Spring 2007 Advocating a Bicycle-Friendly Florida OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER of the FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC

FBA’s 10th MessengerYear

www.floridabicycle.org P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694 Vol. 10, No. 2 Spring 2007 Advocating a bicycle-friendly Florida OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC. 2007 National Bike Summit delegates Minus the training wheels... get Capitol Hill’s attention Look for this by Henry Lawrence speedster in a I RECENTLY REPRESENTED FBA and the Panama City future ‘young Flyers Cycling Club at this year’s edition of the National Bike Summit. Sponsored annually by the League of American Bicyclists, this year was the largest and most successful ever, riders’ article according to LAB. More than 430 attended the four days of meetings, training sessions and Capitol Hill legislative offices visits. As always, the workshops and Hill visit were well worth the Those and Much More time and expense. Bicycle advocacy is a very time consuming There were many more issues discussed during Congressional yet rewarding experience especially when you finally start to visits. Mine in particular dealt with a potential Rails-to-Trails see the fruits of your labors come into being. project in Bay County/Lynn Haven Florida, owned by the The battle we face now is trying to keep the funding budgeted USAF. Congressman Allen Boyd's legislative assistant Kara for Florida in SAFETEA-LU (Federal Transportation Bill) in the Stencel was very knowledgeable and helpful and I will be FDOT budget. providing her with more information and staying in contact Federal recisions (money removed from the budget) in 2006 for a complete follow up. totalled $600 million and thus far 75% of that came from I encourage you to contact your local area Congresspersons enhancements—$10,808,557 from Florida enhancement projects to help protect the Transportation Enhancements dollars that alone. have been dedicated to projects in your area of Florida. We need you to call your Congresspersons and ask them to It is essential that they hear from you and not simply the exclude “Transportation Enhancements” from all future recision Florida Bicycle Association. orders. Ask Governor Charlie Crist to spare Transportation More people on bikes more often means that WE have to Enhancements from further cuts. do as much encouragement and education as we can, become a well-educated advocate for change and get excited about it. Five Big Issues A young girl's first race... Lake County Our visit this year focused primarily on five issues. Henry Lawrence is an FBA Advisory Board member for Police Activities League 3-year-old jun- 1. The Bicycle Commuter Act (House Bill 1498) would pro- Special Programs. Henry is a veteran advocate for safe bicy- ior racer, Gabriella, in her first race at vide a tax benefit to bicycle commuters, much like the present cling legislation and president of the Panama City Flyers Lake Mary. The Orlando Road Club benefits received by motorists for parking cost ($215 per month) Cycling Club. strongly supports junior-racing and and transit and car/van pooling users ($110 per month). always includes a "Kiddies Race" for 2. The “Conserve by Bicycling” Program would provide children under 9 years old." funding for a long range study of 10 cities showing the savings of shifting car trips to bike trips. As we all know, this would get more cars off the road and have added health benefits for bicycle riders. 3. Protecting and Preserving the National Parks Lands for Bicycle Access and funding the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Assistance Program to the amount of $12 million. 4. Asking Our Members of Congress and the Senate to Join the Bike Caucus would assure us of their dedication and perseverance for supporting bicycling as a viable mode of transportation. Oops! we goofed! 5. Designation of a US Bicycle Route Network of signed routes throughout the nation and working with Adventure Cycling and AASHTO to make this a reality.

Two photos on our Winter 2007 issue’s front page, no less, were erroneously credited to the wrong photographer. The shot of Florida Discovery Bicycling Center director and May is National Bike Month safety trainer Lyndy Moore (above) and Lee Berger and FBA president Mighk Wilson chowing down at the DeLeon Check your local county resources for activities all month long. Springs State Park pancake house (right) were taken by the lead article’s author, John D. Hopkins. 2 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger

City names denote board member distribution. Is your Thanks to Our Donors! (4th Q 2006 & area represented? Contact a board member today! 1st Q 2007) Advocating a Lifetime members Mr. and Mrs. H. Middleton Raynal bicycle-friendly Florida dB Technologies

P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694 Paceline Leaders ($1,000+) Waldo (FBA HQ) William Hough Executive Director Program Director/ Membership Director Palatka Gary Levin Laura Hallam Deb Devoe Bikeshop Liaison Brooksville P.O. Box 718 Lyndy Moore 2738 Gables Drive Orlando Titanium Partners ($500 - $999) Waldo, FL 32694 PO Box 780371 Eustis, FL 32726 Seminole James Nash Phone: 352-468-3430 Orlando, FL 32878-0371 [email protected] David and Kim Henderson Fax: 352-468-3430 Phone/Fax 407-282-3245 Cell: 407-399-9961 [email protected] [email protected] Ft. Myers Golden Gears ($250 - $499) Bruce and Tricia Martin

Boynton Bch Board of Directors Miami Silver Spokes ($100 - $249) Doug & Kate Paul Lester, PA Mighk Wilson, President Linda Crider, Ph.D. John Sinibaldi, Jr Dietrich Max Koletzke 737 S. Mills Ave. 116 Kirkland St. 5401 110th Way Dwight Kingsbury Bill Edgar Orlando, FL 32801 Palatka, FL 32177 Seminole, FL 33772 Gary Smigiel Len & Betty Handel Phone: 407-898-4137 Work Phone: 352-392-8192 Phone: 727-399-5804 Niles & Vickie Frederic D. Legate [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Andersen Brice Holland Roy & Sandy Lawrence L. Jaffe Dan Moser, Vice President Walters Richard L. Abedon Donald Braverman Leonard Roberts & 1449 Linhart Ave. & Marianne Elaine Klein Ft. Myers, FL 33901 Advisory Board Coulton Barry & Cynthia Home/Off. Ph./Fax: Brock & Kathy Hersh 941-334-6417 Magruder Lawrence L. Jaffe Duke Breitenbach, Development George Martin, Law Enforcement Training [email protected] Ken & Michelle Jim Hanig [email protected] [email protected] Languedoc Jesus Gomez David Henderson, Secretary Ken Bryan Bob Michaels, FORBA Alan D. Wiginton Robert Sabin 111 NW First Street, Suite 910 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Florida Field Office [email protected] Edward Reid Miami, FL 33128 [email protected] Laura Hallam Laura Minns, Scrapbook and Memory Book Richard & Ann Phone: 305-666-4718 Paul Casazza, Law Enforcement [email protected] Ingram [email protected] [email protected] Roger Pierce, Florida Touring Calendar Steve Diez, Treasurer Raphael Clemente, Racing [email protected] [email protected] Bronze Pedals ($50 - $99) 20 N. Main Street, Room 262 Carol Pulley, MPO/BPAC Brooksville, FL 34601 Hal Downing, Legal Affairs [email protected] Jack Logomarsino Alan Levin Phone: 352-754-4057 x 125 [email protected] Tina Russo Bill Weidenfeller [email protected] Tina Russo, Education Dave & Carol Paul & Lois Lester Herb Hiller, Journalist [email protected] Warren Patrick Donovan Steven & Paula Fee John & Kathy Stamp Don Braverman [email protected] Robert Seidler, Filmmaker Thomas Singletary Mark Sussman 27A Stratford Lane West Dwight Kingsbury, Historian [email protected] Tim Strauser & Eric Hankin Boynton Beach, FL. 33436 [email protected] Marcy Wilson Patti Nelson Randall Williams, Newsletter Phone: 847-864-9911 Bob Belschner Lee & Sandy Smith Henry N. Lawrence, III, Special Programs [email protected] [email protected] Richard & Joyce Joe Peterson [email protected] Wilson Richard Daly Jeffrey Lopatin Jeffrey & Vicky King Maria Bazzini Brenda Ward Gary & Liz Bryant Cynthia LaRoe Art & Judy Joel D. Ospa Ackerman Perry McGriff, Jr. Join FBA Visit FBA’s Website Messenger Deadlines Thomas Yeoman Jim Hanig Richard Hammock Bill Ewell Use the application form on the last www.floridabicycle.org Copy and Advertising Deadlines: & Lisa Cashulette Jennifer Fugatt page. Suggested contributions (tax Summer Messenger - June 5, 2007 George Wicker Patrick McNulty deductible): Subscribe to FBA Fall Messenger - September 5, 2007 Mark Flynn Ken & Cynthia Winter Messenger - December 5, 2007 Paul & Sarah LaRoe News, and FBA and Spring Messenger - March 5, 2008 Minton Patrick Donovan Individual $25 Martin Trautschold Kathy Steen FORBA e-mail lists Ken & Lisa Lecomte Thomas Yeoman Family $35 Inquiries and submissions: Student/living lightly $15 Stay up-to-date on bicycle issues Joan Quinn Charles Jones [email protected] Theresa Ziegler Jerry Russo Bicycle Club $100 with these statewide communica- Leslie Gradwell Anthony Waldron Corporate/Agency $100 tions exchanges. Mike & Martha Higher donations are greatly appre- Membership Categories: Paceline Gomez ciated! See membership categories, To subscribe to Florida Bicycle Leaders ($1,000+), Titanium Partners Association's FBAlink, send an e-mail below. ($500-$999), Golden Gears ($250- Club & Corporate to [email protected] or West Palm Beach Bicycle Club [email protected].(for $499), Silver Spokes ($100-$249), Make check payable and mail to: Big Wheel Bicycles USA, Inc. daily digest, e-mail fba-subscribe- Bronze Pedals ($50-$99), Water Utilities Dept.–West Palm Beach Florida Bicycle Association, Inc., [email protected]). For FBA News, Orange Cycle P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694 [email protected] Membership includes a subscrip- Progress Energy or join online at floridabicycle.org. Sarasota-Manatee Bicycle Club tion to the FBA Messenger. Florida Bicycle Sports Trek Bicycle Store of Estero Spring 2007 3

