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History of FBA1986Mike Lashe of Sarasota organized a bicycling advocacy group known as the "Spokespeople," which contacted and polled cycling advocates around the state. 1987In February advocates met in Orlando's downtown library to found the original Florida Bicycle Association. In its first eight months, the FBA sponsored "the largest bike event in the southeastern United States - the Grapenuts Bike Festival" and raised $11,000 through the festival and memberships. 1988By year end, membership included 18 clubs, four bike shops and 159 families and individuals. The first FBA president, independent filmmaker Robert Seidler, produced a series of TV public service announcements that were financed by a grant to the Spokespeople that Lasche obtained from the Sarasota County Foundation. A bimonthly newsletter, Florida Bike Lanes, functioned as a statewide information clearinghouse. Annual meetings were combined with "casual country cooler rides" in central Florida towns such as Winter Haven and Mount Dora. The FBA maintained a legislative liaison and advocated for state funding of bicycle and traffic skills education in the schools. It also pushed for bicycle registration and mandatory helmets for children and supported the development of rail trails such as the Tallahassee-St. Marks. 1991FBA began a drive for a "Share the Road" specialty license plate to raise funds for bicycle education and safety projects. Over 3,000 signatures were collected. 1995FBA disbanded. An executive director had been hired, but was unsuccessful in raising funds. Board members were unable to continue devoting the time required for active leadership. 1996On the day after Christmas an inattentive truck driver in Clay County drove into six cyclists, killing Margaret Raynal and Doug Hill of Gainesville. Outraged cyclists conferred by e-mail and resolved to reestablish the FBA. An e-mail list was started to facilitate communications. Initial discussions centered on forming one statewide organization that would address both on-road and off-road bicycling issues. In the end, two organizations emerged - Florida Off Road Bicycle Association (FORBA) would focus exclusively on off-road trails and the related land use issues, and Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) would focus on the broader spectrum of cycling and related issues. 1997FBA organizers Henry Lawrence, Linda Crider, Kathy Oates, Lys Burden and Carol Wilson formed a new board of directors and started a brand new not-for-profit corporation. Like its predecessor, they named it Florida Bicycle Association, Inc. An organizational meeting was held at the Disney Coronado Springs resort in September; those meeting participants formed the nucleus of the new organization. Not long thereafter, Dwight Kingsbury joined the board of directors. One of FBA's first projects was to revive the "Share the Road" campaign. The upcoming renewal of ISTEA legislation also became a top priority focus. 1998By spring it was becoming clear that FBA needed an executive director. The volunteer board by itself could not continue the effort necessary to sustain the organization. With little money in its coffers, FBA could not afford to hire an executive director. Carol Wilson, treasurer on the FBA board, volunteered to work as the E.D. with the goal of increasing FBA's membership and financial resources as quickly as possible. About this same time FBA received a determination letter from the IRS as a 501(c)(3) educational and charitable nonprofit corporation. A new quarterly newsletter for FBA was launched by Mighk Wilson, named the Florida Bicycle Messenger. Henry Lawrence and Randy Morton established FBA's first web site. Kathy Oates organized FBA's first Bike Action workshop in St. Petersburg. FBA's first annual meeting was held in conjunction with the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival. Henry Lawrence, the first president of the new FBA passed the gavel to Linda Crider, who agreed to serve a second term on the board as President. Art Ackerman, Tina Russo and Dan Moser joined the FBA board. The "Share the Road" tag campaign headed by Henry Lawrence, which began to lose steam over the summer, was reinvigorated by Jimmy Carnes, executive director of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Jimmy worked with Bike Florida, Inc., FBA and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to secure the $30,000 initial funding, to finish collection of the 10,000 petition signatures, and to help find sponsorship in the Florida House and Senate for the necessary legislative bills to authorize the tag. By the end of 1998, FBA had grown to 179 members, including eight bicycle clubs. Near the end of 1998 FORBA approached FBA about the idea of uniting FORBA and FBA into one organization. The FORBA board realized the tremendous commitment of time and money that it takes to run an organization, and felt that it was in FORBA's best interest to become a part of FBA. 1999The union between FBA and FORBA was finalized at the FORBA board meeting on February 27 in Palm Bay. FORBA would now stand for Florida Off Road Bicycle Advocates, a committee of the Florida Bicycle Association. Bob Michaels, president of FORBA, became the newest member of the FBA board. 