Messenger - Florida Bicycle Association · Relations Director. License plate promotions are...

Dave Milliman has joined the Share the Road team in the new position of MediaRelations Director. License plate promotions are coordinated by Bike Florida andfinanced by a portion of Share the Road plate sales revenues.

Dave worked with the Sunshine State Games in the late 1990s to promote theFlorida Olympic license plate and participated with Bike Florida staff on numerousevents.

Dave comes to Bike Florida from the United States Track Coaches Association(USTCA) where he was assistant to the Director.

One of his many responsibilities at the USTCA was that of Editor in Chief of Trackand Field Coaches Review magazine. The magazine was established in 1927 as atechnical journal for track and field and was recognized by USA Track and FieldExecutive Director Craig Masback as one of the best journals in the track and fieldindustry. Dave will bring writing and editorial expertise to the Share the Road effort toraise visibility for the programs funded by the specialty plate proceeds with articles innumerous state and national magazines.

Dave will also craft marketing programs and literature to promote the sale of theShare the Road specialty license plate. He will produce both print and electronic mediapackages and will actively publicize the impact of the Share the Road specialty plateon bicycling and motorist safety across Florida.

From time to time he will be looking for leads on articles and photographs relating toSTR efforts, unique specialty tag stories, mini-grant success stories and the like. Hecan be reached at 352-337-1475. His office is in Gainesville, Florida (1330 NW 6thStreet, Suite D, Gainesville, FL 32601). His internet address is: [email protected] also feel free to reach him through the Bike Florida office at 352-392-8093.

P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694

Vol. 10, No. 4 Fall 2007

MessengerAdvocating a bicycle-friendly Florida

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC.

FBA’s 10thYear

www.floridabicycle.org

Share the Road license platecampaign gets new mediarelations director

FBA adds itsvoices to the‘blogosphere’

In August FBA added an officialWeb log to its stable of communica-tions choices.

You can reach the ’blog at http://flabicycle.blogspot.com

Initially, the association intends touse the vehicle for informal discus-sion and comment on bicycling-related issues.

Hopes are that the effort will aug-ment information provided by theWebsite by providing a forum forinteraction among advocates for bet-ter Florida bicycling.

You can access the latest FBA’blogs at the above URL or by click-ing the link on the FBA Websitehome page.

ACTION ALERTTELL SENATOR MARTINEZ

FLORIDA NEEDS TRAIL FUNDING

On September 11, 2007, Florida U.S.Sen. Mel Martinez (R) voted to elimi-nate all federal spending on trails andother walking and biking facilities.

Tell Sen. Martinez that Florida needsmore opportunities for walking andbiking, not less.

Sen. Martinez’s vote was in support ofan extreme amendment proposed bySen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) thatblamed bicycle and pedestrian fundingfor the August Minneapolis bridge col-lapse.

This claim was made despite the factthat, since 2006, states have returnedmore than $2 billion in unspent bridgeproject funding to Congress. Coburn’samendment was defeated 80-18.

This misguided scapegoatingattempt cannot go unchallenged.

Please explain to Sen. Martinez whycutting trail, walking and biking fundswould be a huge blow to Florida.

Bicycle facilities and trails have strongtransportation value, produce zeroemissions, support healthy lifestylesand provide economic developmentopportunities.

We need more, not less, funding forbicycle facilities and trails. Federalfunding has helped to create numer-ous miles of highly used bike lanesand trails: the Fred Marquis PinellasTrail and Cady Way Trail; regional con-nectors such as the WithlacoocheeState Trail and the Suncoast ParkwayTrail; and the soon to be constructed50-plus mile East Central RegionalRail Trail and 49-mile Palatka to LakeButler Rail Trail.

After you have taken action, please besure to ask other Floridians to act aswell. By multiplying our voice, we canconvince Sen. Martinez to do the rightthing in the future.

Floridians deserve better trans-portation choices. Please act now byvisiting the Rails-to-Trails Conserv-ancy “What Can You Do?” page at www.railstotrails.org.

Florida Bicycle Association annual awardsare presented to worthy recipients for theircontributions to bicycling.

The purpose of the awards is to bringattention to the efforts and achievements ofgroups, organizations and individuals thathelp deliver our mission to inspire and sup-port people and communities to enjoy greaterfreedom and well being through bicycling.

The 2007 awards were presented duringthe annual meeting held in conjunction withthe third annual Pro Bike® Pro Walk FloridaConference.

Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee(BPAC): Hillsborough County BicyclePedestrian Advisory CommitteeTina Russo, Chair

The Hillsborough County BPAC is one ofthe most active and productive committees inthe state, currently chaired by Tina Russo.They are especially proud of their recentaccomplishments. Since the BPAC wasformed in 1977, the committee has requestedfacilities for cyclists to travel safely throughdowntown Tampa traffic. Their efforts havebeen rewarded along with the help of theFlorida Department of Transportation in theform of downtown bike lanes becoming areality. Enroute to downtown, an upcomingNebraska Avenue project will include bikelanes, refuge islands and crosswalks. TampaBayCycle rolled out with festivities duringthe month of May. Rides were logged andprizes were awarded. The BayCycle move-

FBA Annual Awards...

FBA recognizescontributors tobicycling for 2007

continued on page 5

Florida Bicycle Association Messenger2

Raphael Clemente AICP301 Clematis St, Ste. 200West Palm Beach, FL 33401Phone: [email protected]

Linda Crider, Ph.D.116 Kirkland St.Palatka, FL 32177Work Phone: [email protected]

John Sinibaldi, Jr5401 110th WaySeminole, FL 33772Phone: [email protected]

Thanks to Our Donors! (3rd Q 2007)

Mighk Wilson, President737 S. Mills Ave.Orlando, FL 32801Phone: [email protected]

Dan Moser, Vice President1449 Linhart Ave.Ft. Myers, FL 33901Home/Off. Ph./Fax:[email protected]

David Henderson, Secretary111 NW First Street, Suite 910Miami, FL 33128Phone: [email protected]

Steve Diez, Treasurer20 N. Main Street, Room 262Brooksville, FL 34601Phone: 352-754-4057 x [email protected]

Don Braverman27A Stratford Lane WestBoynton Beach, FL. 33436Phone: [email protected]

Duke Breitenbach, [email protected]

Ken BryanRails-to-Trails Conservancy Florida Field [email protected]

Paul Casazza, Law [email protected]

Hal Downing, Legal [email protected]

Herb Hiller, [email protected]

Dwight Kingsbury, [email protected]

Henry N. Lawrence, III, Special [email protected]

George Martin, Law Enforcement [email protected]

Join FBAUse the application form on the lastpage. Suggested contributions (taxdeductible):

Individual $25Family $35Student/living lightly $15Bicycle Club $100Corporate/Agency $100Higher donations are greatly appre-ciated! See membership categories,below.

Make check payable and mail to:Florida Bicycle Association, Inc.,P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694or join online at floridabicycle.org.

Visit FBA’s Websitewww.floridabicycle.org

Subscribe to FBANews, and FBA andFORBA e-mail listsStay up-to-date on bicycle issueswith these statewide forums.

To subscribe to Florida BicycleAssociation's FBAlink, send an e-mailto [email protected] [email protected]. (fordaily digest, e-mail [email protected]). For FBA News,[email protected]

FBA Bloghttp://flabicycle.blogspot.com


OrlandoBrooksville

Board of Directors

Advisory Board

Executive DirectorLaura HallamP.O. Box 718Waldo, FL 32694Phone: 352-468-3430Fax: 352-468-3430Cell: [email protected]

Membership DirectorDeb Devoe2738 Gables DriveEustis, FL [email protected]

Bob Michaels, [email protected]

Laura Minns, Scrapbook and Memory [email protected]

Roger Pierce, Florida Touring [email protected]

Carol Pulley, MPO/[email protected]

Tina Russo, [email protected]

Robert Seidler, Filmmaker [email protected]

Randall Williams, [email protected]

Advocating abicycle-friendly Florida

Ft. Myers

City names denote board member distribution. Is yourarea represented? Contact a board member today!

Joe & MarthaPfeifer

Larry & MargaretWeatherby

Mike & LourdesFarrell

Allen LoydRobbie & SaraBrunger

Lois BrownSteven WatskyTom UstlerTheodore & WendyIsaksen

Bob BelschnerGreen & CatherineLong

Charles HofackerJohn AppelBernard DavisJeffrey & Kathy BurtGeorge & KatherineWing

Laura CampbellPaula ThompsonSusan Cunningham

Palatka

Miami

Lifetime membersKimberly CooperdB Technologies

James NashMr. & Mrs. H. Middleton Raynal

Dr. Joe WarrenMighk and Carol Wilson

Bronze Pedals ($50 - $99)

Silver Spokes ($100 - $249)

Boynton Bch

Waldo (FBA HQ)

Daniel & MariaMoser

John MildenbergerDr. Mark GreenbergDoug & LindaWhitmer

Arlene Moskowitz, Jon & Betsy Hughes

Barbara MeyerTimothy & NanetteWinzell

Steven BrooksMurray & SusanHann

Club & CorporateSt Petersburg Bicycle ClubFlorida FreewheelersSanibel Bicycle ClubFastrack Bicycle & RunAdventure CyclingEverglades Bicycle ClubGreat Place to Work, Inc.City of Boca Raton Clerk’s OfficeTrack ShackBilly’s Bikes

Welcome New and ReturningMembers!

William DavisJo Ellen SchrodeKenneth CampbellNan BoyleMarty VentonSkip RiffleAlice BontragerLarry TimmonsHarvey GoldsteinFrank DospivaDoug ConnorPamela HumbleLuis VelezAlex FigueiredoAmy ConcepcionTom Blazejack &Suzanne Levinson

Kenneth ChapmanMike & LourdesFarrell

Richard WrightDeb RhodesMary YoungKerry LeeZoltan SerfordHarvey HajdichAaron SheffieldMatthew MillerKen PhoenixClaudia Jonqueira

Mary ClarkPatrick MoneymakerCathy KamhiJan S. HumphreysJeffrey BrownGreg BrehmMatt BaconRobert JessupMissy JamesBentley LipscombDon RamettaMark WilsonJessica MundieCharles AnstadtJames LugoTodd AidmanMelanie WaltersJody ByersDona SicilianSteven SchmerskyJim HarrisWilliam FalknerBryan CaugheyDavid RowlandRichard SamuelsonGabrielle LeipskiDavid CourtneyRob FawSteve MorrisDavid J. Lasslo

Please see Welcome, page 4

Paceline Leaders ($1,000+)James Nash

Seminole

Messenger DeadlinesCopy and Advertising Deadlines:Summer Messenger - June 15, 2007Fall Messenger - September 15, 2007Winter Messenger - December 15, 2007Spring Messenger - March 15, 2008

Inquiries and submissions:[email protected]

Membership Categories: Paceline

Leaders ($1,000+), Titanium Partners

($500-$999), Golden Gears ($250-

$499), Silver Spokes ($100-$249),

Bronze Pedals ($50-$99),

Membership includes a subscrip-

tion to the FBA Messenger.

Fall 2007 3

President’s message...

It IS About the Bike: How the Right EquipmentCan Change Your Life Mighk Wilson

named my new truckLakshmi, for the Hindu god-

dess of good fortune. My newtruck, however, does not have a

hemi, or an extended cab, oreven four wheels. It's my new

bike. Or as the folks at Xtracyclecall it, a sport utility bicycle, an

SUB.My trusty 18-year-old Diamondback

Apex, a mountain bike I'd converted to a citybike, was stolen in early May ("Happy BikeMonth" I hear the thief chuckling), and I'dbeen thinking about the Xtracycle conceptfor some time; about converting theDiamondback. The theft inspired me toaction; I bought a Marin Novato from my

local bike shop, and the conversion kit fromXtracycle.com to make it into an SUB.

