Cyclist Fatalities Down, Injuries Up in 2007
The Florida Department of Highway Safety has finally released their 2007 Traffic Crash Facts report. According to crash reports submitted by local police departments and the Highway Patrol bicyclist fatalities declined slightly to 121 (from 124 in 2006) and reported bicyclist injuries increased to 4,303 (from 4,227). The majority of deaths happened to people in the 45-54 year old age group and 5 cyclists less than 15 years old were also killed. Of the 121 fatal crashes, 96 of the cyclists were not wearing a bike helmet. The report does not break it down for bicycle crashes but 39% of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol.
The full report (including county statistics) is online at www.flhsmv.gov/hsmvdocs/CS2007.pdf.
Florida in Top 20 of US States says LAB
The League of American Bicyclists has ranked Florida 20th out of 50 in its inaugural ranking of states for bike friendliness. The Bicycle Friendly States program looked at more than 70 factors in 6 key areas: legislation; policies and programs; infrastructure; education and encouragement; evaluation and planning; and enforcement. The states were scored on responses to a questionnaire sent to FBA and FDOTwhich was used to evaluate Florida’s commitment to bicycling. The top 20-ranked states are:
1 Washington 11 Utah
2 Wisconsin 12 Michigan
3 Arizona 13 North Carolina
4 Oregon 14 Hawaii
5 Minnesota 15 South Carolina
6 Maine 16 Massachusetts
7 California 17 Vermont
8 Illinois 18 Wyoming
9 New Jersey 19 Nevada
10 New Hampshire 20 Florida
The full story is on the League’s website: http://www.bikeleague.org/news/090508bfs.php.
FBA at National Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference
FBA Board members Linda Crider, Mighk Wilson and David Henderson chat with former NCBW Executive Director Bill Wilkinson and current NCBW Executive Director Sharon Roerty at the 2010 Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle
FBA Board members Mighk Wilson, Linda Crider and David Henderson (and Advisory Board member Dwight Kingsbury) were among the 800 attendees of the national Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle September 2-5. This biennial event (from which the Florida Pro Bike/Pro Walk conference takes its name) is put on by the National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW). Over 80 conference sessions and mobile workshops gave participants the latest information on advocacy, bike facility planning and design, educational programs and safety.
Mobile workshops showed the best of Seattle’s bike lanes, shared-use paths, experimental green lanes and “sharrow” projects. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) spoke at the closing plenary and told the crowd that although programs like Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School have been successful, advocates must stay in touch with their members of Congress and let them know that bicycling is important to America and must continue to be supported in the next federal transportation bill. The next Pro Walk/Pro Bike will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 13-17, 2010.