site. Jerry Skirvin, Jr. Oscar Breeding for off road cycling). sign up at www.bikeflorida.org. M. Happy Marty Carlos Gonzalez Can’t get enough of Keri? Go to her Website/blog at Scott Holley Dara Wittenberg If you are an Adventure Cyclist, check out the ad- http://CommuteOrlando.com. Lots of great information Patrice Lecomte Joshua Silver venturecycling.org newsletter, Bike Bits. To subscribe, on “Bicycling in the Real World.” Kris Maglione David and Jeannie visit: http://www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits/sub- Bruce Alberts Lenhart scribe.cfm and read their blog at http://blog.adventure- And don’t leave your computer without a visit to (I Fifi Huang Jacqueline Ledea cycling.org know it’s another Central Florida site...sorry) the Or- Jeff Fricker Elizabeth Vasiliou lando Sentinel’s own cycling blog, The Chain Gang. Tim Karanovich and Abelardo Coro FBA board member and former president Mighk Marjorie Graziano Ron and Deborah Wilson blogs regularly at www.mighkwilson.com. His http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_thechaingang Linda Ducharme Rader well-researched, philosophical essays will get you Chris Furlow Dennis Driscoll Sign up for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy thinking on a higher plane. Ann Redgrave Miguel Morales eNewsletter at http://support.railstotrails.org/site/ Byron Barnes Heidi Fuchs Don’t forget to check out our Cycling Savvy guru, PageServer?pagename=rtn_registration to keep on Dennis Mayo Gary Ecoff Keri Caffrey’s favorite site, http://cyclingsavvy.org. top of advocacy, trail conversions and more. Tom Hoffman Bonnie Barr There you’ll find a pannier-load of stories about Amy Stanley Tim Snow Florida Cycling Magazine, a semi-monthly digital Jody Yanow William Jensen “empowerment for unlimited travel.” FBA’s own little magazine dedicated to promoting Florida cycling and Sharon Kliegman John McCauley program is so popular it’s spreading across the coun- focusing on racing, can be found at www.floridaracing- Rebecca Bontempo Juan-Camilo Tamayo try. Have you taken your class yet? magazine.com. Sign up for the e-mail. Albert Porter Haven Gutentag Nicholas Laudadio Rafael Lara For information about Florida’s bicycle laws, go to You’ve certainly run across many more. The list is virtually endless. Brian Blizard Marc Blumencranz http://.Flbikelaw.org. Read through the archives, or These few offer a variety of subject matter, just to get you started. Clive Lloyd 6 Florida Bicycle Association

10 reasons not to bicycle against traffic by Earl Lang, FBA Board Member

n an ongoing effort to Drivers have to swerve more quickly, 6. Less safe But wait, what if the oncoming driver reduce the number of and if there is oncoming traffic, they risk Contrary to the opinion of those bicycle attempts to correct and swerves back hitting another vehicle. If they have to riders who practice “riding against traf- into the proper lane? bicyclist injuries and choose between hitting another car and fic” because they believe that it is safer, fatalities, I am address- hitting a bicycle the bicycle will lose. it is far more dangerous. Every one of 9. Visibility these 10 Reasons not to ride against Reflectors and tail lights on cars are ing a pervasive and reoccur- 3. Traffic signals always white to the front, and red to the ring topic: riding the wrong traffic should make that abundantly You are not able to see and read traffic clear. rear. Drivers expect and are trained to way on the road or sidewalk. signals and signs. You can not use the follow red lights and pass safely on their This is one of the leading causes of benefit of traffic lanes designated for 7. Slower left. bicycle/car crashes. turns. Riding against the flow will slow you White headlights identify an approach- Even riding on the sidewalk in the Just how would you make a safe right down. As you ride with traffic, vehicles ing vehicle, which is always passed on same direction as traffic is the least dan- turn from the far left side of the road? passing by will encourage you to ride their right. Now comes a bicycle riding gerous way to ride on the sidewalk faster. against traffic, so how is it to be passed? 4. Closing speed (Note: Riding on the sidewalk has its You won’t have to slow down when Riding against traffic especially at night, The closing speed is the effective speed own hazards, and is not recommended). you “get off the road” to let oncoming defies all the conventions of roadway when you add your forward motion of 8 If you never ride against traffic, I will cars pass you. use. to 12 mph, to the speed of the car at 25 warrant that you have conversations A big benefit is the boost you get from to 70 mph. Bicycle riders have a fair rate 10. Tunnel Vision with people who do. Here are 10 good the pocket of fast moving air generated of survival when struck at 45 mph or People see what they are looking for— reasons to help them rethink riding by the motor traffic. You will be amazed less. where they expect to see it. Riding with against traffic. at the help the “tail wind” caused by Closing speed of a car travelling at 40 traffic, where the traffic is supposed to passing cars will have on your speed. mph added to a bicycle travelling at 10 be, is the most visible place on the road- 1. It’s illegal mph equals 50 mph. The bicycle rider 8. Human nature way. A bicycle operated on the roadway is a has very little chance of surviving. All drivers operate under a universally If a bicycle rider is in the wrong place, legal vehicle and must follow the laws Compare that to a car travelling at 40 accepted set of rules and conventions, the chance of being seen is greatly enacted for vehicles using the roadways. mph and a bicycle travelling with traffic known as the “Rules of the Road.” reduced. The whole object of bicycle It is against the law to ride a bicycle on at 10 mph; the closing speed is now only When they encounter a situation that riding safely, is to be seen. any roadway, against traffic, in every 30 mph. The bicyclist has a much better doesn’t fit with those rules and conven- If you are seen, there is an excellent state of the Union. You can be given a chance of surviving. tion, they must think and make a deci- chance that the motorist will miss hitting ticket for a serious traffic violation. sion. This takes time and causes some you. 5. Statistics are against you confusion. I hope that these 10 reasons show the 2. Less time to react Most bicycle/car crashes happen from Imagine that you are driving down a folly of riding a bicycle the wrong way When you are riding on the side of the the bicycles front. If you are riding street and suddenly you see a car com- on the road. road against traffic you reduce the against traffic, you are increasing the ing toward you in your lane. What to Use this extra ammunition the next amount of time that drivers have to react odds of being hit from the front do? Swerve right and go into the ditch? time you have an opportunity to talk to your presence. immensely. If you are a gambler, you are Swerve left into the oncoming lane? with a riding contrarian. making a “chump” bet.