For someone new to transportationcycling, the Xtracycle might be seen as arevelation. You'll be able to carry things youwould have assumed could not have beencarried before—even with a bike trailer—and replace more car trips than previouslypossible.

For me it was more evolutionary than rev-olutionary, but that's still a very good thing.To see the possibilities go to www.xtracy-cle.com/gallery.php and click on the "RealLoads" link.

Converting your bike to an SUB is quiteeasy if you're somewhat experienced withbike mechanics. If not, ask your local bikeshop to order the kit and install it for you.The frame extension (called the"FreeRadical") bolts into your rear triangle,you lengthen your chain, and replace yourrear brake and derailleur cables with longerones.

"Quick release" options are possible, butmost users keep it as a permanent conver-sion. While road bikes can be converted, theconcept is better suited to hard-tail mountainbikes and urban/comfort bikes.

The UpsidesThe load capacity of an SUB is much higherthan many bike trailers. A B.O.B. Yak trail-er, for instance, is rated at 70 pounds; the

Xtracycle at 200 pounds. You can also carrylonger loads with greater stability.

When I hauled some 8-foot 1x4s on theB.O.B. it oscillated violently if I took onehand off the bars. Without the extra linkageof the trailer attachment such problems aremuch less likely on the Xtracycle.

You can carry an adult passenger with anXtracycle (see load limit), or a couple ofkids.

With a trailer you have to think aheadabout hauling loads. You wouldn't pull anempty trailer around just in case you neededit. The Xtracycle's impact on riding whennot hauling is minimal, and even has someother benefits, such as a much smoother rideon rough roads, easier track stands at red

lights, and just plain coolness.The Xtracycle system is also modular;

adapting to your needs. "WideLoaders"plug into the sides to enable you carry (youguessed it) wider loads. "LongLoaders"push longer items (ladders, kayaks, surf-boards) out so they don't interfere with yourpedals. "Footsies" are footrests for passen-gers. The "TrayBien" is a rack that allowsyou to carry another bike.

The (Minor) DownsidesYes, there are some things about an SUBthat some might have problems with.

Fitting one into a bike locker can be achallenge, and perhaps even impossible,depending on your bike or your locker.

Mine just barely fits if I take my frontwheel off. I had to cut my front fender shortto make it fit, and with bar ends there is nota quarter inch to spare.

Curb-hopping is no longer an option,unless you have a suspension fork. With therear wheel 15 inches farther back, lifting thefront end is very difficult. I can normallypull my front end all the way back and overon a regular bike, but can only pull the frontup about 2 inches on Lakshmi.

The integral "FreeLoader" bags are open-topped and not waterproof. You could dropin your own waterproof bags, or make yourown tarp to cover it all. Xtracycle is work-ing on a rain-cover for the system.

The FreeRadical frame extension will notwork with a full suspension frame; itrequires a rigid rear triangle. If you wantrear suspension you'll need a suspensionseat post.

Your bike will weigh somewhere between30 and 40 pounds. But then, if you're carry-ing a 50-pound load, who cares?

Supplemental PowerThe folks at CleverCycles in Portland,Oregon recognized thatcarrying loads up anddown hills could dis-courage even somestrong riders, so theycame up with an electricmotor designed specifi-cally for the Xtracyclecalled the "Stokemon-key" http://clever-chimp.com/).

With such horsepowerand capacity, picking upyour friend and his lug-gage at the airport maynow be possible by bike.

A New Niche A couple of smaller bikecompanies have takenthe Xtracycle concept astep further by makingentire bikes based onthis configuration.

Check out Surly's newBig Dummy (www.sur-lybikes.com/new.html)and the Mundo by Yuba

at (www.yubaride.com). With so much attention given to road rac-

ing lately (Armstrong, Landis…) we tend tofocus on speed as the prime measure ofcycling performance. How 'bout we spendsome time competing over how much stuffwe can carry instead!

(Above) The basic configuration. (Right) An 80-inch bi-fold door and other miscellaneous stufffrom Lowes, plus four bags of produce and groceries. Just a typical Xtracycle trip.(Below right) With optional WideLoaders installed; right side FreeLoader removed to showFreeRadical and wheel attachment. Optional fender stickers say "Trucks are Sissy" and "Honkif You're a Wus in an SUV."


FBA celebrates 10 years of working toward better Florida bicycling

FBA 10-year Members (continuous)

Bob MichaelsLaura Minns and Thomas Lauer

Erle and Sharon BoyntonDr. Linda Crider

Mighk and Carol WilsonDwight Kingsbury

Gary SmigielNiles and Vickie Andersen

Vicki SorensenArt and Judy Ackerman

Connie FisherH. Middleton Raynal

5-9 years with FBAIndividuals

William & Jan MarkAurelia PanicaBruce & Tricia MartinChris & Valerie SandsDonna O'Neal & Linda AlexionokBarry & Cynthia HershRichard & Ann IngramJoseph & Margaret MustionTom & Debbie PunzakPatrick DonovanJames NashDaniel & Maria MoserRebecca AfonsoLyndy MooreDouglas & Paula FowlerTina RussoRandall & Valerie WilliamsTim StedemRichard & Marsha BergerDennis & Sandra SullivanTom & Linda WentzellRoberta NewayLinda AttkissonRoger Pierce & Diann DimitriRoy & Sandy WaltersEugene LenihanPablo AbreuKaren McKenziePaul & Sherri CasazzaKristin KalwaraDouglas SpharWalter VeitEdward & Sherry BreitenbachDon Crowell & Nanci AdlerJohn & Kathy StampBruce & Chris VenemaRobert DeGraafMaureen CorteseDianne FranzRichard & Belinda CarlsonPatricia BondLinda LeedsAlan BrownJacqueline MiddletonJeanne FosterBob Blanchard & Eileen JacksonGary & Kathy RiefLarry & Margaret WeatherbyTed & Linda WilsonRick & Debbie BrackettCharles & Lee LeiboldHal & Cori DowningGeorge & Leonora EdwardsAmber Forrest

Kimberly CooperDr. Joseph CraigAllen LoydBrian SmithJane CorlissRobbie & Sara BrungerAl RawlinsTodd LyonsDennis FunchessThomas YeomanBob AndrewsGerald & Shelly SmithLois BrownSteven WatskyMorris & Mikki FuternickRobert DugganFred ReynoldsJonathon & Sharon NollLarry & Nancy PushorPaula ThompsonMichael & Debra JaquithDr. Joe WarrenDeborah DeVoePhilip DollKevin & Joann GulliverDave & Carol WarrenSteven & Paula FeeJuan & Elisa AtanNancy AllmarasEric-John ClaessensDon Braverman & Marianne CoultonPeter IlchukMax & Jan KoletzkeMax GrostWilliam GainesChristiane BostickMelissa WirthJohn HendersonFrances MeltzerKen & Martha ScearceAl & Marsha BrownShawn FawcettLawrence GoslinKen MagyarRon KleinNorma SkyeDonald & Carolyn JacksonScott LemkePatrick McNultyWilliam & Gail ByersJoe & Martha PfeiferLaura HallamEdward ZiminskiDr. Thomas Demarco

Hans HanselJoyce & Pete RussellRichard Hammock & Lisa CashuletteTim & Sara EasterlingBarbara BahooshRussell WinerCharles WhiteTim Strauser & Marcy WilsonTom HoffmanMartin GriffinAlfred LatimerNancy KelseyPatty TumaJohn ThurmondMike PowersBill MarshallGreg LabbeSeth Krieger & Kathy PeresLarry & Barbara ReadeMike & Linda KozakMike GreehanTheodore & Wendy IsaksenAl & Heidi ParkerCarol Hone & Mikki McDougallElmer ParentPeggy FergusonJames ShirkWanda ShortDon KerstingAnn McLambWilliam KyleWilliam PhillipsFrank SchroederRon Elinoff, DDSDale TalbertDonald Bryan

Reginald & Clare JonesGerald WhiteRon HickmanMichael & Lynn PilatoCarol ConradRadames OliverJ Kipp WallJoseph Craig, DDS, PADan ParkerMurray & Susan HannTrent EdwardsDanaya Wright & Kendal Broad-WrightLinda CoetzeeTimothy McClainPaul NadeauGreg KaputaJane S. BurdetteEarle RichardsJoan GreyMichael FerratoGeorge WilliamsBob BelschnerJim & Mary BurnsSteele & Pamela OlmsteadGeorge MartinCharles R. JonesDale RavenGregg SpielerRobert CarruthersFrank AmateaKaren ReynoldsCarol V. DavisJack BergerGerald BirdBrock & Kathy MagruderJesse & Leigh Slater

FBA has weathered 10 years in its journey to make a difference for Florida bicyclists.We want to pause to thank those of you who joined the effort when a fledgling groupof dedicated advocates set their sights on a lofty vision and stuck with FBA for thelong term. Thanks also to those of you who joined early-on and have maintained yoursolid commitment.

5-9 years with FBAClubs and Shops

CLUBSSarasota-Manatee Bicycle ClubPanama City Flyers Cycling ClubFlorida FreewheelersCapital City CyclistsEmerald Coast CyclistsGainesville Cycling ClubNorth Florida Bicycle ClubTampa Bay FreewheelersSuwannee Bicycle AssociationSt. Petersburg Bicycle ClubSpacecoast Freewheelers Bicycle ClubBoca Raton Bicycle Club

Sanibel Bicycle ClubSuncoast Cycling ClubSouth Broward Wheelers

SHOPSOrange Cycle Works, Inc.Chainwheel DriveChampion Cycling & FitnessJim's Bicycle ShopOut Spoke'N Bike Shops, Inc.Sun Cycle CentersWest Orange Trail BikesSantos Trailhead Bicycle Shop

Charles BlackMargaret BartonJim FreemanDavid BergJohn AppelLee SmithJohn McDowellRichard ZimmelmanLu BursonRicardo BazarPatrick McCorryMichael RomainRobert GonzalezBernard DavisJana NewmanDan ChecheleJanice HajekChuck FordFelix McCauley

Deb CanningSteve GrovemeyerCary McCarnR. T. SolisCarol MageluzzoNoel & Jenaette DunhamPatrick BrysonSuzanne O'NealWendy WassonAndre FoucaultNeil GawthrapJeremy SzakacsChris GirausZachary PenaBill WhiteHeather PerkinsSandy ScottDavid RusnakJohn Aldridge

Gunther FlaigWendy HoogstedenAdam QuinnDerek DiamondAmy MartinPhil McGrathWade BalentineMoser MhayamaguryRich WeinbergMary TuckerRichard NostrandJulie PowellScott BaldwinJeffrey & Kathy BurtGeorge & Katherine WingHerry & Janice Nepon-SixtLaura CampbellBarbara MeyerBilly & Salli Kirkland

Welcome New and Returning Members! (continued from page 2)

Fall 2007 5

As FBA’s 10th anniversary year comes to aclose, our association has much for which tobe thankful. We've come a long way over thepast 10 years and are very excited aboutwhat lies ahead.

Your Board of Directors has dedicated agreat deal of time, energy and enthusiasm indeveloping a strategic plan for the future.

This plan was presented at our annualmeeting and awards presentation held inconjunction with the Third Annual Pro Bike®

Pro Walk Florida Conference August 28 inOrlando.

Here is a snapshot of the plan:

Vision: We envision a state where people of all agessee bicycling as an enjoyable, practical andsafe activity and transportation option, andwhere drivers of motor vehicles respect andappreciate bicyclists who use its roadways.

