3rd Annual Florida Bike Summit needs you
As a cyclist you know the squeaky wheel gets the grease and March 24th is our day to take the cycling cause to the Capitol – your voice combined with others will make a difference!
The Florida Bicycle Association invites you to Tallahassee for the 3rd annual Florida Bike Summit on Thursday, March 24, 2011. Our press conference in the Capitol Courtyard will start at 11:30AM. Registration is free. Your time and presence will help in getting the attention of our legislators that their constituents demand the rights of bicyclists to be taken seriously. They won’t know unless you tell them.
You don’t have to be ultra articulate, and you don’t have to have multiple talking points in bullet form. All you have to do is say, “I am a citizen of your district, and I support enhanced penalties for moving vehicle violations that cause serious injury or death.” Done. Have a few more minutes? Here’s your next sentence: “I also support distracted driver legislation that makes violations a primary offense.” Wow, not only easy, but now you’re feeling pretty good to have spoken out.
Register TODAY for the Florida Bicycle Summit. Sign in, show up and speak up for cycling!
The 2011 FBA Annual Awards presentation will take place in conjunction with the Summit during the press event. The nomination deadline is March 1, 2011 so don’t delay in nominating worthy individuals or organizations. A list of categories and previous winners is available on the website, as well as a nomination form. Nominations go to Interim Executive Director Dan Moser by email, fax or mail:
dan@floridabicycle.org; ph/fax 239-334-6417
1449 Linhart Ave., Fort Myers FL 33901
Action Alert: Protect OGT and 53 state parks
Here we go again! The current budget cuts proposed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection call for eliminating the Office of Greenways and Trails and closing 53 state parks, including the San Felasco State Preserve (Home of the Tour de Felasco), and Big Shoals in White Springs (Home of the Ididaride).
A complete list can be found here.
The proposed budget in the House can be viewed by going to http://www.myfloridahouse.gov, click on Committees, click on Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, then click on the Meeting Packets link on the right, then download the .pdf for the January 26, 2011 meeting. Items 50 and 52 on page 40 give the details.
A similar bill is in committee in the Senate.
Call your legislators NOW!!
Email the chairs of the committees. The chair of the House Committee is Trudi Williams and the chair of the Senate Committee is Alan Hays. Representative Williams email address is: trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov Senator Hays’ email address is: hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov
The rest of the members of the House committee are as follows:
Trudi.Williams@myfloridahouse.gov
Steve.Crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov
Leonard.Bembry@myflioridahouse.gov
Ben.Albritton@myfloridahouse.com
Frank.Artiles@myfloridahouse.gov
Jim.Boyd@myfloridahouse.gov
Luis.Garcia@myfloridahouse.gov
Tom.Goodson@myfloridahouse.gov
Clay.Ingram@myfloridahouse.gov
George.Moraitis@myfloridahouse.gov
Steven.Perman@myfloridahouse.gov
Elizabeth.Porter@myfloridahouse.gov
Vasilinda.Rehwinkel@myfloridahouse.gov
Patrick.Rooney@myfloridahouse.gov
Franklin.Sands@myfloridahouse.gov
Stephanie.Massengale@myflorida.gov
Senate General Government Appropriations Committee member information is as follows:
Chair: Senator D. Alan Hays hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov
Vice Chair: Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Larcenia J. Bullard bullard.larcenia.web@flseante.gov
Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Anthony C. “Tony” Hill, Sr. hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Dennis L. Jones, D.C. jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Jack Latvala latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov
Please email or call the Chairs first, then move on to the other committee members as you have time.
Below are some important statistics you can use in your correspondence.
With an estimated $3.5Billion budget shortfall this fiscal year, now more than ever, we need our voices heard! The new Governor has stressed that economic development and tourism are two of his top priorities, and visitors to State Parks and Greenways are great examples of tourists spending money!
Do your part to help preserve some of the best trails in the State of Florida!
Contributed by: Hal Downing and Rob Ern
Take your local elected officials for a bike ride
City of Oldsmar Council member Linda Norris enjoys a bike ride with FBA Board and Advisory Directors following the FBA Winter Board Meeting in Oldsmar hosted by FBA program assistant Becky Afonso.
from left to right: Michael Schwaid, Henry Lawrence, Robert Seidler, Jim and Diane Murray, Mighk Wilson, Laura Hallam, Ted Wendler, City of Oldsmar Council member Linda Norris and photographer Becky Afonso’s Schwinn.
Janette Sadik-Khan: Urban Reengineer
Check out this new city of the future HERE.
Robert Seidler, Sopchoppy, FL
FBA Winter Board Meeting in Oldsmar
| January 28, 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
| January 29, 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 3:30 pm |
Join us January 28-29, 2011 for the FBA Winter Board meeting in Oldsmar. The fun begins Friday, evening from 6:00-8:00 pm for a Meet & Greet at Peggy O’Neill’s Irish Pub in Tampa (SE corner of Hillsborough Avenue and Race Track Road) followed by the meeting on Saturday from 10:00 am-3:30 pm. Advisory Director Becky Afonso will host the meeting at her home located at 250 Strathmore Ave, Oldsmar, FL 34677. A post meeting casual bike ride is planned for 4:00 pm originating from Bicentennial Park. Hybrid or mountain bikes are recommended.
I hope you can join us. Please RSVP if you plan to attend by contacting Laura Hallam at laura@floridabicycle.org.
Ride with Rails-to-Trails to Deliver AAA Petition Monday, December 13
WHAT:
A 4.1-mile ride on the Cross-Seminole and Seminole-Wekiva trails with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to deliver tens of thousands of signatures asking AAA to support continued federal funding for trails and bicycle/pedestrian programs.