Legislative updates continued from page 1 New helmets must comply with 16 vehicles.” This is a huge win for Florida them, so this would help to validate that Program, Safe Routes to School, and the C.F.R., part 1203, which calls for strict cyclists, because - as many of us know - use. Recreational Trails Program. In the last helmet design, construction, testing and we have many long bridges spanning We will keep our members up to date round of attacks, there was even an labeling. large expanses of water, and there may as this study progresses. However, based attempt to strip away dedicated funding Helmets purchased before October 1, not be a suitable alternative for many on my experiences working with differ- for transit, so we are not alone. 2012, are exempt from the new standards miles. ent states around the country that already For now, we were able to keep these (provided they still meet the older stan- It should be pointed out though, as allow cyclists on limited access road- funds intact with a “clean” extension of dards) and may be legally worn until detailed in the language of the bill, this ways, they tend to have an extremely the transportation bill, but this is only January 1, 2016. is a pilot project with a limited number low crash rate. temporary. What we need is a perma- The new law also allows law enforce- of candidates, but we’re hoping this nent passage of the bill (i.e. it’s supposed ments to issue verbal warnings or cita- study will ultimately open the door for Status of Federal Legislation to work in 5 year cycles), so that we can tions and fines to cyclists riding at night many more candidate sites throughout The good news is that we’ve been able make plans on large scale transportation without proper lighting. the state. to hold on to what we have for now, pri- projects. With the repetitive cycle we’ve Riders would have to show proof of In meetings with FDOT, I’ve found the marily due to serious efforts by groups been in, it’s been very difficult to make purchase and installation of proper lights department to be very responsive to both like FBA, Bikes Belong, and the League long term plans. to avoid the charges. the letter of the law – and the intent – by of American Bicyclists. However, I We are currently on a short fuse with Other legislation of interest has to do developing a matrix of needs and other can’t stress enough how much your the current extension, so we must remain with a bill that FBA has been working parameters that include the proximity to e-mails and phone calls have kept it that vigilant. We will try to be frugal with on for two years: allowing bicyclists to large urbanized area, proximity to suit- way. our “action alerts,” so if you do see one use selected limited access bridges. able alternatives, and the potential for As many of you know, there has been a – please contact your representatives to Among other things, HB 599 “requires use by cyclists. It’s also been noted that, serious partisan effort underway for let them know how important dedicated the Florida Department of Transportation for some of the bridges under consider- sometime to strip the current transporta- funding is for bicycling, for walking, and to establish a pilot program to open cer- ation, many cyclists are already using tion bill of all the dedicated funding nec- for trail use in Florida. tain limited access highways and bridges essary for funding of critical bicycle to bicycles and other human-powered projects, specifically, the Enhancements Spring+Summer 2012 7

My take... ‘Lane-ism’ and ‘lane-ists’ — who are you? by Robert Seidler n the late 50s and early preserved and accelerated motorcycle device that is articulated, requires bal- walking, of being unprotected. We have 1960s motorcyclists ridership. ance, has little tires, little suspension and had this 3,000 pounds of protection our The American Motorcycle Associated the tendency to quickly toss us to the entire lives, and cars now do our work were discriminated (AMA) formed, and now riders could be ground hard if you make any mistake. and protect us too. Lane-ism is much against much like cool on a motorcycle—and nice too! At the same time, we must be diligent like racism, but much more powerful. bicyclists are today. It was 1965 and my nickname was of safety concerns, dodging multi-ton The lane carries different types of They were seen as unwanted roadway “Hondaman.” I lived this transition first vehicles, while their drivers relax in their vehicles and devices. All are operated by users, and often suffered serious injury hand, and carry the experiences of being easy chairs with air conditioning, cell the same species of animal that breeds, with little recourse for accountability the nicest person...or so they said. phones, radios and who knows what else loves and thinks, but now is lost some- from the driver or court systems. As a young child I saw motorcyclists to distract them, as they steer with a sin- what as the culture changes from oil- to The Hells Angels formed directly from abuse drivers and it puzzled and dis- gle finger, accelerate with a single toe. brain-empowered. turbed me. Later, as a motorcyclist at 15, They are belted, air bagged and sur- A lot of thinking has to go on if we are I understood, but it still disturbed me. rounded by a metal cage, protected from to prosper and survive this depression I am also a bicyclist, and have been cyclists and each other. wherein the cost of driving and the cost since that time, too. So I believe we need All these people are lane-ists, just like of healthcare will continue to rise, and the same “oomph” for bicycling that our forefathers were racists. the cost of ignorance and intolerance—if Hells Angels gave motorcycling. It is so deeply ingrained in all of us we left in place—will rip our communities However, the abatement of this prac- do not see it. in parts never to be reassembled in our tice of discrimination—“lane-ism”— can OK, take a breath and smile now, I am short lifetimes. be accomplished without the violence. not a radical crazy person—just one who Health displaces healthcare, activity The LANE is a public utility we all has worked many crashes, ridden motor- provides health, the bicycle in its many depend on for travel. It is a place to cycles, driven many cars, and rides a forms can be comfortable, sustainable, move people and goods. bicycle often. and reasonable. If each of us used a bike Its beginnings go back to game trails, I’m a boomer who grew up car crazy— for trips under 5 miles, 50% of car use worn by hunters and prey. Later routes but I’ve just found a way to have eco- would disappear overnight. I don’t doubt developed for trade and travel. nomic freedom and health; it includes that 50% of our healthcare cost would, Game is killed in the lane still. biking, walking and talking sense. too. Eventually. Maybe 90% of our We hunt stores and places, and of We often are under-active, unhealthy, inability to get along would also vapor- course, we move goods and some bads. obese, unsustainable and mean as hell. ize as we rode together unprotected, side Biases and -isms travel too, crossing We are on the road to some form of by side, in conversation each day. oceans and mountains and affecting real- hell, and driving the car that will take us A bike waits for you, and skilled lane ities sometimes in intolerable ways. there the fastest. taking cyclists have the skill sets and this issue with a “one for all—all for Historically, various minorities, in this All 100 to 200 pounds or so of us jump programs to train you. Upright bikes, one” mission. country and others, received scraps on a into a 1.5 ton device to go a mile, pick tandems, recumbents, trikes that go fast, If you injured an Angel, all the Angels good day, whips, chains, and verbal up a couple pounds of food, and return. electric assists, and on and on. Sure they would come together and disturb your abuse on most days. We have come to believe we have subju- make you feel like a kid again, but that reality, wherever it was. Few people in the dominant classes gated our cars to do our bidding, but in is the best part - besides being healthy, It went from disturbance to severe vio- ever thought it wrong. Many are still rac- reality, we have become slaves to our being happy, being sustainable, and well lence against drivers, including physical ist—living in the South, I still see it cars. We are afraid too, of the bicycle, of adjusted. beatings, shootings and death of the almost daily. drivers deemed guilty of hitting or kill- Sadly, bicyclists are the new minorities ing Angels. in the travel lane. During this havoc, auto drivers began The lane works on a first come, first to notice motorcyclists and were scared served basis, to service the need of peo- to death of this mission—and of the ple to get around. Hells Angels. Some of these people have used devic- Other motorcyclists took advantage of es or vehicles to get around since they the opportunity and became some of the were born into this culture. The “main badasses of the lane. Until then, motor- device” is currently the automobile. cyclists had a very small percentage of We were born in cars—some of us lit- ridership, and this was mainly on the erally. Our earliest memories are of cars west coast. and families, new cars, first cars, and Some brilliant minds were working in cars for dating. We are biased, bigoted, Japan, and they noticed the motorcycle arrogant, intolerant and just lost in our backpressure building. own delusions of right and wrong. Most Hells Angels work also started to make of us were born into being lane-ists. The being a motorcyclist cool and safer, and automobile and its dominant place in our the general public was noticing this too. lives, along with a life-long memory of Ridership was increasing, and so was the being in it, combine into a rigid attitude amount of press associated with riding of entitlement to it and its lane. them. I, too, am one of those people, but I Honda motorcycles crafted the slogan also found enlightenment...well, some You born-and-bred lane-ists who need to maintain a modicum of identification with “You meet the nicest people on a reason, anyway, to rethink this madness. the automobile may be able take the lane on this Volkwagen bicycle some day in the Honda” to introduce a new audience to Bicyclists are relegated to ride on the future. Just a concept now, the sleek, but classy minimalist urban “bik.e” is fully riding. side of the road where all the debris is electric, has no pedals and folds up to spare tire size. Bilk.e will charge using your This highly successful campaign split blown by traffic. car’s DC current (you still need your car to get to the Park-n-Ride, right?) or with riders into two camps, but nevertheless As a cyclist we must multi task; we AC current at home. Its blazing 12.4 mph top end may not be optimum for a cruise must navigate the debris fields on a in the country, but will show all those Segways who’s boss. 8 Florida Bicycle Association

Where My Ride Takes Me

In an occasional feature for the FBA Messenger, we highlight FBA members and staff doing stuff you like to do on your bikes.