Mission:To inspire and support people and communi-ties to enjoy greater freedom and well-beingthrough bicycling.

Goals:❏ To be a powerful, influential organizationthat protects and advances the interests ofbicyclists

❏ To educate bicyclists, pedestrians andmotorists about safely sharing roadways andpaths

❏ To be a voice for the needs of bicyclists

❏ To encourage the creation of great on-road and off-road places to ride

❏ To provide a statewide communicationsnetwork for bicyclists

❏ To encourage more people to bicyclemore often

Our business vision is to grow the mem-bership to 5,000 members by April 2010.

To achieve this goal, we need your help.Our 2007 membership campaign generated

nearly 200 new members —great news;however, we lost 167 members during thefirst two quarters of 2007.

Due to Florida's transitional population,some members may have moved out of state,but there may be other reasons why memberschose to not renew their membership.

Help us grow our membership, as well asprovide suggestions on ways to keep our cur-rent members.

Our new blog is innovative and fresh. Thewebsite will be updated more often. TheFBA NEWS e-newsletter will include graph-ics and more time sensitive information tokeep members informed.

FBA also launched two additional cam-paigns.

The first targets local bicycle club mem-bers. Members are eligible for a one-yearmembership to FBA for only $10.00. Ontheir anniversary date, we hope they willrenew at the $25, $35 or higher membershiplevel.

It is estimated that over 20,000 bicyclistsare members of a local club. FBA needs theirmembership too.

The second campaign, championed byFBA board member John Sinibaldi, offersFREE first-year memberships to patrons ofselected bike shops in the Tampa Bay area.

The program is being piloted at threeshops, but can easily be expanded.

The concept is the same as the bike clubmemberships when it’s time to renew.

To be successful, FBA must prove howvaluable bicycle advocacy membership is sothe next generation of bicyclists will havebetter places to ride on the road, multi-usetrails and off-road trails.

If your bicycle club or shop is interested ineither program, contact me for details.Camera ready ads and membership applica-tions are available.

❏❏❏❏❏

Special thanks go to the members of the St.Petersburg Bicycle Club, Tampa BayFreewheelers and Suncoast Cycling Club

Executive Director’s report...

Board’s plan for future depends on members Laura Hallam

for donating the proceeds from the 5thAnnual Share the Road Memorial Ride heldthe second Sunday of July every year.

This year, the event generated $3,500towards bicycle advocacy and education.

St. Petersburg Bicycle Club president TimButts, accompanied by past president WendyMenne and vice president Pat Ruta, present-ed the check to FBA at our annual meetingand awards presentation August 28 inOrlando.

The timing was perfect since their clubreceived the Club of the Year award. It’s notevery day FBA receives $3,500 from a clubor organization.

More clubs should follow their lead anddedicate a portion of funds from events ormembership to Florida’s only statewideorganization working for bicyclists.

This event owes a great deal of gratitudeto original and still current administratorJanell Cory. Thank you, Janell, for all youdo for bicycle safety education and advoca-cy. Save the date for July 6, 2008 for theSixth Annual Share the Road Ride.

❏❏❏❏❏

Now there are two Share the Road rides.Ute's October Blast: The Share the RoadRide will be held October 27 in Ft.Lauderdale.

This second annual event, originallycalled the Ute Burkhardt Memorial Ride,honors a wonderful friend to many who losther life while cycling last year.

Event organizers have another great eventplanned to start and finish at DowntownBicycles in Ft. Lauderdale. For details, con-tact Karin Sanders at [email protected] inaugural event generated nearly $1,000for FBA's programs.

❏❏❏❏❏

In closing, I’d like to stress that it isn’talways about membership or money, butwithout both, our association could not exist.

For the first time since 1999, FBA willnot receive funding from the Florida

‘Group Riding’ brochurelays out rules for clubrides

The brochure, available for download (pdf)from the FBA Website is a companion tothe Group Riding DVD, eight public serv-ice announcements plus narrative, for only$5 to cover shipping and handling.

Get a bunch and share with your localTV stations.

The brochure gives 11 important rulesfor traveling in a group of bicyclists—rules that can mean the difference betweenan enjoyable, safe ride and a ride in anambulance.

The report was prepared for the StateSafety Office, Department ofTransportation, State of Florida, in cooper-ation with the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration, U.S. Department ofTransportation and/or Federal HighwayAdministration, U.S. Department ofTransportation.

Department of Transportation. Other funding sources must support our

association so we can continue to improvethe cycling conditions in Florida.

Our corporate sponsors have been wonder-ful and we will continue to research grantapplications, collaborate with statewide part-ners and seek funding from other corporateand private donors.

ment, and the benefits of bike commutingand recreation, will continue for a lifetime.With the near completion of a new pavedshoulder on CR 39 in Keysville,Hillsborough County marks the 100th mileof paved shoulders constructed since 2000.An outreach working group was formed tofocus on ways to better communicate theirmission to a larger and more diverse audi-ence. Televised safety messages, safetymessages on sports arena monitors, suitabili-ty map legend printed in Spanish, and theexpansion of the already successfulAlternative Transportation Education pro-gram underway in Seminole County intoHillsborough County are a few of theirideas. The group will focus on projects theBPAC can accomplish as a committee ofvolunteers.

continued on page 8

AAnnnnuuaall aawwaarrddsscontinued from page 1

FBA presented its annual awards during the recent Pro Bike® Pro Walk Florida conference heldin Orlando. Assisted by central Florida’s Lynx bus services, workshop attendees experience theurban transportation challenges often faced by mobility impaired travelers.


Health Matters...An informative series of tips and products for helping you stay healthy.

Heart Disease Liquidatorby Marilyn T. Brady, RN

Here’s a list of the items featured in past issues:

❏ Osteo Essentials – cartilage rebuilding (item 4057) ❏ VISUtein® – pharmaceutical grade eye-sight protection (item 14634) listed in PDR❏ Prostate TLC – men's health (item 18137)❏ BiosLife Complete – cholesterol reduction (item 228880) listed in PDR❏ LowOz™ – hydration solution (item R21424) I.O.C. certified❏ LoveRx® Men (item 16189)❏ Rx® Women (item 16188)

Remember, when you order by calling 800-864-2489 and mentioning account no. 5790501, allprofits go to FBA. Ask about the 60-day empty box guarantee.

2. Antioxidant Activity. LDL cholesterol inthe artery wall is bombarded by oxygen freeradicals, which turns it into “Oxidized LDLcholesterol.” Oxidized cholesterol is thestuff actually responsible for arterial dam-age-and research shows that HDL can helpprotect LDL cholesterol from free radicals. 3. Anti-Inflammatory Action. HDL helpsto quiet the inflammation of an atheroscle-rotic plaque. Elevated levels of C-ReactiveProtein (CRP) reflect the inflammation ofsuch a plaque and HDL may neutralizeCRP’s tendency to perpetuate the inflamma-tory cycle. 4. Antithrombotic Activity. Plaque rupturetriggers the formation of an artery-blockingblood clot. By halting the flow of oxygen-rich-blood, the clot kills the heart musclecells (heart attack) or brain cells (stroke).HDL reduces clot formation and acceleratesthe healing process that dissolves clots. 5. Endothelial Function. Blood vesselsplagued with atherosclerosis sustain otherdamage. In particular, the endothelial cellslining the arteries fail to produce normalamounts of nitric oxide, the chemical thatallows arteries to dilate (widen) when tissuesneed more oxygen. HDL helps preservenitric oxide production and protect endothe-lial function.

How Much Does HDL Help?The 50-year Framingham Heart Study wasresponsible for many landmark discoveriesabout HDL cholesterol, and the Physician'sHealth Study helped confirm that HDL wasprotective. Data continues to show that thegood cholesterol is very good indeed!

What is Normal HDL?For the average man, HDL cholesterolranges from 40 to 50 mg/dl. Thanks tofemale sex hormones - which have a posi-tive effect on HDL cholesterol - the averagewoman fares better, with HDL cholesterolranging from 50 to 60 mg/dl. But both menand women can benefit from increasingthose averages. Many individuals nowstrive to get their HDLs closer to 60 andsome get as high as 100.

Heart DiseaseLow HDL levels are associated with an in-creased risk of heart attacks, while high lev-els are protective. According toFramingham, cardiac risk rises sharply asHDL cholesterol levels fall below 40 points.In general, each 1 point rise in HDL can beexpected to curb cardiac risk by 2% to 3%

StrokeStrokes come in many forms, but the most

This informative guide describes several dozen wonder-ful inns or B&Bs, with at least two rides originating fromeach inn or nearby.

Accommodations are described down to the smallestnuance; rides are illustrated by handy maps anddetailed cue sheets. Bed, Breakfast & Bike Floridafeatures one circular route and five interconnected cross-Florida routes coveringareas from Pensacola in the panhandle to Key West in the southeastern part ofthe state.

“Touring by B&B” is a great way to see more of Florida.

An avid cyclist, Dale was a longtime member of the Broward County BicycleAdvisory Committee and was an FBA advisory board member. He passed away inmid-2004 while attending the Tour de France.

Bed, Breakfast & Bike Floridaby Dale V. Lally Jr.ISBN: 0-933855-24-9208 pages, paperbound, $16.95

Order from www.anacus.com/bb.html or Amazon.com

Bed, Breakfast &Bike Floridaby Dale V. Lally, Jr.

Do you have a favorite B&B or inn you’ve encountered on a bicycle trip?Send us the details (or point us to a Web site) and we’ll feature it in the Messenger.

common type, ischemic stroke, shares manyrisk factors with heart attack. High HDLlevels reduce the risk of stroke; in severalstudies, HDL is a much better predictor ofrisk than LDL cholesterol, particularly inpeople older than 75

LongevitySeveral investigations suggest that highHDL is linked to longevity, particularlyexceptional longevity. Other research linkshigh levels of HDL to preserved cognitivefunction in old age

Gender DifferencesWomen benefit from cholesterol loweringactivities as much as men do. Beyond age45, a greater percentage of women havehigher cholesterol levels than men, and heartdisease has emerged as the leading cause ofdeath among women. It has also been shownthat HDL levels tend to drop in women whohave just given birth, and that this reductioncan continue for as long as 10 years.However, women are far less likely to seekor receive treatment for high cholesterol. Iaddition, studies have suggested that highLDL levels are not as significant a risk fac-tor for women as for men.

American Heart AssociationIn Studies presented at the American HeartAssociation's 7th Annual Conference, Dr.Peter Verdegem, Senior Scientist with theBiosLife Company, presented clinical evi-dence which showed that the all naturalBiosLife Complete, a multi fiber-base prod-uct increased HDL levels by 26.3% in agroup of stain users that had HDL levelsbelow 40 mg/dl at baseline. It is safe tonote that there are no side effects toBiosLife when used as directed. Prescriptionstatin drugs are an effective modality tomanage high cholesterol but not withoutpotential and serious side effects. Statindrugs do lower LDL levels, but do very littleat this time to impact HDL levels.

Personal ResponsibilityThere is no magic bullet unfortunately.Lifestyle and Genetics play an importantpart in Cholesterol Management; but as oneages, so can our blood values. Discuss withyour physician safe alternatives to managingcholesterol and “Know All Your Numbers”!

These statements have not been evaluated bythe Food & Drug Administration. These pro-ducs are not intended to diagnose, treat,cure or prevent disease.

Gimme an “H”! Gimme a “D”! Gimme an“L”!

HDL is getting all the Buzz lately—butwhat is it?

HDL is “High-Density Lipoprotein,” the“Good Cholesterol.”

High levels of HDL seem to protectagainst heart attacks and low levels of HDL(less than 40 mg/dl-40 points) increase therisk of heart disease.