President’s message... The System in the Faraway Land: A Parable by Mighk Wilson

people sick, or even die. Every year it put lots and lots of hard stuff in big, big piles around the cities. This stuff wasn’t like wood or leftovers or poop; it would sit there for hundreds, maybe thou- nce upon sands of years, and not break down into dirt a time like most natural stuff does. Sometimes it know, come to think of it, we can’t imagine They broke some of the rules as they trav- would poison the water. a worse system!” eled, but hardly anybody ever got hurt dur- the people of a faraway land Every day the grown-ups in the faraway The rulers of the system seemed not to ing these gatherings, and if they did it was put into place a massive and glori- land spent an hour or two in the system, and see this. Or at least they would not admit just little scrapes. ous system, the purpose of which was to spent a few more hours working to pay for they did. Or if they did, they would say, But their gatherings messed up the sys- move the people around quickly and make their part of the system. “Don’t worry; we can fix it! We’re the tem; they slowed it down. The people in the everyone very happy and wealthy. But that was okay, because the purpose of experts!” system’s machines got really angry, even It was a very rational system and built the system was to make them all happy and But they just kept doing more of what though they had comfy chairs and full stereo with the most advanced technology. It most everyone cheered the system. they had been doing, with just little changes surround sound systems in their machines. required enormous amounts of natural The system had lots of rules, but most that didn’t make much difference. They didn’t mind going slow so much, it resources, so much that the faraway land had people just followed the rules that they Some people came up with a different was just that they really, really hated going to gather resources from other lands. thought made sense. idea: “What if we made some places where slow when the people on the little machines (Sometimes they had to send their army to Besides, the police only had time to catch people could get about in the old, natural got in their way. get the resources.) a small handful of the people who broke the way more of the time and not feel so afraid Even though the people on the little Because the system was so wonderful, rules. of the system’s machines?” machines didn’t hurt anybody, the police people were discouraged from going about in Every year the system killed about 10 mil- They even made some places like that, came along and got really mad. They beat their natural way. They had to use the new lion wild animals. That was sad, but the and they were pretty nice. But most places up some of the people on the little machines way. Well, actually, they didn’t have to, but people said, “There’s nothing we can do stayed part of the same big, fast system, and and even threw some of them in jail and it was awfully unpleasant if one didn’t use about it!” Slowing down the system so the they would stay that way for many, many took their little machines away. the system, and it got more and more animals could get out of the way didn’t years. The newspapers said the people on the unpleasant as the system grew. seem to occur to So every year more little machines were very bad, because they When people tried to go about in the natu- them. forests and farms were were slowing down the system. But that ral way, they had to make way for the people Every year 2 mil- Because the system was so destroyed, more nasty seemed silly to some little-machine people. in the system’s machines. At some special lion people would wonderful, people were dis- stuff went into the sky, The system slowed down all the time with- places the people in the system’s machines be hurt using the couraged from going about and more people and ani- out the little-machines getting in the way. It had to stop for the few people not inside system. Some of mals died. But the sys- was so busy that the slightest little thing machines, but the machine operators didn’t in their natural way...it was them would be hurt tem made so many peo- would slow it down. always follow the rules, and those special awfully unpleasant if one so badly that their ple happy that the bad Other little-machine people actually places were few and far between. didn’t use the system... lives were not so parts... well, it was just agreed with the rulers and supporters of the So the people who went about in the natu- happy any more. unfortunate. system. They agreed that the system was ral way just made do as best they could. Every year 40,000 people died using the The most important thing was to make the more important than the happiness of their Sometimes they’d get hit by the system’s system. It became clear to some people that system Bigger and Faster. Slowing it down fellow little-machine people. machines and get badly hurt or even killed. something must be done to fix the system. was very bad. It seemed so unfair! One of the system’s Some people tried to get around on smaller If only... Two tales from the faraway land machine operators had killed somebody, but machines, but the rulers of the system didn’t Every year the people who ran the system Here are two stories from the faraway land everybody said he was such a nice guy, and really care for them. They didn’t go nearly would say, “If only…” that show how bad it was to slow down the he should just get punished a little bit for as fast as the system’s machines. “If only people would always follow the system. making a mistake. Since the system’s machines were very big rules...” But it seemed no matter what they In the first, a man operating one of the On the other hand, the police and the and very fast, most of the people on the little did, there were more people ignoring the system’s machines was careless one day and newspapers and the town leaders said the machines were afraid of them, although there rules every year. ran into a man driving one of the little people on the little machines were very, were a few little-machine people who fig- “If only we could make the system bigger, machines that the system rulers didn’t much very bad, even though the only thing they ured out how to travel amongst the system’s then everybody would be happy.” But they care for. The man on the little machine did was slow down the system. And they machines without getting into too much trou- never were. The bigger they made the sys- died. didn’t even hurt anybody! It was as though ble. tem, the more people used it. Everybody agreed the man in the system’s the system was more important than the The newspapers told stories that made it “If only the machines for the system machine made a serious mistake and should people! seem as though traveling on one of those lit- could be made safer.” And—surprise!— pay for it, but they also cried that it was so It was very strange. Everybody knew tle machines was very, very dangerous, but it they were! But it didn’t seem to matter; it sad that this careless man was really such a about all the bad things the system did, but wasn’t really all that bad as long as one fol- seemed that as the machines got safer, the good person. He wasn’t made to feel like a most everybody said, “Make it bigger! lowed the rules. people operating them just got more careless criminal; he wasn’t arrested or anything like Make it faster! And get those little-machine But, boy, it sure was unpleasant some or reckless, so just as many people got hurt that. people out of the way; they’re the problem!” times. Some of the people in the system’s or died. The judge made him pay about one day’s Because they believed that only by mak- machines would yell nasty words at the lit- It got so that quite a few people were get- wages. Then he could go back to operating ing it bigger and faster would the problems tle-machine people for no good reason. ting upset about the system, but they were his machine, because one could not be be solved. If anybody said the system But most everyone cheered the system. told that most everybody really liked it, so expected to have a good life without one! should be made smaller and slower they Every year the system got bigger and big- the system should keep growing to make In the second story, hundreds of people were laughed at. ger. Every year it ate up hundreds of square them happy. gathered once a month on their little It was as if the people of the system were miles of forests and farms to make room for Those few people who were upset with machines and traveled around together. under a spell so that they couldn’t see the the machines of the system. the system said: “Can’t you see? It’s so Sometimes they joined up because they problem. Every year it put lots and lots of gassy obvious! As the system gets bigger and big- wanted to shake their fists against the sys- Perhaps one day the spell will be broken. stuff in the sky that would make the world ger and faster and faster, more and more bad tem and show people how stupid it was. warmer. stuff goes into the sky and more and more Sometimes they just wanted to have fun. Every year it put lots and lots of other people and animals get hurt and killed! You They felt much safer in the big gatherings. gassy stuff into the sky that would make 4 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger

FBA in its 10th year With an actual grant to provide program funding and a license plate for visibility (and more revenues), FBA pedaled into working toward better the 21st Century as an honest-to-good- Florida bicycling ness statewide association.

FBA board members and friends attend the Sept. Jump in on our back wheel as we lead you toward our 10th anniversary 2000 opening of the nation’s first “land bridge” an with a review of where FBA has been and with your encouragement and off-road bridge connecting east and west sections of support where we hope to be. the state’s Cross Florida Greenway. By now many of you have crossed the bridge, surrounded by trees and shrubs that have matured nicely in the seven June 1999 years since the bridge’s construction. FBA president Linda Crider marvels at the “strong-willed, forward-thinking and -acting Individuals” who were willing to compete for space and rights on roadways believed by some to be the God-given property of motorized vehicles. It was from among these “Individuals” that came the drive to launch FBA into the public eye. But she also voices her hope that the association would become advo- cate for those other than the “seasoned experts”—the rest of us recre- ational riders out for a lark, a pedal on a rail trail or a trip to the store. October 1999 Mt. Dora’s 25th annual Bike Festival opens under a cloud: the senseless death of Ray Howland during the prior year’s festival. The crash and its

lack of consequence to the driver of the motor vehicle had brought back 2000 photos: Rudy Miller painful memories of the Raynal-Hill tragedy with its all too familiar lack of satisfactory resolution. A letter to the Messenger from the Mt. Dora Bicycle Festival Committee may be used. recounts its dissatisfaction with a system that treats cyclists and pedestri- July 2001 ans as second class citizens and that refuses to address the responsibili- FDOT renews its Highway Traffic Safety Program grant to FBA for the third ty drivers assume when they get behind the wheel of an automobile. year. The FBA grants are to educate adults about safe cycling in an effort to ❏❏❏ reduce the number of crashes and fatalities in the state. FBA and Bike Florida stages the first Share the Road Rally to generate December 2001 interest in the new license plate. Former FBA board president Linda Crider announces she will leave the ❏❏❏ board to pursue other advocacy routes complementary to FBA’s agenda. FBA in late 1999 gains exposure with the Florida Department of Highway [Crider will become an advisory board member and ultimately will rejoin Safety and Motor Vehicles by helping rewrite the official Florida Drivers FBA’s board in 2007.] Handbook. The rewrite helps clarify sections on bicycles and pedestrians. ❏❏❏ Nothing, however, is done to ensure motorists will actually read the book. Carol Pulley, bike/ped coordinator for the West Florida Regional Planning Y2K Council joins the board of directors, bringing FBA representation to the west FBA enters 2000 with a new president, Tina Russo, and a call for a new Florida Panhandle. executive director to fill the shoes of retiring ED, Carol Wilson. In her most- March 2002 ly quasi-volunteer capacity, Carol had helped bring FBA up from the ashes The 2002 National Bike Summit draws an attendance of 275 delegates. to the point where it could dream of actually paying a competitive ED ❏❏❏ salary. FBA’s board selects Laura Hallam from among a nationwide list of A Messenger article by Linda Leeds reports that the West Palm Beach worthy candidates. She will clip-in—so to speak—in early 2001. Bicycle Club is the oldest in the state. The club, in 2002, is an example of ❏❏❏ how a club can be much more than just a purveyor of weekend rides. Bicycling begins to get the attention of Florida public officials. Evidence of Summer 2002 this is Orlando’s bicycle-friendly attitude and reconition of same by the FBA initiates a “mini-grants” program using funding from the sale of Share League of American Bicyclists. The city becomes only the second, after the Road license plates. Awards up to $5,000 are offered for innovative Gainesville, to earn the League’s designation of “Bicycle Friendly programs focusing on bicycling and motorist safety. Community.” ❏❏❏ January 2000 The Florida Bicycle Law Enforcement Guide, in its third printing, continues The Florida Department of Transportation awards the first of what would to be a useful tool for law enforcement officers. become a series of grants. Among other safety projects, the grant funds ❏❏❏ development of a bicycling laws reference booklet for law enforcement In a radical departure from his customary bicycling essays, board member officers. Dwight Kingsbury compares advantages of bicycling to motorcycling. Left March 2000 uncompared is the effect of increased speed on Dwight’s ability to Share the Road license plate sales begin, with revenues split 50/50 become lost more quickly, but that’s a story worth telling separately. between FBA and Bike Florida after a 25 percent advertising budget September 2002 administered by Bike Florida. The 4th annual Share the Road Rally and & Florida Bicycle Summit, held Summer 2001 in Madison at North Florida Community College demonstrates how part- FBA announces a new way for members to perpetuate association activi- nerships among government, education and bicycling can enhance local ties though its “Now and Forever” campaign. Members giving at least $200 economy, provide safety education and advocacy and generate a fun time toward FBA programs would have half that sum applied to current pro- for attendees. grams and half invested in an endowment fund of which only the earnings Spring 2007 5