Battery Park was the scene of some mighty organized tenting, courtesy of Pa- dre’s Cycle Inn, one of the tour vendors on the Bike Florida Forgotten Coast Tour.

Padre provided the pop-ups and all the cyclists had to do was remember their row and column—sort of important on the trip back from the loo in the middle of the night.

Photo: Jim Harris

Fires, detours, some amazing rides... Bike Florida’s Forgotten Coast Tour was an adventure to remember by Ken Foster, Ride Director ike Florida’s 2012 Forgotten The northwest panhandle of Florida A wild fire, visible on the horizon the site facilitators, rest stop helpers, sign Coast Tour was a huge success. proved to be a beautiful riding venue. night before, shut us down. Fortunately, crews, sag riders, trash monitors, errand The rural route, small towns, Hills and beaches go well together. the only real optional route was at our runners and medical issue assistants. gulf views, great weather, vol- The transition from Tallahassee’s front door, all we had to do was Our volunteer program offers a dis- unteers, and camaraderie were newly paved—and flat—St. Marks Trail, o keep 625 riders from leaving the counted entry fee in exchange for one perfect ingredients for turning to the rolling hills of Gadsden County wrong way (check), and half days work on the tour. Most of ordinary times, extraordinary. set up our next day’s challenge perfectly. o find a new rest stop (check), the volunteers who enjoyed a day off rid- Registration closed early at 625 riders. Hills, and a minimum 70-mile—or cen- o move our crew to it (check), ing, commented how the “behind the Half had not ridden a Bike Florida tury route—from Quincy to Wewa- o find a vendor (at 6 a.m.) for eight scenes” experience enhanced the ride, Spring Tour, the other half had ridden 5, hitchka, left most riders ready for a quiet port-a-potties—the others were and offered to help next year. 10, 15 or more. night, and ready for bed after a home- “smoked” in (check), So many variables go into the decision The endless hours of planning, map- cooked meal. One rider described a hill o keep everyone informed (check!) making process when designing large ping, communicating and analyzing on the century route as “scary steep—I The “Forgotten Coast De-Tour” was tours. There are as many opinions about every possible detail that was required to wasn’t sure I was in Florida.” born. daily miles, the routes to take and the successfully navigate and lead 625 The next day I woke to a 5 a.m. call. Did I mention a multi-car, deer places to stop as there are riders. cyclists 400 miles to 5 different cities in No 5 a.m. call is good, but I always induced accident with injuries, delayed It is obvious things are going well 7 days, required levels of planning and answer. Our sign team was forced to the us just as we announced it was okay to when the seasoned rider says this was detail that are the stuff of nightmares. side of the road in zero-visibility smoke, ride? Everyone, including law enforce- one of the best. But the person I consider If I didn’t love it—the excitement, the then back to “tent city” by zero-patience ment, staff, riders and volunteers, most often when planning, is the one experience, the opportunity to create law enforcement. focused on the fun and enjoyed the day. doing it for the first time. something special—I would still do it. The route was closed. These moments set up several opportu- When the ingredients are mixed just nities. Another of the “fire” relocated right: miles per day, rest stops, host cites, rest stops found its way to the perfect and the weather is good, we have the park setting as we entered our lunch stop chance to really open the world of possi- in Port St. Joe, where I heard many sto- bilities to them. Each of us—each expe- ries of oyster and beer stops along 30A. rienced rider—knows that inspiration. Two nights in Apalachicola, a day at This year’s tour had its share of new the beach on St. George Island and a riders who had not ridden day after day party at the Blue Parrot were welcome for so many miles. layover day activities. They said thank you, but did not need Our next day’s ride was along the gulf to. You could see it in their eyes, in the coast, in many cases mere feet from the way they walked and the way they talk- water, to the Wildwood Resort in Wakul- ed. la County. Except for the occasional The bicycle is their new muse. The “fore,” a driving range is good camping. perfect ingredients were available and A short 30-mile ride back to we blended them well; seasoned riders Tallahassee and a cool cup of “iCycle loved it, new riders found the inspiration. Works” organic homemade Gelato, fin- Thank you for allowing me the oppor- ished the event wonderfully. tunity to create something special. Of the many things that make these I appreciate your comments and events a success, the volunteers are para- expressions of gratitude. I hope to see mount. We had nearly 100 working as you next year. Spring+Summer 2012 9

Bicycles and law enforcement by Dan Moser, FBA Program Director

hen I’m asked what I Stating this, I’m risking my working Senior officers have reported that Granted, law enforcement is only part do for a living, I’m relationship with some in law enforce- part of the problem is that police offi- of the solution, but it’s a vital element often at a loss to put a ment who will take it personally. cers are, for the most part, only trained that clearly needs improvement. label on it, even among But those of us who are striving to to investigate motor vehicle crashes, Statewide, the Florida Bicycle those who know how improve conditions for exposed road and are ill equipped to investigate Association (floridabicycle.org) would involved I am in bicycle and users (and there are many) aren’t looking bicycle and pedestrian crashes. be a great place to jump-start the pro- pedestrian matters. to criticize for the sake of criticism, but We can and must do better by work- cess. However, one thing I don’t claim to be rather, offering our expertise and insight ing together to solve common safety is a public safety first responder, a job to help solve a chronic problem. problems. — Dan Moser is a League Cycling & much more important and difficult than I’d like to think anyone who’s truly My plea is for our law enforcement CyclingSavvy instructor/ trainer, and mine. committed to doing the same will look to agencies to take us up on our offer to Program Director for the Florida Bicycle Whatever capacity I’m working in for us as a resource and take advantage of assist them in doing their job. We’re Association who cycles, runs and walks a given project or task, be it human ser- what we offer rather than consider us not attempting to tell you how to do it, regularly for transportation, recreation vice worker, traffic safety professional, whiners and discontents who are only only to help you better understand our and fitness. He can be contacted at dan@ injury prevention specialist, nonprofit trying to justify the unpredictable behav- plight, and the frustration we face, so floridabicycle.org or 239-334-6417. organization program manager, public ior sometimes practiced by the vulnera- you can make our roads safer and eas- policy geek, or citizen advocate, it fre- ble among us. ier for all users to navigate. quently involves interaction with fire- To that last point, one of the reasons fighters, EMS, state troopers, police offi- pedestrians and cyclists frequently break cers, sheriff’s deputies, code enforce- traffic rules is self-preservation. Our ment officers and fire marshals, all who sometimes-risky behavior results, in part, have my highest respect and apprecia- from poor design, but primarily from tion. motorists’ lack of adherence to laws that In fact, many of my closest friends are in place to allow vulnerable road work in, or are retired from one of those users to safely and efficiently share the honorable professions. same space. That being stated, If drivers operated over the decades of the way our laws doing what I do, require — with the I’m disappointed to If drivers operated utmost due care and say that those of us the way our laws highest level of who are the most responsibility vulnerable on our require... and if because of the roads are being police, deputies and potential for injury shortchanged by troopers enforced and death the motor law enforcement vehicle is capable of when it comes to those basic legal inflicting (see FSS protecting us from requirements, section 316) — and injury and death, as if police, deputies Have You been injured well as how matters pedestrians and and troopers are handled after we cyclists wouldn’t enforced those basic wHile cYcling? are involved in a need to get creative legal requirements, crash. pedestrians and ( i have. That’s why i’ll fight just to get across From the time I cyclists wouldn’t so hard for you.) worked in the injury the street. need to get creative prevention program just to get across the Chris Burns is not your typical personal injury at a public health street. attorney. As an avid rider, he combines his agency, where dis- Some of the most secting crash data in order to determine problematic motorist infractions, such as experience on the road with his expertise countermeasures to prevent future injury failing to stop on red before making a and insight in the courtroom. This unique and death was among my duties, I right turn, parking on sidewalks and became acutely aware of the second- ignoring the stop bar so as to obstruct perspective provides cyclists across Florida class treatment non-motorists receive in the crosswalk, are but a few that are eas- with the representation they deserve. crash investigations. ily enforced because they are so obvious Law enforcement agencies (some are and common. Your race for compensation begins here. worse offenders than others) seem to So, too, are cyclists riding against traf- operate under the premise that our road- fic, failing to stop at red traffic signals ways and bridges are first and foremost and having no lights when required. for motor vehicles, thus non-motorists Post-crash investigation issues are have some degree of fault when a crash another matter altogether, and need to be 904- 632- 2424 occurs, simply by virtue of “being where re-examined. However, it has been docu- we don’t belong.” mented by witnesses, and in numerous This mind set must change, or published articles, that law enforcement Florida’s dubious distinction of being the agencies have frequently reported bicy- most dangerous state for cyclists and cle/pedestrian/motor vehicles crashes pedestrians in the country will continue. improperly, primarily due to inadequate training. 10 Florida Bicycle Association