1999 proved to be a banner year for Florida Bicycle Association. By the end of the year, membership had increased to 345 individual and family members, 13 bicycle clubs and 13 other corporate or government members for a total of 371 members. Many club, corporate and individual donors provided significant support to FBA in 1999, including an anonymous stock donation that brought FBA over $7,700. The financial support and the enthusiastic involvement of members and the FBA board of directors combined to produce successful results in 1999 including:
The FBA board was expanded from a maximum of seven members to eleven members. New board members in 1999 were Randall Williams from Casselberry who is also production editor of the FBA Messenger, and Hal Downing, an attorney in Orlando. It is notable that all of the six board members who served in 1999 wished to continue on the board in 2000 The FBA board ended 1999 with eight members. FBA also grew by two staff members. Paul Hardy from Apopka was FBA's new Program Director. Deb DeVoe from Altamonte Springs became FBA's part time membership director. Deb handles individual and family memberships. 2000A major accomplishment was a law enforcement booklet [click the link for the 2007 version. A 2007 guide for pedestrian laws enforcement is here ] intended for distribution to law enforcement officers across the state. The booklet contains information on the “hows” and “whys” of enforcing for bicycle safety, including a summary of all the relevant Florida statutes. Thanks to Tina Russo, FBA President, for her early research that helped kick off the project, to Paul Hardy for continuing the project and to Mighk Wilson, who finalized the booklet based on input from many sources including Pat Pieratte, Theo Petritsch and Dwight Kingsbury in the FDOT Safety Office, Dr. Linda Crider, and Paul Casazza, a police officer on FBA’s advisory board. Thanks also goes to Randall Williams, also on FBA’s board, who readied the booklet for final printing. FBA underwent some staffing changes in 2000. Carol Wilson stepped down as Executive Director in May, although she continued to perform the essential administrative duties of the organization on a volunteer basis. She will continue in 2001 as FBA’s bookkeeper. Paul Hardy departed as Program Director in September. We appreciate Paul and Linda Hardy’s energy and commitment to FBA’s programs. Lyndy Lyle Moore joined the Board of Directors. 2001Laura Hallam became Executive Director, and two new members, Duke Breitenbach and Mighk WIilson, joined the board. The expansion of membership gave birth to greater advocacy efforts and a broader educational program. Bike Action Workshops were been held in many cities around the state and resulted in the formation of citizen bicycle advocacy groups that were winning new victories for bicyclists. More workshops were planned for 2002 on an as-requested basis concentrating on areas of the state that had high crash activity. FBA supported the Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education program and worked cooperatively with Bike Florida on the annual Share the Road Rally and Bicycle Summit. Statewide communication links for bicyclists were improved via the quarterly newsletter, The Florida Bicycle Messenger, the web site, two e-mail lists and an electronic newsletter, FBA News. 2002The 3rd printing of the Florida Bicycle Law Enforcement Guide resulted with a total of 26,500 copies in circulation. A training program and video for law enforcement personnel was developed to complement the guide. Share the Road license plates generated over $155,000 since Summer 2000 with $59,000 benefiting FBA. Share the Road mini-grants were established to provide funds for programs that focus on motorist and bicyclist education and awareness of proper, legal roadway sharing. Road 1 workshops and other bicycle safety education workshops were established. FBA had a presence at over 50 events. FBA established an asset account to receive gifts of securities and planned giving. FBA was approved for another Highway Safety Grant in the amount of $43,862 from the Florida Department of Transportation. Membership increased by 25% with plans to launch another membership campaign in February 2003. 2003
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Florida Bicycle Association | P.O. Box 718 | Waldo, FL 32694 The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) was incorporated in 1997 for educational and charitable purposes. |