Vol. 16, No. 1 Winter 2013 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC. Where My Bike Takes Me... Cyclists to catch a ride on the Bike Florida ‘Orange Blossom Express’ ecky Afonso’s trusty Schwinn “mule” is on the roads and trails again, this time at the Lake Kissimmee State Park “Florida Cow Camp.” Becky, who serves as ride director for the 2013 Bike Florida ride, took the photo during a recon for the Orange Blossom Express tour slated for March 23 through 29, 2013. Riders have an opportunity to visit the 1870s cow camp on the third stop on the 7-day tour, a layover in Lake Wales. See page 7 for more details. Or don’t take our word for it. Go to the Web site: www.bikeflorida.org. In an occasional feature for the FBA Messenger, “Where My Bike Takes Me” highlights FBA members and staff doing stuff you like to do on your bike. If you have a high quality, high resolution photo you’d like to see published in full, living color (well anyway, the best we can do with our newsprint budget) send it to FBA Director Tim Bustos. PAID Mid-FL, FL Permit #475 Permit U.S. Postage U.S. NONPROFIT ORG NONPROFIT P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791 Box 916715, Longwood, P.O. Photo: Becky Afonso Becky Photo: ADVOCATING A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY FLORIDA 2 Florida Bicycle Association Time to change the ‘frame’ of the debate... We all are drivers 2012 Leadership Workshop by Dan Moser, FBA Program Director by J. Steele Olmstead, Esq. was at the SWFBUD (South West 316.130(15), 316.2065(1), 316.2065(9); FBA’s annual Florida Bicycle Club focuses on representing cyclists involved Florida Bicycle United Dealers) and 4. “operating”: 316 .072(1), Leadership Workshop returned to in crashes. “Bicycle Bash” in Tampa in 316.091(4), 316.2065(5)(a), (5)(b), (6). Clermont November 17 after having Chris’s presentation covered liability November and had a lot of people A review of the popular literature for taken a year off in 2011. Over twenty issues clubs need to be aware of and pre- interested in how we can improve cyclists (Bicycling, Outside, Cycling club representatives, as well as all of pared for, a topic of which he has plenty our status on the roads from a legal World), almost uniformly presents the FBA’s and Bike Florida’s staff were in of firsthand experience. By citing many standpoint. cyclist as a “rider” of his vehicle. Not attendance the day before the very popu- examples and actual scenarios, he pro- Our problem as serious cyclists who good. lar and challenging Horrible Hundred. vided club leaders with invaluable infor- want the laws in our favor enforced is You may think, “Steele, wait, what’s Tim Bustos opened the workshop by mation that could serve to protect their that the motoring public cannot differen- wrong with saying I’m ‘riding’? Is this providing some insight into what FBA is organizations and individual members, tiate between us, who are using the road bad? “ My reply is, “Who else ‘rides’ doing for our member clubs, as well as including officers, directors, and even exactly as motorists are, and children. their vehicle?” for cyclists in general. I gave an update ride leaders. Based on the comments We share in common with children the Well, kids, children do. They ride their of the CyclingSavvy bicycle education and questions during and after Chris’s same machines and the same activity-to scooters, ride their Big Wheels, ride their program, Becky Afonso announced Bike presentation, there is little doubt in my wit- “riding” our bicycles. Unfortunately skateboards, ride their tricycles, and ride Florida’s 2013 “Orange Blossom mind that those in attendance were glad it is not the same. There are laws which their training wheel bikes. Riding is what Express” tour, and Ken Foster gave a to have made the effort to take part. put us on equal legal footing with motor kids do. rundown of “Share the Road” license Chris is also interested in hearing of vehicles and protect our adult cycling Furthermore, “you know how kids plate marketing and education activities. your experiences with law enforcement, activity. are.” A kid is “unpredictable, irresponsi- However, the featured presenter was insurance companies and agencies you It would appear we need to “reframe” ble, risk-taking, foolish, they are just Chris Burns, a long time FBA member may do business with or are looking the discussion. George Lakeoff, the bril- crazy kids.” and Jacksonville attorney whose practice into, crash outcomes, and other input liant behavioral linguist, shows that And kids don’t have any rights, they continued on page 4 debates are won by the side that don’t vote, they are non-citizens, their “frames” the language