FBA advocacy awards bike culture complete streets conferences events safety traffic justice trails
by Laura
leave a comment
2010 ProBike/ProWalk Florida Conference
| May 11, 2010 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 5:00 pm |
| May 12, 2010 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 5:00 pm |
| May 13, 2010 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 5:00 pm |
Come to Lakeland for the fifth ProBike/ProWalk Florida Conference “The Dollars and Sense of Bicycling and Walking” brought to you by the Florida Bicycle Association. The conference will be held May 11-13, 2010 at the Lakeland Center. Pre-conference activities will be held May 11. The conference begins May 12. The official host hotel is the Hyatt Place at Lakeland Center. Highlights include:
National, state and local dignitaries
Florida Bicycle Association Annual Meeting and Awards presentation
Educational and advocacy breakout sessions
Mobile Workshops
Continued education credits
Speakers will provide information and data to begin making the case that routinely accommodating pedestrians and cyclists makes total economic sense.
For more information and to register, go HERE!
National Cycling Organization Hosts Gatherings In Florida
JANUARY 4, 2009
Contact: Winona Bateman, 800-755-2453 x219, Email: wbateman@adventurecycling.org
The director of North America’s largest cycling membership organization will visit Florida from January 11 – 16, 2010, to speak about the life-changing potential of cycling and bicycle travel. Events will be held in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and in the Miami/Dade area.
Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling, will share the latest news on bicycle travel and adventures in North America, including new bike-friendly routes, maps, tours, and policy initiatives at the national level — such as an official U.S. Bicycle Route System, now being considered by Congress. At each event, there will also be time for participants to share their thoughts, ideas and stories. Whether you have made a New Year’s Resolution to get in shape, lower your carbon footprint, or you want to plan an overnight (or epic) cycling adventure, there will be inspiration for everyone.
Invite your cycling buddies, other friends, or family. These events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP by contacting Beth Petersen at Adventure Cycling Association: 800-755-2453 x 211, or via email at bpetersen@adventurecycling.org.
TALLAHASSEE – MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010
What: Presentation on the latest news and resources for bicycle travel
Who: Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association, North America’s largest cycling membership group, based in Missoula, MT (www.adventurecycling.org). This event is co-sponsored by Capital City Cyclists.
When: Monday, January 11 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Where: Florida Education Association, 3rd floor board room, 213 South Adams Street, one block from the State Capitol. Directions at http://feaweb.org/about-fea.
Why: Meet people interested in cycling, bike travel and touring, and find all the resources and inspiration you’ll need to enjoy the life-changing activity of bicycle travel.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Bring friends interested in cycling and bike travel.
RSVP: Please RSVP by January 6th
JACKSONVILLE – TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2010
What: Presentation on the latest news and resources for bicycle travel
Who: Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association, North America’s largest cycling membership group, based in Missoula, MT (www.adventurecycling.org).
When: Tuesday, January 12 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Where: Brooks Family YMCA, 10423 Centurion Parkway North in Jacksonville. For more information about the location visit http://www.firstcoastymca.org/brooks-branch, or call 904-854-2000.
Why: Meet people interested in cycling, bike travel and touring, and find all the resources and inspiration you’ll need to enjoy the life-changing activity of bicycle travel.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Bring friends interested in cycling and bike travel.
RSVP: Please RSVP by January 8th
ORLANDO – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2010
What: Presentation on the latest news and resources for bicycle travel
Who: Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association, North America’s largest cycling membership group, based in Missoula, MT (www.adventurecycling.org).
When: Wednesday, January 13 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Where: Grace Hopper Hall (Baldwin Park), located in central Orlando on 1913 Meeting Place. For directions, click on http://www.baldwinparkfl.com/web/directions.asp — or call 407-529-3800.
Why: Meet people interested in cycling, bike travel and touring, and find all the resources and inspiration you’ll need to enjoy the life-changing activity of bicycle travel.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Bring friends interested in cycling and bike travel.
RSVP: Please RSVP by January 11th
MIAMI/DADE AREA – THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
What: Presentation on the latest news and resources for bicycle travel
Who: Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association, North America’s largest cycling membership group, based in Missoula, MT (www.adventurecycling.org).
When: Thursday, January 14, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Where: Coral Gables Branch Library, located at 3443 Segovia St., in Coral Gables. More information on location here: http://www.mdpls.org/info/locations/cg.asp.
Why: Meet people interested in cycling, bike travel and touring, and find all the resources and inspiration you’ll need to enjoy the life-changing activity of bicycle travel.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Bring friends interested in cycling and bike travel.
