CELEBRATING 20 YEARS Messenger - Florida Bicycle … · Jack the Bike Man Brings Joy to ... repaired by the inmates for presentation of those bikes to kids in my neighborhood

MessengerOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC.

Vol. 20, No. 1 • Winter 2017Building a Bicycle-Friendly Florida

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

20BICYCLE ASSOCIATIONwww.�oridabicycle.org EST. 1997

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Jack the Bike Man Brings Joy to Children All Year Long by Becky Afonso and

Samuel H. Hairston, III

Fast Track to...

Membership 2FBA Turns 20 7 Bike Trails Guide 8–9 Ask Geo 11Celebration of Cycling 12–13

It happens anytime a new business joins our association; I look it up on the

Internet. The look is primarily to collect a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link to use on our website. Sometimes it’s a business webpage or a Facebook page URL that then becomes a link on our website so that our business members may be patronized. The process doesn’t take much time and it gives me the opportunity to learn a little more about the business than just the name.

A few months back the association received a new business membership from Jack the Bike Man. Somehow I knew this was not going to be a routine URL Internet search. When I read through the company website, I knew this was something special.

Jack the Bike Man is a children’s bicycle charity. Featured in numerous newspaper articles, MSNBC (2012) and the book “Legendary Locals of West Palm Beach” by Janet M. DeVries and Ginger Pedersen, Jack the Bike Man is more than a charity and the man who started it. Jack the Bike Man is a story worth telling over and over again, and it has for the last 17 years.

The story has a simple beginning, as most great stories often do. Jack says:

“In 1999 a young Spanish speaking man was falling off of his bike in front of my house. I noticed that the front brakes were not attached. I went into my house and got a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, then repaired the brakes and the young man no longer had to crash into the curb to stop. He was very happy and an immediate friend.”

These are the words of Samuel H. Hairston III, founder of and also known as Jack the Bike Man. He tells his story on his website and gave me permission to reprint. Sure, I could just copy and paste the words from the web and leave it at that, but I wanted to hear Jack tell his story, so I asked for a meeting. Lucky me, back in September during a multi-day business trip to South Florida, I met Jack. He stayed true to his story of how a simple bike repair changed his life. I soon learned, however, that what seemed to be a simple fix had put him on a path that not only changed his life, but saved it.

Jack continues to tell his story on the web, “Shortly his friends would come by

and ask for help in getting their bikes road worthy. A few of my friends heard me speaking of this unusual activity at my house and gave me some old bikes to repair.

These bikes I would give the children and young men needing transportation to work.

These neighbors were for the most part Migrant Workers from Guatemala. When I assisted them with their bike problems a trust developed. When a problem or other issue would come up in their lives, they would come to me for help. This produced many new friends for me. The best result of these new friends was that I was able to put my attention onto others and their needs and not on my poor health. This produced tremendous improvements in my health as the elimination of a very stable walking devise. Now I only use a walking cane to stabilize my balance. My overall health saw major improvements.”

What is not often talked about is that Samuel H. Hairston is of the largest family in America – The Hairston clan [see The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White by Henry Wiencek]. Jack alluded to this background briefly during my visit. Yes, he is a descent of a prominent family, but also yes, he drank that privilege away in college and his family somewhat disowned him. Jack admitted to me that he was in bad shape and somewhat numb

to life prior to that fateful day. That brake repair is what opened the door for Jack to make a name for himself. He adds:

During this time, I became an advocate for improving the safety of my neighborhood. This brought even more new people into my life. These people were from many walks of life. This brought to me several benefits. Not only did people give me many more bikes, they recognized me for my work assisting the Migrant Workers in the Northwood Area [which later would include a Christmas Bicycle Gift program for the children].

Soon my effort was brought to the attention of one of the Assistant State Attorneys in Palm Beach County. Marty Epstein made arrangements for the Drug Farm to present me with bikes that had been repaired by the inmates for presentation of those bikes to kids in my neighborhood.

Someone called Jamie Holmes of WPTV and told him what I was doing. He became interested and called me to do a story. He came on a day that I had planned on delivering a bike to a young man 12 years old. The camera was able to get some real good shots of the child and his other brothers

Samuel H. Hairston, III, also known as Jack the Bike Man, rests near his favorite warehouse section, the children’s bicycles. (inset) Over 180 volunteers gather for the 2015 Children’s Bicycle Gift giveway.

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Page 2 Florida Bicycle Association

Lifetime MembersDuke BreitenbachKimberly CooperWilliam R. HoughWalter LongDan MoserJames NashMr. & Mrs. H. Middleton RaynalEarle & Laura ReynoldsDr. Joe WarrenMighk & Carol Wilson

Individual/Family High DonorsLegacy:Timothy Whalen

Champion:David Henderson

Benefactor:John & Pamela AppelElizabeth BabcockSteve BayardRon & Jill CunninghamCarl GrossJonathan & Linda PonaderJohn RappaportEdward ReidJames ShirkRandall & Valerie Williams

Supporter:John EgbertsDouglas & Paula FowlerKaren Gates

We Love Our Members!

Join FBA Today!Your membership makes a difference

for all bicyclists in Florida.

