Act now to stop indiscriminate use of rumble strips!
Contact Florida Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Kopelousos and ask to stop causing hazards for cyclists!
Take action HERE for a template to contact Secretary Kopelousos by mail or email.
In recent months states around the country have undertaken extensive rumbling activities and more are slated to occur. In numerous instances this activity has resulted in the indiscriminant rumbling of secondary roads that have a narrow shoulder or often times no shoulder effectively posing additional potential safety hazards for both cyclists and motorists.
Cyclists and motorists share a desire for safer roadways. We welcome things like wide and smooth paved shoulders that benefit both motorists and cyclists Though all roadway users benefit from the safety and convenience of improved shoulders, many transportation agencies are increasing the use of rumble strips – raised or grooved patterns in a road’s shoulder designed to alert drivers with noise and vibrations that they are drifting off the roadway- creating undue hazard to cyclists.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) guidance has been developed to accommodate the safety needs of bicyclists, with several states adopting this or improved guidance as a matter of policy. Despite this, many states continue to indiscriminately rumble on roads without a run-off-the-road crash history; without adequate shoulder space or recovery area; and on roadways frequented by cyclists. This is even happening in states that have developed good rumbling policies.
We are asking that you contact your state transportation official immediately to urge them to halt any plans to indiscriminately rumble our shared roadways. If the state does not have a policy of bicycle-tolerable rumble strip design they should adopt one with FHWA guidance as a minimum.
Personalize your message- let your transportation officials aware of any popular riding routes that have been lost to rumbles!
Contact Information should you decide to not use the template:
Stephanie C. Kopelousos
Secretary of Transportation
605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450
Telephone: 850-414-5205; Fax: 850-414-5201
stephanie.kopelousos@dot.state.fl.us
ProBike/ProWalk Florida Conference sessions available online
If you were unable to attend the 2010 ProBike/ProWalk Florida conference in Lakeland, you can still take advantage of the terrific sessions. And for those of you who did and had to make tough choices regarding which sessions to attend, now you can enjoy all of them. All sessions are available to download by visiting the site.
Summer FBA Board Meeting
Interested in attending the next FBA Board meeting or perhaps even considering a Board position? Now’s your chance since the summer meeting will be held Saturday, July 17, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, in West Palm Beach at the office of the Downtown Development Authority, 301 Clematis Street. The Meet & Greet gathering precedes the meeting, Friday, July 16, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Grease Burger Bar, 213 Clematis Street (yes, they have vegi options). Your voice counts and the best way to make a difference is to get involved as an Advisory or Board member.
For out of town guests, housing options include (in increasing cost order):
*Hotel Biba http://www.hotelbiba.com/ [the rates are ridiculously low, and it’s a local business!]
*WPB Best Western http://www.bestwesternflorida.com/hotels/best-western-palm-beach-lakes
*WPB Comfort Inn http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-west_palm_beach-florida-FL838?promo=gglocal
*WPB Hampton Inn http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=SZD0VQ1LDWXQOCSGBJNMVCQ?ctyhocn=PBICAHX
*WPB Crowne Plaza http://www.cpwestpalmbeach.com/
All are within a few miles of downtown, and you could ride from each of them (though most safely from Biba).
Thank you advisory member Raphael Clemente for hosting the meeting and board member Stephanie Striefel for handling other logistics.
Federal Safe Routes Program Under Attack
Take Action!
Urge Your Representative to Support Safe Routes To Schools
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) has targeted the federal Safe Routes to School program established under the 2005 Federal Surface Transportation Bill (SAFETEA-LU) as wasteful government spending in his weekly “YouCut program”.
Each week representative Cantor asks people to vote for which of five options they would cut from the federal budget. Republicans then hold a floor vote in the House of Representatives to try to eliminate the program that gets the most votes.
This week, the federal Safe Routes to School program is one of Rep. Cantor’s targets. He argues that SRTS duplicates other bicycling and walking programs, and that bicycling and walking infrastructure is a local government responsibility. We need your help making sure that Members of Congress understand the value of Safe Routes to School and support it.
Please take a few minutes to send a message to your Member of Congress to ask them to vote against any effort to cut Safe Routes to School.
Governor Crist signs HB 971 into law
Yesterday afternoon, Governor Crist signed HB 971, among many other bills into law. Thanks to all of you who expressed your concerns over this bill encouraging it to be vetoed. Yes, this is a defeat, but now we must rally together to plan our strategy for the 2011 Legislative Session.
HB 971 isn’t all bad. At 81 pages, there are many good things in the bill and unfortunately the mandatory bike lane use was slipped in late in the Session, along with other pedestrian issues. This process is not unusual, but now FBA will be planning for it.
FBA’s Legislative Committee will be meeting in the next few weeks to develop strategies and set priorities. The results will be shared via a survey for review by FBA members and other interested parties. Your input is very important. If you are not an FBA member, please join now to support our legislative efforts. Membership fees will help fund a legislative staff position.
