Local Advocacy Nets Big Bucks For Bicycle Awareness

The North Florida Bicycle Club was the first bike club to promote the 3-foot passing law (Florida State Statute 316.083, 316.085, pg. 13 in the Florida Bicycle Law Enforcement Guide) with signage on Jacksonville city buses. Their local advocacy efforts attracted the attention of Winter Park attorney and FBA Advisory Board member Hal Downing and members of the BOBbies, a Central Florida women’s only bicycle club. BOBbies members Mary Shanklin, Carol Stevens, Lisa Portelli and Keri Caffrey hit the ground biking by raising funds to support a similar campaign in the Greater Orlando area. To date, $6,800.00 has been raised towards the Lynx Bus Signage campaign to promote the 3-foot passing law including over $2,000.00 from the May “Cycling Smackdown at the Bowling Alley” event. FBA pitched in by agreeing to administer the funds so donations would be tax deductible, plus pledged $1,000.00 towards the campaign. Designed by Keri Caffrey and reproduced by Susan Fortini at FastSigns, the banners to appear on the rear of Lynx buses should be on the road in August. more »