RSVP: Please RSVP by January 12th
TAMPA – SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2010
What: Presentation on the latest news and resources for bicycle travel
Who: Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association, North America’s largest cycling membership group, based in Missoula, MT (www.adventurecycling.org).
When: Saturday, January 16 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Where: Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, located in central Tampa at 14407 B North Dale Mabry. For directions, click on http://cbebikes.com/storelocator/ — or call 813-963-5765.
Why: Meet people interested in cycling, bike travel and touring, and find all the resources and inspiration you’ll need to enjoy the life-changing activity of bicycle travel.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Bring friends interested in cycling and bike travel.
RSVP: Please RSVP by January 13th
# # #
Adventure Cycling Association is the premier bicycle travel organization in North America with over 44,000 members. A nonprofit organization, its mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. It produces routes and maps for cycling in North America, organizes more than 40 tours annually, and publishes the best bicycle travel information anywhere, including Adventure Cyclist magazine and The Cyclists’ Yellow Pages online. With 38,158 meticulously mapped miles in the Adventure Cycling Route Network, Adventure Cycling gives cyclists the tools and confidence to create their own bike travel adventures. Contact the office at (800) 755-BIKE (2453), info@adventurecycling.org, or visit www.adventurecycling.org.
Florida’s large metro areas rank 1,2,3,4 in pedestrian danger: SW Florida Presents Problems/Neglect/Solutions
1. Florida’s only four large metro areas rank 1,2,3,4 in pedestrian danger among the nation’s large metro areas.
2. Florida’s average pedestrian danger index, at 176.6, is 2.7 times the national average of 65.6.
3. For all size metro areas, Florida has 11 of the nation’s top 25 in pedestrian danger.
4. Florida has either been ranked #1 in the nation or in the top 3 states for both pedestrian and bicycle fatalities every year since 2001.
5. 1 in every 10 US pedestrian fatalities is in Florida. 1 in every 6 US bicycle fatalities is in Florida.
6. How each of Florida’s metro areas, including our local areas, rank and compare, statewide and nationally.
7. That 13 of 20 Florida metro areas spend less than the national average of available federal dollars for pedestrian safety, $1.46/person, including Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice and Palm Coast, which spend $0.00/person.
8. Causes and solutions for the problem, including how one local city has dramatically reduced pedestrian accidents and an effort for a solution with Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan.
Orlando-Kissimmee, Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, and Jacksonville, are ranked 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the nation’s 52 large metro areas (pop.1,000,000+) by Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) for 2007-2008, according to a recently released report, Dangerous By Design, published by the Surface Transportation Policy Project and Transportation for America. These are the only large metro areas in Florida.
Separately, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Fact reports show that, in every year from 2001 to 2008, Florida has been in the top three states in both pedestrian and bicycle fatality rates. Further, Florida was #1 in bicycle fatality rates for six years and #1 in pedestrian fatality rates for two years. No other state comes close to matching this record. Statistics compiled by Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocates (BPA) from NHTSA data, shows the rankings for these years and shows Florida accounted for 1 in 6 (16.8%) of all national bicycle fatalities and 1 in 10 (10.9%) of all national pedestrian fatalities.
As Dangerous by Design listed national rankings only for the large metro areas and only provided state rankings for smaller areas, BPA recompiled the data that provides national rankings by PDI for all of the country’s 416 metro areas, a national PDI average, and other statistics. The spreadsheet shows that the worst metro area in the country is Macon, GA with a PDI of 398.9, narrowly edging Punta Gorda, FL at 398.2. Third is Sumter, SC at 328.8. It shows that the national average PDI is 65.6 but that Florida’s average PDI is 2.69 times the national average at 176.6. The spreadsheet also shows that Florida leads the country with eleven metro areas in the top 25, followed by South Carolina with four, and Georgia with three. Florida’s 20 metro areas are listed below with their national rank, their PDI, their PDI as a percentage of the national average PDI of 65.6, and for a comparison with the country’s largest city, their PDI as a percentage of the New York City metro area’s PDI of 28.1.
National PDI PDI as % PDI as % Metro area
Rank of Nat Avg of NYC PDI
2 398.2 606.6% 1417.1% Punta Gorda
5 293.1 446.5 1043.1 Sebastian-Vero Beach
12 236.6 360.4 842.0 Ocala
13 222.5 339.0 791.8 Panama City-Lynn Haven
14 221.5 337.4 788.3 Orlando-Kissimmee
16 220.7 336.2 785.4 Lakeland-Winter Haven
17 205.5 313.1 731.3 Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater
18 201.8 307.4 718.1 Palm Bay- Melbourne-Titusville
23 183.3 279.2 652.3 Cape Coral-Fort Myers
24 183.0 278.8 651.2 Palm Coast
25 181.2 276.0 644.8 Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
38 157.4 239.8 560.1 Jacksonville
45 150.8 229.7 536.7 Port St. Lucie
46 147.7 225.0 525.6 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach
58 126.3 192.4 449.5 Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice
69 109.4 166.7 389.3 Tallahassee
72 105.4 160.6 375.1 Naples-Marco Island
127 74.1 112.9 263.7 Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin
165 58.3 88.8 207.5 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Parker
176 55.5 84.6 197.5 Gainesville
Thus, Florida’s four large metro areas, Orlando-Kissimmee, Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, and Jacksonville, have pedestrian danger indexes, respectively, 3.4, 3.1, 2.8, and 2.4 times the national average and 7.9, 7.3, 6.4, and 5.6 times that of New York City.