First Coast Chapter update... Cycling Savvy, Bike Month, Mayor Brown Stephen Tocknell, First Coast Regional Advocacy Director Jeff and Jodi Hohlstein and Kevin Pryor cessfully complete this rodeo receive a have continued to conduct CyclingSavvy ‘bicycle license’ that allows them to ride classes. their bikes to school. The St. Marks Episcopal Day School Jeff used a Styrofoam filled cooler into conducts an annual kids’ bicycle rodeo which he dropped raw eggs to demon- for its second graders. Students who suc- strate the shock absorbing qualities of bicycle helmets. The one he dropped to the hard surface brought home the strong reason for wearing a helmet. Jodi and Jeff then taught the rock dodge and scanning back-signaling exer- cises. Steven Tocknell reports that under the leadership of Jennifer Kubicki and with help from Matt Uhrig at Bike Jax, the Jacksonville Bicycle Coalition kicked off Bike Month on May 2, with a presenta- tion of a brand new custom made bicy- cle to Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. The bicycle is painted in orange and black, colors taken from the official seal of the City of Jacksonville. Cycling Savvy courses now available in Orlando, De- Land, Jacksonville, Ft. Myers, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown takes a Tallahassee and Tampa Bay areas. Go to the Web ride around town on his new bicycle. site to contact an area coordinator near you. continued on next page Spring+Summer 2012 11

Do you have a question about the laws related to bicycling? Florida Bicycle/Pedestrian Law Ask Geo @ FlBikeLaw.org* Enforcement Guides George Martin are available

Walking on a one-way utes’ actual wording can not apply in all Thanks to the Florida Pedestrian/ street possible situations, and we must use our Bicycling Safety Resource Center, Nathan asked: Is there best judgment. the Florida Bicycle/Pedestrian Law Enforcement Guides reflecting 2010 Qa legal way to walk If it was necessary to reach a destina- statute changes are available, includ- with traffic on a one-way tion on the other side of this predica- ing the mandatory bike lane law which street without sidewalks? Or ment, I would check to see if there is went into effect September 1, 2010. do you have to go to the another walkway available. If not, I This handy booklet, periodically up- next block? would read the rest of the message on dated to reflect statute changes, has the pavement that says something about been distributed to nearly 100,000 individuals since 2001. AThe applicable statute is: walking and determine if it was applica- ble. As a last resort, if that was the only You can download a copy or request s. 316.1130 – Pedestrians; Traffic possible route, I would proceed with copies for you and your friends by Regulations caution on the left side after checking to contacting FBA. (3) Where sidewalks are provided, no insure there is no overtaking traffic. New text includes: pedestrian shall, unless required by On-coming traffic on the right would not other circumstances, walk along and be visible. Roadway position [§316.2065(5)] upon the portion of a roadway paved for If this is a public way, I would contact * when reasonably necessary vehicular traffic. local officials and advise them of the cir- A person operating a bicycle to avoid conditions including cumstances. on a roadway at less than (but not limited to), a fixed (4) Where sidewalks are not provided, the normal speed of traffic or moving object, parked or any pedestrian walking along and upon moving vehicle, pedestrian, Mark asked: I live (and ride) along under the conditions existing a highway shall, when practicable, walk must ride in the lane marked animal, or surface hazard the East Coast of Florida and when only on the shoulder on the left side of Q for bicycle use or, if no lane * when a lane is too narrow I am headed north in the A1A bike lane the roadway in relation to the pedestri- is marked for bicycle use, as for a bicycle and another there is no traffic on my right, only the close as practicable [safe] to vehicle to travel safely side an’s direction of travel, facing traffic Atlantic Ocean. Do I still need to stop at the roadway’s right-hand curb by side. which may approach from the opposite a red light if I am going straight and I or edge, except under any of direction. the following situations: A cyclist operating on a one- am in the bike lane? The only possibility way street with two or more Obviously, it is not “practicable” to do as of an accident would be someone turning * when passing another marked traffic lanes may ride vehicle the statute indicates. To me, the use of from a perpendicular road that would be as close to the left-hand edge of the roadway as practicable. that word is the recognition that the stat- heading north (as it is a one way road) * when preparing for a left turn and if that driver turned too wide and went into the bike lane. Obviously this is Visit the FBA website to review a complete a very real possibility, however I was description of the Bike Lane Law and just wondering if I am still required by 1st Coast law to stop at said red light or can I pro- to download a copy of the guide. update ceed at my own risk? Short answer: Yes, you are required Show Your Support and continued from page 10 Ato stop for the red light. The presentation was made as part of Actually there is another possibility of Help Get the Word Out the city’s monthly downtown Art Walk an accident, that of your colliding with a event. pedestrian legally crossing the roadway. The bicycle was donated to the city by The applicable statute is: Educate other users that Zen Cog, a local bike shop. Accessories bicycle drivers are allowed the were also donated by other bike shops in s. 316.075 – Traffic Control Signal full use of the lane on most of town. Devices our roads* with an FBA static Following the presentation Mayor (c) Steady red indication cling. Only $2.00 (mailing 1. Vehicular traffic facing a steady red Brown led a short procession of 50 – included). New and renewing 100 cyclists around Hemming Plaza in signal shall stop before entering the downtown Jacksonville. crosswalk on the near side of the inter- members get this free! The city intends to put the bicycle to section or, if none, then before entering use for short trips between City Hall and the intersection and shall remain stand- other downtown locations. For now, it’s ing until a green indication is shown. Order via FBA’s online on display in the lobby of the mayor’s A bike lane is part of the roadway as store at City Hall office. defined in both Florida and national Other Bike Month activities have been roadway guidelines. www.floridabicycle.org planned!