WHY
AAA Mid-Atlantic recently proposed the elimination of trails and bicycle/pedestrian programs from federal transportation trust fund. This would effectively kill the 20-year-old Transportation Enhancement (TE) program that has helped make nearly 20,000 miles of trail possible. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has been gathering names on a petition asking AAA National to reverse their position, but they have yet to do so and have, in fact, endorsed Mid-Atlantic’s stance. Please add your name to the more than 30,000 signatures on our petition at www.railstotrails.org/AAA. Then ride with us to deliver the petition to AAA’s front door, which happens to look out over the TE-funded Seminole-Wekiva Trail!
WHO:
Riding with us will be Rails-to-Trails Conservancy President Keith Laughlin and Vice President of Policy Kevin Mills, Florida Bicycle Association Executive Director Laura Hallam, and other special guests
WHEN:
Monday, December 13
9:30 a.m. departure from Out-Spoke’N Bike Shop to AAA headquarters
10:30 a.m. press event on Seminole-Wekiva Trail across from AAA and petition delivery
WHERE:
Ride departure: Out-Spoke’N Bike Shop (1061 South Sun Drive, Suite #1073, Lake Mary, FL 32746, Phone: 407-688-1959)
Petition delivery and event location: Seminole-Wekiva Trail at intersection of AAA Drive and International Parkway, Lake Mary/Heathrow, FL
This is an out-and-back ride; total mileage is approx. 8 miles.
ATTIRE:
Please dress in NON-CYCLING ATTIRE opposed to spandex and lycra. We want to show AAA how cyclists come from all walks of life, not just people in tight clothing. Appearance plays a big role in representing the interests of cyclists, walkers and all users of roads and trails. The same holds true when meeting with elected officials. Business attire should be the standard. The moderate bike ride distance should make this dress code workable.
SIGN RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY’S PETITION TO AAA
AAA wants trail and bicycle/pedestrian funding cut from transportation funding. Please sign RTC’s petition today!
Our friends at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy are fighting the good fight for trails and bicycle/pedestrian programs, and they need your help! AAA is advocating for the elimination of the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program from the transportation trust fund. Trails and bike/ped get less than 2 cents of every dollar in the fund, but AAA wants that money to go to highways and roads, turning back the clock on 20 years of progress toward a balanced transportation system.
It started with AAA Mid-Atlantic in Delaware. Since then AAA National (Heathrow, FL) has indicated they support Mid-Atlantic’s position. Incidentally, other AAA locations have trails. Take a peek at this video taken last week of AAA Mid-Atlantic headquarters that shows the trail just steps from the AAA building. Go figure! Our friends at YouTube support trails too.
RTC has launched a petition to ask AAA to reconsider their position. More than 30,000 people have signed so far, and supporters-and AAA members-are flooding their regional AAA chapters asking one simple question: Will AAA support critical, established walking and bicycling programs-and the funding source that allows them to thrive-now and into the future?
So far, AAA has yet to provide a satisfactory answer.
With AAA National headquarters right here in Florida (and with the TE-funded Seminole-Wekiva Trail in their front yard), let’s add as many Florida voices as possible to the petition. Let AAA know that we value safe, accessible places to walk and bike, and that modern transportation is about more than just highways!
Bicyclist killed by motorist remembered for living life at full throttle
Harry Nickell was riding his bicycle Sunday morning on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 27 near the Lakeridge Winery when a car traveling in the same direction wandered off the road and slammed into him from behind.
The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-11242010-20101124,0,6171634.column
Florida Bicycle Club Leadership Workshop
There’s still time to register for the Florida Bicycle Club Leadership Workshop to be held Saturday, November 20, in Clermont in conjunction with the 31st annual Horrible Hundred.
Time: 3:00-6:00 pm
Location: ROOM: Valencia at the Citrus Tower, 141 N. Hwy. 27, Clermont
Fee: FREE, however registration is required. Go HERE to register.
Plus: VIP Hour at The Cycling Hub in Clermont from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Saturday, November 20th. There will be beverages and hors d’oeuvres. This VIP Hour is sponsored by The Cycling Hub located at 1200 Oakley Seaver Drive.
As a co-sponsor of the workshop, the Florida Freewheelers will once again provide one complimentary Horrible Hundred registration per club for individuals attending the workshop. The Horrible Hundred is Sunday, 11/21/10.
Is your club listed below? If not, forward this information to one of your club leaders ASAP.
Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club
Capital City Cyclists
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Daytona Beach Bicycle Club
Eastside Cycle Club
Everglades Bicycle Club
Florida Bicycle Association
Florida Freewheelers
Gainesville Cycling Club
Highlands Pedalers
Lake County PAL (Police Activities League)
North Florida Bicycle Club
Polk Area Bicycle Association
Seminole Heights Bicycle Club
St. Petersburg Bicycle Club
South Lake Bicycles.Com Team
Terrell Hogan Law Firm
Treasure Coast Cycling Association
zMotion
DecoBike brings bike sharing to Miami Beach
At the last Sunday Bike Miami Days event, DecoBike was offering free rides for people to test the bikes that will become part of the Miami Beach Bike Sharing Program.
DecoBike booth at Bike Miami Days event
DecoBike is planning on kicking off the program next month. Miami Beach will be the first City in Florida with a program of this kind similar to some European countries.
Miami and the Downtown Development Authority are also working on setting up something alike.
Alexander J. Labora, MBA JD
alexander.labora.wg83@wharton.upenn.edu