Medical experts think HDL tends to carrycholesterol away from the arteries and backto the liver, where it’s passed from the body.

In practical terms, the bottom line is sim-ple: the higher your HDL cholesterol, thebetter. Data from the Framingham HeartStudy suggest that raising HDL by 10 mg/dl(10 points) has a similar reduction for therisk of heart disease than lowering the LDL

by 60 mg/dl (60 points)www.framingham.com/heart/

How Does HDL Help?At first, scientists believed that HDL wassimply a garbage collector that picked upcholesterol from an artery’s walls and deliv-ered it to the liver for disposal. That’s stillconsidered the main role of HDL, butresearch is starting to suggest that HDL canhelp protect the heart in many ways…1. Reverses Cholesterol Transport. HDLlatches onto LDL cholesterol (the BadCholesterol) embedded in an artery wall,lugs it back into the bloodstream, and carriesit to the liver. The liver collects cholesterolfrom the HDL particles, packages it into bilesalts and bile acids, and dumps it into theintestines and rids it from the body.

Fall 2007 7

Letters to FBA (and, in this case, to and from others)

BBrriinngg bbaacckk tthhee FFllaa.. BBiiccyyccllee && PPeeddeessttrriiaann CCiittiizzeenn AAddvviissoorryy BBooaarrdd

Readers take issue, ask questions, offer sug-gestions, or otherwise stir the pot. Wereserve the right to edit your letters forlength and to make your English more bet-ter. The opinions offered here do not neces-sarily reflect those of the Florida BicycleAssociation, its officers, staff, board ofdirectors or FBA Messenger editors.

Dear Governor Crist,In 2005, the last year with nationally corre-lated statistics, the state of Florida led thecountry in bicyclist and pedestrian deathsper capita. It has been at or very near the topfor pedestrian and cycling deaths and in-juries for decades. As a new and visionaryleader in our state you have to opportunityto save the lives of Floridians, improve theirhealth and lessen the environmental impactsof the automobile by getting us off thishonor roll of shame. Florida should be striv-ing to improve safety while simultaneouslypromoting walking and cycling as a health-ful, environmentally responsible activities.

Unfortunately, during your own term asgovernor, FDOT has turned the clock backon bicycle safety and the common senseleveraging of State and Federal resources byrefusing to continue funding, and thus ineffect abolishing, Florida’s Bicycle andPedestrian Citizen Advisory Board(BPCAB). This useful committee enabledqualified citizens throughout the state to pro-vide their expertise free of charge to FDOTand other interested state agencies. By tap-

ping into a pool of knowledgeable and moti-vated expert citizens the state recapturesmany times the costs of staffing this kind ofcommittee. 16 other states (see list at the endof this letter), all less dangerous for cyclingand walking than Florida, currently have thistype of committee at a state level. Why is itthat Florida, the most dangerous state in thenation for cycling and walking, has chosento shut off expert citizen input on how toimprove conditions for these most basicmeans of transportation?...

...During its most recent and short-livedincarnation the BPCAB ...served as a sym-bol of Florida’s commitment to teaming withits most visionary citizens to create animproved environment for walking andcycling. ...[The board] gave many of us hopethat where sincere deliberations were nur-tured, effective action would follow.

Now...cyclists and pedestrians...have oneless cause for hope...Please help us to feelsafe and respected as we walk and cycle inthe Florida sunshine.

— Richard D. Browning, AIA

FDOT’s Chief Safety Officer, responds...

Dear Mr. Browning:...The Department has a long tradition ofbicycle pedestrian safety initiatives andbegan its Pedestrian/Bicycle Program in theearly 1980s...one of the first state programsin the nation...It was funds from this pro-

gram that had been used to support theBicycle and Pedestrian AdvisoryCommittee...While the BPAC provided use-ful input, a decision was made that thefunds...could provide a greater positiveimpact on safety if directed toward othersafety programs.

The BPAC has not been the only groupproviding direction to the Department onpedestrian and bicycle issues. One of the sig-nificant efforts of the Safety Office...was therecent development of the Strategic HighwaySafety Plan [which]...reflects the input andstrategies of numerous safety minded indi-viduals, organizations, and agencies...One ofthe critical “Emphasis Areas” identified inthe SHSP is Vulnerable Users (pedestrians,bicyclists, and motorcyclists)...

Another group...is the Steering Team forthe conserve by Bicycle Program and Study...[conducted] with the assistance of the StatePedestrian/Bicycle Coordinator, metropolitanplanning organizations, the Office ofGreenways and Trails...and the Departmentof Health...

The Department remains dedicated to itslongstanding and ongoing commitment topedestrian and bicycle safety...periodic evalu-ations will be made about future needs toreestablish a BPAC or to consider otherchanges to the Department’s bicycle andpedestrian initiatives...

— Marianne A. Trussell

Planned Givingto FBA

Did you know you can make a gift toFBA in cash, publicly traded securi-ties, real estate and tangible personalproperty? You also can provide forfuture generations of bicycliststhrough proper estate planning.

Instructions for making gifts of securi-ties are now online. Go to the FBAWeb site, www.floridabicycle.org formore details.

Planned Giving provides a method toprovide assets for a bicycle-friendlyfuture from your will or estate.You canprovide for FBA in your will or as abeneficiary of a life insurance policy,or consider other gifts that may alsoprovide you with current income.

If you have an interest in supportingFBA programs for current and futuregenerations in this manner, FBA’sexecutive director will be glad to dis-cuss details of this option with you atyour convenience.


AAnnnnuuaall aawwaarrddss continued from page 5

Road Club: St. Petersburg Bicycle ClubTim Butts, President, also present pastPresident Wendy Menne & Vice PresidentPat Ruta

The St. PetersburgBicycle Club, the oldestbicycle club in the stateof Florida, is a socialand recreational clubthat exists to promotesafe, satisfying bicyclingopportunities to bothclub members and thegeneral public, of all

ages and skill levels, through planned activ-ities and events. Their main event, theShare the Road Ride, was created to bringawareness that bicyclesshare the road withother vehicles. The rideis of varying distancesof miles through St.Petersburg and PinellasCounty. The net pro-ceeds have been donatedto FBA since the incep-tion of this event in2003. The club has taken a strong stand onbicycle safety education and advocacy byempowering their members to follow therules of the road and trails, and to get

FBA annually recognizes Floridians who have stood out during the past year in their efforts tohelp the association build a more bicycle-friendly Florida. This is a copy of the artwork on theplaque given to awardees. This year’s list of awardees begins on page 7.

involved in their community to make thingshappen at the local level. Their “Share theRoad” mantra is visible in all they do.

Off-road Advocate: William KlausmeyerOcala Mountain Bike Assoc. & Airborne

Bill started mountain biking after he movedto Florida in the 1980s. He still refers tomountain biking as “hiking at speed,” but inthose days the speed on the sandy fire-roadson a heavy steel framed bike wasn’t anyfaster than walking around his home in PortSt. Lucie. In talking with his running bud-dies he discovered Jonathan Dickinson Parkhad a “real” mountain bike trail under con-struction. He quickly volunteered his servic-es to the group that was cutting the trail andhas been non stop ever since. His next trailproject was the Ft. Pierce Trail. Over theyears he helped organize a group to helpsave the trail due to land ownership andconservation easement issues. Bill helped tocreate the Airborne Mountain Bike Club andtook on the role of South Florida's IMBA(International Mountain Bike Association)representative, one of two positions in thestate. Bill's dedication to mountain bikeaccess spread into Martin County.. Bill haslogged over a thousand hours of trail care,sat through countless meetings with landmanagers, spent untold hours developing

and maintaining several club websites andhas managed to create a working relationshipwith two municipalities, and helped manynew clubs get on their feet and offered sug-gestions to development clubs and trail sys-tems.

Educator/Regional Trainer: Lyndy Moore

Lyndy Moore, League Cycling Instructor(LCI) and new employee of the OrlandoPolice Department, has been a leader in

bicycle safety education for many years.Even before acquiring her LCI credentials in2001, Lyndy was teaching children andadults bicycle safety education, advocacy,bike mechanics and the benefits of the colorpurple (her favorite). One of Lyndy's great-est assets is her ability to keep the attentionof her audience through humor and person-ality. Her knowledge and experience with alltypes of groups translates to successfultrainings. In addition to teaching bicycle

Butts

Menne

continued on page 9

9Fall 2007

The Department ofEnvironmental ProtectionOffice of Greenways &Trails has been instru-mental in the promotionof bicycling via eventslike Bike Florida and theFlorida DiscoveryBicycling Center pro-

gram, and the Pro Bike/Pro Walk FloridaConference. Their quarterly Office ofGreenways & Trails Connections newsletteroften features articles about FBA memberbicycle clubs and organizations that furtherpromote the use of paved and off-road trails.In 2005, OGT partnered with FBA and sev-eral other organizations including VISITFLORIDA, Rails to Trails Conservancy,Bike Florida, Florida Park Service, FloridaDOT, Florida Fish & Wildlife ConservationCommission and the Division of Forestry toproduce the Florida Bicycle Trails guide toFlorida's top paved and off-road trails. A hik-ing and paddling brochure have since beenproduced as well. Further collaborations

St. Petersburg. It was a fun day of celebrat-ing bicycling in the Tampa Bay area. Alanisn't here with us today because he bikesmore than 10,000 miles a year having twicebiked solo across the country while writingtravel stories about his travels. Alan believesin one central assumption -- the world wouldbe a better place if more people lived moreof their lives on a bike.

Enforcement Officer: Officer Bill EdgarOrlando Police Department

Officer Edgar joined theOrlando PoliceDepartment in 1991 andwas assigned to a patrolunit. In 1993, he wasreassigned to a new"neighborhood bikeunit", transferred to thedowntown bike patrol a

year later and ultimately was transferred tothe department training unit in 1999 wherehe still resides. Bill became a LawEnforcement Bicycle Association (LEBA)instructor in 1995 after assisting for twoyears. His accomplishments include beingnamed LEBA Trainer of the Year and hastrained law enforcement personnel at 40+agencies including training assignments inPuerto Rico, Canada and Hawaii. Hey,someone has to do it so why not Bill! Bill isan accomplished and avid cyclist on bothroad and mountain bikes. He has participat-ed in the Law Enforcement Bike Olympicsfor six years winning silver and gold medals.Bill became a League Cycling Instructor(LCI) in 2006 so he also has credentials toteach civilians. For the past three years, Billhas served as ride director for the CentralFlorida Tour de Cure bike event to benefitthe American Diabetes Association. Hisefforts have doubled participation every year.On and off the bike, Officer Edgar has beensuccessful in promoting bicycling and bicy-cle safety education.

Supporting Agency: Jena Brooks and JimWood Office of Greenways & Trails

safety education, includ-ing FBA's AlternativeTransportationEducation program,Lyndy has extensiveexperience in bike eventplanning as a volunteer,director and consultantto various size rides. She

has been the director and assistant directorfor Bike Florida and Share the Road Rallyand Summit; committee member for theFlorida Bicycle Safari, Tour de Cure,Hibiscus Pedal and Mt Dora BicycleFestival and helps visiting tourists withroutes and contacts to cycle throughoutFlorida. Her leadership and drive in organiz-ing the Florida Discovery Bicycling Centerprogram was huge. She also initiated thefirst Rolling Road I workshop during BikeFlorida. This concept has been duplicated atother events since Lyndy's vision in makingbicycle safety education fun. As former pro-gram director for FBA, she organized the2005, 2006 and 2007 Pro Bike®/Pro WalkFlorida conference until she stepped down inJune to accept a position with the OrlandoPolice Department. Lyndy lives in EastOrange County with her husband Don.