As a part of the Bicycle Law Enforcement Program, a website exists to provide a place *Florida Statute 316.2065(5)(a)3. to ask questions about the laws. This is a continuing series that addresses some of the questions and provide updates about FBA’s Bicycle Law Enforcement Program. *DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this column is to inform about bicycling laws. The material provided here and through other means is for general informational purposes only and shall in no way constitute or be construed as legal advice by the officers, directors, agents or employees of the Florida Bicycle Association. If your experience in a court of law or on the streets differs from that presented, we want to know about it, but George Martin and the FBA are not account- able for a ruling contrary to our interpretation of Florida Law or other consequences of cycling. You should seek legal advice on a particular situation. 12 Florida Bicycle Association

Here’s whom to call about your bicycle/pedestrian/transportation concerns. Selected State-wide Contacts Go to www.floridabicycle.org/statecontacts.htm for the complete, up-to-date list. AGENCY/FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY NAME TELEPHONE E-MAIL FDOT Central Office Chief Safety Officer Lora Hollingsworth 850.245.1500 [email protected] State Pedestrian & Bicycle Coordinator Vacant State SRTS Coordinator Pat Pieratte 850.245.1529 [email protected] Asst. Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator Dwight Kingsbury 850.245.1520 [email protected] Florida School Crossing Guard Program Administrator Providance Nagy 850.245.1757 [email protected] Ped-bike traffic safety grants Ralph Salvas 850.245.1526 [email protected] ADA Coordinator Dean Perkins 850.414.4359 [email protected] Roadway Design Mary Anne Koos 850.414.4321 [email protected] District 1 District 1 Ped-Bike Coordinator Sarita Taylor 863.519.2216 [email protected] District 1 Safety Prgm Manager Michael Kautz 863.519.2522 [email protected] District 1 CTSP Coordinator Debra Stallings 863.519.2347 [email protected] Charlotte County MPO Gary Harrell 941.639.4676 [email protected] Collier County Community Development/dvlpmnt review Russ Muller 239.403.2462 [email protected] Lee County MPO Ron Gogoi 239.338.2550x239 [email protected] Lee County DOT Mike Tisch 239.533.8580 [email protected] Lee County Injury Prevention Dan Moser 239.334.6417 [email protected] Manatee County Sharon Tarman 941.749.3070 [email protected] Polk County TPO Ryan Kordek 863.534.6558 [email protected] Sarasota County Irene Maiolo 941.816.0891 [email protected] District 2 District 2 Ped-Bike Coordinator Jennifer Graham 904.360.5636 [email protected] District 2 Safety Engineer Scott Lent 904.360.5629 [email protected] District 2 CTST Coordinator Andrea Atran 904.360.5416 [email protected] City of Gainesville Transportation Services/Bike-Ped Coordinator Dekova Batey 352.334.5074 [email protected] First Coast MPO Elizabeth DeJesus 904.306.7505 [email protected] Duval County Health Dept/Injury Prevention Stephen McCloskey 904.630.3300x2308 [email protected] District 3 District 3 Ped-Bike Coordinator Zena Riley 850.415.9656 [email protected] District 3 Safety Prgm Manager Jonathan Harris 850.415.9516 [email protected] District 3 CTST Coordinator-West Barbara Lee 850.415.9231 [email protected] District 3 CTST Coordinator-East Stanley Rudd 850-415-9488 [email protected] Panhandle MPOs (West Fla RPC) Brian Youpatoff 800.332.7976x224 [email protected] Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (MPO) 850.891.6801 District 4 District 4 Ped-Bike Coordinator John-Mark Palacios 954.777.4318 [email protected] District 4 Safety Prgm Manager Gilbert Soles 954.777.4358 [email protected] District 4 CTSP Coordinator Carmen Pullins 954.777.4361 [email protected] City of Boca Raton Municipal Services Engineering/transportation analyst Joy Puerta 561.416.3410 [email protected] City of Boca Raton PD/traffic safety educ Lori Wheeler 561.620.6056 [email protected] Broward MPO/Special Projects & Bicycle Coordinator Mark Horowitz 954.357.6641 [email protected] City of Delray Beach Parking Mgmt Scott Aronson 561.243.7286 [email protected] Indian River County MPO Phil Matson [email protected] Martin County MPO Beth Beltran 772-288-5484 [email protected] Palm Beach County MPO/Bike-Ped-Greenways Coordinator Bret Baronak 561.684.4163 [email protected] District 5 District 5 Ped-Bike Coordinator Joan Carter 386.943.5335 [email protected] District 5 Safety Engineer Anthony Nosse 386.943.5334 [email protected] District 5 CTST Coordinator Barry Wall 904.943.5324 [email protected] MPO Transportation/Bike-Ped-Trails Prgm Coordinator Barbara Meyer 321.690.6890 [email protected] Space Coast MPO Transportation/traffic safety education Kim Smith 321.690.6890 [email protected] Lake-Sumter MPO/Transportation Coordinator Michael Woods 352.315.0170 [email protected] Metroplan Orlando (MPO)/Bike-Ped Coordinator, Smart Growth Planner Mighk Wilson 407.481.5672x318 [email protected] City of Orlando Ped-Bike Coordinator Cristina Cruz 407.246.3347 [email protected] City of Orlando Bike Coordinator/Planner Charles Brown 407.246.3325 [email protected] County Public Works/Principal Engnr David Martin 407.665.5610 [email protected] Volusia County MPO/Bike-Ped Coordinator Stephan Harris 386.226.0422x34 [email protected] District 6 District 6 Ped-Bike Coordinator Ken Jeffries 305.470.6736 [email protected] District 6 Safety Engineer 305.470.5722 District 6 CTST Coordinator Carlos Sarmiento 305.470.5335 [email protected] Miami-Dade County MPO David Henderson 305.375.1647 [email protected] Monroe County Planning Townsley Schwab 305.289.2506 [email protected] District 7 District 7 Ped-Bike Coordinator Lori Snively 813.975.6405 [email protected] District 7 Safety Engineer Peter Hsu 813.975.6251 [email protected] District 7 CTSP Coordinator Jeanette Rouse 813.975.6256 [email protected] City of Clearwater/Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator Felicia Leonard 727.562.4852 [email protected] Hernando County MPO Steve Diez 352.754.4057 [email protected] Hillsborough County MPO/Bike-Ped Coordinator Gena Torres 813.273.3774x357 [email protected] Hillsborough County Public Works/Engrg Tech, bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Deborah Carreno 813.307.1852 [email protected] Hillsborough County Public Works/Manager, Bicycle, Ped & School Safety Prgms Gary Tait 813.307.1871 [email protected] City of Pinellas Park/Planning Ron Hull 727.541.0704 [email protected] Pinellas County MPO/Bike-Ped Coordinator Brian Smith 727.464.8200 [email protected] City of St. Petersburg Transportation & Parking/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Cheryl Stacks 727.892.5328 [email protected] City of Tampa Public Works Jan Washington 813.274.8303 [email protected] City of Tampa/Parks & Rec Dept/Greenways & Trails Coordinator Karla Price 813.274.5134 [email protected] Spring+Summer 2012 13

Selected State-wide Contacts Here’s whom to call about your bicycle/pedestrian/transportation concerns. Go to www.floridabicycle.org/statecontacts.htm for the complete, up-to-date list.