Kids, don’t try this at home...or anywhere. Two board members Dog vs. tandem: a Sunday outing step down, one new & that went wrong by Sandy Walters one returning step up Cost of two new helmets: $200. He got very tired from dragging his sore At the FBA board winter retreat, two long ast thing I remember Cost of prescription drugs: $40. body around and his energy level was down. time members stepped down from their posi- that Sunday morn- Learning what a great bunch of friends you I had headaches for about a week after the tions, a new member joined and a former are: Priceless. accident but I feel OK now. member rejoined the group. L ing (March 4) is Now, one month later, I guess I am not The attorneys recommended I get neuro- Carol Pulley and Tina Russo have made feeling so funny about things any more. logical testing in about six months to be sure tremendous contributions during their years seeing the big black dog hit We hired an attorney. The attorney said I have no permanent brain damage. of service and will be missed. Both have the front wheel she had been doing personal injury work for We don’t have a final figure of how much agreed to serve as advisory board members. 14 years and had never seen anyone as this will cost us, but it will be all the Carol joined the board in December 2001 bruised up as Roy. deductibles, plus lost clothes, prescription bringing her skills as a transportation planner of our big yellow tandem. . . the next thing I The attorney then found out that the dog sunglasses, helmets, and the things we could with the West Florida Regional Planning remember is barfing up red stuff (strawber- owner did not have liability coverage under not do like a planned trip to Universal Council covering Escambia, Okaloosa and ries from breakfast, not blood) all over the his homeowners’ insurance for this attack, Studios because Roy could not be on his feet Santa Rosa counties. She retired a couple street in Osteen while a concerned EMT and subsequently she no longer wanted to all day. years ago to spend more time with family asked me what day it was. represent us as the chances of getting any And the pain and lost enjoyment of life, and devote more time to FBA activities. One concussion, 2 CAT scans, and a day compensation out of this guy are about— you can’t put a price on a month out of your Recently she came out of retirement to later, I was released from Halifax Hospital well, about the same as that snowball... lives. join the staff of Santa Rosa County. NW and here I am hobbling around the house, So, meanwhile, Volusia County is investi- I just can’t be so witty, I guess, knowing Florida is fortunate to have Carol working under orders to do nothing strenuous for a gating the dog as dangerous and has put the this creep will most likely get away with for better bicycling and walking conditions. week or two, taking Hydrocodone to sleep owner on notice and ordered him to keep the what his dog did, that could have been SO Tina joined the board in August 1998 due to soreness. dog secured for a few weeks while they MUCH WORSE, to us or another rider, or a bringing her skills as a trails manager with And, for those of you who’ve had the make a final determination. little kid in the street. Hillsborough County Parks Department. dubious pleasure of seeing Roy’s semi-pri- Speaking of the dog owner, needless to Roy and I are on the mend and want to Over the years, her expertise as an advo- vate parts—now a lovely shade of dark pur- say, he has never contacted us or inquired thank everybody who has e-mailed, called, cate of education and enforcement has influ- ple—don’t let him fool ya. how we are doing. stopped by, sent things, delivered things, enced the lives of many. Her devotion has That’s not his skin, it’s really a black and Poor Roy. Although my concussion helped us, stayed with us at the hospital (you been a vital element in FBA’s success in purple skin jumpsuit he’s wearing on his left sounded more severe than his injuries, he is know who you are, Reg & Michelle) and in education and enforcement programs. Tina side, from above the waist to below the still impaired to quite an extent and can’t get every way made us know that you care. will continue this work and be available to knees. around. help FBA as time permits. Tina recently Can you say, “road rash and major bruis- Until last week he had trouble putting a Sandy Walters and her husband Roy, of participated in her first triathlon, bought a ing”? shoe on his left foot. He has gone through a Enterprise, are long time FBA members. kayak and plans to become a certified But as his GP said, “Hey, you’re not lot of misery and agony over the past month Spinning® instructor. gonna have any more kids anyway, are ya?” with even such simple activities as sleeping, bending over or lifting things. Please see FBA board, page 14 6 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger

And you thought you had to eat oysters... Studies support sexual health benefits of some natural ingredients* Health Matters... by Marilyn T. Brady, RN Just like physical fitness, sexual health fit- Any Studies? obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford states: anaesthesiologist know what over the counter ness and enjoyment are a very important There is now an abundance of research from "I didn't expect ArginMax® to be effective, medications you are taking. part of our lives. prestigious centers throughout the world sup- let alone as effective as it was." The studies What Is In This Particular Formulation? Sex represents one of the most important porting the benefits of the ingredients found for men showed an 80 percent improvement This formulation of ArginMax® is under the biological functions in life and is crucial to in ArginMax®. in libido. label LoveRx® for Men and Love Rx® for our overall health and well-being; yet most The clinical trials directed by physicians What Are My Choices? Women people still feel uncomfortable discussing in the U.S. have validated the role of There are drugs on the market today that are ❏ L-Arginine is the building block for nitric their problems and concerns for fear of ArginMax® as a natural supplement to sup- effective and can be recommended by your oxide, a crucial substance that increases being embarrassed and judged. port male and female sexual health. family physician with a prescription. blood supply to the genital area by relaxing Any Statistics? In the Stanford University study, However, for those who are looking for a smooth muscle and expanding blood ves- A study published in the Journal of the researchers gave either a placebo or the sup- more gradual, gentle, and natural approach sels. In 1998 the Nobel Prize in Medicine American Medical Association (JAMA) plement to 77 women with a variety of sexu- to libido quality, natural supplements are a was given to three Physicians in the United reported that 33% of men and 42% of al complaints. After 2 months, 37 percent of viable option and may also be recommended States for their discovery of the relation- women surveyed between the ages of 18 to the placebo group reported significant by your family physician without prescrip- ship between L-Arginine and nitric oxide. 59 have sexual dysfunction. increases in libido, frequency of lovemaking, tion. ❏ Korean ginseng has been used for years in Based on these statistics, approximately and sexual satisfaction. The focus with supplements is to optimize Asia to enhance sexual function by 30 million men and 40 million women are But in the ArginMax® group, the figure health and wellness, rather than on the treat- improving circulation and neurological affected. This study documents for the first was 74 percent, a significant difference, and ment of disease. processes. time the serious public health nature of the without major side effects. Drugs are used for the treatment of a dis- ❏ Gingko biloba, the oldest living plant on problem. Mary Polan, MD, researcher and chief of ease or condition; they tend to work by earth, improves capillary microcirculation modifying or altering specific biological in the genitals and elsewhere. pathways, sometimes in a very powerful ❏ Tribulis terrestris, also known as puncture manner, and possibly come with side effects. vine, helps increase testosterone, which Those electing a natural supplement triggers both male and female sexual option should be mindful that the efficacy is appetite and arousal. a gradual one as compared to chemical for- ❏ Ashwaganda, an herb widely used in India mulations. as a sexual tonic, is sometimes called ArginMax® is the only clinically proven Indian ginseng because it offers similar and natural health supplement for improving energy promoting benefits and helps com- sexual health and enjoyment. The benefits bat stress and fatigue include: ❏ B vitamins contribute to energy metabo- ❏ Non-Prescription. lism in several important ways ❏ Physician Evaluated as a Trustworthy ❏ Folic acid, B12 and B6 are necessary to Supplement. keep blood vessels healthy ❏ Clinically Validated. ❏ Zinc is a key mineral found in the human ❏ Natural, Exclusive Formula for Men and reproductive system. Studies have linked Women. reduced zinc levels with sexual dysfunc- ❏ Patented tion. ❏ Enrich Activator Blend contains ginger, Are All Supplements Equal? BioPerine , and capsicum to help ensure In botanicals like ginseng and ginkgo, it is maximum absorption natural for the active ingredients found in them to vary among different plants and *The statements in this article have not been Bed, Breakfast & even within different parts of the same plant evaluated by the Food & Drug Admin. nor (the root and the stem). are products intended to diagnose, treat, cure It is impossible to control these natural or prevent disease. FBA presents the Health Bike Florida variations; therefore it is important that stan- Matters series for information only and the by Dale V. Lally, Jr. dardization methods be used when these statements contained herein do not necessari- botanicals are processed for use as dietary ly reflect endorsements, recommendations or supplements. opinions of the association, its directors or its These standardization methods ensure that This informative guide describes several dozen wonder- employees. the resulting botanical extract has consistent ful inns or B&Bs, with at least two rides originating from levels of the active ingredients for which the ❏❏❏ each inn or nearby. botanical has value as a dietary supplement. Accommodations are described down to the smallest Are there side effects? Order LoveRx® Men item no. 16189 or nuance; rides are illustrated by handy maps and Clinical studies have not found any side Love Rx® Women item no. 16188 by calling detailed cue sheets. Bed, Breakfast & Bike Florida effects to ArginMax® use; however, there 1-800-864-2489 and mentioning account no. features one circular route and five interconnected cross-Florida routes covering have been some side effects noted in the use 5790501. All profits go to the FBA when areas from Pensacola in the panhandle to Key West in the southeastern part of of some of the components of ArginMax®. using this account number. Ask about the the state. These side effects are rare and usually 60-day empty box guarantee. mild in nature and include: “Touring by B&B” is a great way to see more of Florida. ❏ Ginseng - Those with high blood pressure Archived articles include: An avid cyclist, Dale was a longtime member of the Broward County Bicycle should consult doctor before use. ❏ Osteo Essentials – cartilage rebuilding Advisory Committee and was an FBA advisory board member. He passed away in ❏ Ginkgo Biloba - gastrointestinal upset, (item 4057) mid-2004 while attending the Tour de France. headaches, and dizziness have been ❏ VISUtein® – pharmaceutical grade eye- reported. sight protection (item 14634) listed in Bed, Breakfast & Bike Florida ❏ L-Arginine - headache, nausea, and PDR by Dale V. Lally Jr. vomiting. ❏ Prostate TLC – men's health (item 18137) ISBN: 0-933855-24-9 Due to the mechanism of increasing the ❏ BiosLife Complete – cholesterol reduction 208 pages, paperbound, $16.95 blood flow, those taking blood-thinners (item 228880) listed in PDR should contact their doctor before taking ❏ LowOz™ – hydration solution (item Order from www.anacus.com/bb.html or Amazon.com ArginMax®. R21424) I.O.C. certified As with all OTC products, let your family Do you have a favorite B&B or inn you’ve encountered on a bicycle trip? physician know what you are taking. If you Send us the details (or point us to a Web site) and we’ll feature it in the Messenger. are having a surgical procedure, let your Spring 2007 7 Letters to FBA Other Letters What’s happening to Tally bike lanes? of Note