Visit: www.fbamembership.orgStudent/Living Lightly . . . . . . . .$15 Snowbird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15 Individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35 Bicycle Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100 Bicycle Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100 Business/Organization . . . . . $100 Government Agency . . . . . . . $100

Higher donations are most appreciated! Pay conveniently online or make check

payable and mail to: Florida Bicycle Association

P.O. Box 2452, Oldsmar FL 34677

Individual/Family High Donor Memberships:

Lifetime (contact FBA) Legacy ($500+)

Champion ($250-$499) Benefactor ($100-$249)

Supporter ($50-$99)

Business/Organization Categories (annual donations)

Premier Partner ($10,000+) Champion ($5,000-$9,999)

Patron ($2,500-$4,999) Advocate ($500-$2,499)

Member Clubs & Shops ($100) Memberships include a subscription to the quarterly Messenger, access to

online member forums and general sense of satisfaction for supporting bicycle education and advocacy in Florida.

VISITFBA’s Website

LOG-INto the FBA Blog

STAY UP-TO-DATEon bicycle issues withthis statewide forum @www.floridabicycle.org

Building a Bicycle-Friendly FloridaThanks to the Support of our Donors and Members

William & Judy GroomBruce HaddockLaura HallamJames HenzeMargaret KubilinsBrentin MosherThomas & Judith SharbaughGeorge & Patti SousaCheryl StacksMichelle WoodringMark & Kristi Zeitouni

Club/Business High DonorsPremier Partners:Polk County Sports Marketing

Champion:Boca Raton Bicycle ClubFlorida Freewheelers Bicycle Club

Advocate:Bike/Walk Central FloridaJim Dodson LawFlorida Greenways and Trails FoundationFriends of River of Grass Greenway (FROGG)Orange Cycle WorksGainesville Cycling ClubOcala Mountain Bike ClubNorth Florida Bicycle Club

New Businesses/Clubs/OrganizationsCity of TitusvilleFrank Gay Services

Maus Law FirmNaples Pathways CoalitionSuncoast Cycling ClubTwo Tired Services

New MembersDavid AndersenDavid BallardJennifer Bartlett & Kathleen KirkmanJoe BeaneKathy BentonJulie Bond & Christopher CreytsJamie BradshawRusty & Pam DoshRoni & Alan FreedmanKaren GatesJan HirschfieldJohn HudsonMargaret KubilinsPatrick McCallisterJohn MitchellPen MitchellBrentin MosherChristine NejameMartin PippittSusan PundtMargaret RuddyRobin SiegelMichael J. SmithNancy SmithJason & Tammy WarrenKenneth WeaverMark & Kristi Zeitouni


Winter 2017 Page 3

J. Steele Olmstead, President14517 N. 18th Street Tampa FL 33613 813-979-4949 [email protected]

John Egberts, Vice PresidentP.O. Box 118208 Gainesville FL 32611 352-294-1685 [email protected]

Jim Dodson, Secretary310 Wildwood Way Clearwater FL 33756 727-446-0840 [email protected]

Chris LeDew, Treasurer11867 Narrow Oak Lane S. Jacksonville FL 32223 904-613-5833 [email protected]

Tim Bol 301 E. Pine Street, Ste. 800 Orlando FL 32801 407-393-6691 [email protected]

Patricia Huff P.O. Box 617Everglades City FL [email protected]

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Board of Directors

Chris Burns, Chair, Jacksonville Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee [email protected]

Keri Caffrey, Co-Founder, CyclingSavvy. Program Consultant, American Bicycling Education Association [email protected]

Dan Connaughton, Director Florida Traffic & Bicycle Safety Education Program [email protected]

Steve Diez, Hernando County MPO [email protected]

David Henderson, Past President, FBA Miami-Dade County MPO [email protected]

Herb Hiller, Journalist [email protected]

Jodi Hohlstein Past President, [email protected]

Jeff Hohlstein Past Secretary, [email protected]

Dwight Kingsbury, Historian [email protected]

Earl Lang, Past Vice President [email protected]

Henry N. Lawrence, III, Past President & Founding Member, FBA [email protected]

Laura Minns, Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) [email protected]

Dan Moser, Columnist Fort Myers Florida Weekly [email protected]

Roger Pierce, Florida Bicycle Touring Calendar [email protected]

Paula Saracki, FBA Messenger [email protected]

John Sinibaldi, Jr. St. Petersburg Bicycle Club [email protected]

Lisa Walker, Public Affairs [email protected]

Randall Williams, former Messenger editor, [email protected]

Executive DirectorBecky Afonso250 Strathmore AvenueOldsmar FL [email protected]

Administrative Assistant Laura Hallam 367 Buckhorn Creek Road Sopchoppy FL 32358 407-399-9961 [email protected]

MembershipPlease email: [email protected] address:

City names denote board and program staff member distribution. Is your area represented? Contact a board member today!

Advisory BoardWorking Together to Build a Bicycle-friendly Florida

The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) was incorporated in 1997 for educational and charitable purposes. FBA is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations, including membership dues, are tax deductible. A copy of the current financial statements may be obtained by contacting FBA.

To become a member supporter of FBA, join online at www.fbamembership.orgThe Messenger is published quarterly as a service to members and advocates for a bicycle-friendly Florida by the:

Florida Bicycle Association, P .O . Box 2452, Oldsmar, FL 34677www .floridabicycle .org • e-mail: Becky@floridabicycle .org • Phone: 813-748-1513

Messenger Copy and Advertising Information and Deadlines:FBA Membership includes a subscription to the Messenger. The FBA accepts and welcomes your advertising!Please see the website for rates and specifications or e-mail: [email protected]. Publishers reserve the right to review advertising content and to reject advertising that, in the opinion of the Association, is neither in the best interest of FBA’s members nor its goals and objectives. Although we carefully review articles and information submitted, FBA is not responsible for the information or opinions contained herein unless explicitly stated as official policy of FBA. ©2015 Florida Bicycle Association all rights reserved

Stay in Touch with FBA!Subscribe to our weekly blog from the FBA website: www.floridabicycle.org

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FloridaBicycleAssociation

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/FloridaBicycle

OUR MISSION: for Florida bicycling is to network and share best practices, to educate and advocate and to build awareness as a unified voice.

