The Florida Bicycle Association is the voice in Florida for people who bicycle for fun, for transport, or for sport, as well as the communities where they thrive.
We help improve the built environment and promote policies that support bicycling throughout the state. Our team members are engaged in coalitions across Florida, including in the state capital; we track and comment on policy at the state and federal levels; we work with regional agencies, the Florida Department of Transportation and municipalities of all sizes; and, we partner with organizations across the Sunshine State whose goals complement ours.
Read our most recent policy and legislative positions below.
Then, get involved. Sign up to receive our newsletters and educational alerts. If you can, become a volunteer. And perhaps most importantly, if you aren’t already a member, please join to add your voice to the movement.
2024 Florida Legislative Session Update
February 15, 2024
Two proposed laws that would be good for people who bicycle and walk in Florida are advancing favorably in the state legislature.
You can help move the bills along (see below, in red) and thereby help make Florida better for people who want to bicycle and for people who need to bicycle. Florida Bicycle also is tracking two bills that aren't bicycle-friendly that would make transportation planning in Florida less supportive of walking and biking.
First, let's start with the GOOD:
Reducing distracted driving and preventing road deaths. A proposed law that would ban the use of handheld wireless devices while driving has received unanimous approval in three House committees. Michelle Avola-Brown, a board member for the Florida Bicycle Association and executive director of the Naples Pathways Coalition, testified this week that Florida is more deadly than any other state for people walking and biking, and that ending the dangerous practice of holding a cell phone while driving will reduce crashes and prevent deaths. Florida Bicycle urges passage of the bills that would make the law a reality: HB 1469, sponsored by Rep. Allison Tant of Tallahassee, and SB 1664, sponsored by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez of Miami.
Protecting "vulnerable road users". Another proposed law would impose new penalties on drivers who seriously injure or kill vulnerable road users, a group that includes people walking and biking. HB 1133, sponsored by Rep. Mike Redondo of Miami, and SB 1528, sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins of Tampa, would suspend driver licenses, require offenders to take driver courses, and impose fines of at least $1,500 for injuring and at least $5,000 for killing a vulnerable road user. The law wouldn't preclude a driver from also being charged, convicted and further punished for their violations. Florida Bicycle urges the passage of the bills to bring this much-needed law into effect.
Please call or email your lawmakers---regardless of your city or district---to encourage them to support the bills above. You can find contact information for your senators and representatives at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm.
Now, the BAD, which Florida Bicycle will continue to track and share updates about:
SB 1032 and HB 7049 take aim at local transportation planning organizations and would focus them on simply moving more cars and moving them at faster speeds. The bills also would remove the goal of reducing fuel consumption, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the planning organizations' purpose. Very concerningly, one of the bill's sponsors said that bike lanes are an example of misspent road dollars.
HB 1301 would remove pollution reduction and climate goals from the purpose of the Florida Dept. of Transportation, underscoring a plan to reject federal highway funding that is available to reduce carbon emissions. The bill has faced criticism but continues toward passage.
Two more final bits of good news:
The House and Senate budgets would continue funding for the SUN Trail Program and the Florida Greenways and Trails System, which combine to provide hundreds of miles of shared-use, nonmotorized paths throughout the state.
Another proposed law would provide up to $5M per year to manage state and local non-motorized paths, which would be a great benefit to people walking and biking. HB 1417, sponsored by Rep. James Buchanan of Sarasota, and SB1638, sponsored by Sen. Travis Hutson of St. Augustine, specify that the money would come from the Seminole Gaming Compact, which also funds the protection and management of conservation lands and water resources.
Thank you for taking action to help make Florida more bicycle-friendly. After you contact your lawmakers, please share your action with others via social media. Consider tagging @floridabicycleassociation on Facebook and Instagram to help encourage like-minded advocates to act. Your voice matters!
More Recent Policy and Legislative Initiatives
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Requesting Crash Data that is Fair to People on Bicycles
The federal agency responsible for collecting crash data recently prepared draft guidelines for collecting uniform data across the country. This data is important, as it helps advocates understand the type and severity of crashes involving people on bicycles, and how to prevent crashes that cause serious injuries or death. The draft guidelines, however, included concerning language. Florida Bicycle and many organizations across the state and the nation submitted letters of comment requesting better guidelines. Read our full letter below.
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Proposed Federal E-BIKE Act
The Florida Bicycle Association supports the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act (S. 881/H.R. 1685). The act would relieve 30% of the cost (up to $1,500) of a new electric bicycle through a refundable consumer tax credit. As shared by PeopleForBikes, electric bicycles have the ability to displace short car trips by getting people where they need to go with efficiency and ease. An all-in approach to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change must recognize the ability of electric bicycles to take cars off the road and keep people moving, active, and connected to their communities. Use this page to encourage your federally elected officials to co-sponsor the bill.
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Proposed State Legislation 2023: Enforcing School-Zone Speed Limits
UPDATE: PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW.
SB 588 and HB 657 would enhance enforcement of vehicle speed limits in school zones and prioritize the safety of our most vulnerable community members—children—during one of their most vulnerable times of day: getting to and from school. We support these bills, students’ safety, and a bike-friendly Florida. Read the full bills, get status updates and contact legislators here.
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Proposed State Legislation 2023: Expanding Florida's Trails Network
UPDATE: PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW.
SB 106 and HB 915 would make trails in the Florida Wildlife Corridor a priority for the SUN Trail program and the state’s greenways and trails network; increases annual SUN Trail spending for new trails to $50 million per year; and makes a one-time appropriation of $200 million to accelerate trail construction. We support these bills and also encourage creating connections to and within population centers so that more people can access the trails and safely use “active” modes of transportation.
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Proposed Federal Rule 2022: Tracking GHG Emissions from Surface Transportation
A proposed U.S. Dept. of Transportation rule would require federal grantees to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions from transportation plans and programs, allowing communities to assess and address the long-term impact of transportation investments, including bicycle infrastructure. We support this rule and also request the agency include state and local roads in the rule, and provide assistance to states and local agencies for implementation.