In the mean time, now is the time to develop relationships with your elected officials in the district. Invite them for a bike ride. Let them know you are a local expert regarding bicycling issues.
It is up to all of us to make something good come out of HB 971. We will not go away empty-handed but will come back strong in 2011.
Memorial Day knifer to be prosecuted
Here is an update on the knifing incident that took place at the Kent University, Jacksonville, FL. on Memorial Day. Here is a link to the Sheriff’s report. It is the most complete and accurate account of the incident.
The alleged knifer is 25 year old Matt Salmons. He is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of simple battery. There may be some of you who will want to observe the legal proceedings and maybe even attend the trial. Here is what we know so far:
The defendant is Matt Salmons. The State Attorney case number is 2010-CF-047910 and the Attorney for the State assigned to this case is Theresa Simak. The Clerk case number is 2010-CF-005975. The defendant will be arraigned on June 23rd 2010 at 9AM in Courtroom 9 which is located on the 2nd floor of the Duval County Courthouse. I have left a message for Ms. Simak to call me. I want to make sure she knows the cycling community is very interested in this case.
Pass this info on to anyone interested.
Scott A. Wilson, Assistant to Don Redman, Jacksonville City Council
Both cyclists are expected to make a full recovery.
One way we cyclists could show solidarity with the injured cyclists would be for abot 20 cyclists to sit quietly at the back of the courtroom each day of the proceedings, and observe. This was done last year in California and the offending driver received serious jail time. After the case, the prosecutor stated that the presence of the cyclists made a big difference.
As we receive additional information I will make it available to you.
In addition to being the FBA First Coast Chapter Director, I am the President of the North Florida Bicycle Club and we will be working closely with the City of Jacksonville to find solutions for this kind of behavior.
Keep up those calls, emails and letters to veto HB 971
This morning at 9:00 am, FBA representatives met with Deputy Chief of Staff Chuck Drago to present arguments to veto HB 971. At that time, the bill had not been delivered to the governor. DCOS Drago has not heard the governor’s opinion on the bill, but said he would share our concerns. At 12:21 pm today, HB 971 was delivered to Governor Christ.
Folks, the clock is ticking since Governor Crist has 15 days to take action. Please keep up the momentum by calling, emailing or writing Governor Crist to veto HB 971.
Continue Efforts to Veto HB 971
FBA needs your help to continue efforts to veto HB 971. A letter was sent to Governor Crist May 17 signed by FBA Board president David Henderson. FBA representatives will be meeting with Chuck Drago, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, later this week to provide supporting arguments and local examples of why HB 971 is unsafe for bicyclists and pedestrians.
We are also encouraging bike clubs and advocacy organizations to follow suit with their support of the veto and have contacted these organizations directly. Thank you, individually and through your club or advocacy organization, for the many phone calls, emails, letters and faxes already generated to stop this bill. Please keep up the momentum.
Call, email, write or fax Governor Crist today with this message:
“Please veto House Bill 971. The mandatory use of bicycle lanes poses a number of significant safety and legal problems for cyclists. Allowing motorized vehicles on sidewalks sets a bad precedent. Vehicles belong on roadways, not on sidewalks. HB 971 will make the law and its enforcement more complicated, not less, and will make cycling less safe and enjoyable.”
The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor of Florida
The Capitol, Suite PL05
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399
fax: 850-487-0801; phone: 850-488-7146; email: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Below is a copy of the FBA letter to Governor Crist:
May 17, 2010
The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor of Florida
The Capitol, Suite PL05
Tallahassee FL 32399
Dear Governor Crist:
The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) has serious concerns about House Bill 971, and respectfully requests your veto of the bill. Our members are not merely bicyclists, but also bicycle and pedestrian planners, traffic engineers, and bicycle safety educators, and we have identified a number of problems with the mandatory bicycle lane use amendment, as well as with allowing local governments to permit certain types of motorized vehicles on sidewalks and trails. FBA was unfortunately not included in discussions about these amendments.
The mandatory use of bicycle lanes poses a number of significant safety and legal problems for cyclists. Many members of the general public, as well as some law enforcement officers, already have a poor understanding of the existing law and of the real safety needs of cyclists. Current law requires bicyclists to drive as far right as practicable, but includes a number of exceptions that are in-practice very common on our streets and highways. Such misunderstandings already lead to unwarranted citations, as well as to harassment by motorists that will only be aggravated by the new law; any cyclist to the left of the bicycle lane stripe will be deemed a law-breaker by those with an incomplete understanding of the law.
There are also many roadways with striped (but undesignated) areas that do not meet bicycle lane standards, but that many motorists and law enforcement officers (as well as many bicyclists) believe to be bike lanes. Bicyclists driving outside of such areas will not likely be cited for violations, but will likely suffer harassment by uninformed motorists. Such harassment is the primary deterrent to cycling for many people.