OUR VISION: for Florida is to be a state where bicycling is safe, respected and encouraged as a means of transportation and recreation.

OUR PURPOSE:• To educate bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists about safely sharing roadways and paths• To be a powerful, influential voice that protects and advances the interests of bicyclists• To encourage the creation of great on-road and off-road places to ride• To provide a statewide communications network for bicyclists• To encourage more people to bicycle more often

Help Us Grow the Base! Give to FBA

The Florida Bicycle Association was founded by people like you who want to make Florida a better place to ride a bicycle. Our projects and programs that benefit bicyclists are made

possible primarily through membership and sponsorship to our organization. Simply put, without membership, sponsorship and donations, the Florida Bicycle Association would not exist. Keep bicycle enjoyment alive in Florida and help us in the fight against bicycle fatalities, Join FBA!

Did you know your membership donation to FBA is tax-deductible?FBA is a 501(c)(3) education and charitable nonprofit corporation. You can join FBA online or

download and mail an application from our website, www.floridabicycle.org. You can request an application to be mailed to you by contacting Becky Afonso at 813-748-1513.

Does your place of employment offer matching gifts to non-profits? Think FBA! Bicycling is one of life’s simple pleasures to enjoy, not fear. Join or donate to the Florida Bicycle

Association and let’s ride together for Florida bicycling excellence. Contact Becky Afonso at [email protected] for more information on ways to donate to FBA.

Deadlines:Winter Issue – November 15Spring Issue – February 15Summer Issue – May 15Autumn Issue – August 15

A copy of the official registration and financial information (ch9008) may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. http:/www.800helpfla.com/


I have been a bicycle commuter, a bicycle recreational rider, an off-road rider, a bicycle tech and a bicycle

shop manager. I am the person who has survived cycling in Florida for more than 50 years.

I am one of the lucky ones. I have never been hit. However, that’s not true for everybody.

President’s Message...

George Santanya is Right and You Know Itby J. Steele Olmstead, President

In each and every year since 1997 dozens of cyclists are killed here in Florida. Thousands are injured every year in the past decade according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Going back just ten years in the NHTSA data the numbers are depressing with the deaths in each of the last 10 years: 2006-131; 2007-119; 2008-126; 2009-10; 2010-83; 2011-126; 2012-124; 2013-133; 2014-139; 2015-150. Every death of every year is a death that is preventable.

Worse yet is the effect on the community that lost the cyclist. As many of you know, I am a personal injury lawyer. I have given talks and listened to talks of the cost of a human’s death on a spouse, a marriage, a son, a daughter, a father, a mother, a grandmother and grandfather, an aunt, an uncle, a business, a dear friend, a riding club and those are just the non-economics loss. Then there are economic losses that include costs of the hospital bills, the funeral, the property damage, the government time investigating, charging and prosecuting the bicyclist’s killer, loss of productivity and creativity of the dead person, the life time of lost wages and the lifetime of costs to a employer or a business. The figure is jaw dropping, even for a personal injury lawyer like me with thirty-one years of experience who has gotten multi-million dollar verdicts, and settled millions of dollars of cases.

The estimated cost by the National Safety Counsel for just ONE cyclist’s death is $4,538,000. Let me write that out: FOUR MILLION, FIVE-HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS. This cost is born by the family and community when it’s not safe to bicycle in the state of Florida.

Scared? Mad? Disgusted? Upset? Appalled? Angry? Revolted? Choose an emotion. These are the feelings those folks had in 1996 on the day after Christmas when an inattentive truck driver in Clay County drove into six cyclists, killing Margaret Raynal and Doug Hill of Gainesville. Those emotions swelled and boiled in the founders of the renewed FBA because they had

lost two good, reliable, wonderful, funny, important, integral, beloved friends killed at the hands of a careless pick up driver. If you have not read your Association’s history, do so: www.floridabicycle.org/history/

A corollary of George Santayan’s famous observation in our case might be: To be condemned to repeat history because we have forgotten is the tragedy of any group.

Twenty years ago, FBA was reborn out of tragedy. As Florida’s population has grown so has FBA’s challenge. Way too many cyclists and pedestrians are still being killed today. That’s why FBA is behind the Vision Zero initiative on our website. We started and spun off CyclingSavvy. Our Executive Director, Becky Afonso, is on the road every week of the year talking and educating and providing connections to folks who want to learn how to make bicycling a part of every Floridian’s life. We have booths at bicycle events and health fairs telling the general public the good news about bicycling in our State. We appear on panels. Our board of directors are from all directions of Florida and are active in their communities.

This 20th Anniversary is a somber one. We need to remember the horrific deaths that compelled the rebirth of FBA and the death of every single cyclist every single year in Florida and re-commit to ending the slaughter of our community. The FBA acts on your behalf and struggles to keep you, your friends, your club members and beloved family members alive. We cannot guess how many deaths your Association has prevented after a pamphlet we distributed educated a motorist to avoid hitting a bicyclist.

