USA Today: Fla. deadliest state for walkers, cyclists
Monday, March 1, 2010
By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY
MIAMI, Florida — Florida is the deadliest state in the U.S. for pedestrians — and bicyclists don’t fare any better.
In 2008, the most recent year for which federal statistics are available, 11.1% of pedestrians and 17.4% of bicyclists killed in the U.S. died in the Sunshine State, which has 6% of the nation’s population.
The top four of the 10 most dangerous metropolitan areas for walking are in Florida, according to a study last fall by two Washington, D.C.-based non-profit groups. The state has been in the top three in bicycle and pedestrian fatalities every year since 2001, federal data show.
The statistics perplex state officials. “There are so many factors involved and most of them are random,” says Marianne Trussell, chief safety officer for Florida’s Department of Transportation. “We’re trying to figure out root causes and how we can fix it.”
There’s a debate over those causes: Is Florida so deadly for walkers and cyclists because of the behavior of drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists? Or because of inherent flaws in the way roads are designed and built?
………………..Underlying these factors, transportation safety officials say, is behavior: “Somebody is doing something they shouldn’t be doing,” Trussell explains. “Drivers are making a right turn and not yielding to pedestrians, or making a right turn on red. Pedestrians are not paying attention to traffic, or they’re crossing the street midblock instead of going to the intersection.”
She takes issue with the November study by Transportation for America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership that spotlighted dangers to pedestrians in Florida. The study found pedestrians in Florida — and around the U.S. — are endangered by the nation’s shift from development clustered around traditional streets to wide, high-speed roads designed to move thousands of vehicles.
“The roadways aren’t as dangerous as the (study) would have made it seem,” she says. “It’s not the roads. The roads are just sitting there by themselves.”…..
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FBA advocacy awards bike culture complete streets conferences events safety traffic justice trails
by Laura
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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!
Jacksonville Traffic Skills 101 Class
| March 27, 2010 | ||
| 7:45 am | to | 4:15 pm |
Lakeshore Bicycles & Fitness, 2106 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL
Cost: $35 general admission; $30 for members of Tour de Cure and Katie Ride for Life teams
To register contact: Jodi Hohlstein, 904-291-8664, or email jodi@floridabicycle.org for confirmation of date and a complete registration packet. Register early since class size is limited to 17 students.
A POWERFUL TOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
I sat in on the LEBA (Law Enforcement Bicycle Association) course last week. While the classroom segment on laws was short, instructor Bill Edgar gave them all Florida Bicycle/Pedestrian Law Enforcement Guides. He also reinforced a number of key things throughout the course and encouraged the students to educate their fellow officers about the laws and cyclists’ rights as vehicle drivers.
For a full recap of the class, go HERE.
FBA continues the development of our Bicycle Law Enforcement Program. Visit our dedicated website often for updates and to “Ask Geo” questions about the law.
Keri Caffrey
Join the Million Car Challenge Campaign
Are you in or are you out? Check out this terrific campaign by visiting the Bicycle Allowed Use of Full Lane (baufl.org) website. Read the Campaign first and then click away at the other terrific categories. By purchasing BAUFL campaign stickers, you’ll help deliver the message on one million cars to millions and millions of drivers. For someone who rarely puts stickers on a car, this message is posted loud and clear on my car. FBA has also ordered a customized supply of Bicycle May Use Full Lane campaign stickers in a static cling format since this message replicates the official road sign (shape and color) according to the MUTCD. FBA members will receive a complimentary sticker when you renew your membership or make an additional donation to benefit the Bicycle Law Enforcement Program. New members will also receive a sticker. Help promote this campaign to educate all drivers. The FBA stickers are also great for surfaces/places other than your car. The generic adhesive sticker format is available from baufl.org.
Key Biscayne Memorial Ride dedicated to Christophe Le Canne : Sunday, January 24th 9am
What would be smart is for the organizers of the ride to print out those statements on pieces of paper and give out safety pins (most of the guys who are going to show up are racers anyway, so they know how to pin a #). Let’s get out from underneath our helmets and jerseys and show South Florida that we are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, neighbors, just trying to make our world a little better, one pedal stroke at a time – Jeffrey Lynne
What happened last week to Mr. Le Canne was horrific beyond comprehension. What happened many months back to Liz Stewart was a tragedy. What happened to Leon last year will not be forgotten. Every time a cyclist is killed I am reminded of just how volatile life is each time we get on a bike. Thus, our efforts at zMotion towards Ride Right/ Drive Right to inform and educate motorist and cyclist alike of the responsibilities we both have on the road. I can completely understand the need for cyclist to gather and memorialize those killed riding , and at the same time I want to caution us, in doing so we run the risk of aggravating, antagonizing and fostering even further resentment from the very ones who oppose us now. A memorial ride of any magnitude will be difficult to manage without any instances or confrontations with motorist . I know the purpose of such a ride, I am just not sure of the outcome.