Readers take issue, offer suggestions, or almost never bicycle on sidewalks, but two Website for more info and ways to get The following letter appeared in the St. otherwise stir the pot. We reserve the right of the three times I was hit were while riding involved to make things happen in the George, Utah, paper The Spectrum. We to edit your letters for length and to make on the sidewalk. Both times I looked the Tallahassee area. know that’s a long way from Florida, but your English more better. The opinions driver in the eye and entered the crosswalk — Laura Hallam, Executive Director the opinion expressed is all too familiar offered here do not necessarily reflect those only to be hit. Also most times when I use here. Read it and weep—then e-mail your of the Florida Bicycle Association, its offi- the sidewalk there are sharp edges causing Joe, thoughtful, constructive response to us at cers, staff, board of directors or FBA me flats or the sidewalk actually ends with- If you sent this to city or county commis- [email protected]. Messenger editors. out warning. sioners their aides should have forwarded it We already know what you REALLY The biggest problem to me is that cars go to I-10 project public information want to say—or, heaven forbid, DO—to To the Executive Director, faster on wider roads. And when wider than (www.movingi-10forward.com/ this bozo. Give us, instead, something that I am frustrated with our [Dept. of Transpor- four lanes the road is just too wide to cross contacts.htm), so you should receive a can be used to help educate drivers of tation]. I moved to Tallahassee because they safely. reply soon. motor vehicles and bicycles alike in the were adding bike lanes on new roads. But Putting all our transportation “solutions” The US 319/SR 61/I-10 interchange is need for peaceful and safe coexistence. they seem to be removing shoulders on on widening roads will only worsen traffic, being reconstructed in connection with the I- resurfacing projects like Thomasville Road waste tax dollars, cost more lives, use more 10 mainline widening project. Lanes and [To the Editor:] south of I-10. foreign oil, create more obesity, diabetes and ramps are being added, and the Capital I agree that our tax dollars have built Today I was bicycling home as I do air pollution, result in more trees cut down, Circle NE bridge over I-10 will be widened. millions of dollars worth of unused everyday. The bike lanes have been the more parking lots, more traffic noise and This segment is scheduled to be complet- bike paths. safest part of my trip the last seven years. more ground and surface water pollution ed in 2009, and bicycle lanes are supposed These "honyocks" [sic] put on their Shockingly, today I was going north on (Lake Jackson, for example). to be restored. This was approved in 2002. rubber, long underwear with racing NE Capital Circle crossing over I-10 and Please put the bike lanes back on NE Joe, this is based on my own understand- stripes and their pointed little helmets, the bike lane disappeared! I think the state Capital Circle. ing of the project and is consistent with the which just match their heads, then ride has made four northbound lanes instead of — Joseph Barnett, Tallahassee information posted at www.movingi-10for- the busiest highway they can find. the previous three lanes. ward.com/history.htm, but should not be They want to be seen and they are. Every car came very close to hitting me. Joe, considered an official FDOT response (this They are seen under the bumpers of Without the bike lanes, I believe most driv- I certainly understand your frustrations, as do project is administered by the District 3 cars and rolling down the highway ers feel that I should get off the road and many others I'm sure in the Tallahassee area. office). gathering road rash. feel right to threaten me. I've copied your message to a variety of peo- If you don't receive a response from Why don't you grow up and buy a It is a very dangerous situation for bicy- ple including two members of the new advo- FDOT/I-10 project Public Information, I will car? Then put your little 'bikie' back clists. cacy organization in Tallahassee called be happy to assist with another request. on the sidewalk-where it belongs. I have been hit by cars three times. I BikeWalk Network. Check out their — Dwight Kingsbury, FDOT If you need exercise try getting a State Safety Office real job. (Provided by advisory board member and former FBA board member Duke Executive Director’s report... Breitenbach.)

You can blame Lyndy Moore for this one... Discovering the fountain Laura Hallam A man says to his doctor. "If I see someone riding a bike when I'm What is it about The Villages that makes me So what do members of both clubs do walking down the street, I get this terrible feel like I’ve found the Fountain of Youth? when they’re not cycling? You name it and urge to throw myself under the wheels. Have you ever heard of such a thing?" Actually, I think members of The Villages they’re probably doing it. This is the most The doctor thinks for a moment, then says, Bicycle Club and other residents found it a active place I’ve ever seen. This is where I "Yes, I have heard of one other case. You long time ago. Every time I visit The want to live when I grow up! are what we call a cyclepath." Villages I feel younger than my 50+ years, ❏❏❏ (while slightly jealous of those 55 and older, Last month, FBA, along with 430 or so the required age to live in such a beautiful bicycling advocates and bike industry repre- an opportunity to talk with other organiza- and highly active Florida community). sentatives, took to Capitol Hill. tions and companies about their advocacy Planned Giving Remember the first Cocoon movie when This was an amazing event that not only efforts. Opportunities like this to exchange the three friends sneaked into a neighbor’s left us with many new ideas and inspired us ideas help us make Florida an even better to FBA pool occupied by alien pods? They immedi- to learn even more, but also gave us a keen place to bicycle. ❏❏❏ ately felt the effects of anti-aging and began awareness that many bicycling issues are In March I participated in Bike Florida Did you know you can make a gift to spreading their “find” to others. closely linked to environmental issues. FBA in cash, publicly traded securi- That’s exactly how I feel after I’ve hung The Hill was buzzing with a “green” along with nearly 700 cyclists and volun- teers. Every year, I serve in a different ties, real estate and tangible personal out with The Villages Bicycle Club. vision for transportation and conservation, property? You also can provide for I recently staffed an FBA booth at the 6th and politicians who once turned a blind eye capacity, but this year was the most physi- cally demanding. Not the 350 miles of great future generations of bicyclists Annual Villages Outdoor Recreation Expo to our environment have awakened to under- through proper estate planning. and, along with 53 clubs and businesses, stand the variety of simple changes that can cycling to DeLand, Flagler Beach, Daytona greeted many of the more than 5,000 resi- have a profound impact on our planet. Beach, New Smyrna Beach and back; No, I Instructions for making gifts of securi- dents and visitors to this two-day event. These changes were highlighted when was REST STOP QUEEN. REST STOP ties are now online. Go to the FBA My booth was next to The Villages “Team Florida members” David Henderson, KING Henry Cummings, and I were Web site, www.floridabicycle.org for Bicycle Club and Sumter Landing Bicycle Henry Lawrence, Mary Jane Mark (Mack charged with purchasing, packing and driv- more details. ing a 24-foot Ryder truck filled with rest Club, which gave us time to chat. Cycle & Fitness), Gary Mendenhall (J&B Planned Giving provides a method to stop food and beverages for the week. Yes, The Villages now has two clubs due Importers), Walt Nygard (Palm Beach provide assets for a bicycle-friendly There was one major problem. I have an to the popularity of bicycling in the area. County Sheriff’s Office) met with many of future from your will or estate.You can addiction to M&M’s—plain or peanut. FBA has been working with The Villages our legislators. provide for FBA in your will or as a (Whew, I feel better now that I’ve come Bicycle Club for several years, presenting We asked for increased support of bicycle beneficiary of a life insurance policy, clean.) There were several cases of both Safe Cycling for Adults workshops (January commuting and transportation, and more or consider other gifts that may also varieties, along with healthy snacks and 2007 workshop attracted over 100 partici- funding for trails and greenways. Our well provide you with current income. pants), and other presentations. versed commentary was well received by fruit. If you have an interest in supporting Founding club presidents Jim Mount and legislative aides and by Congresswoman I warned Henry I might be tempted so his FBA programs for current and future Russ Buchanan have been an inspiration on Ileana Ros-Lehtinen herself. The six of us job was to keep me honest and not eat any generations in this manner, FBA’s how to remain fit and active through physi- managed to cover 20 appointments and because once I started, there would be no executive director will be glad to dis- cal activity. So much that member Roland dropped off information to the remaining M&M’s for the cyclists. Henry took on the cuss details of this option with you at da Silva decided it was time to create anoth- seven legislators who were not available. task with a big smile. your convenience. er club since the VBC had gotten so large. The National Bike Summit also provided Please see Rest Stop Queen, page 10 8 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger

Discovery Center eases into first season If you offer it they will come...eventually. An often-heard mantra as the Florida Discovery Bicycling Center’s first round of touring/safety events draws close to completion. Organizers didn’t have to rope off the reservation line, but sign-ups turned out to be respectable for a first year showing. Participants had nothing but praise, however, for the scenery, the fel- lowship, the tour guides and the training. Stay in touch with the Website (www.floridabicycle.org/discovery) for the next round of week-long tours.

Above left: The Prius holds three kayaks on the rack, but how many trips did it take to get the passengers to the launch site? Above right: Who says the Florida Discovery Bicycling Center tours are just about bicy- cling? FBA member Bruce Martin (l.) and travel/health writer Susan Hall enjoy pad- dling near Blue Springs during the January tour. Left: Caught having too much fun— again!—is FBA executive director Laura Hallam, who assisted with Discovery Center tours and instruction. Below right: Discovery Center program director and competent mechanic Lyndy Moore demon- strates the fine art of the tire change. Bottom left: FBA board member Linda Crider poses on a ’bent trike during a Discovery Center outing and discovers her picture can be used for two articles at once (see story on page 9). Spring 2007 9