FBA has not forgotten history. We remember. We have institutional memory. For that reason alone we need to keep your Association going. Because whether you acknowledge it or not, when you drive a bicycle in Florida, you are in our community and the Florida Bicycle Association speaks for you. Help your Association. Join, volunteer, connect, be on the Board, become an officer.

and sisters. After the show aired there were hundreds of phone calls. People called and offered me bicycles all over South East Florida. The calls came from Ft Lauderdale to Vero Beach and out to Okeechobee. To my surprise people called and wanted to send checks to help me with my effort. This program is where Jamie Holmes started calling me “Jack the Bike Man.” It stuck and now I am famous all over the place.

The popularity of the bike repair started to develop problems of growing too fast too soon. Storing 100 donated bicycles in his back yard provided opportunity for theft; Jack had to find a suitable storage facility. He was offered space in the Northwood Business District. Jack states:

With all of the publicity on the bike project and my other efforts in helping people in need, the program started to grow. Suddenly the 12 bikes the first year built up in three years to over 100 bikes for Santa Claus. I also was nominated for the Prestigious Jefferson Award and was a finalist for this honor.

Fast-forward to today – what has become of that simple act of kindness is amazing. The non-profit is currently housed in a 15,000 square-foot warehouse that Jack will tell you is too small (another 10,000 square-feet would be nice).

There are numerous partnerships with corporations and local companies, including two Florida Bicycle Association business members, J&B Importers and Wheels of Wellington bike shop. [Wheels of Wellington is where Jack found an issue of our Messenger and decided to join FBA.]

There are programs at Jack the Bike Man that allows young adults to learn bicycle maintenance and repair. The ‘students’ simply pick out a bike to repair, learn the entire process of the mechanical makings of the bike, repair the bike, and then put it on the floor for someone else to enjoy. Jack is very adamant that his students learn first to work for and provide for someone else and take pride in that work before working on a bicycle that will ultimately become their own as a reward for all their efforts.

The non-profit partners with local

schools to provide bicycles to use as art projects for the students that then become bicycles for rent or sale. The students enjoy the challenge to express their creativity and take pride when their artwork is appreciated with a purchase.

And then there are the events. The Dyer Hill Challenge has been held on the last Sunday in March for the last nine years as a fund-raiser for Jack the Bike Man. This endurance mountain bike race of two, four or six hours is run by Tom Rassiga of The Bicyclery in West Palm Beach. This event is for all ages and includes a special 10-minute ride around the top of the hill for children under the age of eight.

Pedals & Pancakes is an open house event to bring awareness to Jack the Bike Man. Started as a means to help people find the charity’s location, the open house features pancakes cooked by local Cub and Boy Scouts using their kitchen trailer. The next open house will have the local police department on hand to register bicycles.

But the heart and soul of the non-profit is the Christmas Bicycle Gift program. Last year, 180 volunteers came out to assist with a one-day Christmas giveaway of over 900 bicycles. Jack estimates about 6,000 bicycles a year are donated; these are repaired, rented or sold to raise money for

what is now an annual giveaway of 2,000 brand new children’s bicycles. Jack says:

I have received help from the most unusual sources. One family decided not to have a gift exchange one Christmas and gave me the money for my project that they would have spent on their gifts. One group of girls in a neighborhood had a lemonade stand to raise money and collect bikes for me. A forth grade class did odd jobs to raise money to help me out one Christmas. A group of firemen came to assemble new bikes one year to help with Christmas. Many employees of a Bellsouth office building had a project and collected close to 100 bikes to help me out several times.

The most touching was from a Mother of a young man who had died prematurely. Her son loved his bike and she told me that

Florida Bike Month is just around the corner! Get your MARCH 2017 events on our

special Florida Bike Month web page listing.

Go to www.floridabicycle.org for details

Jack the Bike Man (continued from page 1)

A bicycle mural at the front warehouse bay makes the location easy to find

(continued on page 6)

Winter 2017 Page 5

Giving to FBAThe Florida Bicycle Association was founded by people like you who want to make

Florida a better place to ride a bicycle. Our projects and programs that benefit bicyclists are made possible primarily through membership and sponsorship to our organization. Simply put, without membership, sponsorship and donations, the Florida Bicycle Association would not exist. Keep bicycle enjoyment alive in Florida and help us in the fight against bicycle fatalities. Join FBA!

Did you know your membership donation to FBA is tax-deductible? Florida Bicycle Association, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 for educational and charitable purposes and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Does your place of employment offer matching gifts to non-profits? Think FBA!Does you place of employment have a United Way campaign? Think FBA! All you

need to do is designate Florida Bicycle Association, Inc. as your charitable organization on your pledge form.

These are great ways to stretch your contribution to FBA even farther! Joining is easy. Just visit our website at www.floridabicycle.org. Click the “Join Us”

link at the top of the page, use the online or download a brochure option, or you can request an application to be mailed to you by contacting Becky Afonso at 813-748-1513 or [email protected].

Bicycling is one of life’s simple pleasures to enjoy, not fear. Join or donate to the Florida Bicycle Association and let’s ride together for Florida bicycling excellence.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CH9008) MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. http:/www.800helpfla.com/ - See more at: http://floridabicycle.org/membership-and-sponsorship/#sthash.rtPpCLWW.dpuf.

Frequently Asked QuestionsLt. Katie Heck, Community Services/Public Information Punta Gorda Police Department, Agency member of FBA

It is not uncommon for someone outside of law enforcement to question why or

how some decisions and actions are taken by officers. For this reason, this issue’s Blue Light Corner will answer a few frequently asked questions in order to provide a law enforcement perspective.

Q: Why do police officers seem to enforce some traffic laws more than others?