Program: Alan Snel, Bicycle Bashby the Bay

South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers

After writing newspaper stories for metropapers for 25 years, Alan left the full-timenews business in July 2006 to work as themarketing director for two bicycle shops inTampa. Now he represents a coalition ofbike shops in the Greater Tampa Bay areacalled the South West Florida BicycleUnited Dealers (SWFBUD) to fight for bicy-clists' rights. By joining forces, the coali-tion's goal is to grow bicycling together soall can benefit while also leaning on publicofficials and transportation officials to stripemore bike lanes, clean up the roads andbuild safer roads for bicyclists. The coali-tion's first event was the Bicycle Bash by theBay bike festival held November 4, 2006 in


were achieved when FBA Board memberLinda Crider was appointed by the Governoron the Florida Greenways and TrailsCouncil.

Bicycle Professional: Michael WoodsLake-Sumter County MPO

Mike Woods has a uniqueand challenging job sincehis position asTransportationCoordinator covers twocounties and 17 munici-palities in North CentralFlorida. Lake Countyhas always been a haven

for bicyclists and triathletes, but due todevelopment, rural, low traffic county roadsare becoming few and far between. Thanksto a very active MPO Bicycle/PedestrianAdvisory Committee, Mike's job is made alittle easier by the committee's diligence inpreserving Lake and Sumter Counties' popu-lar bicycling roads and trails. Mike was

Moore

Woods

Edgar

Wood

continued on page 10


very aggressive in promoting House Bill7079—passing a bicycle at a safe distancelegislation that became Florida Statute315.083 Overtaking and passing a vehicle.Mike produced several 30x40" posters topromote this new law at special eventsincluding the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival.A press conference was held in conjunctionwith the festival to promote the law. Mikehas also been very involved with the FloridaDiscovery Bicycling Center program sincehe and his wife Lynn live in Lake Helen.Every tour featured a cookout or s’moresroasted over a campfire at the Woods’ farm-house. Mike also graduated from therequired Road 1 course that was a prerequi-site before taking the Ride Leader trainingrequired for all FDBC tour guides/leaders.

Citizen Bike Advocate: Jim Glanz

Jim epitomizes the fami-ly and community spiritof cycling. He worksfull time and givesuntold hours to supportyouth racing. DaughtersMegan (7th grade) andTiffany (5th) havecaught the cycling bug

and you can find Jim and Megan at eventsthroughout the state. His encouragementhas motivated other youth cyclists to stayactive and according to daughter Tiffany,"our Dad helps other kids on the ridesbecause they will listen to him and not theirparents just like us." Jim volunteers as theDeltona representative to the VolusiaCounty MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian AdvisoryCommittee. He also is organizing "Ridewith the Mayor" of Deltona in September.


JIM GLANZ BELIEVES opportunities areplenty for getting youth involved in cycling.

You may remember Jim from a youth pro-file in of daughter Megan, the girl with anattitude in the Winter 2007 [Vol. 10, No.1]FBA Messenger.

Megan, 13, and sister Tiffany, 10, are bud-ding racers on area junior racing teams.Jim—”Dear old Dad,” as Tiffany referred tohim in the article—is the bike/ped actioncommittee Deltona representative on VolusiaCounty’s MPO.

Jim heard that some who attended a recentDeltona workshop thought too much empha-sis was on trails and not enough on youthprograms. Jim disagrees and has evidence tothe contrary.

Local communities are mentoring well-equipped youth on racing teams and provid-ing kids in disadvantaged neighborhoodstheir first bicycles. They are sponsoringactivities, according to Jim, that will result inthe next generation of trail users.

“...[W]hen you think of youth, think oftrails; they go hand in hand,” Jim recentlywrote to city commissioners. Jim is doingwhat he can to shed some light on makingcycling into a positive activity for youth.

Create some excitement with youth bicycling

As one of 25 Active Living by Design(ALbD) communities throughout the UnitesStates, Orlando is in its fourth year of its GetActive Orlando campaign, an initiative toincrease physical activity for residents livingin downtown Orlando and its surroundingcommunities.

ALbD is a national program encouragingcommunity planning that breaks down barri-ers to healthy living and offers choices toengage in physical activity on a daily basis.

The primary focus behind this plan is thatactive living can be achieved by addressingareas such as land use, transportation andpark development. For example, wider side-walks and shadier streets may entice peopleto engage in physical activities such as rid-ing a bicycle, walking or playing in the park.

After assessing 620 acres in the City ofOrlando's Community Redevelopment Area(CRA), Get Active Orlando developed a

‘Get Active’ works to increase city residents’ activitiesby Leah Nash

Kids of all ages from a traditionally African American Orlando neighborhood recently benefit-ed from one of that city’s community youth programs. Recovered and restored bikes were dis-tributed and FBA and local law enforcement helped fit helmets and gave safety training to thenew riders. That’s Megan at left, staring down the photographer.

vision for establishing the downtown areaand its neighborhoods as an "Active LivingDistrict," with community members makingdaily choices for safe physical activity.

Some recent Get Active Orlando projectsinclude a community garden at the Nap FordCommunity School, recommendations to theCity for downtown transportation, a freewalking program for seniors, a youth jumprope/double dutch program and promotingactive living in the community in general.

Bike projects have included a communityride in the Parramore neighborhood, as wellas a youth bike giveaway and an adult bikegiveaway through the Orange County HealthDepartment. Both bike giveaways includedhelmets, lights, locks and safety education.

Serving as a partner cooperative, the GetActive Orlando committee advises CityCouncil on active living issues. These part-ners include: Arlington Concord

Neighborhood Association;Florida Hospital; OrlandoRegional Healthcare; OrlandoNeighborhood ImprovementCorporation; Orange CountyHealth Department; City ofOrlando - Families, Parks andRecreation; Florida Freewheelers;UCF College of Nursing; RippeHealth Assessment; Johnson’sDiner/Taylor Foods Incorporated;Florida Bicycle Association andCity of Orlando - Transportation.

The lead agency for this grantis the City of Orlando - PlanningDivision, working with DeanGrandin as the Project Director,Amy Stachnik (Rippe HealthAssessment) is the chairpersonand Malisa McCreedy (City ofOrlando - TransportationDepartment) is the Vice-Chairperson.

For more information on GetActive Orlando, please visitwww.getactiveorlando.com.

This Orange County Health Department client received afree bike from Get Active Orlando, as well as a helmet,light and lock, in March of this year.

This event will promote bicycle safetyawareness for motorists and cyclists aimedat all age groups, though youth will be tar-geted. Activities will include adaptivecycling demonstrations for the handicapped,plus trails and the health benefits of cyclingwill be promoted. Jim takes time to com-municate with elected officials to educatethem about bicycle related issues. He sin-gle-handedly convinced the city of Deltonato show bicycle safety DVD's on its govern-

ment access television channel.

Citizen Bike Advocate: Bob Dioguardi

Bob Dioguardi is Mr. Bike Advocate in LakeWales and throughout Polk County. He does-n't take no for an answer, nor does he giveup easily. Several times a year, Bobrequests a supply of bicycle safety materialsfrom FBA to distribute throughout the com-munity. He wrote a bicycle safety helmet

proclamation that was accepted by the prin-cipal of Lake Wales Charter Schools pro-claiming the month of May 2007 to beBicycle Helmet Awareness Month. A posterwas designed to be displayed in the charterschools classrooms and front offices.

He attributes his success to the support ofFBA and Lyndy Moore for her help andextra effort to make things happen in LakeWales. (Bob’s award was presented at the

Glanz

continued on page 12

Fall 2007 11

Selected State-wide Contacts Here’s whom to call about your bicycle/pedestrian/transportation concerns. We ran out of room, so many contacts are not included. Go to www.floridabicycle.org/statecontacts.htm for the complete list.

AGENCY/functional responsibility NAME TELEPHONE E-MAILFDOT Central OfficeState Ped & Bicycle Coordinator Dennis Scott 850.245.1527 [email protected] SRTS Coordinator Pat Pieratte 850.245.1529 [email protected]. Ped & Bicycle Coordinator Dwight Kingsbury 850.245.1520 [email protected]

District 1Gary Amig 863.519.2666 [email protected] Taylor 863.519.2216 [email protected]

Charlotte County MPO Gary Harrell 941.639.4676 [email protected] County Community Development/eview Russ Muller 239.403.2462 [email protected] County Transportation/pathways project Trinity Caudill-Scott 239.417.6027Lee County MPO Julia B. Davis 239.338.2550x219 [email protected] County DOT Victoria Griffin 239.479.8580 [email protected] County Health Dept/bike-ped safety education Dan Moser 239.332.9514 [email protected] County TPO Ryan Kordek 863.534.6558 [email protected] County Public Works Trans. Planning 941.861.0931

District 2 Randy Warden 904.360.5631 [email protected] of Gainesville Trans. Srvcs/Bike-Ped Prog Assist Dekova Batey 352.334.5074 [email protected] First Coast MPO Elizabeth DeJesus 904.306.7505 [email protected] County Health Dept/Injury Prevention Stephen McCloskey 904.630.3300x2308 [email protected]

District 3 Mary Anne Koos 850.415.9547 [email protected] MPOs (West Fla RPC) Mike Ziegler 800.226.8910x215 [email protected] Region Transportation Planning Agency (MPO) Peter Koeppel 850.891.8090 [email protected]

District 4 Larry Hymowitz 954.777.4663 [email protected] Weidner 954.777.4670 [email protected] Daphne Spanos 954.777.4483 daphne.spanos @dot.state.fl.us

City of Boca Raton Mun Srvcs Eng/trans analyst Joy Puerta 561.416.3410 [email protected] of Boca Raton PD/traffic safety educ Lori Wheeler 561.620.6056 [email protected] County UrbanPlann &

Rdvlpmnt/Special Projects & Bicycle Coordinator Mark Horowitz 954.357.6641 [email protected] of Delray Beach Parking Mgmt Scott Aronson 561.243.7286 [email protected] of Fort Lauderdale Planning & Zoning

Dept/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Adrienne Ehle 954.828.5798 [email protected] County MPO Felix Castrodad 772.419.4081 fcastrod @martin.fl.usPalm Beach County MPO Bret Baronak 561.684.4163 [email protected]

District 5 Joan Carter 386.943.5335 [email protected] County Transportation/Bike-Ped-Trails

Prgm Coordinator Barbara Meyer 321.690.6890 [email protected] County Transportation/traffic safety education Kim Smith 321.690.6890 [email protected] MPO Michael Woods 352.315.0170 [email protected] County MPO Jeff Shrum 352.629.8529 [email protected] of Orlando Transportation

Planning/bicycle-pedestrian-transit Malisa McCreedy 407.246.3347 [email protected] Orlando (MPO) Mighk Wilson 407.481.5672x318 [email protected] County Trails & Greenways Cindy Matheny 407.665.2095 [email protected] County MPO Stephan Harris 386.226.0422x34 [email protected]

District 6 Ken Jeffries 305.470.6736 [email protected] of Key West Parks &

Rec/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Jim Malcolm 305.293.6495 [email protected] of Miami Beach/bicycle program coordinator Christine Leduc 305.673.7080x6768 [email protected] County MPO David Henderson 305.375.1647 [email protected] Monroe County Planning Jose Papa 305.289.2514 [email protected]

District 7 Michelle Greene 813.975.6411 [email protected] City of Clearwater/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Felicia Leonard 727.562.4852 [email protected] County Sheriff’s Office/traffic safety educ Kristen Reinhard 352.726.4488 x307 [email protected] County MPO Steve Diez 352.754.4057 [email protected] County MPO Gena Torres 813.273.3774x357 [email protected] County Parks&Rec Charner Reese 813.276.8388 [email protected] County Public Works/bicycle-

pedestrian coordinator Deborah Carreno 813.307.1852 [email protected] County Public Works/Manager, Bicycle,

