Lake County Law Enforcement BBQ & Roundtable tonight, 7/27, in Tavares
Ken LaRoe and Rick Pitner have launched an effort to make Lake County more bicycle aware and friendly through the formation of the Lake County Bicycle Alliance.
These guys are moving quickly and have been having meetings every two weeks at bike shops around the county. There are 4 immediate action items on the agenda. Below is a brief rundown on each:
1. Law: Law enforcement BBQ and roundtable. We’re gearing up for a meeting tonight, 7/27, at 6:30PM to present and discuss cycling issues with local representatives from the 13 or so law enforcement agencies within Lake County. A BBQ dinner will be served and we’ll be working to build awareness. Representatives from the FBA will be there to help with the presentation. The location is Sun Cycle Centers, 100 W. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778, 352-343-7500.
2. MPO meeting. A small group is planning to meet with the metropolitan planning organization. This is the group that builds the ‘vision’ for roads and bike trails in Lake County. This vision eventually gets turned into reality as funds become available from the Florida Dept. of Transportation or local governments for construction projects. This is a relationship that will need to be built and maintained, but may yield some great new riding venues over time.
3. Billboards. Ken has a source who will provide up to 7 billboards at a discount rate of only $250 per month. The vision is to ‘humanize’ cycling by putting faces of some local cyclists on the boards and say something to the effect of “Give me 3-feet when you pass. It’s the law”. Each board will have a similar background and message, but will show a different rider. For anyone who advertises locally, it’s a great opportunity to put your name and business out there while supporting a good cause.
4. Cycling Summit. This is still in the planning stages and will possibly be held October 10 in conjunction with the Mt. Dora Bike Fest. The thought is to have a press event to pump up local and state cycling advocacy efforts. We’ll need as many cyclists present as possible to convey the ‘weight’ of the issue.