A: An officer’s general mission when it comes to traffic enforcement is to ensure the safety of everyone on the roadway; vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. In any community, there will be a few types of violations that lead to the most crashes or other conflicts. These will likely be the most commonly enforced by police via a traffic stop. In our community of Punta Gorda, due to the one-way roads, vehicles frequently turn from the wrong lane, which can cause great danger to other vehicles and cyclists as well. Violations such are addressed in an effort to reduce crashes. As a mode of education, when something

new is introduced to the community such as bike lanes or pedestrian crossings, extra enforcement is given to the addition to increase awareness.

Q: Why, at intersections, are police officers in their cars and not out directing traffic?

A: This would certainly depend on the situation. In many instances of crash scenes or blocked lanes, traffic actually flows more smoothly when an officer doesn’t interfere. Drivers slow down, and merge and/or stop when needed based on their desire to avoid a crash. The addition of an officer giving direction outside of that natural flow can lead to longer back-ups and more confusion about right of way. If it was for a large group of bikes traveling on the roadway, officer interference may be dependent upon permits to close a road. Officers may be placed at intersections by the event or city/county government for the sole reason that their presence encourages drivers to be more cautious in the area.

BLUE LIGHT CORNER

If you would have questions regarding law enforcement behavior, here’s your opportunity to ask! Submit questions to [email protected].

Within the last six months, I have had two experienced, fit cycling friends

develop a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in their leg. Both of them developed their DVT as a direct result of riding longer distances and becoming dehydrated. Apparently, I was part of the 74 percent of Americans who do not understand the danger of DVT related to cycling.

I am not a physician and nothing in this article should be considered as medical advice. That being said, I want to alert readers to what I have learned.

A DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in the blood vessels, typically in the lower leg or thigh. DVTs are dangerous and can lead to a fatal condition, such as a stroke or pulmonary embolism if the clot moves to the heart, the brain or the lungs. It is known to affect up to 2 million Americans per year. What was most shocking to me is that most of those affected are athletes.

Most cyclists and runners understand how easy it is to get dehydrated while exer-cising, particularly in Florida. Dehydration makes your blood thicken due to the loss of water in the bloodstream. When blood thickens, it moves slower in the veins. The reason this problem inordinately affects athletes is the more fit an athlete becomes, the lower their resting heart rate. A lower resting heart rate means the blood moves even more slowly through the bloodstream than the average person. When you com-bine dehydration, lower blood volume, and a reduced flow in a fit athlete, it significantly

raises the risk of a DVT.Those who are particularly susceptible

to DVTs include athletes (especially endurance athletes), those who have had recent surgery or injury, those with some hereditary factor that reduces blood volume or increases clotting factor, and those with cancer, diabetes or heart disease. Anyone who may be aware of DVTs is generally aware of the need to stay hydrated. We hear this in relationship to traveling on an airplane. However, what many athletes fail to realize is when the race or event is completed, many will get in their car and sit for hours driving home. The combination of dehydration (or clotting potential) and immobility (sitting for a prolonged period of time) can prove dangerous. Getting in your car and driving for several hours after a race or cycling event increases the opportunity and risk of developing a DVT, particularly if one is not mindful of staying well-hydrated after the race or event. This is a common occurrence with elite athletes flying after competing.

The symptoms of DVT often appear as a cramp or tightness, particularly in the leg. It may involve swelling, enlargement of a superficial vein or a reddish color to the skin. It is important to bear in mind that sometimes DVTs do not produce symptoms immediately and the symptoms may not appear for days following their formation. If you have any symptoms of a DVT, it is vital that you be evaluated by a doctor. There are treatment options that enhance

Deep Vein Thrombosis Preventionby Jim Dodson

Jim Dodson is an experienced bike accident lawyer, cyclist, bicycle safety advocate and Secretary of the FBA. He represents injury victims throughout Florida and is the author of the Florida Bicycle Accident Handbook, relied upon by hundreds of cyclists across the state.

the ability to dissolve a clot if administered within a certain time after its formation. DVTs are commonly misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed by medical professionals. Vigilance by the athlete is critical.

Once a blood clot forms and a part of the clot breaks off and reaches the brain, it can cause stroke-like symptoms; if it reaches the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism. The literature discusses some of the symptoms, including shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, rapid pulse, sweating, a cough with a bloody sputum, a feeling of general apprehension or fainting. These symptoms are serious and need emergent medical evaluation. The formation and movement of a DVT is potentially life-threatening.

My wife and I travel frequently on flights of five hours or longer since our children and grandchildren live on the west coast. We are often very mindful of the need to move frequently and stay hydrated. The website www.airhealth.org recommends when in-flight, a person should consume a minimum of one cup of fluid per hour, preferably with electrolytes containing a certain percentage of sodium and potassi-um. This is particularly true during longer flights. Some experts recommend against sleeping on a plane on a long flight simply because it allows one to stay in the same position for an extended period of time without moving or flexing the legs. They

recommend moving, stretching and ex-tending the legs at regular intervals during a longer flight, which would be inconsis-tent with an extended sleeping period.

I had always assumed when an individual develops a DVT, they would be given a blood thinner medication to dissolve the clot and they would then return to baseline. I was shocked to learn that is not the case. The literature describes medications which will prevent further clotting, but clot reduction is often left to the natural function of the body, which will be variable depending on an individual’s ability to dissolve an existing clot. One’s ability to dissolve a clot is a function of their body’s natural ability to do so as well as the nature, size and location of the clot, and the length of time it was allowed to develop prior to treatment.