Pedestrian & School Safety Prgms Gary Tait 813.307.1871 [email protected] County MPO Doug Uden 727.847.8140x8230 [email protected] of Pinellas Park Planning Ron Hull 727.541.0704 [email protected] County MPO Brian Smith 727.464.8200 [email protected] of St. Petersburg Transportation &

Parking/bicycle-pedestrian coordinator Cheryl Stacks 727.892.5328 [email protected] of Tampa Public Works Jan Washington 813.274.8303 [email protected] of Tampa/Parks & Rec

Dept/Greenways & Trails Coordinator Mary Helen Duke 813.231.1332 [email protected]

Program coordinators under FDOT contractFla Traffic&Bicycle Safety Educ Prgm/director Linda Crider 352.392.8192 [email protected] assistant Yukari Takata 352.392.8192 [email protected] School Crossing Guard Training Prgm/administrator Leigh Matusick 386.943.5600 [email protected] Assistant Carol Dunn 386.943.5601 [email protected]

Other FDOT, state & federal agency staffFDEP Ofc of Greenways & Trails Jim Wood 850.245.2052 [email protected] Student Transportation/Director Charlie Hood 850.245.9924 [email protected] ADA Coordinator Dean Perkins 850.414.4359 [email protected] CO Policy Planning David Blodgett 850.414.4815 [email protected] CO Policy Planning Melanie Weaver Carr 850.414.4817 [email protected] Tech Transfer (T2) Center/co-directors Janet Degner, Nina Barker 352.392.2371x227 [email protected] CO Roadway Design VacantFDOT CO Systems Planning Martin Guttenplan 850.414.4906 [email protected] CO Transit Planning Amy Datz 850.414.4239 [email protected]

Other FDOT (continued from below)FDOT Dist 1 Safety Prgm ManagerGary Amig, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 2 Safety EngineerHolly Walker, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 3 Safety Prgm Manager850.415.9534

FDOT Dist 4 Safety Prgm ManagerGilbert Soles, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 4 PD&E Mgmt EngineerBeatriz Caicedo-Maddison, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 5 Safety EngineerAnthony Nosse, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 6 Safety EngineerMaria Vilches-Landa, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 7 Safety Prgm EngineerPeter Hsu, [email protected]

FDOT Elder Road User PrgmGail Holley, [email protected]

FHWA Fla Div Safety EngineerHussein Sharifpour, [email protected]

Community Traffic Safety Program DistrictCoordinators

FDOT Dist 1 CTST CoordinatorDebra Stallings, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 2 CTST CoordinatorAndrea Atran, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 3 CTST Coordinator-EastQuinton Williams, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 3 CTST Coordinator-WestBarbara Lee, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 4 CTST CoordinatorCarmen Pullins, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 5 CTST CoordinatorBarry Wall, [email protected]

FDOT Dist 6 CTST Coordinator305.470.5346

FDOT Dist 7 CTST CoordinatorJeanette Rouse, [email protected]

Other organizations

Bike FloridaLinda Crider, [email protected]

Rails-to-Trails Florida OfficeKen Bryan, [email protected]

Fla. SAFE KIDS/state coordinatorRalph Salvas, [email protected]


Lake Wales City Commission meeting theweek following the conference.)

Volunteer: Murray Hand

Murray has not alwaysbeen a bicyclist. Hisbrother encouraged himto try mountain biking inthe early 90's as a way todeal with his grief overlosing his father.Murray's passion formountain biking grew andwas contagious to his

friends and family. Murray's wife, Susan,refers to her husband as the "pied piper ofmountain biking," and emphasizes it is thefoundation that has extraordinarily influ-enced awareness and presence of mountainbiking in their community of Malabar(Brevard County). As chairperson for theBrevard MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian/TrailsAdvisory Committee and as chair of theBrevard County EnvironmentallyEndangered Lands Program-Recreation andEducation Advisory Committee, Murray hasacquired a vast knowledge of all the trailsand paths in their community that can beused for bicycling and hiking. He came to aNeighborhood Watch meeting one year and

distributed beautiful colored maps he hadmade showing residents the available softand hard surface trails in their area. Thesemaps enabled residents who were not previ-ously familiar with these trails to now usethem for bicycling. Murray does not hesitateto go before board or county commissionersto further the cause of developing trails inBrevard County. This persistence resulted inthe approval of the continuation of a pavedtrail in the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary.Murray can be seen routinely biking thesetrails throughout the week. He has spentmany hours performing trail maintenance.Murray is an inspiration to all of us to takecare of our natural resources so we canenjoy and preserve them for ourselves andfuture generations.

Volunteer: Fred Tessier

Fred has worked tirelessly with the FloridaDiscovery Bicycling Center program inLake Helen. He came on board in the earlystages of the program and turned into a keyplayer with his planning and organizationalskills. Fred kept the meetings on track, pro-vided the financial details needed to keep usaccurate and kept everyone accountable totheir particular responsibilities. Fred alsochecked the FDBC mailbox daily, reported

to the staff as needed and welcomed the tourparticipants with a welcome message on thecity marquee. Fred's guidance, patience,perseverance and diligence got FDBC'sinaugural season on the road and into thecommunity. Fred planned to join us today,but health issues prevented him from doingso. His award will be presented at anupcoming Lake Helen City Commissionmeeting.

Bicycle Friendly Community: JoeKubicki, City of St. Petersburg

The City of St. Petersburg, was recentlyawarded the Bicycle Friendly Communitydesignation from the League of AmericanBicyclists. The City is making excellentstrides toward accomplishing the goals stat-ed in the CityTrails Bicycle PedestrianMaster Plan that includes the installation of93 miles of bicycle facilities by the year2008. To increase efforts in areas outsideengineering, the St. Petersburg completed asuccessful program of activities for NationalBike Month in May and continues to supportmany bicycle-friendly events including thePinellas Living Green Expo and the Fit forLife Teen Summit. In the past year, St.Petersburg CityTrails staff participated inevents that have directly reached over17,000 attendees, fitted nearly 500 bicyclehelmets, and registered nearly 50 bicycleswith the city's police department. The Cityis cooperating three active clubs, the StPetersburg Bicycle Club, The Tampa BayFreewheelers and the Suncoast Cycling Cluband provided support for the 5th AnnualJohn Sinibaldi Share the Road ride. Theyjust released the first edition of the St. PeteBike Map, a bicycle suitability map that willassist cyclists in planning their routesthrough the city and further promote more,safe cycling in St. Petersburg.

Trails Manager: Susanne InmanVolusia County Leisure Services

Susanne joined VolusiaCounty Leisure Servicesin June 2003 as a facili-ties and trails planner.Previously she worked asa planner for Palm Beachand Martin Counties,plus the City of DeltonaShe is especially proud

of her work with the Spring to Spring Trail,East Central Regional Rail Trail, and Colby-Alderman Park planning. Susanne annuallypresents a National Trails Day Celebration atGemini Springs Park in June. The eventfeatures nature hikes and bike rides on theSpring to Spring Trail, exhibitor booths,music and food vendors. This year, theopening of the Lake Beresford Loop wasfeatured which will soon connect to addi-tional segments of the Spring to Spring

Trail. Susanne played a vital role in thedevelopment of the Florida DiscoveryBicycling Center program as a committeemember. She made presentations during rideleader trainings and helped design the bicy-cle routes for the tours and kick off event,Red, Bike & Blue, held last November. Inher spare time, Susanne enjoys boating withher husband, Dan, and working on herMaster of Planning Administration degreefrom UCF.

Special Recognition: Tina RussoFormer FBA President and board member

Tina joined the board inAugust 1998 bringingher skills as a trails man-ager with HillsboroughCounty ParksDepartment. Over theyears, her expertise andpassion as an advocatethrough education andenforcement has influ-

enced the lives of many. Her devotion toeducating and working with law enforce-ment has been a vital element in the successFBA has had in education and enforcementprograms. Tina will continue this work andbe available to help FBA as time permits.Over the past six months, she participated inher first triathlon, bought a kayak and a tan-dem bike, became a certified Spinning®instructor and personal trainer. It doesn'tlook like Tina is going to have much sparetime to stay active with FBA, but we'll makesure she stays involved.

Special Recognition: Carol Pulley ~Former FBA board member

Carol joined the board in December 2001bringing her skills as a transportation plan-ner with the West Florida Regional PlanningCouncil covering Escambia, Okaloosa andSanta Rosa counties. She retired a coupleyears ago to spend more time with family,plus could devote more time to FBA activi-ties. Early this year, Carol came out ofretirement to join the staff of Santa RosaCounty Community Planning & Zoningwhich will limit her travel time needed toattend FBA gatherings. Northwest Floridais lucky to have Carol working for betterbicycling and walking conditions again.

Share the Road License Plate Sales awardsto the following agencies were presented atthe Florida Tax Collectors Fall Conferencein Destin.

Share the Road License Plate Sales:Dennis W. Hollingsworth, St. Johns CountyTax CollectorShare the Road License Plate SalesRunner-up: Doris Maloy, Leon County TaxCollector


Hand

Russo

Inman

Fall 2007 13

November

November 2-4 Madison26th Annual North Florida Tour

Camp Cherry Lake, 3861 NE CherryLake Circle, Madison , FL. GreatRoute Maps for cycling: Friday, 55 to80 mi. to Madison/Greenville;Saturday, 50 to 100 mi.; Sunday, 48mi. to Quitman.Active.com Online Registration

November 3 (Sat) Cape Coral Brevet Series South: 200 km / 125 mi

"Tour De Lee - Lee County BarrierIslands and Bridges Plus Interior"125 miles, SOUTH CENTRALREGION. Brevets are limited support-ed long distance rides which offer agreater challenge than century events.They start with a 200km ( 124mi.) andgo to 600km (375 mi.) in this Region.Brevets are NOT RACES, but do havetime limits and control points whereone checks in along the route. Theyrequire conditioning, perseverance,and dedication, but riders of ALLABILITIES (A,B, and C riders) canparticipate. A series of four brevetsqualify riders for longer 1200km (750mi.) events such as The Paris-Brest-Paris held in France and The Boston-Montreal-Boston held in USA. Formore specific information aboutBrevets click on the web site below.Michael Grussemeyer, RBA,(239)549-7459. CELL (239-699-9548)Email:[email protected]/brevets/

November 3 (Sat) Miccosukee24th Annual Spaghetti 100 Road/Off-

Road CenturyFor registration, directions, and rideinformation please visit the CapitalCity Cyclists Website (below).www.cccyclists.org/

November 4 (Sun) HeathrowBoys & Girls Club of Central Florida

7th Annual Salute to FreedomCentury Bike Ride100/66/33 miles. Registration opens at7 am in the parking lot of AAA, locat-ed on International Parkway. Ridethrough scenic back roads in northSeminole County and south VolusiaCounty. The ride will include fullystocked SAG stops, mechanical ridesupport, ride marshals, t-shirts, break-fast, picnic lunch and entertainment.Family fun bike ride rodeos for chil-dren. Heathrow Arts Festival less thana mile away. Pre-registration is $25,$35-day of ride. Information (407)841-9839 X31 (Sandra).Email: [email protected]/Active.com Online Registration

November 4 (Sun) Bradenton/Sarasota Gulf Coast Cycle Fest

Choose 15, 31, 62, or 100 mile routeoptions. Each pre-registered partici-pant will get a Polar Insulated waterbottle. Additional water bottles will bedistributed on event day until they runout. Sponsored by Sarasota-ManateeBicycle Club, Box 15053, Sarasota,Florida 34277-1053.Email: [email protected] Online Registration