Talk about your laid-back lifestyle... Riding reclined by Bruce Martin

the Ultra Marathon Cycling Asssociation's ave you ever 24 Hours of Sebring this February and they wondered took four of the top five spots in last year’s Race Across Florida. H about those Two recumbent teams also placed in the top three of the four-man relay in the 2006 recumbent bicycles—the Race across Oregon, showing that ’bents can ones that look like lawn climb as well as descend. Now does that mean you will be faster on chairs on wheels—that you a recumbent? Maybe and maybe not. It takes some time to develop one’s “recumbent see occasionally on the legs,” the different set of muscles needed to develop speed on a ’bent. street, the bike trail or on Recumbents are also a few pounds heav- organized rides? ier than standard bicycles due to their larger seats and they are usually a bit slower up Are they as comfortable as their owners hills. claim? How do they handle? Are they faster Any speed lost going uphill however can than regular diamond frame bicycles? Can be gained back on the downhill side. they climb hills? And why are recumbent Recumbents, like tandems, are incredibly riders always smiling? fast downhill and with their high bottom These are questions I had when four years brackets and low center of gravity they cor- ago I decided to take the plunge and pur- ner like a rocket ship on rails. chased a recumbent or “’bent” as they are known to the small but growing cadre of How Safe Are They? enthusiasts. I’ll attempt to answer those The main problem from a safety standpoint questions here. practical choice of bicycle for a large num- perched on top of the bike changes one’s with regular bikes is that emergency braking ber of its buyers but as everyone in the retail balance. Recumbents are balanced more by will often result in the rider going over the Are They Comfortable? business knows you sell the sizzle, not the slight steering inputs than by body English. bars and sustaining head, neck or shoulder This answer is easy: a big unqualified YES! steak, and a win in the Tour provides a lot of They can be wobbly on take off and you injury. ’Bents are so comfortable you can forget the sizzle. can forget track stands or bunny hops. Also A recumbent rider is centered low and thickly padded bike shorts and the gel lined This is not to say that recumbents would having one’s head farther back from the between the wheels making it almost impos- gloves. You sit in the seat on a bent, not be more popular than standard bikes if they front wheel means you have to take extra sible to flip over the bars. If the rider does perched on a hard, skinny saddle. Your back were allowed to compete, but once your care when pulling out from a stop sign. happen to go down he/she usually lands on is supported, your arms, neck and shoulders product is marginalized by the mainstream in They are not the best choice of ride for a their butt or side—painful, yes, but sparing are relaxed and there is no pressure on your a decidedly competitive business climate it is bike messenger and although there are a few the rider from brain injury or the all too hands and wrists. On a ’bent you ride with difficult for any manufacturer to produce fully suspended bents that can handle rough common broken collarbone. your head in a natural position looking out at enough units to stay in business. off-road conditions, if you want to shred Worried about being seen by drivers? A the road ahead, not down at the small patch That being said there is a larger selection gnarly single track you should probably stick rider on a common two-wheel recumbent, of real estate in front of your wheel. of recumbents today than at any time in this with a mountain bike. not a trike or low racer, has about the same bicycle’s over 100-year history. New high Recumbents are longer than a regular bike height as a compact car. If the driver can't But Aren’t They Slow ? performance models with titanium or car- and are more difficult to transport or store. see you it’s because they’re not looking. Au contraire my friend. Recumbents have an bon-fiber frames and lightweight seats have (Bike Friday makes a folding, short wheel- aerodynamic advantage making them faster brought the total weight down to the very base ’bent though that would be just the tick- Why Aren’t They More Popular? than diamond frame upright bikes on a level low 20 lb range. et for overseas travel.) Since they are banned from UCI and USCF or downhill course. In fact recumbents are The new high racer bikes, those with a Oh, and they draw a lot of attention, too. sanctioned racing events, recumbents are banned from all UCI and USCF events pre- short wheel base and two large 650c wheels, Be prepared to answer a litany of questions denied the exposure given to their upright cisely because they are too fast. are revolutionizing the genre and are actually whenever a crowd gathers. brethren. The world speed record of 80.55 mph for on the verge of becoming fashionable! However, for touring, fast century rides, Have you ever noticed how the popularity a human powered vehicle is held by a recum- I think of the recumbent bike as geek chic or just cruising around the neighborhood, a of carbon fiber Treks soared after Lance’s bent. —a bicycle for cognoscenti—something akin recumbent might be the perfect choice for victories in the Tour de France? Recumbents dominated every category in to being the Macintosh of the bicycle world. you. Check out the Central FL Recumbent A carbon fiber Trek might not be the most Riders chat group at Yahoo and Bent Rider What Are The Drawbacks? On Line for more information. Being settled into a seat rather than being

(Right) Linda and Mark Power, owners of Power On Cycling Shop in Plant City, on their titanium (Linda) and carbon-fiber (Mark) Bacchetta high racers. (Left) Terry Farrell on his Rans Stratus XP. (Above) Rob DeGraf, on his short wheel base (SWB) Burley Django. (Previous page) Linda Crider astride a three-wheeler. (Page 15) Another three-wheeled version.

Photos: Bruce Martin 10 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger

We want your recommendations on Florida bicycling’s best... Rest Stop Queen royally tempted Annual Awards nomination from page 7 time is back again Here’s how an average day went: Every A mid-week massage helped me endure IT’S THAT TIME: Time to nominate worthy recipients for FBA's Annual Awards morning, we set out early to make sure we the week, however, I was quite beat by the Every year, we honor recipients of the Florida Bicycle Association annual arrived at the first rest stop location before time the final day rolled around. awards. The purpose of the awards is to give recognition to individuals, the participants to set up tables and some- I think my biceps are bigger, but my back groups and organizations for their efforts and achievements in forwarding our times a tent, unload cookies, fruit, snacks didn’t fare as well. mission of creating a bicycle-friendly Florida. and loads of peanut butter, jelly and bread to No worries, because after a day or two of Submit your nominations for the following categories. A nomination com- keep the cyclists well fueled. rest I was ready for …..a bike ride. mittee will review the nominations following the July 1, 2007 deadline and Henry has been providing this task for 14 So what do you think I’ll get assigned to select the winners. years so I was well prepared to take orders do at the 2008 Bike Florida? The awards will be presented at the FBA Annual Meeting held in conjunc- from the KING. I may be nuts, but I’d gladly climb back tion with the 3rd Annual Pro Bike®Pro Walk Florida conference to be held It also helped that I’ve been a friend and into the truck for another week with Henry August 27-30, 2007 in Orlando. colleague with Henry for over 20 years so and a truck full of M&M’s and other assort- This conference attracts a wide variety of bicycle/pedestrian and public we had plenty of time to visit while hanging ed goodies. health professionals, advocates, engineers, planners, developers, landscape out in the truck throughout the week. In case you’re wondering whether I fell architects, law enforcement and elected officials. After setting up the first stop we’d move off the wagon and ate any M&M’s… on to the next and once the last stop was …GUILTY! Categories: stocked, we’d head back to the first one to I confessed to Henry, but he said he ❏ Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee start picking up equipment and supplies. already knew. ❏ Road Club ❏ Off-road Club ❏ Education or Enforcement Program ❏ Law Enforcement Professional Bicycling and the Outdoor Recreation Economy ❏ Bicycle Professional ❏ Supporting Agency The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) recently released statistics about the eco- ❏ Program or Event nomic impact of bicycling recreation. These numbers, drawn from OIA research ❏ summarized in The Active Outdoor Recreation Economy, estimate bicycling’s full Citizen Bike Advocate contribution to the U.S. economy, including travel- related expenditures and the rip- ❏ Volunteer ple effect of indirect economic contributions. ❏ Facilities Design The national bicycling recreation economy: ❏ Bicycle Friendly Community ❏ Contributes $133 billion annually to the U.S. economy ❏ Trails Manager ❏ Supports nearly 1.1 million jobs across the U.S. ❏ Special Recognition ❏ Generates $17.7 billion in annual federal and state tax revenue ❏ Share the Road Tag Sales* ❏ Produces $53.1 billion annually in retail sales and services ❏ Share the Road Tag Promoter* ❏ Produces $6.2 billion in bicycling gear sales and services ❏ Produces $46.9 billion in bicycling trip-related expenditures A nomination form is available by contacting the FBA office at 352-468-3430, e-mailing [email protected], or visiting our website. A list of previous Source: www.bikesbelong.org recipients is also listed on the website. Completed forms can be faxed, mailed or emailed. The deadline for nominations is July 1, 2007

announcements plus narrative, for only $5 to The report was prepared for the State ‘Group Riding’ brochure cover shipping and handling. Safety Office, Department of Transportation, lays out rules for club Get a bunch and share with your local TV State of Florida, in cooperation with the stations. National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis- rides The brochure gives 11 important rules for tration, U.S. Department of Transportation The brochure, available for download (pdf) traveling in a group of bicyclists—rules that and/or Federal Highway Administration, U.S. from the FBA Website is a companion to the can mean the difference between an enjoy- Department of Transportation. Group Riding DVD, eight public service able, safe ride and a ride in an ambulance.

Bicycle-friendly B&Bs Relax on a bank of the St. Johns River in the historic Riverside District just a few minutes from downtown Jacksonville. The 17-mile Baldwin Rail Trail and the Jacksonville Riverwalk are within easy biking range. Innkeeper Victoria Freeman does 90% of her errands with her bike and trailer combo. Take breakfast in the dining room or on the enclosed porch overlooking the river. www.houseoncherry.com

Rates: Rooms: $85–$115/night* Victoria and Robert Freeman, Innkeepers House on Cherry Street House on Cherry Street 1844 Cherry Street (where else?) Jacksonville, FL 32205 Do you have a favorite B&B or inn you’ve encountered Phone: 904-384-1999 on a bicycle trip? Send us the details (or point us to a E-mail: [email protected] Website) and we’ll report on it in the Messenger. *Don’t take our word for it. Always check with the innkeepers for the latest rates, details and availability. Spring 2007 11

Selected State-wide Contacts Here’s whom to call about your bicycle/pedestrian/transportation concerns. We ran out of room, so many contacts are not included. Go to www.floridabicycle.org/statecontacts.htm for the complete list.

AGENCY/functional responsibility NAME TELEPHONE E-MAIL Other FDOT (continued from below) FDOT Central Office FDOT Dist 1 Safety Prgm Manager State Ped & Bicycle Coordinator Dennis Scott 850.245.1527 [email protected] Gary Amig, 863.519.2507 State SRTS Coordinator Pat Pieratte 850.245.1529 [email protected] [email protected] Asst. Ped & Bicycle Coordinator Dwight Kingsbury 850.245.1520 [email protected] FDOT Dist 2 Safety Engineer District 1 Holly Walker, 904.360.5629 Gary Amig 863.519.2666 [email protected] [email protected] Sarita Taylor 863.519.2216 [email protected] Charlotte County MPO Gary Harrell 941.639.4676 [email protected] FDOT Dist 3 Safety Prgm Manager Collier County Community Development/eview Russ Muller 239.403.2462 [email protected] 850.415.9534 Collier County Transportation/pathways project Trinity Caudill-Scott 239.417.6027 Lee County MPO Julia B. Davis 239.338.2550x219 [email protected] FDOT Dist 4 Safety Prgm Manager Lee County DOT Victoria Griffin 239.479.8580 [email protected] Gilbert Soles, 954.777.4358 Lee County Health Dept/bike-ped safety education Dan Moser 239.332.9514 [email protected] [email protected] Polk County TPO Ryan Kordek 863.534.6558 [email protected] Sarasota County Public Works Trans. Planning 941.861.0931 FDOT Dist 4 PD&E Mgmt Engineer Beatriz Caicedo-Maddison, 954.777.4336 District 2 Randy Warden 904.360.5631 [email protected] [email protected] City of Gainesville Trans. Srvcs/Bike-Ped Prog Assist Dekova Batey 352.334.5074 [email protected] First Coast MPO Elizabeth DeJesus 904.306.7505 [email protected] FDOT Dist 5 Safety Engineer Duval County Health Dept/Injury Prevention Stephen McCloskey 904.630.3300x2308 [email protected] Anthony Nosse, 386.943.5334 [email protected] District 3 Mary Anne Koos 850.415.9547 [email protected] Panhandle MPOs (West Fla RPC) Mike Ziegler 800.226.8910x215 [email protected] FDOT Dist 6 Safety Engineer Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (MPO) Peter Koeppel 850.891.8090 [email protected] Maria Vilches-Landa, 305.470.5722 [email protected] District 4 Larry Hymowitz 954.777.4663 [email protected] Jeff Weidner 954.777.4670 [email protected] FDOT Dist 7 Safety Prgm Engineer Daphne Spanos 954.777.4483 daphne.spanos @dot.state.fl.us Peter Hsu, 813.975.6251 City of Boca Raton Mun Srvcs Eng/trans analyst Joy Puerta 561.416.3410 [email protected] [email protected] City of Boca Raton PD/traffic safety educ Lori Wheeler 561.620.6056 [email protected] Broward County UrbanPlann & FDOT Elder Road User Prgm Rdvlpmnt/Special Projects & Bicycle Coordinator Mark Horowitz 954.357.6641 [email protected] Gail Holley, 850.410.5414 City of Delray Beach Parking Mgmt Scott Aronson 561.243.7286 [email protected] [email protected] City of Fort Lauderdale Planning & Zoning Dept/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Adrienne Ehle 954.828.5798 [email protected] FHWA Fla Div Safety Engineer Martin County MPO Felix Castrodad 772.419.4081 fcastrod @martin.fl.us Hussein Sharifpour, 850.942.9650x3024 Palm Beach County MPO Bret Baronak 561.684.4163 [email protected] [email protected]