I always assumed being fit, eating right and taking care of myself would help to minimize the risk of a number of health issues. Apparently, DVT is not one of them. Being fit actually places us at a higher likelihood of having this condition occur. We do not want to assume this will never happen to us or, if it does, that we just take a pill and will be fine. My hope is that each of us will be proactive, vigilant and extremely aware of the need to remain hydrated, not only during, but also before and after any cycling event in which we participate, including our regular, weekly rides.


While many Florida cyclists have had the life-changing experience

of taking a CyclingSavvy course, many more still have not had the opportunity, either because there are no CyclingSavvy Instructors nearby, or because it’s just a challenge to fit into one’s schedule (or they just haven’t heard about it!). Well now those hurdles have been knocked down with the development of CyclingSavvy Online, the most advanced traffic cycling course in North America.

Still under development by the American Bicycling Education Association, you can get it at the discount pre-sale cost of $50 for the entire course, which includes both the basic CyclingSavvy and CyclingSavvy Mastery. You can also purchase the basic course alone at $25 or the Mastery course at $35. The basic (and completed) CyclingSavvy provides an hour and fifteen minutes of video content on the rules and laws of traffic for cyclists, and thorough explanation of crash causation and proven crash avoidance strategies, plus handy links to more valuable resources. The two-hour Mastery course takes you to the next level, with strategies and ways of explaining them you won’t see in any other cycling course. In Mastery, you go beyond merely staying safe, to learning how to read and negotiate traffic in ways that also make cycling far

more enjoyable and nearly stress-free. The Mastery course is still under development (about 80% complete), and you will get access to the last three sections as they are uploaded. You can watch a sample video from each section without registering.

So why an online course rather than in-person? Well, granted, we can’t give you direct one-on-one bike handling coaching online (yet!), but we can show you all of the crucial information that we provide in our three-hour classroom session, plus some material we haven’t had time for in our classrooms. With this format, you can watch the course at your own pace, on any internet-connected device, whenever you like, as many times as you like, for an unlimited time. Want to explain the cool strategies you learned to your friends? Pull out your phone and show them a video. Have questions about any of the material, or maybe things we didn’t cover? We’ll be providing a forum for students to ask questions and get answers.

CyclingSavvy was born right here in Florida, land of cul de sacs, lousy connectivity, and high-speed arterials. We’ve figured how to ride safely and confidently in all of that, and so can you!

Go to online.cyclingsavvy.org to register at the pre-sale price. When the Mastery course is completed the pre-sale discount ends!

CyclingSavvy: Empowerment for Unlimited Travel – Now Online!by Mighk Wilson, Executive Director, American Bicycling Education Association

Bikes and parts are stored neatly inside the warehouse

Wheels of Justice – Ask a Lawyer

Don’t be That Guy!

Most of us drive automobiles. All of us drive bicycles. Anybody who does

is aware of the ongoing difficulty of law enforcement enforcing our laws and the wider motoring community to observe those laws. Allow me to make some humble suggestions on how you can, while on the road, bring awareness to us.

First and foremost while riding a bicycle you are an ambassador of our lifestyle (I’ve written about this before). Pretty much everyone in the community knows that you are a cyclist. Your family certainly does and your coworkers most likely do. The folks in your neighborhood do after watching you preparing to drive your bicycle. Some people look to you as an example of what a cyclist is and isn’t. With that foundation you are in a position to influence their behavior while cycling.

How? Simple. Follow the rules. Stop at stop signs. Never run red lights. Give hand signals. Call out to pedestrians when you approach them from behind on the sidewalk or multiuse path (even if they’re wearing headphones). On a small sidewalk give the

by J. Steele Olmstead, Esq. – Attorney J. Steele Olmstead practices law statewide from offices in Tampa. He has been helping bicyclists back on the road since he was a tech in his brother’s shop in Tallahassee.

Instead now he does it in front of a jury.

oncoming pedestrian right-of-way, go into the grass for a few feet and smile. Always wear a helmet. Never drive on the road more than two abreast. This is simple stuff.

When driving your car you also can set an example. On suburban/residential, rural roads REALLY give that cyclist a GOOD three feet. Don’t scare the “bejeebus” out of the oncoming car if it’s close. Slowdown, wait for it to pass and then give that cyclist that ample three feet of space.

You set an example for cars behind you and for cars in the past. Trust me, they will be looking in their rear view mirror to see what the hell you were slowing down for and then realize “oh it was a cyclist. That’s what that car was doing.” After you have passed the cyclist, watch the cars behind you in your rear view mirror to see if they follow your example.

I’ve been doing this for several years. It’s “monkey see-monkey do” and it’s pleasing to say the least.

Without question the majority of cycling fatalities occur at intersections. Don’t be that guy! When you come upon a cyclist who is approaching an intersection, slow down! Do the cyclist’s speed.

he was his happiest when on his bike. She gave it to me so his Spirit would continue in another child.

I spent well over two hours with Jack at his warehouse. There was so much to see and so many good things to talk about. The amount of donated bicycles is overwhelming, but Jack keeps a clean warehouse and a systematic approach to storage. The children’s bicycles, the adult bicycles, the special needs bicycles (yes, the non-profit repairs and donates hand-crank and other specialized bicycles), tires, rims, parts – everything you need to build or repair a bicycle all have a place in the warehouse. Jack adds:

When I had the nice big bike shop a lot of miracles happened. The young children would come after school to work or just to say Hello. Sometimes they would have a problem that worried them and would talk to me about it. This was a very Spiritual experience for me. Some kids just came to pick out a bike while others liked to come and fix the bikes for the kids that were not able to repair their own bikes. Some would pick out a badly damaged bike and repair it for a special friend and I would let them give it to the friend.