November 9-11 LithiaAlafia Fat Tire Festival

Alafia River State Park, South ofBrandon, FL. With unique topographythat offers some of the most radical

elevation changes in Florida, the Alafiatrails are the most challenging in ourriding area. For new riders, there isexcellent singletrack and 2-track.Boyette’s trails are forgiving enoughfor newer riders while still offering anexciting ride for more experiencedcyclists. We have increased the amountof intermediate trail since last year’sevent. The diversity of single-track,technical berm sections, and hillymeadow riding will make for a funday. Guided rides offered at both loca-tions on Saturday. 813-689-5109.www.swampclub.org/alafiaftf.htmEmail: [email protected]

November 10-11 Cooper City South Broward Wheelers 23rd

Annual CenturySat. Nov.10 Pre-Century rides and Critraces (USCF license required); Sun.Nov. 11 Ride 28/62/100 miles in west-ern Broward County. Marked route,fully-stocked rest stops SAG. Post-ridepasta lunch and massage included. T-shirt & giveaways to first 350 regis-trants. Brian Piccolo Park 9501 heridan Street Cooper City, Florida.Email:vp@southbrowardwheelers.comwww.southbrowardwheelers.comActive.com Online Registration

November 11-17 Key Largo Bubbafest Florida Keys

Biking vacation on the beautifulFlorida Keys. Loop ride starts andends in Key Largo. Bike to Key Westand back. Daily average mileage, justover 30. Seven-day, six-night campingtour with motel options. Most break-fasts and dinners, route sheets, sagsupport, and baggage shuttle includedin the $495 registration fee. Completedetails from Website. Bubba, PO Box560189, Rockledge, FL 32956. 321-759-3433.Email: [email protected]/

November 16-17 Port CharlottePasta Bash

Sponsored by the Coastal CruisersBicycle Club. This popular annualevent features a Friday night wine-and-cheese social, and a Saturday con-tinental breakfast followed by fully-supported rides of 61.6/32.3/16 milesand a superb pasta lunch. SAG supportand well-stocked rest stops are provid-ed along the routes, and mechanicalsupport is provided at the event venue.Fees increase after Oct. 24, so registerearly! For more information, contactDave Warren at (941)497-5170, e-mailhim (below), or visit our web site for acomplete info sheet and printable reg-istration forms. (No on-line)Email: [email protected]/

November 17 (Sat) DeltonaDeltona Family Bike Ride and

FestivalThe ride led by Mayor Mulder willstart at 8:30 am at the Deltona AllianceChurch on Deltona Blvd. All ages andabilities (no training wheels allowedon the road; OK at bike rodeo).Orlando Road Club, FloridaFreewheelers, and Seminole Cyclistswill stage their club rides in the area. 1p.m. bike rodeo and festival, give-aways and other events. Contact: JimGlanz, [email protected], JamiePearson [email protected], 386-878-8900.

November 17-18 TampaInaugural Ride Without Limits

Benefits United Cerebral Palsy.Contact: Christy Van Heugten phone:(888)547-3239 x813.Email: [email protected]/Active.com Online Registration

November 18 (Sat) ClermontHorrible Hundred

Florida Freewheelers’ infamous south-ern mountain stage experience. 37/72/102 miles along rural Lake Countyroads. www.horrible-hundred.com.

November 18 (Sun) Ormond Beach The Classic Y-100RESCHEDULED FROM OCT 21

100/65/35 mile rides start and end atthe YMCA on 51 N. Center St.Century RIDERS MUST start at: 7AM. All other rides start at: 8 AM.Fees: Early bird Until July 31 = $ 40.Until Sept. 30 = $ 50. Thereafter = $60. Children under 10 = $ 12. At alltimes. Benefactor: YMCA youth pro-gram. Power breakfast, Fully stockedsupport stations, Gatorade, springwater, fruits, and more. Goodie bag atregistration. Post ride lunch. FREE T-shirts for riders registered beforeSeptember 30. Route sheet and roadsare clearly marked. Info.: 386-673-9622 or Email: [email protected] Online Registration

November 19-23 Cross City Gulf Coast Highlight Tour

Ride on Florida's west coast rail trails.Email: Glen Morey [email protected]]www.proeventsflawestcoasttours.com/

December

December 1 (Sat) JupiterBrevet Series South: 200 km / 125 mi

"Ocean Ramble"125 miles, SOUTH CENTRALREGION. See Nov 3 listing fordetails.

December 2 (Sun) Ft Lauderdale Kids In Distress Inlet Challenge

Mass start at 7 a.m., South BeachPicnic Area on A1A across from BahiaMar. The Century route travels upA1A to the Palm Beach Inlet and cir-cles back. The Metric turns around atthe Boynton Beach Inlet and the HalfCentury at the Boca Raton Inlet.Arrive no later than 6 a.m. to ride.954-677-1511.www.inletchallengebikeride.org/

December 3-7 Cross City Gulf Coast Highlight Tour

Ride on Florida's west coast rail trails.Email: Glen Morey [email protected]

December 8-9 White SpringsSecret Santa Open House & Cycling

WeekendSuwannee Bicycle Association. Amemorable weekend of preholidaycycling activities and festivities. Bothon-road and off-road rides will be con-ducted each day. Secret Santa OpenHouse is scheduled to coincide withWhite Springs Festival of Lights andChristmas Parade. Suwannee BicycleAssociation, PO Box 247, WhiteSprings FL 32096. 386-397-2347mail: [email protected]/santa.htm

Dec 28 - Jan 4 Ft MyersGator Country Hell Week Training

Tour

100 mi/day loop tour of Southern andCentral Florida led by former RAAMDirector Nich Gerlich. (806)499-3210.Email: [email protected]

Dec 30 - Jan 4 Cocoa Beach Pampered Bicycle Tour

Six-day five-night all inclusive, fullysupported, consigner bicycle vacationof the Space Coast of Florida.Complete details from Website.Contact: Bubba Barron, P O Box560189, Rockledge, FL 32956. 321-759-3433. [email protected]

January

January 27 (Sun) NaplesPedaling for Pathways Bicycle

Brunch10/20/62/100 mi. through Naples andsurrounding SW Florida. Brunch onthe beach after the ride from Russell’sClambake. 7 a.m. registration andbreakfast. Rides start at 8 a.m. andbegin and end at Lowdermilk BeachPark. $30/NPC members; $35/others.One child, 10 and under may ride freewith each paid parent/guardian regis-tration. Addl. children: $10 each. T-shirts or tank tops guaranteed for rid-ers registering by 1/14/08.239-690-1152. Email: [email protected] Online registrationInformation: www.naplespathwas.org

Upcoming Bicycle Touring Events in FloridaABRIDGED from promotional material provided by tour organizers. We’re not responsible for accuracy of information or quality of these rides. Use the contact information for

more details about each ride. Ask your friends. Data are from a calendar maintained by Roger Pierce. To add an event to his (and our) calendar, e-mail to [email protected] complete calendar, including many out-of-state rides we don’t have room to print here, and all the hype we edited out at www.floridabicycle.org/fbtc/.

Other Touring Calendars

National Bicycle TourDirectors Association

www.nbtda.com

Georgia BicycleFederation Calendarhttp://bicyclegeorgia.com/gac.html

National MultipleSclerosis Society - MS150s

www.nmss.org

American DiabetesAssociation - Tour deCures

www.diabetes.org/tour

The Good Cyclist – chari-ty rides nationwide

www.goodcyclist.org

Florida DiscoveryBicycling Campwww.floridabicycle.org/discovery

28th Annual

Horrible HundredCourse options: 37/72/102 milesalong rural Lake County roads

The century includes ALL of Central Florida's "mountains"

www.horrible-hundred.com


Transportation can lead in emissionsreduction and conservation by Ken Bryan, Florida Director, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

I have a dear friend inSouth Florida whom

I've always describedas the most anti walking and

bicycling demographicimaginable.

He drives a large SUV occupied by onlyhim, thinks anyone who rides their bike is a"treehugger" and has always scoffed at thethought of riding a bicycle or allowing hisdaughters to ride their bikes beyond thewalls of his private upscale community.

For years I have begged him to join me onone of my many cycling adventures through-out the country and world, but to no avail.

However, the most amazing breakthroughhas occurred during the last two years; I stillcan't believe it: his cuter-than-a-buttondaughter now has him riding his bike withher to and from a schoolthat is located well outsidehis subdivision.

I spoke with him on thephone as he was gettingready to leave his house tomeet his daughter for theirride home from school andhe mentioned it was aboutto rain.

“Why don't you justdrive to school and put herbike into the back of yourvehicle?” I asked.

His response left mestunned. “Are you kiddingme?” he replied. “Marisawould be crushed if shecouldn't make the return home on her secondday of school.”

Here, my macho, six-foot-plus, tough-guy,SUV-driving friend was reduced to riding hisbike home in the rain because he didn't wantto let his young daughter down.

Children have a way of influencing theirparents with little more than a smile and asteady resolve, and as a result, my friend ison the verge of being hooked on riding hisbike.

He no longer drives his SUV to the gym toride the stationary bikes. Now he rides hisown bike there and has unknowingly becomeone less car congesting our roadways andpolluting our precious environment.

About half of all car trips made annuallyare less than three miles in length; a distanceeven my friend has adapted to nicely as henow rides his bicycle to the grocery store andeven Starbucks.

There are a growing number of people justlike my friend throughout Florida. And anew study, Conserve By Bicycle, from theDepartment of Transportation is aiming todetermine what it will take to get reticent cit-izens to embrace the occasional bike trip orcommute.

Requested by the Florida Legislature in2005, the Department of Transportation justcompleted the first phase of the study andpresented its initial findings to the Governorand Legislature.

The purpose: determine how to❏ save energy by increasing the number of

miles ridden on bicycles, thereby reducingthe usage of petroleum-based fuels, ❏ increase the efficiency of cycling as atransportation mode by improving intercon-nectivity of roadways, transits and bicyclingfacilities, ❏ reduce traffic congestion on existingroads, ❏ provide recreational opportunities forFlorida's residents and visitors, ❏ provide healthy transportation and recre-ation alternatives to help reduce the trendtowards obesity and reduce long-term healthcare costs, and❏ provide safe ways for children to travelfrom their homes to school.

My friend is fortunate that his communityhas made the commitment to build side-walks, bike lanes and trails, and he is able tomove about his community safely and seam-

lessly. And while he

hasn’t noticed thathe’s helped to reducecongestion, save fueland produce zero car-bon emissions, hedoes realize that he isnow as fit as he was20 years ago in col-lege, his blood pres-sure has improved, hischolesterol hasdropped and hisdaughters are learningto develop healthy,active lifestyles thatwill serve them their

entire lives. The Conserve By Bicycle study con-

firmed what my friend learned on his own:If a community is perceived as safe andoffers sidewalks, bike lanes and trails, peo-ple are much more likely to participate inbicycling, hence facilitating a transportationmode shift. In addition to health benefits tothe person and planet, making the modeshift to cycling and walking increases exist-ing road capacity, stretches roadway lifespanby reducing usage, and stabilizes and pro-tects roadbed surface and subsurfacethrough the placement of bike lanes.

With a combination of monetary, health andconservation benefits it's easy to agree withthe position of the Conserve By Bicyclestudy—especially when the final componentincludes an emphasis on safety.

It amazes me how little attention is givento the embarrassing statistic that Floridaagain leads the nation in total bicycle fatali-ties for 2006.

And you fare no better being a pedestrianin the state.

Since bicycle and pedestrian fatalitieshave been tracked, Florida has dominatedthese horrible stats.

