Caron writes: I’m sure you’ve seen the results of Tuesday’s elections – and you’re thinking about what this means. We are, too. And we don’t have all the answers yet.

As Andy Clarke wrote on the League’s blog, we lost a friend and a champion when Congressman Jim Oberstar lost his reelection bid in Minnesota. During his time in Congress, and particularly in his role as Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, we knew we had someone who would fight for bicyclists.

Our fight for bicycling and walking in the Transportation Authorization Bill will be much harder without Oberstar — but not impossible. I think that those of us who feel defeated and depressed right now need to remember what this movement accomplished in SAFETEA LU under a Republican House, Senate and White House.  Safe Routes to School and the non-motorized pilot program were created, funding for Transportation Enhancements went up 35 percent, Recreational Trails funding went up 65 percent, and, during the life of SAFETEA LU, annual funding for bicycling and walking went from less than $400 million to more than $1 billion. While Congress and funding issues are a challenge, we know we have a strong ally in Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and incredible momentum building at the local level.

Yes, it’s going to be challenging. But I think we’re up for it.

Here’s what we know after Tuesday night.

House

• Currently the House stands at 240 Republicans, 184 Democrats and 11 undecided.

• Our major loss was the change in leadership at all levels. Oberstar was a bulldog for our issues when he was in the minority. We won’t have that this time.

• The new leadership includes Representatives John Boehner (R-OH) and Eric Cantor (R-VA), two of our biggest adversaries, and we need to be ready to defend Transportation Enhancements and biking and walking in general.

• Representative John Mica (R-FL) is poised to become the new chair of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mica has supported bike/ped infrastructure in his district, but that hasn’t translated into federal policy. Mica will also have pressure from leadership to fall in line, which could be challenging to us.

• A number of our friends did survive and we will need to work with them to protect our interests.

Senate

• Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) will remain the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, but will have even more pressure to compromise with ranking member Senator James Inhofe (R-OK). We’ll need to keep pressure on her — both her California constituents, and through other EPW members who support our issues.

So what happens now?

First, I think that we’ll see a six- to eight-month extension in the lame duck session. However, the President has said that infrastructure is one of the issues the White House can work with Republicans on, so we need to be prepared for debate on the authorization bill this spring. Given this possibility, we need to get to know the new members of Congress, and introduce ourselves and our issues to them. To do that we are asking for your help in several ways:

• First, we’re interested in any information you have on the winners in your state and your district.  Did they have an elected position before in which they voted on transportation issues?  Have they made any significant statements on transportation or the environment? We’ll be doing some research as well, and, once we compile it all, we’ll share it with you, too.

• Please send a congratulatory note to your elected official and request a meeting. We want to make sure these new members of Congress are aware that there is a well-organized constituency for bicycling and walking in their district/state. They may not have formed their positions on transportation yet; now is a good time to introduce them to our issues.

• Help us with The Next Mile. Please record in our database the next five projects that will be built in your area. Being able to show new members what support for bicycling and walking will mean in their district will help us make the case here in DC — and will help you make the case at home!

• Finally, please consider sending Representative Oberstar a thank you for all his hard work and support for bicycling and walking through the years. He developed the Safe Routes to School Program, supported the Non-motorized Pilot Program, secured Transportation Enhancement funding in the Recovery Act — and has protected transportation enhancements and bicycling and walking for two decades.

Thanks for your continuing work on bicycling and walking, and your support of our work here at the national level. We’ve got a fight ahead of us, but we also have an opportunity to build new leaders and break new ground.

Caron Whitaker
America Bikes

We will give you the tools to use a bike for transportation, without stress or fear, anywhere you choose. Sessions have been scheduled for the complete CyclingSavvy course:

Truth & Techniques (classroom)
Friday, 11/12 from  6-9pm at a location TBA in Orlando

Train Your Bike & Tour of Orlando
Saturday, 11/13  from 8am-4pm with a break for lunch
at the Orlando Arena

Fee: $75

For questions and to register, go HERE.

Get it all done in one weekend.

We will give you the tools to use a bike for transportation, without stress or fear, anywhere you choose. Sessions have been scheduled for the complete CyclingSavvy course:

Truth & Techniques (classroom)
Friday, 11/12 from  6-9pm at a location TBA in Orlando

Train Your Bike & Tour of Orlando
Saturday, 11/13  from 8am-4pm with a break for lunch
at the Orlando Arena

Fee: $75

For questions and to register, go HERE.

Since this campaign and our mission share a goal, we feel it’s important to contribute by signing the pledge.  If you haven’t already done so, the link is below.

www.peopleforbikes.org/signpledge

Once you sign the pledge, you may opt to receive campaign updates, like the one shown below.  The goal of the campaign is to “unite one million voices” – the first goal of 100,000 has successfully been reached!  Let’s help reach the next goal of 200,000 by signing the pledge and spreading the word!