The leading cause of pedestrian fatalities identified by Dangerous by Design is America’s shift from Main Street to high-speed arterial roads which account for 56% of pedestrian fatalities. According to the report, “These deaths typically are labeled “accidents,” and attributed to error on the part of motorist or pedestrian. In fact, however, an overwhelming proportion share a similar factor. They occurred along roadways that were dangerous by design, streets that were engineered for speeding cars and made little or no provision for people on foot, in wheelchairs, or on a bicycle.”
The conventional wisdom is that there is not much we can do about pedestrian danger. But, Dangerous by Design identifies five ways to locally address the problem; creating walkable communities, street designs such as pedestrian refuges, better signals, and roundabouts, road diets which reduce lanes or lane widths, “Complete Streets” policies which design corridors for all users, and use of Safe Routes to Schools, a federally funded program that improves pedestrian access near schools. Indeed, one Florida city has succeeded with such tactics. St. Petersburg used federal funding to implement better street designs and become the first in the country to adopt innovative pedestrian signalization, along with efforts in education, enforcement, and bicycle facilities. Their annual pedestrian accidents fell by more than 50% from 2000 to 2008. Yet, Dangerous by Design reports that 13 of Florida’s 20 metro areas opted to spend less than the national average of $1.46 of federal dollars spent per person on pedestrian safety, including Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice and Palm Coast, which spent $0.00.
On the national level, Dangerous by Design identifies four ways to address the problem; a national Complete Streets policy, increased funding for Safe Routes to Schools, holding states accountable for safer streets, and ensuring that bicycle/pedestrian safety programs gain their fair share of safety funding. Currently, though bicycle/pedestrian fatalities account for 13% of the nation’s traffic fatalities in 2008, the USDOT spends less than 1% of its safety funding on bicycle/pedestrian efforts. In August, 2009, BPA contacted USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood and Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota,, FL, a member of the House Transportation Committee, asking that the next USDOT budget raise bicycle/pedestrian safety spending to 13%. As of this writing, the request is still being reviewed.
All data/material sources used in this press release can be obtained by contacting:
Mike Lasche, Executive Director, BPA, 941-544-7788, mikel.modem@verizon.net.
Draft 2010 Strategic Intermodal System Strategic Plan and Summary of Proposed Designation Changes Available for Public Comment
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announces the Draft 2010 Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Strategic Plan and Summary of Proposed Designation Criteria Changes are available for public and partner review from November 24, 2009 through December 28, 2009. During this time, FDOT invites partners and the public to offer comments on these draft documents. FDOT is also posting for comment a summary other potential changes to designation criteria being evaluated as part of the 2010 SIS Designation Update process.
The Draft 2010 SIS Strategic Plan provides policy guidance for designation and implementation of Florida’s Strategic Intermodal System (SIS), building on the policy foundation of the 2005 SIS Strategic Plan.
The SIS was established in 2003 to enhance Florida’s economic competitiveness by focusing state resources on the transportation facilities most critical for statewide and interregional travel. The SIS is a statewide network of high-priority transportation facilities, including the state’s largest and most significant commercial service airports, spaceport, deepwater seaports, freight rail terminals, passenger rail and intercity bus terminals, rail corridors, waterways, and highways.
A 31-member leadership committee composed of FDOT and its partners met from January – October 2009 and made recommendations to FDOT for updating the plan. Many other statewide, regional and local partners provided input and feedback throughout the process, including twelve regional workshops held in fall of 2009. Based on all of this input, FDOT drafted the 2010 SIS Strategic Plan and proposed designation criteria changes. Following this public and partner review period and final internal review, FDOT will adopt the 2010 SIS Strategic Plan and designation criteria changes in January 2010.
Comments on the Draft 2010 SIS Strategic Plan and proposed designation criteria changes may be submitted electronically using the on-line comment form on the SIS Update web site (see link below) or by submitting comments in writing by mail or fax to the address provided below.
