Florida Bike Summit ‘09
Florida Bicycle Association’s first Florida Bike Summit at the State Capitol was a success. Even torrential rain – enough to strand over 400 participants of the Bike Florida tour in a high school shelter for three nights – couldn’t derail the event. Instead of hordes of cyclists arriving by bike, busloads of them were driven from Monticello where they’d been hold-up.
Florida’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer Donna O’Neil, Representative Adam Fetterman, and David Henderson, FBA’s president, addressed a crowd of over one-hundred before about a dozen of us hit the halls of the Capitol to meet with senators, representatives, and their staff people to introduce ourselves and begin to get policy makers familiar with issues and priorities that are important to cyclists.
Without exception, FBA was well received by the elected officials or their staff representatives with whom we met. The issue FBA cited first and foremost was the need for FDOT to follow Florida statute 335.065 and its own corresponding policy regarding the requirement to include bicycle and pedestrian accommodation in almost any state road project, including resurfacing.
In the days and weeks leading up to the Summit all attention was on the possibility that the legislature was poised to gut the Office of Greenways and Trails, this on the heels of Florida having been recognized as having the best trails in the country. Right up until the day before we gathered in Tallahassee at the Capitol, OGT supporters, including FBA, were working hard to convince our elected officials that taking such a draconian measure was unwise and unacceptable. Fortunately, a bill that included such a measure never came to a vote. None the less, legislators were thanked publically and during individual meetings for their support of this valuable and successful division of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Other issues we brought up in our meetings included:
- Closing the legal gap between “careless” and “reckless” driving
- Expanding Dori Slosberg funding rules to include bike/ped education programs
- Strengthening laws against harassment/intimidation of cyclists
- Opposing any attempt to require cyclists to use bike lanes when present
- Requesting transportation system designers to include bike/ped performance measures in their planning
- Allowing bicyclist to use certain limited access highways and bridges
- Providing state funds for Safe Routes to School
- Forming a bike caucus among legislators
- Re-establishing a statewide bike/ped council
- Highlighting the many and significant economic benefits of cycling
- Pointing out the bike-transit connection and accompanying benefits
- Pointing out the need for better accommodation on roads for cyclists to increase safety and access
Of course, many personal stories of cycling were also exchanged and a variety of local issues were discussed. Based on feedback FBA received many excellent connections were made and plenty of useful information gained from this effort.
FBA would like to thank the following individuals who took time to meet with officials and the elected officials who opened their doors to us (If you’re aware of anyone left of either list please let us know and well make the necessary changes):
Rebecca Afonso, Michael Brown, Paul Calewarts, Michelle Fowler, Jennifer Gonzalez, Jeanne Hargrave, David Henderson, Earl Lang, Laura Minns, Dan Moser, Carol Pulley, Bill Richards, Sally Warrick, Mighk Wilson.
Sen Dave Aronberg(S27), Sen Michael Bennett (S21), Rep Jennifer Carroll (H13), Rep Chuck Chestnut (H23), Rep Marti Coley (H7), Rep/Speaker Larry Cretul (H22), Sen Lee Constantine (S?), Sen Nancy Detert (S23), Rep Eric Eisnaugle (H40), Sen Andy Gardner (S9), Anthony Hill (S1), Rep Mia Jones (H14), Sen Charlie Justice (S16), Rep Paige Kreegel (R72), Sen Al Lawson (S6), Rep Peter Nehr (H9), Sen Steve Oelrich (S14), Rep Steve Precourt (H41), Rep Scott Randolph (H36), Sen Garrett Richter (S37), Rep Kenneth Roberson (H7), Rep Elaine Schwartz (H99), Rep Geraldine Thompson (H39), Rep Nick Thompson (H73).
Next Steps:
Besides sending “Thank You” messages to the senators, representatives, and staff members with whom we met and who assisted us in making our effort a success, FBA staff and board are using the feedback received and experiences gained in a number of ways. In the short-term we can use our knowledge of various officials’ positions and interests to determine which members are likely allies and even champions of issues of importance to Florida’s cyclists. When a specific problem or opportunity arises FBA know has a better idea of who should be enlisted to work with us in getting it solved or acted upon.
Leading up to the 2010 Summit we will have a better idea of how to streamline the organizational process as well as the event itself because we now have contacts and have learned a lot for our mistakes. FBA also received many useful suggestions and recommendations from those of you who took part, and for that we are grateful.
We hope the long-term benefits will be exactly what FBA envisioned when we decided to conduct the Summit: Improved conditions for all cyclists in our state, whether they be resident or visitor, commuter, recreational, hard-core, or casual cyclist.
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