Despite a pelting rainstorm, the Florida Bike Association met at the Capitol on Thursday for its inaugural Florida Bike Summit.  “The purpose of this summit is to educate our legislators on who we are and what we stand for,” FBA executive director Laura Hallam said.

The summit took place in conjunction with the 16th Annual Bike Florida, a weeklong event that started Monday in Madison and made a stop in Monticello. Thursday’s stop in Wakulla was canceled due to the rain. However, tour participants were bused to Tallahassee to take part in the rally at the Capitol.

Participants came prepared to discuss a list of proposals with legislators. One of the major issues is protecting a Florida law which mandates that the Florida Department of Transportation provide bicyclists and pedestrians with proper accommodations on roadways.

“For me it’s equal treatment, making sure that complete streets are built so that all users have full usage of the roadways,” said David Henderson, FBA president.
Other issues include preventing obesity and educating legislators about the economic positives that bicycling offers.

Donna O’Neal, deputy to Alex Sink, the state’s chief financial officer, said that a comprehensive bike and pedestrian program focuses on the 4 E’s: engineering safe and compatible bike and pedestrian facilities, enforcing traffic laws fairly and consistently across jurisdictions to protect cyclists and motorists, educating motorists and cyclists on how to share the road safely, and encouraging policymakers and the public to support bike and pedestrian programs for recreation tourism, fitness and transportation.