We hope you will take time to review the Draft 2010 SIS Strategic Plan and proposed designation criteria changes and give us the benefit of your comments. All comments submitted will be reviewed and considered by FDOT.
A copy of the draft Plan is available on the SIS Update web site at:
http://www.sisupdate.org<http://www.sisupdate.org/>
Or you may obtain a copy by writing or faxing your request to the address below:
Mr. Brian S. Watts
2010 SIS Plan Update Project Manager
Office of Policy Planning
Florida Department of Transportation
605 Suwannee Street, MS 28
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
FBA Uncategorized advocacy complete streets conferences safety traffic justice trails
by Laura
leave a comment
Call for Papers: PROBIKE/PROWALK FLORIDA 2010 “The Dollars and Sense of Bicycling and Walking”
FBA needs your expertise for the ProBike/ProWalk Florida 2010 conference to be held May 11-13 in Lakeland.
At our inaugural Florida Bike Summit at Florida’s state capitol last April, it became very clear that for significant headway to be made at this level – or any level, for that matter – it’s necessary to put dollar values on the benefits of creating communities that are bike/ped-friendly. Likewise, costs associated with not having that kind of environment are just as important. Beyond money spent on bike-related tourism and accompanying tax revenue collected by the state, cycling and walking impacts many aspects of our economy. Some examples include individual and government savings or costs related to health, environmental impacts, and the one with arguably the biggest impact – transportation.
To assist FBA begin what we know will be the complex process of collecting and analyzing credible data, we’ve decided to make bike/ped economics the theme of ProBike/ProWalk Florida 2010. If you think you have something to offer in terms of a conference session topic, please consider submitting a paper that summarizes what you’d like to present by December 1, 2009. We’d also like to get sessions that are appropriate for professional development credits certified for planners, landscape architects, transportation engineers, and other professionals, so please keep that in mind when developing your topic.
Please direct your questions and submit session summaries with the following information to Dan Moser, FBA Program Manager, at dan@floridabicycle.org:
Contact Information, Session Topic, Topic Significance to Conference, Outline of Presentation/Session, Other Proposed Speakers to Compliment Topic, and Date Submitted.
Your input is vital to the overall success of the 5th edition of our conference.
“Your Roads-Your Rides”
Organized by Lake County Bicycle Alliance
Hosted by: The Cycling Hub
1200 Oakley Seaver Drive, Suite 111
Clermont, Florida 34711
352-536-2453
Would you like to experience common courtesy and respect (from drivers) as a cyclist on the roads of Lake County? We are working with law enforcement, media, government, and the bicycle community to promote, and enforce, Florida Bicycle Law. Whether you compete, take an occasional family ride, or are an enthusiast, for less time than “a ride” come see how “WE” can make roads safer, and more enjoyable, for us all.
Prioritize Bicycling and Walking in the next Federal Transportation Funding Bill
Congress is writing a bill that will define our national transportation system for the next 6 years and we need your help to make sure that your Member of Congress weighs in on the transportation bill to support bicycling and walking.
Representative Daniel Lipinski (D, IL) is circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter proposing that the upcoming Transportation Bill, which is currently being drafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I), promotes and funds alternate transportation options. Representative Lipinski is asking his colleagues in the House of Representatives to join him in a call for increased federal funding for bicycling and pedestrian programs.
We are thankful for Congressman Lipinski’s efforts on behalf of cyclists nationwide and urge you to contact your Representative to ask them to join Mr. Lipinski and lend their voice to this important debate.
Please click here to contact your Representatives office today and urge them to sign onto Congressman Lipinski’s policy letter today.
Rumbles? No. AVPMs? Yes!
Huh?
OK , in English. Effective 2009 the Florida Department of Transportation will require “Audible and Vibratory Pavement Markings” on projects widening or resurfacing rural highways (state roads only). These are a huge improvement over the ground-in rumble strips that have been installed on some highways; the ground-in rumbles are treacherous for cyclists.
AVPMs are best described with a photo (click photo to enlarge).
The dimples or ridges create a sound that cyclists can easily hear when a car tire runs on the stripe, and the sound and even vibration transmits into the car’s passenger compartment as well. The dimples or ridges will not pose a safety problem for the cyclist riding over the stripe. (A number of cyclists on FDOT staff test-rode them to be sure!)
AVPMs can also be used in urban areas where run-off-the-road crashes are a problem, such as this curve on Tuskawilla Road in Seminole County. AVPMs could mitigate the run-off problem without creating problems for cyclists as (for example) these posts and raised pavement markers do.
Complete Streets Video from AARP
Dr. Bob Chauncey from the National Center for Bicycling and Walking explains “complete streets.”
http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/interactive/complete_streets.html
