Florida Bicycle Association

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.

Memorial Day Bike Ride ends with altercation between motorist and 2 cyclists

The North Florida Bicycle Club took action following a recent altercation following a group ride by sending the following message to club members:

As many of you already know, there was an incident at Monday’s Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Kent Campus Memorial Day ride where two bicyclists were stabbed in an altercation with a motorist.  Both cyclists were transported to the hospital, where one remains with serious injuries.  Apparently, neither of the riders are NFBC members as neither were well known to members who were present.  We ask that you join in prayers for the injured cyclists and offer wishes for a speedy recovery.

It is not our position to judge the circumstances of this incident.  We all, however, need to be aware that we may have encounters with motorists on the road that could lead to tempers being lost and altercations escalating in severity and danger.  We urge all members to conduct themselves appropriately on the road, asserting our rights to the use of the roads, but also to be respectful of motorists.  While actions of motorists may adversely affect us as cyclists, either by accident or intentionally, we urge everyone to exercise restraint in reacting to such incidents.  Should any incident result in an injury or altercation, please do not try to take matters into your own hands…dial 911 and allow law enforcement to appropriately handle the situation.

John M. McDowell, PE
2010 NFBC Ride Director

The NFBC is taking action with respect to leadership in riding skills, rules of the road and rider behavior.  Unfortunately, we only are able to influence NFBC members.  The two that were stabbed are not NFBC members and we do not know the behavior of the riders leading up to the confrontation.  We are aware that cyclists are part of the problem, and we can do just so much to influence cyclists both in our club and have very little influence over non-club members.  NFBC is being proactive with the City of Jacksonville to create an understanding for both cyclists and motorists of the rights and responsibilities of all parties.

Steven Davis said, “Tragedy is everyone’s first concern.  Damage to organized cycling and the entire cycling economy is close behind in those concerns.”

Share this message with other club cyclists, as well as other organized groups. This problem is not unique to any particular area of Florida and the only way to get through to the worst offenders is to work with law enforcement to crack down on aggressive driving and behavior by cyclists and motorists  We need to find ways to educate all users of the road to behave with courtesy and respect. This will take an enormous culture change.

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

Cyclists take over Capitol Courtyard at Florida Bike Summit

Members of the Florida Bicycle Association from around the state gathered with Bike Florida at the Capitol on Thursday, April 8^th for the 2^nd annual Florida Bike Summit.  Modeled after the highly successful National Bike Summit that recently celebrated it’s tenth anniversary in Washington, DC, the Florida Bike Summit generated dozens of meetings with legislators’ support on pending legislation to enhance safe riding throughout the State.  Policy reform is a critical element of our program and change requires advocacy from Pensacola to Key West. A focus on Tallahassee and state policy is important for all of us, even those who remain focused on local issues, as many of FBA’s members discovered.

Rep. Adam Fetterman

“Florida has lots of natural advantages that could make it a leader in sustainable transportation and recreation if we make the investment in safer roads, connected trails and communities that support transportation choices,” says FBA Board president David Henderson.

Ken Bryan, director of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Florida Field Office, and Representative Julio Robaina announced the creation of the Florida Pedestrian/Bicycle Partnership Council, made up of state agencies, local governments and private groups to guide to the State agencies on bicycle and pedestrian policy and practice.

Rep. Julio Robaino

Based on responses to a survey administered last summer, FBA established a list of priority actions.  The Florida Bike Summit 2010 Agenda included the “Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law”, House Bill 41/Senate Bill 448, and thanks to a relationship with the Florida chapter of ABATE, American Bikers Aimed Towards Education), “Increased fines for car drivers who cause serious injury or death of a motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian, House Bill 875/Senate Bill 1918.

Advocates walked the halls of the Senate and House of Representatives meeting with key leaders and their staff to encourage their support.

Sen. Paula Dockery & David Henderson, Board Prez

The result of this important event are primarily two-fold:  increased awareness of your rights and concerns as a bicyclist among lawmakers as well as inspired and educated FBA members who gained critical hands on experience in effectively advocating for better policies.

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