FDOT Districts AGENCY/FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY NAME TELEPHONE E-MAIL District 1 Cities: Bradenton, Fort Meyers, Naples, Other state & federal agency staff Sarasota Florida Bicycle and Traffic Safety Education Program/Director Counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Dan Connaughton 352.294.1666 [email protected] Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Okeechobee, Polk, Sarasota FTBSEP assistant John Egberts 352.294.1685 [email protected] District 2 Cities: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake City, St. Augustine FDEP Office of Greenways & Trails Counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Jim Wood 850.245.2052 [email protected] Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, Putnam, FDOE Student Transportation/Director St.Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union Charlie Hood 850.245.9924 [email protected] District 3 Florida Tech Transfer (T**2) Center/Co-directors Janet Degner, Nina Barker 352.392.2371x227 [email protected] Cities: Destin, Panama City, Pensacola, Tallahassee Counties: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, FHWA Fla Div Safety Engineer Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington Hussein Sharifpour 850.942.9650x3024 [email protected] Florida Pedestrian/Bicycling Safety resource Center District 4 Wanda Wilkerson 352.273-1680 [email protected] Cities: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Palm Beach, Stuart Counties: Broward, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, St Lucie Other organizations District 5 Bike Florida Board President Leigh Matusick 386.736.1202 [email protected] Cities: Coco Beach, Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, Melborne, Ocala, Orlando Counties: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia Rails-to-Trails Florida Office Ken Bryan 850.942.2379 [email protected] District 6 District 7 Epilepsy Foundation (Ped-Bike Safety Resource project) Cities: Key West, Miami Cities: Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa Susan Eddins 561.478.6515 [email protected] Counties: Miami-Dade, Counties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Monroe Pinellas

Brain trauma almost certain at speeds over 12 mph... continued from page 3

So, you are designed to not pass out, Sufficient blood leakage on the brain, delicate tissue, and that very delicate where his helmet was supposed to have and not run faster than your body can as we know from stroke victims (where structure of essentially punching bag been), and a mild TBI (traumatic brain tolerate. blood vessels break in the brain), results design. injury). All of this can lead us to the following in loss of function, palsy, memory, and That very structure, which you are pro- What he didn’t know (that I did, conclusion: If you are riding a bicycle the senses (think loss of sight, smell, pelling along at more than the speed than because I see the bills for these types of taller than your body, and you are pro- hearing). your human body was designed to toler- injuries) was what his hospital bill was ceeding faster than the human body is ate. going to be: most likely on the average Why I am I discussing this? designed to withstand, you have all the of $25,000 to $50,000 for a brain injury. I’ll tell you, but first, answer this for me The point necessary forces for—in engineering What struck me was that he’d had his please: Where do you think your sense This all brings me to my point: wear speak—exceeding your design tolerance helmet on; however, when I saw him, he of humor is located? Where do you think your helmet properly. specs. had an inch and a half gap from the bot- memories of learning to ride a bike are? “Ah,” you say, “I wear my helmet!” Which means you can end up breaking tom of his chin to where the strap was. Your significant other’s phone number Really? Ask yourself this $25,000 ques- your cranium, your skull, should your The strap was not tight enough to have is stored, the combination to your bike tion: is it properly worn? cranium come in contact with objects kept his helmet in place—it didn’t keep lock, your underwear size? Here’s a story that happened only a that were not around 200,000 years ago, the helmet where it should have been so How much milk you have in the refrig- few weeks ago. A riding buddy relayed at a speed your one-tenth of an inch it could have protected him. erator? Where do you think your prefer- to me the case of a cyclist who went off skull isn’t designed to handle. I pointed this out to him, and told him ence for your color, style of clothes, pavement and re-entered the trail incor- he’d get to repeat that experience again favorite food, your personality, decision rectly, falling over onto the pavement’s Springing a leak if he didn’t tighten up. making skills, your language skills, your shoulder. From my clients over the past 26 years Keep all this in mind next time you put memories, your hearing abilities, your He had a helmet on, however. His inju- of doing personal injury cases, I know on your helmet: “Do the tighten up” like visual abilities, your ability to walk, your ries? Well, according to my friend, there breaking your cranium can result in Archie Bell and the Drells of Houston, ability to not defecate or urinate on your- was a pool of blood which occupied half cerebral spinal fluid leaking out of your Texas. self, to move your eyes, to keep your of the trail of about 10 feet’s width. The ear, or leaking out of any cracks in your If it’s not tightened, it’s not going to eyes open, to hear. Where’s that located? cyclist was unconscious, and did not skull. work; it will move out of the way as you Your brain. know who he was other than a guy in But, that’s not all that would be leak- fall. If it doesn’t work, your brain is at As a back drop to this discussion, keep intense pain. ing out. Once the tissue is damaged, it’s risk. If your brain is at risk, your person- in mind (pun not intended), your brain is Paramedics, not just EMTs were ripped, so blood would also “leak” out ality, your memories and the ability to where all this sits. “But that is not all” called, and drove the big truck onto the too. keep yourself from defecating on your- said the cat in the hat, that is not all: trail some three miles in to pick him up Or the blood might even stay in your self are at risk. Everything that makes you—you...your and rush him to the ER. Three weeks brain, which is actually a bad thing, a Have a nice day! very bad thing. Blood, as neurosurgeons personality, your accent, your self con- later, when I saw this very same cyclist will tell you, is a substance toxic to neu- trol, your vocabulary, your likes and dis- after the incident, he said he had sus- ral tissue, especially brain cells, all brain likes, favorite movie, favorite sights, tained three fracture sites in the orbital cells. sounds and feels, are housed in that very bones just above his left eye, (right 14 Florida Bicycle Association Upcoming Bicycle Touring Events in Florida This printed version is ABRIDGED from promotional material provided by tour organizers. We’re not responsible for accuracy of information or quality of these rides. Use the con- tact information for more details about each ride. Ask your friends. Data are from an online calendar database maintained by Roger Pierce. To add an event to his (and our) calen- dar, e-mail to [email protected] or go online to post your own entry. See complete calendar, including many out-of-state rides we don’t have room to print here, and much of the hype we edited out in this here version, at www.floridabicycle.org/fbtc/.