Rachel Weissler
Ride Director
Bike Florida & Share the Road

New text includes:
Roadway position [§316.2065(5)]

A person operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic under the conditions existing must ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable [safe] to the roadway’s right-hand curb or edge, except under any of the following situations:

* when passing another vehicle
* when preparing for a left turn
* when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including (but not limited to), a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard
* when a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side.

A cyclist operating on a one-way street with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as close to the left-hand edge of the roadway as practicable.

Visit the website to review a complete description of the Bike Lane Law and to download a copy of the guide.

A provision of a $26 billion Federal Jobs Bill includes $6.7 billion in rescissions, of which $2.2 billion will come from transportation funds.  The fact that there is no requirement for equity when determining where cuts come from has resulted in Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) proposing a formula that will result in a significantly disproportional impact on funds for non-motorized projects in our state.

Specifically, $24.7 million from Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds and $3 million from Recreational Trails Program (RTP), figures that represent approximately one-third of monies that would be used for non-motorized projects since Florida historically under-utilizes funds that are available for bike/ped/trails improvements.  As compared to a 0.1% overall cut to traditional road projects, this decision by FDOT can only be deemed reprehensible.

Please speak up for TE and RTP to Governor Crist, gubernatorial candidates Alex Sink and Rick Scott, Florida State Transportation Development Administrator Brad Thoburn and FDOT Assistant Secretary for Intermodal Systems Development Debbie Hunt.

Florida’s office of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has made it easy for you to speak up.

Just click on this link and you can send a letter in less than 30 seconds!.

Need help deciding who to support in the upcoming gubernatorial race November 2? Due to incomplete results, we were unable to post prior to the primaries, and we still have not heard from Rick Scott’s campaign, but below are the results from Bud Chiles (who may be dropping out of the race) and Alex Sink.  Though Sink did not complete the questionnaire, her campaign provided her transportation plan.