District 5 Joan Carter 386.943.5335 [email protected] Community Traffic Safety Program District Brevard County Transportation/Bike-Ped-Trails Coordinators Prgm Coordinator Barbara Meyer 321.690.6890 [email protected] Brevard County Transportation/traffic safety education Kim Smith 321.690.6890 [email protected] FDOT Dist 1 CTST Coordinator Lake-Sumter MPO Michael Woods 352.315.0170 [email protected] Debra Stallings, 863.519.2347 Ocala-Marion County MPO Jeff Shrum 352.629.8529 [email protected] [email protected] City of Orlando Transportation Planning/bicycle-pedestrian-transit Malisa McCreedy 407.246.3347 [email protected] FDOT Dist 2 CTST Coordinator Metroplan Orlando (MPO) Mighk Wilson 407.481.5672x318 [email protected] Andrea Atran, 904.360.5416 Seminole County Trails & Greenways Cindy Matheny 407.665.2095 [email protected] [email protected] Volusia County MPO Stephan Harris 386.226.0422x34 [email protected] FDOT Dist 3 CTST Coordinator-East District 6 Ken Jeffries 305.470.6736 [email protected] Quinton Williams, 850.415.9426 City of Key West Parks & [email protected] Rec/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Jim Malcolm 305.293.6495 [email protected] City of Miami Beach/bicycle program coordinator Christine Leduc 305.673.7080x6768 [email protected] FDOT Dist 3 CTST Coordinator-West Miami-Dade County MPO David Henderson 305.375.1647 [email protected] Barbara Lee, 850.415.9231 Monroe County Planning Jose Papa 305.289.2514 [email protected] [email protected]

District 7 Michelle Greene 813.975.6411 [email protected] FDOT Dist 4 CTST Coordinator City of Clearwater/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Felicia Leonard 727.562.4852 [email protected] Carmen Pullins, 954.777.4092 Citrus County Sheriff’s Office/traffic safety educ Kristen Reinhard 352.726.4488 x307 [email protected] [email protected] Hernando County MPO Steve Diez 352.754.4057 [email protected] Hillsborough County MPO Gena Torres 813.273.3774x357 [email protected] FDOT Dist 5 CTST Coordinator Hillsborough County Parks&Rec Charner Reese 813.276.8388 [email protected] Barry Wall, 904.943.5324 Hillsborough County Public Works/bicycle- [email protected] pedestrian coordinator Deborah Carreno 813.307.1852 [email protected] Hillsborough County Public Works/Manager, Bicycle, FDOT Dist 6 CTST Coordinator Pedestrian & School Safety Prgms Gary Tait 813.307.1871 [email protected] 305.470.5346 Pasco County MPO Doug Uden 727.847.8140x8230 [email protected] City of Pinellas Park Planning Ron Hull 727.541.0704 [email protected] FDOT Dist 7 CTST Coordinator Pinellas County MPO Brian Smith 727.464.8200 [email protected] Jeanette Rouse, 813.975.6256 City of St. Petersburg Transportation & [email protected] Parking/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Cheryl Stacks 727.892.5328 [email protected] City of Tampa Public Works Jan Washington 813.274.8303 [email protected] Other organizations City of Tampa/Parks & Rec Dept/Greenways & Trails Coordinator Mary Helen Duke 813.231.1332 [email protected] Bike Florida Linda Crider, 352.392.8192 Program coordinators under FDOT contract [email protected] Fla Traffic&Bicycle Safety Educ Prgm/director Linda Crider 352.392.8192 [email protected] FTBSEP assistant Yukari Takata 352.392.8192 [email protected] Rails-to-Trails Florida Office Fla School Crossing Guard Training Prgm/administrator Leigh Matusick 386.943.5600 [email protected] Ken Bryan, 850.942.2379 FSCGTP Assistant Carol Dunn 386.943.5601 [email protected] [email protected]

Other FDOT, state & federal agency staff Fla. Ped-Bike Resource Center FDEP Ofc of Greenways & Trails Jim Wood 850.245.2052 [email protected] Joy Riddell, 954.762.5680 FDOE Student Transportation/Director Charlie Hood 850.245.9924 [email protected] [email protected] FDOT ADA Coordinator Dean Perkins 850.414.4359 [email protected] FDOT CO Policy Planning David Blodgett 850.414.4815 [email protected] Fla. SAFE KIDS/state coordinator FDOT CO Policy Planning Melanie Weaver Carr 850.414.4817 [email protected] Ralph Salvas, 850.245.4440x2774 Florida Tech Transfer (T2) Center/co-directors Janet Degner, Nina Barker 352.392.2371x227 [email protected] [email protected] FDOT CO Roadway Design Vacant FDOT CO Systems Planning Martin Guttenplan 850.414.4906 [email protected] FDOT CO Transit Planning Amy Datz 850.414.4239 [email protected] 12 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger

BikeEd 2007 Conference set for Austin, TX June 14 -16, 2007

THE BikeEd 2007 CONFERENCE (former- ing diverse audiences, and teaching educa- ly Bicycle Education Leaders Conference) is tors in your community. the only national conference dedicated to the Join with us as we work to dramatically critical topic of bicycle safety and education. increase the number of people who benefit If you teach bicycle safety, you should be in from bicycle education programs. Austin, this June. We plan to reach the tens of millions of Building on the success of our three previ- drivers, bicyclists, and potential bicyclists ous education conferences in Madison, Wis. who have yet to receive any formal bicycle in 2002, Portland, Ore. in 2003, and New safety education and training. We need your York City in 2005, the event will bring experience and participation to get the job together the leading experts in the field to done. discuss best practices, opportunities and challenges in bicycle education. The BikeEd Conference provides: The conference is a great opportunity to network with and learn from your peers and ❏ Educational workshops on issues facing to brush up on your teaching techniques. bicycle safety educators Preston Tyree leads an LCI Train the Trainer session at the 2005 conference in New York City. For nearly 30 years, the League of ❏ Instructor skills training (LAB photo) American Bicyclists has delivered quality ❏ Opportunities to learn from other bicycling education programs that give riders educators the skills and confidence necessary to oper- ❏ Showcasing of best practices - Statewide, ❏ New venues and audiences - retailers, Phone: (888) 444-OMNI, 512- 476-3700. ate in today's traffic. regional, and community education charity rides, and workplaces ❏ The LAB's national network of more than programs Multilingual education Conference Host ❏ ❏ 950 certified instructors teach curricula Peer to peer networking The latest educational materials and The Austin Cycling Association is partici- ❏ based on the simple principle that the bicycle Discussions on differences between teach- resources pating as local host. is a vehicle and bicyclists have the same ing adults and children bicycle safety For more information please contact the ❏ rights and responsibilities as motorists. How to better promote and market Conference Hotel League of American Bicyclists at 202/822- The program includes informative work- BikeEd The conference will take place at the Omni 1333, e-mail [email protected], or shops on sharing best practices, improving ❏ Safe Routes to School and other school Austin Hotel Downtown (http://www.omni- visit... the marketing and appeal of BikeEd, reach- based programs hotels.com/FindAHotel/AustinDowntown.as www.bikeleague.org/conferences/bikeed07 px A year of living ‘car-lessly’ more of the logistical nightmares fall on *Walkshed: A pedestrian travel zone. A good From “One Year Car-less,” by Alan Durning, copyright 2007 Sightline Institute, Amy than on me. She shoulders more of the walkshed map would include whereabouts of Seattle; used with permission. burden because she does more of the family public restrooms, water fountains, bike errands—shopping, transporting kids—than racks, bus stops and benches, and include After the demise of their family Volvo, Compared with what we would have spent I do. And her work takes her to more out-of- details on many shops, retail stores and Sightline director Alan Durning and his fam- to replace our old Volvo with a different used the-way places at transit-unfriendly hours. places to eat. Durning describes his as being ily, who live in Seattle, decided to try living car, we saved about $1,500. So we’re making no promises. Still, we’re about a one-mile radius. car-free for one year. Compared with buying a new hybrid like not rushing to the dealership either. We’re In a series on his Sightline Website, the ones Flexcar rents us by the hour, we taking it one month at a time. Durning explores the benefits and dilemmas saved more than $4,000. (The first-year One thing’s clear: we can envision a that arise from being a car-less family with depreciation—the loss in resale value—on a future in which car-lessness is more com- Sightline Institute www.sightline.org three kids. This story is number 25 in that new Prius is almost $6,000 and the total monplace. The more car-less and low-car (formerly Northwest Environment series, the first anniversary of his brave first-year costs are almost $13,000!) families emerge, the easier it’ll be to live Watch) is a not-for-profit research and experiment. Awareness: We’re more aware of our sur- well as one, because most of the problems communication center—a think tank— roundings. This is a practical benefit: we we’re experiencing are classic challenges based in Seattle and founded in 1993 YESTERDAY [February 19,2007] was the know what’s nearby. that face early adopters. by Alan Durning. first anniversary of giving up (OK, totaling) It’s also a plus in terms of mindfulness: I As more people shed one (or more) vehi- Sightline's mission is to bring about our family car. remember my son Peter calling on his cell cles, transit and taxi service will improve. sustainability—a healthy, lasting pros- To mark the occasion: a tally of our phone from his first bike ride home along a Traffic will diminish, improving life for perity grounded in place. accomplishments, followed by an announce- particular route—a route we’d driven since those of who live with “no box.” Walkshed* ment of our plans. his early childhood. maps, complete with restroom coverage, will Flexcar (www.flexcar.com) rents Driving: We reduced our driving by two- Incredulous and dismayed, he exclaimed, become readily available. fuel efficient cars by the hour. thirds compared to our average in recent “Dad! There’s a really big hill!” His tone of Car-sharing, car-hopping, and high-tech Members reserve a car online or by years. We drove 90 percent less than the voice implied, “Where did it come from?” hitch-hiking will catch on and spread—thin- phone, run their errand and return the average US family of our size and income. Inspiration: A lot of people tell us that ning the ranks of parked vehicles and filling car to its designated parking space. We drove about 2,500 miles—about 7 miles our example has motivated them to drive the seats of moving ones. Vehicles as of April 8 were avail- a day on average—in Flexcars (mostly), car- less. It’s not exactly a mass movement. But Transportation will become something we able in Gainesville and 11 other pools that went out of their way to pick us it’s something. buy by the trip, rather than by the vehicle— cities. According to the Website, up (often), and borrowed cars (occasionally). It all sounds so good, you might assume with the result that we will end most Gainesville rates begin at around Gasoline and climate change: We burned we’re committed to car-lessness for the long “default driving.” $5.50/hour ($55/day) with an annual 80 percent less gasoline in our car-less year haul. But we’re not. Drum roll . . . We’re Above all, the political demand for com- membership fee of $35. Accounts can than in the previous year, slashing our emis- undecided. plete, compact communities—the kinds of be set up for “roaming” in cities other sions of greenhouse gases. We reduced our As rewarding as it is, being car-less with places where cars are accessories to life and than your own. gasoline consumption more than our driving, kids is also challenging, especially in the not its organizing principle—will become According to Wikipedia, Flexcar has because many Flexcars are hybrids. dark, wet Cascadian winter. Managing the irresistible. It’s a vision of the future that 15,000 members in Seattle, the com- Health: We walked and biked much more child-raising transportation demands of keeps us inspired. We’re just impatient to get pany’s headquarters. than before. Our fitness improved. We’ll live December—a soccer tournament, six days a there soon. Other similar companies exist. longer. week of drama rehearsals and performances, Maybe if lots of other people join us, Search “carsharing” on the Internet Money: We saved between $1,500 and holiday errands and gatherings—had us pin- we’ll feel moved to make a longer commit- for more information. $4,000. We spent about $6,000 on the year ing for a family car at times. ment. If we stay car-less, will you join us? of living car-lessly. The logistics get pretty elaborate. And Will you shed a vehicle? Spring 2007 13 Upcoming Bicycle Touring Events in Florida ABRIDGED from promotional material provided by tour organizers. We’re not responsible for accuracy of information or quality of these rides. Use the contact information for more details about each ride. Ask your friends. Data are from a calendar maintained by Roger Pierce. To add an event to his (and our) calendar, e-mail to [email protected]. See complete calendar, including many out-of-state rides we don’t have room to print here, and all the hype we edited out at www.floridabicycle.org/fbtc/.