There are numerous bike lanes around the state that do not meet Florida Green Book standards, and these facilities pose significant risks to cyclists. Bicyclists who avoid such lanes will be put in the position of defending themselves against unwarranted citations to officers and judges who do not understand the standards. One should not have to defend oneself for driving a vehicle in a safe and defensive manner.
Pairs and groups of bicyclists will be required to travel single-file on roadways with designated bike lanes, even when traffic volumes are low and passing is easy. They will not be so restricted on roadways without bike lanes.
The law permitting local governments to enact ordinances to allow motorized vehicles on sidewalks may not in practice pose problems for many pedestrians, but we feel it sets a bad precedent. Vehicles belong on roadways, not on sidewalks. We should be focusing on making our roadways safer for lower-speed vehicles instead of moving them into pedestrian areas.
Florida’s bicyclists wish to be part of the solution for many of our states challenges. Florida Bicycle Association is working hard to ensure cyclists understand the safest ways of using our roadways. HB 971 will make the law and its enforcement more complicated, not less, and will make cycling less safe and enjoyable.
Sincerely,
David Henderson
Board President
cc: Chuck Drago, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor
Call Governor Crist today to Veto HB 971
HB 971 Bad for Bicyclists and Pedestrians
Unbeknownst to Florida Bicycle Association, a mandatory bike lane use provision was included in the Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles bill. The bill also allows local governments to permit mopeds, golf-carts and other motorized vehicles on sidewalks and trails.
Call or email Governor Crist as soon as you can to ask him to veto this bill. Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146; Email: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com.
If you’re on Facebook, post the link to this blog post to spread the word!
Why it’s bad for bicyclists:
Motorists who learn of the bill will have one more very strong excuse to harass cyclists who “aren’t in the bike lane.” There are many striped-off areas of roadways that are not really bike lanes, but some believe they are. They will also likely be ignorant of all the exceptions to the law (because they’ll hear it second hand) and even if they read it in full, they won’t understand many of the good reasons cyclists need to leave bike lanes.
The bicyclist outside a bike lane is put in a defensive position and must prove his or her innocence. Many bike lanes are substandard in width, force cyclists into door zones, or are improperly placed to the right of right-turn-only lanes, but many officers don’t understand these problems.
Motorists get another new excuse when they hit a cyclist: “He left the bike lane.”
Why it’s bad for pedestrians:
It’s bad enough that pedestrians have to suffer parked cars blocking sidewalks, being blasted by sprinklers, sidewalk bicyclists who don’t announce themselves when passing, and thousands of other nuisances, now they’ll have to share stretches of sidewalk in some jurisdictions with motorized vehicles. Local governments will be able to permit mopeds, golf-carts, motorized scooters and other vehicles which don’t belong on sidewalks and on “bike paths.” The law limits such vehicles to 15 mph, but how will that be enforced?
Currently on the books: 316.1995 Driving upon sidewalk or bicycle path.–No person shall drive any vehicle other than by human power upon a bicycle path, sidewalk, or sidewalk area, except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway. (page 10 of the combination Florida Bicycle/Pedestrian Law Enforcement Guide)
It’s time for Florida’s bicyclists and pedestrians to send a strong message: “We will not be marginalized.”
The bill also allows drivers who have had up to four DUIs to get their licenses back. From a Jacksonville TV station:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If you get four DUI’s in Florida, you could lose your driving privileges. However, if passed, a bill would allow drivers with four DUI’s to get their licenses back.
The driver would have to go through a program, which includes educational classes and installing a breathalyzer in his or her vehicle. The device is called Life Safer Interlock, and costs about $70 to install and about $80 a month to maintain.
Call now.
Mighk Willson, FBA Board member
Smart Growth Manager, Metroplan Orlando
FBA Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation Luncheon
The 2010 FBA Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation luncheon will be held in conjunction with the ProBike/ProWalk Florida Conference Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at the Lakeland Center. The luncheon begins at 12:00 pm followed by the program at 12:30. This year, 21 award recipients including two new categories – Developer and Elected Official Champion – will be honored. The Lakeland Center is located at 701 West Lime Street, Lakeland FL, and the host hotel, the Hyatt Place at the Lakeland Center, is located at 535 W. Orange Street.
The 2009 Awards were presented last October in conjunction with the Mount Dora Bike Festival, but in order to align the Annual Meeting & Awards with the conference, it’s showtime again.
The Annual Meeting is an opportunity to update you face to face on what’s been going on this year and plans for the next seven months. You’ll also meet members of the board, advisory directors, staff and volunteers.
Please join us in Lakeland for this event, as well as the conference. If you plan to attend just the Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation Luncheon, please RSVP by emailing laura@floridabicycle.org.