June July 15 (Sun) Boca Raton emergency SAG. For registration, other attractions include a visit to 75 CR 318 exit). Registration will Frank Stark Celebration Ride directions, and ride information Historic Yulee Sugar Mill, see the be open till 9 am. If you want to June 2 (Sat) Chiefland This ride features a 30 mile (starts please visit the Capital City Mermaids perform at Weeki start with a group, we′ll send you Tour de Melon at 8am) and 62 mile options (starts Cyclists Website (link below). Watchee Springs, and see the off at 8:30 am. Otherwise, you can Terrain is flat. Well-marked rural at 7:00 am. On-site registration http://www.cccyclists.org/ Manatees at Crystal River. http:// start whenever you wish. With 25, highways. Route maps available at opens at 6:30am at the Boca Raton www.gulfcoasteventstours.com/ 30, and 45 mile routes to choose the registration table. Approximate City Hall parking lot (201 W. October 7 (Sun) Heathrow from, there should be a distance to rides of 15/30/65/100!! 100 mile Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Cycle October 20-21 Winder GA satisfy everyone in the family. The ride is a great “starter” ride for FL 33432). Ride features a scenic For Life Spin For Kids 2012 Mountain terrain that you will encounter as anyone wanting to ride their first ride along the Atlantic coast from 100/62/35 Registration 7 a.m., Start Bike Ride you wind through the horse farms Century. Rest/snack stops provided Boca Raton to the mansions in 8 a.m. - The CF Cycle For Life is a Camp Twin Lakes- Will-A-Way at is rolling. If you are from the coast, on all routes. Ride starts and ends Palm Beach. The 62 mile ride one-day tour where hundreds of Fort Yargo State Park. Start from it will be a different challenge than in downtown at Greenway Trail, crosses the intracoastal waterway men and women will come togeth- camp and choose the 8-mile, just riding over the odd canal 102 North Main Street, Chiefland, and follows the newly renovated er to participate in an event to find 12-mile or 20-mile loop and ride bridge. But many of you will want FL. Ample parking and rest rooms shoreline in West Palm Beach. a cure for cystic fibrosis. along the adventurous and beauti- to make frequent stops to take in provided. SAG service provided. Roads are paved and clearly Participants have the choice of 35, ful trails of Fort Yargo State Park! the scenery, and perhaps have a Helmets are required. This also marked along scenic A1A. Two 62, or 100 mile routes riding SAG support. After the ride, a conversation with a horse. http:// includes children riding in bike well-stocked rest stops. Full SAG through the back roads of northern Thank You Luncheon. Saturday gccfla.org/gcf/ seats and/or buggies. http://www. Support. Iced towels. Free meal Seminole and Volusia Counties. riders can also participate in tourdemelon.com Active.com after ride in the Vendor Village at The bike tour is a fully supported Sunday′s ride: five courses for rid- October 28 (Sun) Gainesville Online Registration City Hall. Registrations received journey with stocked rest stops ers of various skill levels, from the 32nd Annual Horse Farm 100 before June 30th will receive free every 12-15 miles, support and occasional rider to the experienced The Gainesville Cycling Club′s June 2-9 Chattanooga TN t-shirt. $35 online at www.bocara- gear (SAG) vehicles, on-site medi- cyclist. 5/27/47/62/ 100-mile rides. tour through the picturesque horse Bicycle Ride Across Georgia tonbicycleclub.org starting May cal services, marked route and For more information, please visit farms of northern Marion County. (BRAG) 15th and ending July 14th, 11:59 much more. This unique event www.spinforkids.org. http://www. We have the best stocked rest stops 33rd Annual. Average daily mile- pm. $35 by mail. $40 Same Day empowers participants to take spinforkids.org in Florida! The 102 mile ride (and age 60 miles for a total of 400 for Registration. http://www.bocabicy- action and demonstrate their fight Active.com Online Registration a 55 mile option that doesn′t get the week. Additional mileage avail- clingclub.org/ in finding a cure in a tangible, into horse farm territory) starts at able each day. Rest stops every emotional and experientially pow- October 27 (Sat) Gainesville 8:30 am at Loften High School at 15-18 miles. The tentative, uncon- September erful way. For any questions please 20th Annual Santa Fe Century 3000 East University Avenue. firmed route is to begin in contact the Cystic Fibrosis A tour through the lush forest and Bagels and muffins will be avail- Chattanooga, with overnight stops September 9 (Sun) St Augustine Foundation at either 1850 Lee Rd. pasture land north of Gainesville able before the start. http://gccfla. in Dalton, Cartersville, Roswell, 22nd Annual Endless Summer Suite 111, Winter Park, FL 32789, up through the Santa Fe River val- org/gcf/ Winder, Cornelia and end in Watermelon Ride or Paul Gloersen at 407-339-2978 ley. Rides start at 8:30 am from the Hartwell. For more info. email 34/72/105 miles. A classic well or [email protected] North West Boys and Girls Club at October 28 (Sun) Marineland [email protected] or call 770-498- supported one-day bicycle ride per- http://orlando.cff.org/cycleforlife 2700 NW 51st Street in Spoonbills & Sprockets- Friends 5153. http://www.brag.org/ fect for all levels of cyclists. This Gainesville. Enjoy a 100 or a 55 of A1A Scenic Byway Ride year′s Ride departs from/returns to October 11-14 Chiefland mile road ride, or the 18 or 28 mile Metric 100/35/20, Mass start 8am. June 16 (Sat) Atlanta GA Renaissance Resort at World Golf Chiefland Fall Bicycle Fest Millhopper Ramble family fun Come ride along the beautiful and 3rd annual Jackson County Village. Lightly traveled country ride, with well stocked rest stops. scenic A1A Byway through Flagler Brevet roads featuring Atlantic ocean and Up to four fun-filled days riding on http://gccfla.org/gcf/ and St. John′s Counties. Fully sup- LARGEST fundraising event for St Johns River views with some Florida’s Gulf Coast Trails. All ported including SAG, this first Aplastic Anemia (benefitting chari- routes passing thru St. Augustine. rides start in Chiefland, FL. October 27-28 Gainesville year event will showcase stops at ty) in the entire USA. Ride one of Support includes pre-ride light Choose from several options to Gainesville Cycling Festival Gamble Rogers, Marineland, and the fastest growing century rides in breakfast, SAG and bike shop these destinations - Trenton, Cross Two centuries in two days! (Or the St. Augustine Pier. Then join us metro Atlanta. 5 mile (famiy- mechanical support, well stocked City, and Cedar Key. Tent camping enjoy the shorter options for a for fun and barbeque at Marineland friendly), 39/64/100 mile options. rest stops and a post-ride box lunch included or RV and hotel options weekend of bicycle touring.) See to finish off your ride and celebrate Rest stops every 18 miles (avg). supplied by the Renaissance available. Food option. Phone: details in the listings for the Santa our byway. Registration opens June After-ride smorgasbord meal. Resort. On-line registration: $45 (727) 457-6994. http://www.chief- Fe Century and Horse Farm 1, day of registration available. $35 BEST MARKED ROUTES!!! Full for non-members/ $30 for mem- landbicyclefest.com Hundred. Full info is available on for preregistration until October SAG support. Incredible raffle bers. Register by August 29 to the web site. http://gccfla.org/gcf/ 26th. $45 day of. Includes T-Shirt. including new road bike. Venue receive a complementary T-shirt October 15-19 Cross City http://www.scenica1a.org only 300 yds off interstate. I creat- with new ESWR logo. Late on-line Gulf Coast Highlight Tour October 28 (Sun) Flemington ed this event b/c my wife Kelly registrants through September 7, Tour package consists of 5 days Horse Farm Tours suffers from Aplastic Anemia (AA) same price but no complementary and four nights; cycling on The Horse Farm Tours start in and the treatment has not changed T-shirt. Day-of-Ride registration Florida′s beautiful Gulf Coast, Flemington on CR 329 (Interstate since 1986. This is not just another ($55 for everyone) opens at 6:30am charity ride, this ride is creating on Sunday. To remember the tenth real hope for those who suffer from anniversary of 9/11, participants The mission of the Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) is to inspire and support people and communities to enjoy AA. All details/registration at who wish to make a voluntary con- greater freedom and well-being through bicycling. www.jacksonbrevet.com. http:// tribution the Wounded Warriors The Florida Bicycle Association was incorporated in 1997 for educational and charitable purposes. FBA is a jacksonbrevet.com Project in honor of our military nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations, including personnel may do so at registration, membership dues, are tax deductible. A copy of the current financial statements may be obtained by contacting July or day of ride. http://www.nfbc.us FBA, P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791. To join FBA complete the form in this newsletter and send with your dues, or join online at www.floridabicycle. July 7 (Sat) Punta Gorda October org. Peace River Rider′s Wheels and The Florida Bicycle Association Messenger is published quarterly as a service to members and advocates for Wings 2012 October 6 (Sat) Miccosukee a bicycle-friendly Florida by the One Event - Four Rides 15/32/50 29th Annual Spaghetti 100 and a 10 mile Gentleman′s Race - Enjoy a day of touring the roads Florida Bicycle Association, P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791. Another Freakin T-Shirt (but cool!) (paved or dirt) of and www.floridabicycle.org; e-mail: [email protected];­ Phone: 850-238-5238 - SAG Stops - A Dozen Wings - South Georgia for a day, followed And TWO Cold Beers or by a sumptuous spaghetti dinner Membership in FBA includes a subscription to the FBA Messenger. Beverages - Race Winner with lots of accoutrements. There The Messenger accepts and welcomes your advertising! Please see the Website for rates and specifications or Presentation - Air Conditioning - are four (4) ride options: Classic e-mail [email protected]. Publishers reserve the right to review advertising content and to reject advertising Stage 7 Tour de France on the Big Options: 100 miles or 100 kilome- that, in the opinion of the Association, is neither in the best interest of FBA’s members nor its goals and objec- Screens - 50/50 Drawing. Makes ters on paved rural roads. Dirt tives. Although we carefully review articles and information submitted, FBA is not responsible for the information one want to sign up right now! Options: 62 miles or (42 miles) on or opinions contained herein unless explicitly stated as official policy of FBA. Well you can... at http://www.peac- mostly unpaved (dirt) roads. All eriverridersbicycleclub.com Active. ride options will be supported with © 2012 Florida Bicycle Association All rights reserved. com Online Registration marked routes, rest stops, and Spring+Summer 2012 15