April 29 (Sunday) Jacksonville June 24 (Sun) Lake Worth www.pecancitypedalers.org/ Tour de Forts Lauren Katzenstein Celebration Ride Active.com Online Registration December April [email protected] http://nfbc.us/Default.aspx?tabid=104 August December 8-9 White Springs April 21 (Sat) Clermont Active.com Online Registration October Secret Santa Open House & Cycling Bike-a-thon August 11 (Sat) Summerville GA Weekend To register for this event send your Chattooga Century 2007 Gainesville Cycling Festival The Suwannee Bicycle Association name, a mailing and email address to: May Take a tour of the lovely North Two centuries in two days! (Or enjoy invites you to a memorable weekend [email protected] Georgia mountains with the option of the shorter options for a weekend of of preholiday cycling activities and May 4-6 White Springs 15M, 30M, Metric, Century and 125M bicycle touring.) Full info is available festivities at the Secret Santa Open April 21-22 Quincy Suwannee Bicycle Festival rides. The rolling terrain will accom- on the web site, along with an applica- House and Century Ride. Both on-road TOSRV South aka Spring Bicycle Festival modate all riders and the 125M option tion. Or send your snail mail address and off-road rides will be conducted [email protected] aka Spring Bicycle & Paddle Festival will test even the most experienced to [email protected]; we will each day. Secret Santa Open House is www.cccyclists.org aka Suwannee Spring Bicycle Festival riders with a climb up beautiful send you our brochure and an entry scheduled to coincide with White Active.com Online Registration [email protected] Lookout Mountain. All routes will be application in August. Springs Festival of Lights and the www.suwanneebike.org/sbf.htm SAG'd and rest stops plentiful. Christmas Parade. Suwannee Bicycle April 21-22 Cypress Gardens Active.com Online Registration Helmets are required for this ride! October 20 (Sat) Gainesville Association, PO Box 247, White Bright House Networks MS Bike http://chattoogacentury.org/ Saturn Santa Fe Century Springs FL 32096. 386-397-2347 Tour “Wheels, Whales & Tails” May 5 (Sat) Milton Active.com Online Registration A tour through the lush forest and pas- Email: [email protected] [email protected] Liberty for All, Metric Century ture land north of Gainesville up www.suwanneebike.org/santa.htm www.nationalmssociety.org/flc Blackwater Heritage State Trail. August 11-12 Suwannee River State through the Santa Fe River valley. Active.com Online Registration Park Rides start at 8:30 am from the North April 21-22 Miami Dog Days Open House West Boys Club at 2700 NW 51st Maroone MS 150 Bike Tour May 6 (Sun) Flagler Beach Held at Suwannee River State Park 9 Street in Gainesville. Enjoy a 100 or a http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org/site Rotary A1A Ocean Shore Scenic miles west of Live Oak. Saturday 55 mile road ride, or the 18 or 28 mile /PageServer?pagename=BIKE_FLS_ Highway Bicycle Ride morning will start off with either a fun Millhopper Ramble family fun ride, homepage Leastokes@preferredmanagementser- ride at Anderson Springs, Big Oak or with well stocked rest stops. $35 vices.net along the scenic country roads. includes a T-shirt, IHOP breakfast, and April 21-26 Live Oak www.RotaryFlagler.org/ Saturday afternoon, we will float down Domino's pizza. Other Touring Calendars Florida Bicycle Safari the Suwannee/Withlachochee River in 6-day SOLD OUT inner tubes. Bring a covered dish for October 21 (Sun) Gainesville National Bicycle Tour 3-day still available May 12 (Sat) Gainesville the Saturday evening pot luck dinner. Horse Farm Hundred [email protected] A Ride To Remember Make your hotel or camp site reserva- The Gainesville Cycling Club's tour Directors Association www.FloridaFreewheelers.com http://gccfla.org/rtr/ tions today. This is a great event to through the picturesque horse farms of www.nbtda.com Active.com Online Registration introduce your friends to the SBA as it northern Marion county. We have the April 27 - 29 Sebring has no event fee. Suwannee Bicycle best stocked rest stops in Florida! The The 22nd Annual Spring Brake May 17 - 20 Clermont Association, PO Box 247, White 102 mile ride (and a 55 mile option Georgia Bicycle Weekend Brevet Series South: 1000km or Springs, FL 32096. that doesn't get into horse farm territo- Federation Calendar www.everglades-bicycleclub.org/activ- 200km (625 mi or 125 mi.) “Two [email protected] ry) starts at 8:30 am at the http://bicyclegeorgia.com/gac.html ities.html Events” www.suwanneebike.org/. Morningside Nature Center at 3540 Active.com Online Registration [email protected] East University Avenue. Bagels and www.bike4one.com/brevets/ muffins will be available before the National Multiple April 27-29 Madison Ga www.brevets4us.com September start. The 45, 30, and 25 mile touring Sclerosis Society - MS BRAG Spring Tune-up rides start at 8:30 am in Flemington [email protected] May 19 (Sat) Bonifay September 1-2 Savannah GA (northernmost [Irvine] I-75 exit in 150s www.brag.org/ Brevet Series West: 200/300 km Historic Savannah Bikefest Marion county). www.nmss.org Active.com Online Registration 124/186 miles. For More Details and Registration [email protected] September 15 (Sat) Albany GA [email protected] April 28 (Sat) Rotonda-West www.ride-4-life.com/ 4th Annual Nut Roll http://gccfla.org/gcf/ American Diabetes Ride for the Red Sponsored by the Pecan City Pedalers Association - Tour de May 19-20 Jacksonville - Ride benefits The Parks at Chehaw October 26-28 White Springs Cures April 28 (Sat) Bonifay American Diabetes Tour de Cure Education Center Ride Options 30, Fat-Tire Festival Brevet Series West: 400/600 km [email protected] 46,62,102 miles. Registration opens at At Stephen Foster State Park Camping, www.diabetes.org/tour 248/372 miles. www.diabetes.org/jaxtour 7 am at The Parks of Chehaw, Philema meals, T-shirt. All skill levels, ride [email protected] Road, Hwy 91N Ride begins at 8 am Guides and Sweeps. Sponsored by the The Good Cyclist – chari- www.ride-4-life.com/ and routes are mostly flat with a few Suwannee Bicycle Association, PO gentle rolling hills. All routes are fully Box 247, White Springs, FL 32096. ty rides nationwide Apr 28 (Sat) Siesta Key June supported and clearly marked. Map [email protected] www.goodcyclist.org Sunset Bike Ride on Siesta Key and cue sheets will be given to each www.suwanneebike.org/ [email protected] June 9-16 Columbus GA participant. Lunch will be provided. www.SCOSA.org/ Great Bicycle Ride Across Georgia Pre-registration - $25 (T-shirt guaran- Florida Discovery teed if received by August 27, 2007) November Bicycling Center April 28 (Sat) Homestead June 11 (Mon) Spartanburg SC After Pre-registration - $30 Showers www.floridabicycle.org/discovery Purple Martin Bike Ride Assault on Mt Mitchell Available. Camping at the park (call November 18 (Sun) Clermont [email protected] http://freewheelers.info/assault.html 229-430-5275) Jim Anne Brett, Ride Horrible Hundred (unofficial) www.polkcounty.org/ Director, Phone: 229-432-1743. [email protected] [email protected] www.floridafreewheelers.com

Left: Police Activities League bicyclists participated in the "Officer Down Memorial Ride" commemorating Sheriff Daniels. Mission Inn is primary sponsor of PAL juniors bicycling team. In the background is Sheriff's honor guard commemorating Sheriff Daniels, and, in front, Sheriff Borders with the juniors who rode the 35-mile commemorative ride between Titusville and Winter Springs.