Some of these kids were headed towards the life of crime in gangs. The bike shop was able to build their self-esteem

and the gangs suddenly were not an issue.Someone once asked me what is the

best part of my job as executive director of Florida Bicycle Association. Without hesitation I answered, “Meeting people.” People have stories to tell and I like a good story, especially those with a positive spin. I wish I could meet all our members and who knows, maybe over time I will. It certainly was a treat to meet one of our newest business members, Jack the Bike Man.

It’s time to start spreading the word on those little-known benefits of cycling – how we support the community! Tell us what you, your bicycle club or local bicycle business is doing above and beyond the ride to give back to the community. Is it volunteering at a children’s bicycle rodeo? Fund-raising for charity? Hosting a food drive? We want to know! Go to our website and click the SPIN THIS tab at the top.

Jack the Bike Man (continued from page 4)

Two things will happen.1. The cars behind you will see you

giving the legally required right-of-way. Again, “monkey see-monkey do.”

2. You will learn about your future behavior when approached from behind as you approach an intersection. Bonus! On a shared road, don’t cross the double lines to pass the cyclist who has taken the lane. (I know, I know-you really have to be somewhere.)

Your cell phone. Everyone’s got one but you don’t have to drive with it. Make a big show to your passengers when you put it in the glove compartment. You’ll get phone calls, but (if it’s not in the glove compartment) most have auto reject features that include a message. Here’s an obnoxious message, “I’m driving. I can’t answer your call because I might kill someone walking or driving a bicycle. Thanks for helping me save a life.” You get the idea? Have fun with it. The new Android phones have an auto reject feature

so when the GPS detects movement over 10 miles an hour and a call comes in, the phone rings once then auto rejects. If you HAVE to use the phone’s mapping GPS (I do), put it in a windshield mount out of reach. Set it up and LEAVE IT ALONE. No phone call is worth killing someone or ruining a life.

Don’t be that guy!Years ago a grandmother and grandson

were walking on the beach in Clearwater. Disturbed by all the washed up sand dollars, the little boy started picking them up to look at them. After examining them and seeing moving spines on the live ones, he took one, curled his arm and tossed it back into the water. As he bent to pick up another, his grandmother said, “Sweetheart, there are so many of them, you can’t make a difference by throwing them back.” The grandson paused to look up to his grandmother from the live sand dollar he had just picked up. As he threw it into the water, he said, “It makes a difference to this one.”

Winter 2017 Page 7

Executive Director’s Corner...

FBA is Turning 20! by Becky Afonso, Director

The Florida Bicycle Association turns 20 in 2017 – YAY! So just how will an education and advocacy

non-profit membership-based organization celebrate? Why, working harder than ever, of course!

Let’s start with advocacy. For the 2017 Florida legislative session, we

are seeking to expand the

current Move Over law [FS 316.126(b)] to include bicyclists, pedestrians and first-responders – we feel PEOPLE need to be part of this important law. We will keep supporting bills for vulnerable road users and anti-texting bills to make texting a primary offense. We will also monitor for any legislation that jeopardizes our Share the Road specialty plate funding. Last session FBA successfully defeated an amendment that removed the association from the plate proceeds and we are ready to do it again if needed.

Our members will continue to receive email updates during the legislative session. Information will also be posted on our website and blogs. Successful legislation that ultimately saves lives is what the association is fighting for and we couldn’t do it without the generosity and support of our members.

Education is an everyday task for the association. Our Complete Streets Savvy program continues to be requested and presented. The revision of Florida Bicycling Street Smarts is complete and will be ready for distribution in 2017. FBA and the Florida Department of Transportation’s Alert Today Florida campaign will continue to create and distribute bicycle and pedestrian safety information to the public, including but not limited to the Florida Bicycle and Pedestrian Law Enforcement Guide.

20 years of Florida bicycling education and advocacy deserves special recognition. This is no easy task and yet our history is filled with accomplishments. It’s time to take stock of how solid we are, have been and will continue to be moving forward.

Let’s get this party started! Share your happy cycling moments with FBA and we’ll send you a pair of limited edition 20th Anniversary SockGuy socks (while supplies last). These photos will be featured on our Facebook page throughout the year along with our history highlights. WhooHoo!

Florida Bicycle Association is truly thankful for our members, sponsors and partners. We exist to serve you and your fellow cyclists to create active and healthy communities through bicycling. Everyone is invited to the party – let’s ride together!

Happy 20th Anniversary, Florida Bicycle Association!

From our very first steps, walking has been a symbol of independence. And for most of us, a bicycle was our very first mode of transportation.

Yet every year there are thousands of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists in Florida.

Even more alarming is that 75% of all fatal pedestrian and bicyclist crashes occur after dark.

Motorists often say they never saw them. But why?

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO SEE THEM?

Headlight covers that are faded or yellowed can reduce nighttime visibility by up to 80%. Make sure yours are checked and cleaned routinely.

Carry a light when walking at night. Walk in well lit areas and always cross in the crosswalk.

Use lights and reflectors on your bike and always obey traffic laws.

Slow Down! Pedestrians and bicyclists are the most vulnerable people on the road. You can reduce the risk of a crash by reducing your speed and focusing on the road.

Let’s all be:

SHARE for SOCKS 2017 marks our 20th Anniversary – time to celebrate! Show your support for FBA by sending

your action bicycle photos during our “Share for Socks” campaign. You could win a pair of limited edition

20th Anniversary FBA SockGuy socks!

Email your action photos to [email protected].

While supplies last!