Cycling isn’t all fun and games This article originally appeared in the Columbia Daily Tri- by Robert Johnson bune. It is reprinted here with author’s permission. very time you drive, another driver likely causes you to It also is impossible to judge the rea- is not really necessary, and yet here the left turn into his or her driveway in heavy slow down or stop when you sons for someone’s bicycle ride, based motorists are causing traffic and slowing traffic. otherwise wouldn’t have. upon where someone is riding or how down other road users. Slowing each other down is a part of Whether it’s heavy traffic, they are dressed. Although it’s true I sometimes cause sharing the road, no matter what type of someone preparing for a turn, I’ve ridden the rural highways of motorists delays because I’m a little vehicle you use. or just people who drive slower than Boone County to attend classes and slower on the road, it’s also true that on The important thing is to use patience you, another driver is causing you meetings. A co-worker of mine rides every bicycling trip, drivers slow me and common sense so all road users can delays. It’s part of the ebb and flow of every day in a full spandex bicycle-rac- down. enjoy their trips — for fun or utility — traffic. ing kit, yet he is actually on his way to For every time that someone has to wait safely. So why do some drivers accept other work, not training for a race. because I’m pedaling up a hill, I have to drivers slowing them down as a natural Although there are many people riding wait because someone is trying to make a fact of traffic but become incensed if the to get somewhere, there are certainly person causing a delay is a bicyclist, many bicyclists riding simply because even if that bicyclist is riding safely, they want to ride their bicycles. Some of legally and considerately? those bicyclists are even causing slight Although I’ve heard dozens of differ- delays for motorists! Isn’t that rude? ent reasons from drivers, the one I’ve People who believe that are under the heard most frequently is that delays belief that most driving trips are for a caused by bicyclists are particularly utilitarian purpose, which isn’t true. annoying because cyclists are just riding The New York Times Magazine recent- for fun. In other words, it’s a given that ly published a story titled “Rising gas motorists are doing something construc- prices don’t actually affect Americans’ tive by driving, while bicyclists are just behavior.” In this story, the author says out for a good time. the average American spends about $40 Let’s explore that belief a little more per week on gasoline, but only about $8 deeply. of that is spent going to and from work. The term “utility bicycling” is used to In other words, many driving trips are describe a bicycling trip where the ride for social and recreational purposes, the has a purpose other than the ride itself. very same reason that many people love In other words, someone using a bicy- riding bicycles on many of our streets cle to go grocery shopping or to get to and highways. work would be engaging in utility bicy- Have you ever tried driving across [a cling. college campus on] a football Saturday? Because many Americans relate bicy- Did all of those tens of thousands of cle use to a childhood activity, they drivers, who make it incredibly difficult automatically think about recreation to move around town, have to drive that when they think about bicycles. day? However, according to the 2009 National No, they decided to go to a football Household Travel Survey, 51 percent of game because it was fun. What about all bicycle trips in the United States people who drive to visit a friend or sim- were for utilitarian reasons. ply drive to have some time alone? So when you see bicyclists, chances Did any of us “cruise” as teenagers? are they are not simply riding for fun. It’s no surprise, really, that most driving

Add your voice Name: E-mail: for the future Address: of bicycling City: County: State: Zip: in Florida. Tel (H) (W) Bike Club Affiliation(s): Member Category: ❑ $15/student/living lightly ❑ $25/individual ❑ $35/household ❑ $100/club/corporate/agency Ride Preferences: ❑ On-road ❑ Off-road ❑ Touring ❑ Racing ❑ Commuting JOIN FBA ❑ I have taken a Traffic Skills 101 or Road I (formerly Effective Cycling) class ❑ CyclingSavvy Approx. year taken: I am a League cycling Instructor (LCI) ❑ Ye s ❑ No May we contact you about volunteer opportunities? ❑ Ye s ❑ No TODAY List any special skills or interests: Charge my ❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard Membership includes the FBA Messenger! Card No: Expires: Please make checks payable and mail to: Signature: Florida Bicycle Association, Inc. P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger — Spring+Summer 2012 CyclingSavvy courses continue to serve riders Right: Tallahassee CyclingSavvy students get a “chalk talk” on how to by Mighk Wilson negotiate a busy intersection CyclingSavvy, FBA’s traffic cycling education and training program, contin- and instructors have also traveled to ues to grow, to gain national attention, California, Montana and Ohio to teach and most importantly, to change lives. the course. Nearly 250 cyclists have taken all or part At CyclingSavvy we believe anyone of the course so far in 2012; 117 in can learn to bike in traffic with confi- Florida and 127 in other states. dence and safety. Our students have a In Florida we now have instructors in great time learning through state-of-the- Ft. Myers (2), Jacksonville (3), Orlando art training methods, and afterwards they (9), Tallahassee (2), Tampa Bay (1), tell us how it has changed their lives for Show ‘em where you’d rather be DeLand (1) and West Palm (1). In addi- the better. tion to those who were simply interested in being safe and confident urban “The course was excellent in that it cyclists, CyclingSavvy has drawn in affirmed things I already knew, clari- elected officials, law enforcement offi- fied things I was unsure about, and cers, journalists, bicycle advisory com- clearly explained my rights and mittee members, urban planners and responsibilities as a cyclist. I’ve been traffic engineers. All have come away putting into practice all that I learned. with a much better understanding of the As a person who has mobility chal- needs of cyclists, of how bicyclists lenges [deafness, balance issues], buy- should behave, and what is actually pos- ing the trike and getting out every nice sible. day to ride is simply one of the best Beginning this fall we hope to expand things I’ve ever done for myself. It’s the program even further throughout healthy, empowering and – most of all Sometimes ya gotta drive. But you don’t have to be happy about it. You’ve got an attitude Florida. We’ll be travelling around the – fun. It is no exaggeration to say that and you might as well share it. So while you’re sharing the road, share the message as well. state providing basic courses and riding a recumbent trike has restored Get or renew your Share the Road plate. It’s a cheap, and friendly, way to share your attitude instructor seminars with the support of a vitality to my life.” on a daily basis. state safety grant. — Mitchie, Portland ME Bike Florida and FBA share in promotion of and proceeds from sale of Share the Road In addition to Florida, CyclingSavvy specialty license plates. Income from the plates is earmarked specifically for education and now has instructors in Connecticut, Look for a CyclingSavvy course near awareness programs for bicycle and motorist safety. Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, you this coming fall and winter! Get your own Share the Road license plate at your county motor vehicle registration office. Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Vermont, CyclingSavvy.org For a list of county offices, go to www.dmvflorida.org/dmv-offices.shtml.

Good News, Mr. Smith! The IRS now allows your employer to give you a tax-free reimbursement of up to $20 per month for reasonable bicycle related expenses as a qualified bicycle commuter.*

We can keep you up to date with the latest rulings affecting cyclists everywhere, offering quality tax and financial accounting services with the confidence and solid reputation that comes from over 30 years of quality service to the Central Florida business community. We're proud to support FBA and its mission to promote good health and well-being in our communities through bicycling. Scearce, Satcher & Jung, P.A. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Kenneth L. Scearce, CPA David A. Satcher, CPA Carla M. Hansen, CPA 243 W. Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 647-6441 Office (407) 645-0099 Fax *See Publication 15-B at www.irs.gov for more information.