BICYCLE RIDE ACROSS GEORGIA Annual BRAG ride across Georgia, Columbus to Savannah – June 9-16, 2007. Spring Tune-Up Ride, Madison, GA, April 27-29, 2007. Great fun for families and groups. Higher mileage options available.

Contact [email protected] or 770-498-5153 www.brag.org 14 Florida Bicycle Association Messenger

Young rider profile... The making of a new cyclist by Lyndy Moore and Mark Horowitz

Most of the profile articles have been about Once he got the pedaling motion down he school aged children. This time, I asked a was ready to ride with his friends—or so I 357 dad, Mark Horowitz, to write an article thought. He would look forward to riding 100 about his son and their challenges in learn- with them but found he could not keep up. 135 ing to ride a bicycle. I'm hoping that Mark’s He didn’t appreciate being called “slow and Ian’s father/son bicycling experience will poke,” so we went back to the trainer. help motivate other families to find a way to He enjoyed riding so much he started include cycling for all their family members. using it as an exercise bike. By now, I had Ian is a seven-year-old first grader who added rollers, adjustable so he could pedal began riding at age four. His first bike: a 12- comfortably, and I took this time to get him inch Trek. Ian’s favorite bike video is used to both his hand brakes and foot brake. 218 “Bicycle Safety Camp” and his favorite To help him balance on a bicycle seat, we book, Marcel Moves Mountains, serves as a borrowed some Hippotherapy (therapy on FBA General Memberships horseback) exercises and did them while he fitting motivator for his biggest cycling chal- as of Dec 31, 2006 lenge: overcoming developmental disabili- pedaled the bike on the trainer. 235 ties. We had a couple of other games we Total: 1,064 — Lyndy Moore played while he used the trainer and eventu- Out of State: 17 ally his strength increased. At this point he Out of Country: 1 CYCLING IS A SPORT OF challenges: began keeping up with his friends and his favorite ride was now off-road on the nature traffic, hills, headwinds, finding time to ride Clubs: 16 and the alone time on a long ride. trail at one of the local parks—not an easy Shops: 21 191 Rarely, if ever, do you think of learning ride with training wheels. how pedaling, keeping your feet on the ped- After his off-road experience with training als or paying attention to what is in front of wheels, he wanted them off. We tried a few A special "Thank you" to all new and you as a challenge. You just do it. of times without the training wheels but he renewing members. Your support But to many people just wasn’t getting it and keeps Florida Bicycle Association and 82 these challenges are I wish I had a dollar he started to fear falling. its programs going. real. Ian Horowitz is So we tried a different one of those people. for every time I heard method. I removed the While, by compari- “I’m ok” after a fall. pedals and lowered the son, Ian’s disabilities seat so, seated flat-foot- are mild, they do affect muscle control and ed, he could walk or coast. The hope was attention span. that he would coast for an extended length New FBA board members past 29 years in a major role for supporting When Ian began riding a tricycle, it of time and get the feel for how to balance. the needs and interests of the bicycling became obvious his disability relating to This wasn’t the magic bullet I hoped for. from page 5 community. coordination made it difficult for him to keep He didn’t coast much but I think it helped She holds a League Cycling Instructor New board members his feet on the pedals. him get the idea of how to balance. certification from the League of American Linda Crider, a former board president and Consider: you need to get your feet mov- Last month we put the pedals back on, Bicyclists and has conducted safety educa- last original member of the board, stepped ing in circles while pedaling in a recumbent went to a nearby vacant parking lot and tried tion training for educators, law enforcement down in December 2001 to devote more cycling position; every push on the pedals again. officials and citizens throughout Florida. time to responsibilities with the Florida changes the steering. It was no wonder he This time we started with him seated on Linda's Ph.D. in Educational Administration Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education was having problems. Consequently, he sim- the bike while I held it. I went over how a has brought her interests in children, safety Program and Bike Florida. ply was not that interested in riding a trike. bike steers and that to stay upright you need education and cycling together in a unique Dr. Crider is presently a research associate After watching him struggle with this, I to make small corrections. synergy of talents and passion. for the U. of Florida Department of Urban realized part of the problem was his pedaling The irony here is that when I was certified Linda resides in Palatka on the mighty St. and Regional Planning. She coordinates the position. As a dad with a dream of doing as a League of American Bicyclists instruc- Johns river where she enjoys rowing, FDOT statewide Traffic and Bicycle Safety long rides with my son, I was not about to tor I had to teach the portion on how a bicy- canoeing, kayaking and cruising on her Education Program, a program she has give up. cle steers to the class and I remember think- pontoon houseboat. She will soon retire, to directed for over 17 years. She is currently Ian and I went to buy his first two-wheel- ing it was a waste to time. finish her cabin in Cordova, Alaska, play Executive Director for Bike Florida, Inc. er, a fire engine red, 12-inch Trek. By this Instead of running along holding the seat, more bluegrass music, and learn to fish. time, Ian had outgrown his toddler bike hel- once he got started I would hold his shirt Linda is currently working with FDOT met and picked out his first youth helmet, collar, primarily to slow him down when he systems planning office on the Multi-modal embellished with pictures of bicycling dogs. fell and to give him minimal support. Level of Service research project, a major Anxious to try out his new bike, we fit the Once in awhile I would let him fall so he transportation planning initiative. helmet, adjusted the seat height and off he would learn the consequences of not paying The “Safeways to School” pilot project, wasn’t. The new pedaling position helped but attention. which Linda directed in 1998-99, has culmi- he was still having problems keeping his feet I wish I had a dollar for every time I nated in a statewide expansion initiative on the pedals. heard “I’m ok” after a fall. In a few through a newly organized “Safe Routes to He also did not have enough strength get moments he was riding—not very far and School” program utilizing the “tool kit” that the bicycle moving on his own or keep it not very straight but on his own. He was so was a product of the pilot research. Dr. moving for long. Even getting his feet mov- excited about his new ability he wanted to Crider has also been involved with a number ing in the right direction was a challenge. ride on the path next to a canal! of statewide grants including the Statewide Additionally, his attention span was an The last time out, his confidence was def- “Share the Road” awareness campaign and issue. Once he got the bicycle moving, he initely up; he was taking the bike where he specialty license tag promotion. would frequently stop. Either he tired too wanted, intentionally swerving wide, riding Linda first became involved in bicycling easily or something else caught his attention. on the grass and in circles. policy issues at the state level during her Distractions abounded and his progress was We still have more work to do but now he employment in the governor’s office. At that slow. is riding well enough to get the feel of the time, (1979) she gained the support of When he outgrew the Trek and moved on bike and fast enough to scare himself and Governor Bob Graham to begin a bicycle to a 16-inch Schwinn, I decided he needed to “make daddy run.” program in the Florida Department of focus only on the pedaling motion without Mark Horowitz is a League Cycling Transportation and hire a full time bicycle the distractions of a moving bicycle or being Instructor and Bicycle Coordinator for the program coordinator. in the street. To do this I developed a trainer Broward County Transportation Planning Linda became the first chairperson for the that worked with a bicycle with training Division. statewide citizens advisory committee that wheels. advised the governor and FDOT secretary on bicycling matters. She has remained over the Spring 2007 15

Scenes from Bike Florida 2007

More than 700 riders and volunteers partici- pated in the March 17 through 23 ride, which originated and ended in DeLand with stops in Flagler Beach, Daytona Beach and New Smyrna and a pause in Lake Helen for refreshments of several kinds. Riders had all the fun and all we got was these pictures.

Below: Earle Richards (Kissimmee) and Phil Salvanti (Missouri) prepare to pedal around the Daytona track on a tandem trike recumbent. Stoker Earle (75) is a long time volunteer for FBA and Bike Florida.

Caught up in the romance of another Bike Florida adventure, these riders couldn’t resist a little face time on the porch of a Lake Helen Pizza parlor. Or maybe it was the salad dressing...

Below right: The REST STOP QUEEN (a.k.a. FBA executive direc- tor Laura Hallam) keeps a watchful eye on the M&Ms as Bike Florida riders chow down at a rest stop. Go back to page 7 to understand the temptation.

Doggie does duty as captain while stoker does all the work on this innovative tandem for beast and best friend. Photographer Jim Harris shot this. You can see more of his pic- tures from Bike Florida at www.biketourphoto.com. This was the dog's first tour in the specially made bike— they had been riding Last day boost: Bike Florida participants stop for coffee and smooth- together for only a week before. ies in Lake Helen on the last day to have one last sit and sip with friends before heading home. Bike Florida started and ended in DeLand about 7 miles from the Lake Helen Coffee and Tea Shop.

Name: E-mail: Add your voice Address: for the future City: County: State: Zip: of bicycling Tel (H) (W) in Florida. 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 I have taken a Road I (formerly Effective Cycling) class ❑ Ye s ❑ No; Approximate year taken: JOIN FBA I have taken a Road II class ❑ Ye s ❑ No; Approximate 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 Please make checks payable and mail to: Membership includes Card No: Expires: Florida Bicycle Association, Inc. the FBA Messenger! Signature: P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694 Spring 2007 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Florida Bicycle Association Messenger PAID Mid-FL FL P.O. Box 718 Waldo, FL 32694 Permit # 475

The mission of the Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) is to inspire and support people and communities to enjoy greater freedom and well being through bicycling. The Florida Bicycle Association was incorporated in 1997 for educational and charitable purposes. FBA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations, including membership dues, are tax deductible. A copy of the cur- rent financial statements may be obtained by contacting FBA, P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694. To join FBA complete the form below and send with your dues. The Florida Bicycle Association Messenger is published quarterly as a service to mem- bers and advocates for a bicycle-friendly Florida by the Florida Bicycle Association, P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694. www.floridabicycle.org; e-mail:[email protected]; Phone: 352-468-3430. Membership in FBA includes a subscription to the Messenger. What does your tag say? If you have a Share the The Messenger accepts and welcomes your advertising! Please see the Website for rates Road plate with a message or a regular plate with a and specifications or e-mail [email protected]. Publishers reserve the right to review advertising content and to reject advertising that, in the opinion of the Association, is neither in SAFETY message, please submit it for the best interest of FBA’s members nor its goals and objectives. Although we carefully review www.ShareTheRoad.org. Click on the home articles and information submitted, FBA is not responsible for the information or opinions con- tained herein unless explicitly stated as official policy of FBA. page link to check them out. © 2007 Florida Bicycle Association All rights reserved. And LISTEN to the tags out there!

I'm sorry Mr. Smith, that's an impressive bicycling mileage figure, but the standard mileage deduction is for motorized vehicles only.

While we can't make all your tax dreams come true, we can offer you 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 243 W. Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 647-6441 Office (407) 645-0099 Fax