of the debate. parents are responsible for them, and need to watch out for cars. They’re And you don’t hit a driver a vehicle of Think “embryonic stem” cells (scientifi- they are just “a bother on the roads.” crazy.” This idea carries over to the adult without some serious consequences. So, cally superfluous) and “tax The motoring public believes: “We are cyclist whether it’s a cancer researcher too, should it be for human powered relief”(where’s the pain?). cars. The parents of those kids have or a veterinarian, distinguished retired vehicles. In my jury trials, very often the winner taught them to ‘look out for cars’ right? Navy commander, Navy fighter pilot, We need to start calling what we do is the one whose words/phrases frame Well, get out of our way.” photographer, entrepreneur, or trial law- drive. We drive our vehicles too. We the facts and makes the most heads nod So what does the general motoring yer. They are all riding their vehicles, so drive and we have the same rights as or gives the most memorable phrases. Re public think adult cyclists do on their they have to “look out for cars.” Right? other drivers. framing applies to any public image. human powered vehicles costing several The challenge we have is to differenti- You don’t hit us without some serious Think of the groups who’ve changed hundred dollars, even thousands? Why, ate ourselves from the “unpredictable, consequences. We are not kids: We their entire labels: “Negroes’ to “African they “ride” those too. irresponsible, risk-taking, damned-fool- DRIVE. When we start referring to our- Americans,” “homosexuals” to “gay,” Say, they are doing the same thing as ish, crazy kids” and get the same rights selves as drivers of our vehicles, we “atheists” to “Brights.” those kids on those bicycles! Ladies and of other vehicles. establish that we drivers get the same This is similar to the marketing con- gentlemen, you don’t have to make a How? It would appear the way to do rights as other vehicles. cept of “re-branding.” We cyclists need huge cognitive leap to understand how that is reframe what we do. We are not By reframing this discussion it appears to do the same. It’s time to change “the this is perceived: all bicyclists are kids, kids, so we do not “ride” vehicles on the we may take control of the debate and frame.” It’s time for us as cyclists to they should look out for cars. road. We “drive” our vehicles on the make the public aware of our real legal claim our rights by reframing what we When your typical motorist, who road. Just one word substituted: drive. status, get our rights and stop getting hit. do. hasn’t driven a bicycle since they were We must recognize our rights are tied What do you think? Florida statutes do not help us. fourteen, sees a 45-year-old cyclist, the up in reframing using the word “drive.” Anybody want to go for a bicycle Bicycles or human-powered vehicles do cyclist is viewed the same as those Cars drive, trucks drive, motor vehicles drive? many things under Florida Statutes “unpredictable, irresponsible, risk-tak- drive. Chapter 316, the traffic statutes. ing, foolish, crazy kids riding on the A driver of a vehicle is entitled to right Attorney J. Steele Olmstead practices A quick review has us: 1. “driving” road.” of way and to be passed with a safe law state-wide from offices in Tampa. 316.1995(1); 2. “Riding”: 316.151(1)(b) It’s the same with the law enforcement clearance. A driver of a vehicle must be One of his specialties is bicycle law and and (c), 316.2065(2), (3)(b), (3)(c),(3) officers I speak with. “What the heck are given the same road rights as other driv- he’ll even come to you...wherever you (d), (3)(e),(4); 3. “propelling”: they doing on a bicycle in traffic? They ers. got broken. Winter 2013 3 Thanks to Our Donors! 2nd Q 2012: City names denote board and program staff member distribution. Is your area represented? Contact a board member today! Lifetime members Advocating a Jacksonville Mighk and Carol Wilson Orange Park Mr. & Mrs. H. Middleton Raynal bicycle-friendly Florida James Nash Duke Breitenbach P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791-6715 Kimberly Cooper Dr. Joe Warren Executive Director Membership Director Program Director DeLand William R. Hough Tim Bustos Deb Devoe Dan Moser Orlando Earle and Laura Reynolds 336 N Woodland Blvd. 2738 Gables Dr. 1449 Linhart Ave. Deland, FL 32720 Eustis, FL 32726 Ft. Myers, FL 33901 Phone: 850-238-5328 [email protected] Phone/Fax: [email protected] 239-334-6417 [email protected] Golden Gears ($250 - $499) Port Charlotte Board of Directors Operations Manager Ft Myers Orange Cycle Laura Hallam Mighk Wilson, President Earl Lang, Treasurer 20420 NE 132nd Ave.