Florida Bicycle Association

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.”…..

To read the full article, click here:

2010 ProBike/ProWalk Florida Conference

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!

Florida Bike Summit 2010

Get Ready to Make a Difference!

Come to Tallahassee for the 2nd Annual Florida Bike Summit at the State Capitol April 8, 2010, 10:00 am-2:00 pm, and help protect the rights of bicyclists to ride safely and freely.

Learn what Florida is doing for bicyclists

Meet with legislators throughout the day

Connect with other bicycle advocates

Secured bicycle parking

Summit gathering spot: Tallahassee/East KOA Campground

Summit legislative training: 4/7/10; 7:00 pm

Summit celebration reception: 4/8/10; 5:00-6:30 pm

The 2010 Florida Bike Summit is FREE – register today

Press event at 10:30 am

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

FBA Winter Board Meeting in Lakeland

Join us this weekend, January 8-9, for the FBA Winter Board meeting in Lakeland at the Hyatt Place Lakeland Center, 525 West Orange Street, Lakeland, FL 33815, (863) 4153-1122. When making reservations, use corporate ID #46575 to receive the $89 rate. The fun begins Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm for a Meet & Greet at Texas Cattle Company, 735 East Main Street, Lakeland, FL 33801-5038, (863) 686-1434. A Saturday morning bike ride from 7:30-9:00 am originating from the hotel precedes the meeting which begins at 10:00 am.  The meeting adjourns at 5:00 pm.

I hope you can join us. Please RSVP if you plan to attend to insure space is available by contacting Laura Hallam at laura@floridabicycle.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.

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

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.