Bud Chiles

1.     How would you describe the benefits of making Florida a better place to bike and walk? Creating a safe environment for exercise and recreation, making our cities and towns safer for children to play in, increasing access to those with disabilities… there are so many reasons to make this happen.
2.    In April 2010, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood released a policy directive (attached) that states, “Every transportation agency, including DOT, has the responsibility to improve conditions and opportunities for walking and bicycling and to integrate walking and bicycling into their transportation systems”.
Question: How would your administration embrace this policy here in Florida? I believe Florida needs to do the same. We’ve got the weather – we need to create the infrastructure to encourage walking and bicycling in Florida. And state government should lead the way in that.
3.    All across the U.S., in communities large and small, there is a strong and growing movement to make our communities more livable and sustainable.  This movement embraces complete streets that give people more transportation choices; mixed use developments that co-locate jobs, homes and businesses in closer proximity; and transit-oriented development that promotes economic vitality.  Though Federal resources are being dedicated to this effort, Florida is not competitive in attracting grants due to lags in transportation innovation and leadership.
Question: What do you think would be required for Florida to shift to this new paradigm? How, as Governor, would you move the state in this direction? One big opportunity is the regional rail system, which is using federal funding to address Florida’s transportation issues. We need to expand this system, but we also need better local transportation systems. As Governor, I intend to put the full weight of state government behind investing in renewable resources, sustainability and conservation measures that will bring green jobs to Florida and make our state a greener place to live and work.
4.    For more than two decades, Florida has had the dubious distinction of being the state with the highest pedestrian and bicyclist fatality rates in the nation.  One in ten pedestrian fatalities occurs in Florida.  One in six bicyclist fatalities occurs here.
Question: As Governor, what priority will you give to pedestrian and cyclist safety?  Will you commit to reducing the fatality rates by 40% by the end of your first term?  Absolutely.  As a father with a visually impaired child who must rely on pedestrian ways and public transportation, I fully understand how far Florida has to go in making its streets safe for walkers and bicyclers. I will commit to ensure that our transportation systems are safe for all methods of transport.
5.    Despite the fact that Florida is the worst state in the nation for bike/ped safety, funding to address the danger has not matched the danger.  For example, safety funding received by FL from the federal government has been reprogrammed to fund road projects.
Question: Would you support targeting federal highway safety funds to the users that are most at risk on a proportional basis (e.g., currently bike/ped fatalities make up 22% of all traffic fatalities in FL so they would receive 22% of the federal highway safety funds)?  How would you hold state agency leaders and managers accountable for achieving results? I do believe more funding needs to be allocated for these safety issues, and will make sure state agencies with expertise in these areas are responsible for real benchmarks.
6.    What is your vision of how Florida’s economic base should change and what role does biking, walking, transit have in that vision?  How would you support the revitalization of Florida communities?  Florida needs to move towards a sustainable economy – one that preserves the natural environment that makes our state such an attractive place to live, work and play.
7.     Other states have shown the economic benefits of bicycle tourism.
Question: What programs and activities would your administration undertake to better promote bicycling as an integral part of Florida’s tourism sector?  When my children were young, we would take trips to Key West and rent bicycles for the week. It was one of our favorite family vacations. Bicycling has minimal effect on our environment and provides great opportunities for recreation. I believe we can encourage more bicycle tourism through focused messaging on Florida’s tourism websites and other venues.
8.    In 2008, Florida enacted the HB 697 which requires state and local agencies to develop plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Transportation emissions contribute 46%  of the greenhouse gas emissions in Florida (compared to 33% nationally); with 66% of these emissions in Florida coming from cars.
Question: What policy initiatives do you support to reduce energy use and GHG emissions in Florida’s transportation?  What roles do bicycling and walking have in meeting these goals? I think we should encourage businesses to offer incentives to workers who take public transportation or bicycle to work. And I think that state government should lead in this area by doing the same for state employees.
9.    Childhood obesity is a clear and present danger to the future health and economic well-being of Florida.  Programs like Safe Routes to Schools encourage children to incorporate more physical activity into their daily habits.
Question: How would you support this program?  What would you do to ensure that the built environment promotes more physical activity to address the growing problem of obesity? This is obviously a huge problem for Florida’s children. I want to encourage after-school activities that will get kids outside. This is the first I’ve heard of the Safe Routes to Schools program, but I will definitely find out more about this effort to encourage children to get active.
10. As the 2009 AARP report, “Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America”, stated, over the coming decades the number of older Americans is expected to increase from 12% of the total population in 2005, and by 2025, these numbers are projected to double, with one in five Americans being 65 or older.  Half of all no-drivers age 65 and over stay home on a given day because they lack transportation, which lessens their independence and quality of life.
Question: As Governor, what would you do to plan for an aging Florida, as it relates to transportation?  Our communities need more reliable public transportation. As Governor, I will work to build partnerships in communities to address the needs of aging Floridians so that there are adequate transportation means for the future.
11. Last year, the Florida Department of Transportation initiated the State’s 2060 Transportation Plan but excluded many aspects of the transportation community, including the bike/ped community, from the steering committee charged with managing the plan development and making recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.
Question: As Governor, what steps will you take to ensure that representatives from all modes of transportation and all kinds of users will be included in transportation planning processes?  A plan for Florida’s transportation future will only be successful if there is a true coalition of interest groups moving forward.  I will fight for access to be given to a broad range of voices so we can be sure that the needs of all Floridians are being served.

******************************************************

Alex Sink

I wanted to let you know that our campaign policy is that we do not complete written questionnaires. This is true regardless of the organization. I realize that your organization does not do endorsements and is primarily seeking to educate your members and voters – a good thing! Visit our website for Alex’s transportation and education policies, as well as those on ethics, economic development, government accountability, and energy. Collectively, I think these will give your members a well-rounded perspective as to Alex’s position on key issues of interest.

Donna O’Neal
Alex Sink Campaign

Click on the “click here to read the full plan” link for bike/ped information. Below are excerpts brought to our attention by Deborah Carenno, Hillsborough County Bike/Ped Coordinator.

As Governor, Alex Sink will:

Incorporate more trails, bicycle paths, bike lanes and pedestrian facilities into transportation planning. Bicycling or walking to work and as leisure activities not only reduce congestion but provide numerous health and environmental benefits. The FDOT reports that 66 percent of our state highway system has bicycle lanes or paths. Studies also show more people are bicycling and walking than ever before. Alex believes in developing more bike and pedestrian friendly facilities and will ensure representation of these interests on the FDOT’s leadership planning committees, including the Strategic Intermodal System planning group. Florida is known for its award-winning Greenways and Trails program. Alex will support these “active transportation” programs and work to ensure that rail and transit facilities are easily accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians.

Improving Safety

As Governor, Alex also will seek to expand the percentage of federal safety funds that FDOT spends on bicycle and pedestrian safety programs. Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities represent 21.4% of all Florida traffic deaths yet less than 5% — about $4 million — of federal highway safety funding is spent on bike and pedestrian safety for the entire state. Even a modest increase could help boost safety outreach efforts.

Alex Sink Campaign additional analysis provided by Bike/Walk Lee here .

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.

Here is an update on the knifing incident that took place at the Kent University, Jacksonville, FL. on Memorial Day.

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.