Additionally, a report released by theSurface Transportation Policy Project, listsFlorida has having four out of the five worstcities, nationwide, for biking and walking.

These disturbing factors reinforce a starkreality: Florida needs a new approach to its

transportation future. The Conserve ByBicycle study is the first step.

The current state of affairs is troubling,yes. But I remain extremely optimistic forthe future of the Conserve By BicycleProgram and for the State, Volusia Countyand Floridians like my good friend Seth andhis daughter.

The large scale realization of climatechange and the strong new leadership ofsuch departments as the Florida Departmentof Transportation and Florida Departmentof Environmental Protection, together witha growing number of people understandingthe need for transportation options, placeFlorida on the verge of an exciting move-ment towards a healthier, safer transporta-tion future.

We at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy referto this as “active transportation.” To findout how you can be part of this excitingmovement and improve your community byincorporating active transportation into yourdaily routine, or to learn more about theConserve By Bicycle study, visit www.rail-stotrails.org orwww.dot.state.fl.us/Safety/ped_bike/ped_bike_reports.htm.

Unsettling statistics...❏ Florida leads thenation in total bicyclefatalities❏ Pedestrian deathsalso dominate U.S.❏ Florida has 4 of the5 worst cities forbiking and walking.

Fla. Traffic and Bicycle SafetyEducation Program honors trainers

The Florida Traffic and Bicycle SafetyEducation Program (FTBSEP) is a state-wide, comprehensive, school-based programfunded by the Florida Department ofTransportation for teaching traffic safetythrough classroom instruction and on bikeskills.

Its mission is to prevent injuries to chil-dren from bicycle and pedestrian crashes bytraining them with the knowledge and skillsneeded to be competent and safe in traffic.

FTBSEP employs the skills of a diversegroup of professionals from around the state.The program’s trainers are school teachers,law enforcement officers, Bicycle/Pedestriancoordinators, and health officials that repre-sent 14 counties throughout Florida.

Known collectively as the program’s“Regional Training Team,” these dedicatedindividuals are helping to implement its mis-sion.

This group of dedicated trainers, volunteertheir time to help teach educators, resourceofficers, school administration officials, andcommunity members how to implement theprogram through teacher and communityworkshops.

The League of American Bicyclists hascertified all Regional Trainers in the net-work. The Florida Traffic and Bicycle SafetyEducation Program recently recognizedRegional Trainers Award Recipients for2007.

Florida Traffic and Bicycle SafetyEducation Program Award Recipients for2007

Regional Trainer of the Year, 2007:Walter NygardPalm Beach County Bicycle SafetySpecialist, Palm Beach Sheriff's Office

For excellence, dedication, and innovationin teaching bicycle and pedestrian safety toFlorida residents.

The Florida Traffic and Bicycle SafetyEducation Program recognized WalterNygard as the program's “2007 RegionalTrainer of the Year” for his dedication tobicycle and pedestrian safety made evidentin both the number of schools and schoolchildren he has touched, as well as his con-stant willingness to assist in other trainings.

Walt has implemented bicycle safety pro-grams in 57 schools throughout his countyand has also been responsible for the main-tenance of all the equipment.

It is due to dedicated individuals like Waltthat our safety education program is able tocontinue the mission of protecting Florida'schildren as they walk and ride bicycles.

Community Service of the Year Awardfor Bicycle and Pedestrian SafetyEducation, 2007:Paul CasazzaRetired Safety OfficerJupiter Police Department

For excellence in community bicycle andpedestrian safety education.

The Florida Traffic and Bicycle SafetyEducation Program recognized Paul Casazzafor excellence in community education bypresenting him with the "2007 CommunityService of the Year Award for Bicycle and

Pedestrian Safety Education." In 2007 alone, Paul trained 32 individu-

als, however, what stands out in his year'sachievement is that over half of these indi-viduals were Road 1 or Road 2 certified.

This level of certification is a step to helpthem become FTBSEP Regional Trainersthemselves.

The continued expansion of participationin FTBSEP by educators is crucial to thegrowth of the program as well as other bicy-cle safety programs throughout the nation.

Paul's continued efforts to increase theeffectiveness and awareness of the programis a mark of a true leader.

Paul Casazza

Walter Nygard

Name: E-mail:

Address:

City: County: State: Zip:

Tel (H) (W)

Bike Club Affiliation(s):

Member Category: ❑ $15/student/living lightly ❑ $25/individual ❑ $35/household ❑ $100/club/corporate/agency

Ride Preferences: ❑ On-road ❑ Off-road ❑ Touring ❑ Racing ❑ Commuting

I have taken a Road I (formerly Effective Cycling) class ❑ Yes ❑ No; Approximate year taken:

I have taken a Road II class ❑ Yes ❑ No; Approximate year taken:

I am a League cycling Instructor (LCI) ❑ Yes ❑ No

May we contact you about volunteer opportunities? ❑ Yes ❑ No

List any special skills or interests:

Charge my ❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard

Card No: Expires:

Signature:

Fall 2007 15

Add your voicefor the future

of bicyclingin Florida.

JOIN FBATODAY

Membership includesthe FBA Messenger!

Please make checks payable and mail to:Florida Bicycle Association, Inc.


Tom-a-Talk...

Thanksgivingby Tom DeMarco

I ’ve got something forwhich to give thanks

this weekend—200,000 injury-free bicyclekilometers (124,274 miles)

so far in my lifetime.

Due to inevitable 1% margin of error ofmeasurement, I'll never know exactly whereI reached the milestone, but it may havebeen riding over this Rolling Stones graffition a road in South Surrey (I’ll attend theirconcert later this month).

Later in the Fall, I’ll have something elsefor which to be grateful: 10 full years inWhistler without missing a single day ofwork due to illness or injury (but did missalmost 300 due to vacations!).

In a 22.5 year career, I’ve only taken onesick day.

I’m in Los Angeles. I thought I had a lotof siblings, but L.A. claims at least 21 “sis-ter cities.”

After completing the world’s most exten-sive network of freeway, L.A. County had abit of asphalt left over to construct a fewhundred km of segregated bike paths like abeautiful one along the beach at El Segundoor a nice stretch through a park at the foot ofthe San Gabriel mountains.

In the record heat (94 degrees F, inNovember), I don't ride much farther inland.It’s never too hot to cycle, but it can be toohot to cycle up hill.

Even bigger than any we’ve got in SouthFlorida, this parking lot of the Santa Anitarace course is the largest expanse of pavingthat I've seen anywhere: acres and acres ofblacktop used only a few hours a week!

I feel obliged to do a lap or two. If they’re going to pave it, someone’s got

to ride it. Compared to Ft. Lauderdale’s, the local

attitude is definitely more appealing and theculture more physically active (e.g. surf-

If you are looking for somewherenew to bike in Central Florida,according to co-authors RogerFulton and Mike Carpenter youmay find some interesting newplaces in this book released thisyear.

Fulton and Carpenter touredmany CFL off-road areas—pavedand unpaved—and have sharedtheir findings in this book.

The volume covers CentralFlorida from Rt. 40 south to Rt. 70and includes 25 biking areas frompaved rails-to-trails to easy and

moderate mountain biking trails. Explicit directions from an

Interstate highway include GPSreadings, trail conditions and com-fort facilities on site or nearby.

More than 60 full color photo-graphs illustrate trailheads and land-marks, along with tales about someof the areas they have ridden.

For more information and how toorder this and other “casual” eco-touring guides go towww.RogerFulton.com orwww.CommonManBooks.com. Orcall Roger Fulton, 386-956-6089.

Central Florida off-road biking guide published

boards on bikes in Redondo Beach andUCLA rowers at Marina del Rey).

But I can't say I find Southern California,itself, attractive. Parched brown mountainspoking above unsustainable greenery (keptalive with water pumped from hundreds ofmiles away), “rivers” that have been con-verted to cement-lined open sewers, bumpyroads and sidewalks covered with grit andsmelling of stale urine…too many people,too much dirt, and not enough rain to rinseeverything clean.

As a cyclist, as a naturalist and as an unre-pentant snob who has always harboured acertain distain for things unsightly andunclean, I'll maintain allegiance to thesmooth, tidy streets of South Florida.

Thomas J. DeMarco, MD is a Canadianwho shares his time, when not bicycling

somewhere else, between Whistler,British Columbia and Plantation, Florida

According to a report released this Augustby the Thunderhead Alliance, the dust set-tling on Americans’ parked bikes is likelylinked to our expanding waist lines.

Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.,Thunderhead’s Benchmarking Report,shows that bicycling and walking have beenin decline in the U.S. since the 1960s.

At the same time there has been a surgein obesity. The report compares bicyclingand walking levels, investment in bicyclingand walking, and public health.

The most striking findings reveal majordisparities between cycling and walking lev-els, traffic fatalities, and federal funding forbicycle and pedestrian projects.

According to Thunderhead’s executivedirector Sue Knaup, the report “clearlydemonstrates that cities and states with thehighest rates of cycling and walking almostalways have the lowest levels of obesity,high blood pressure, and diabetes.”

To view the report visit www.thunder-headalliance.org/benchmarking.htm.

RReeppoorrtt LLiinnkkss DDeecclliinnee iinnBBiiccyycclliinngg aanndd WWaallkkiinngg ttooNNaattiioonn''ss OObbeessiittyy EEppiiddeemmiicc

Top 20 County Salesof Share the Road License Plates

7/1/06 - 6/30/07

Rankings determined by number of Share the Road platescompared to the total number of license plates sold.

1. St. Johns2. Leon3. Alachua4. Walton5. Palm Beach6. Sarasota7. Martin8. Collier9. Seminole10. Flagler

11. Nassau12. Pinellas13. Santa Rosa14. Gadsen15. Duval16. Orange17. Brevard18. Okaloosa19. Manatee20. Broward

Florida Bicycle Association MessengerP.O. Box 718 Waldo, FL 32694

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAID Mid-FL FL

Permit # 475

Fall 2007

I'm sorry Mr. Smith, that's an impressive bicycling mileage figure, butthe standard mileage deduction is for motorized vehicles only.

While we can't make all your tax dreams come true, we can offer you quality tax and financial accounting services with the confidenceand solid reputation that comes from over 30 years of quality service to the Central Florida business community.

We're proud to support FBA and its mission to promote good health and well-being in our communities through bicycling.

Scearce, Satcher & Jung, P.A.CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Kenneth L. Scearce, CPADavid A. Satcher, CPA

243 W. Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789(407) 647-6441 Office (407) 645-0099 Fax

The mission of the Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) is to inspire and support people andcommunities to enjoy greater freedom and well being through bicycling.

The Florida Bicycle Association was incorporated in 1997 for educational and charitablepurposes. FBA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the InternalRevenue Code. Donations, including membership dues, are tax deductible. A copy of the cur-rent financial statements may be obtained by contacting FBA, P.O. Box 718, Waldo, FL 32694.To join FBA complete the form below and send with your dues.

The Florida Bicycle Association Messenger is published quarterly as a service to mem-bers and advocates for a bicycle-friendly Florida by the Florida Bicycle Association, P.O. Box718, Waldo, FL 32694.www.floridabicycle.org;e-mail:[email protected];Phone: 352-468-3430.

Membership in FBA includes a subscription to the Messenger.The Messenger accepts and welcomes your advertising! Please see the Website for rates

and specifications or e-mail [email protected]. Publishers reserve the right to reviewadvertising content and to reject advertising that, in the opinion of the Association, is neither inthe best interest of FBA’s members nor its goals and objectives. Although we carefully reviewarticles and information submitted, FBA is not responsible for the information or opinions con-tained herein unless explicitly stated as official policy of FBA.

© 2007 Florida Bicycle Association All rights reserved.

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