In this particular incident if the message is we need better roads for cyclist, no amount of improvements, but for a separate and barricaded bicycle facility, could have saved Mr. Le Canne from a drunk driver. The demand to “make improvements” to the causeway, while fully supported by the South Florida Bike Coalition, begs the question – what amount of “improvements” could have saved his life? The answer is “none”. This was simply an unfortunate event that had nothing to do (I hope) with someone with a vendetta against cyclists. It could have been a jogger. It could have been another car. However, in this instance, it was someone not protected by the exoskeleton of a 2 ton vehicle. The cycling community will undoubtedly receive a lot of press, but don’t assume the message you are trying to communicate will be received by those you are trying to communicate to. I would prefer to have Kathryn Moore or someone from an existing organization designated as the “spokesperson” for the gathering so that a single, clear message be conveyed – cyclists have the right to be on the road and will not tolerate being treated as second-class citizens by any local government.
As the leader of zMotion I feel compelled to support our fellow cyclists in the most positive way we can without asking anything more from our members than they themselves choose to do. If a member wants to join in the memorial ride, I support that. If they choose not to, I am ok with that too. I do not want our members to feel pressured one way or the other, any display of emotion for a cause such as this should be an individual decision, not mine or zMotion as an organization . However, that said, for those zMotion members that do ride I simply ask that they do so safely, responsibly and help further set the example as leaders that zMotion has come to be known for.
To the family of Mr Le Canne, my deepest sympathy. – Pat Patregnani
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.
Make your year-end donation to FBA to support our Bicycle Law Enforcement Program
Dear Friends of FBA:
Do you know the laws about bicycling?
Have you ever experienced a situation in which a law enforcement officer was not aware of the laws or safe cycling practices?
The laws about bicycling are difficult and confusing. They are not a high priority in the busy schedules of officers, and they receive little or no training.
The Bicycle Law Enforcement Program (BLEP) will change that. The materials will be useful for many audiences, including cyclists and clubs, motorists and driver training, government officials and others. Since the law enforcement community is critical to all education and enforcement, they are our initial target audience. This program will change the culture of the roadways and greatly enhance the cycling environment.
2009-Five Modules
This year, we are completing five modules that will explain the laws and safe cycling practices related to some of the most basic, but most misunderstood topics, including:
- When is a cyclist required to keep right?
- When is a cyclist not required to keep right?
- Can a cyclist legally impede traffic?
- What laws are frequently violated by bicyclists and motorists?
2010 –Beta Test and Develop the Full Program
These modules will be available in DVD format and provided to selected law enforcement agencies for Beta testing during 2010. They will be 5-10 minutes in length and adapted to roll-call training opportunities.
During 2010, we will complete the remaining 15 modules to develop a comprehensive two-hour training program about the laws that will be an interactive, web-based curriculum available to any officer in the state of Florida.
There are officers around the state who are helping us insure the program materials will meet the needs of the law enforcement community by participating in the Officer Advisory Panel. Their feedback is critical to program quality.
Ask Geo – http://flbikelaw.org
As a part of the program, we have established a website for Q&A about the laws and the program. This website is helping us understand the needs and problems with law enforcement related to the laws about cycling. Please review the site and provide your input and ask questions.
Funding
In the past, the program has been funded by a Florida Department of Transportation safety grant and private donations from a very generous benefactor. We are seeking $100,000 for 2010 to complete the program
Please consider a year-end contribution to specifically fund this program. Just click “Join Us” on our homepage to make your contribution online.
For more information about the program, do not hesitate to contact program director George Martin at flbikelaw@floridabicycle.org.
On behalf of the Florida Bicycle Association Board of Directors and Advisory Members, have a happy, healthy holiday season. Your voice counts towards making Florida a bicycle-friendly place to live, work and ride. Your membership and financial support makes us stronger.
Sincerely,
Laura Hallam, Executive Director
P.S. If you need holiday gift suggestions, consider a FBA membership, FBA apparel, Share the Road license plate or gift certificate for the 2010 Bike Florida Spring Tour (March 27-April 2). Visit the website for memberships and apparel, www.sharetheroad.org to purchase a license plate, and www.bikeflorida.org for Spring Tour gift certificates.
WINTER PARK HEALTH FOUNDATION INVESTS BIG INTO BICYCLING AND WALKING BY AWARDING A TWO-YEAR $95,600 CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT TO FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION
Improving non-motorized activity improves health on a personal and planet level. The two-year grant in the amount of $95,600 will make it possible for FBA to begin a Central Florida chapter that will deal specifically with the greater Orlando area with an emphasis on Eatonville, Winter Park and Maitland. A 2009 civility study, also funded by the Winter Park Health Foundation, granted FBA the insight as to the needs of the Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville communities related to cycling and walking. The civility study noted that 18% of the population used bikes but riders felt unsafe and auto drivers were without knowledge on dealing with cyclists in the traffic flow. This two-year grant will place opportunity with needs granting FBA a full functioning chapter to deal directly with the finding of the civility study of 2009. Given the focus and potential for improvements 24 months from now drivers could be more educated and courteous to cyclists and walkers. Cyclists and walkers could be more safe and secure and motivated to use non-motorized healthier options much more often.
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.
