Advocates and Enthusiasts Discuss Statewide Bike-Friendly Priorities
Advocates for safe bicycling conditions came together at the Florida Bicycle Association’s annual meeting on Oct. 14 at Healthy West Orange in Winter Garden, Florida.
A group of 90 advocates and professionals working for safe and accessible bicycling came together the weekend of October 14 in Winter Garden to discuss the state’s most pressing bikeability issues as part of the Florida Bicycle Association’s annual meeting.
Participants in the half-day general meeting came from all across Florida and included community planners, non-profit leaders, elected officials, volunteers, law enforcement, business owners, government staff, engineers, health advocates, researchers and more. A small reception the prior evening also brought together organizational partners to establish new connections that will help advance their shared missions.
Key topics for the weekend included equity in transportation and bikeability planning, buidling and connecting trails, and safer street designs and bicycling infrastructure.
Tia Boyd, a research associate with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research, answered questions from the audience about equity in transportation.
Guest panelists for the general meeting were:
Jim Wood, Transportation Planning Lead, Kimley-Horn and Associate
Tia Boyd, Research Associate, Center for Urban Transportation Research (USF); and
Ed Barsotti, Program Director, Bicycle Infrastructure Assistance (Florida Bicycle)
The panelists shared their thoughts and then encouraged an open dialogue among attendees, which led to valuable sharing of information and the creation of new relationships.
To help in planning a meeting or summit for next year, attendees of this year’s October 14 meeting are asked to complete a post-meeting survey here by October 31.
The Florida Bicycle staff, board of directors and advisory council all expressed their deep appreciation after the meeting for the sponsors and volunteers (see below) who helped make the meeting a success.