Winter 2017 Page 9Page 8 Florida Bicycle Association

Van Fleet Offers Taste of Real Floridaby Jack Cormier – Communications Specialist, Central Florida’s Polk County Sports Marketing

If you are looking to spend time coasting downhill, this trail isn’t for you. But if

you don’t mind pedaling – a lot – while enjoying some of the best views of Florida flora and fauna, the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail and the connecting stretch of Auburndale TECO Trail may be for you. Make sure you leave enough time, or plot a good turn around point ahead of time.

Occupying more than 29-miles of what was once Seaboard Air Line Railroad’s western and northern corridor, the trail passes through three counties and Green Swamp area. For those unfamiliar with its importance, Green Swamp is designated an area of primary concern by Florida, since it serves as our primary source of drinking water. Its unique topography filters rainwa-ter as it drains through wetlands and sands, which recharge the aquifer and create head-waters of the Withlacooche, Ocklawaha, Hillsborough and Peace rivers. This means the area is pristine, undisturbed and a great place to see everything from alligators to egrets, herons to hawks and even a smat-tering of deer. You’ll also see grazing horses and cattle, swamplands, pine flatwoods and areas where citrus was once cultivated.

Four trailheads offer parking – Polk City Trailhead, 7683 Berkely Road; Green Pond Trailhead, 4903 Green Pond Road; Bay Lake Trailhead, 7500 Bay Lake Road, Groveland; and Mabel Trailhead, 7981 CR 772, Webster. Bathrooms can be found at Green Pond, Bay Lake and Mabel Trail Heads and approximately a half mile north of Polk City Trailhead. Picnic areas are at each trailhead and at the 25-mile marker.

There are plenty of benches along the trail, but you won’t find a quickie mart or restaurant, so pack drinks and snacks.

Because the trail is so pristine, bikers can enjoy plenty of shade from old growth tree lines, particularly on the northern side. They also serve as excellent places for birds to perch. You might spot a bald eagle nesting at the southern end of the connecting Auburndale TECO Trail.

One thing you won’t see much of on the trail are other people. It is considered one of the most remote in Florida. Bugs may hum and birds may chirp, but you won’t hear a car throughout most of the trail.

The most popular stretch for viewing wildlife is the middle of the trail, which goes straight through the heart Green Swamp. About five miles north of Green Pond trailhead is the best section for alligator spotting, especially from the series of three bridges that span the Withlacoochee River.

While the trail may seem desolate, help is only a few moments away. Whether you need water or a ride, the trail is staffed with park rangers ready to help. If you see a ranger along the trail, they are a great source of information, from where to observe unique wildlife to the distance of the next picnic area. The rangers’ number, (352) 761-7384 is posted every five miles and there are five bike repair stations.

Ted Wendler boarding SunRail at DeBary Station

St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance is Gaining Groundby Herb Hiller – President of the St. JohnsRiver-to-Sea Loop Alliance

When early last year FDOT committed to complete the St. Johns River-to-

Sea Loop, it avoided funding for operations and maintenance and for how the trail could optimize economic and community building along its 260-mile five-county route. Advocates formed the nonprofit St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance to fill the need.

The Alliance has drawn from legendary playbooks for how railroads grew towns through the West, and more recently how trails like the Great Allegheny Passage and Katy Trail across Missouri have revived corridors of small towns abandoned by railroads. Two opportunities quickly surfaced.

Agritourism corridor formingOne is in southwest St. Johns County,

where the Loop overlays the Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail. The trail runs through highly productive farmlands. Bur family farmers have struggled against corporate agriculture. Two farms shut down last year. The Florida Agricultural Museum nearby in Flagler County is struggling.

At least a doz-en family farmer remain. Some suc-ceed by diversifying crops. Some look to an agritourism law that since 2013 limits farm liabil-ity against claims by the public when introduced to farm activities. County

Line Produce has long succeeded with public traffic. Sykes & Cooper runs a seasonal corn maze that helps sustain its production agriculture.

Along the trail or close by, Rype & Readi hosts events. Molasses Junction Country Store remains an isolated all-purpose crossroads hub. There’s Swallowtail Birds of Prey Rehab Farm, the Jim’s Place hangout, the singular hamlets of St. Joseph and Armstrong, and sepia tinted Hastings, a vibrant farming center awaiting renewal.

The Alliance is leading the designation of an agritourism corridor along the trail. The Florida Agritourism Association has signed on to the idea. So has the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and the county through its Visitors & Convention Bureau. In time, economic returns will support operations and maintenance funding that some counties struggle with.

Loop tourism growingThe Alliance will also promote more Loop tourism, starting with touring companies

that already enter the Loop: Vermont Bicycle Touring in St. Augustine and Bubba’s Pampered Pedalers in Titusville, plus Bike Florida that in the new year has

scheduled two tours of the Loop and a March mass tent-camping Gullah Geechee Tour that for six days will reach throughout the ag lands to Anastasia Island beaches and the St. Johns River.

The Alliance additionally will promote more cyclists to ride trains from Orlando area stations to DeBary and there connect to the Loop for day-tripping along the East-Central Regional Rail-Trail or touring for a week to a fortnight at a time along the route that’s now 40 percent finished or

funded for construction, and otherwise entirely mapped. This project will draw on the 2014 First Florida Train to Trail Tour completed by trail advocates

Carol and Mighk Wilson, Robert Seidler and FBA Administrative Assistant Laura Hallam.

For more on the Alliance and how you can get involved: sjr2c.org and facebook.com/SJR2C/

A new “Amenities along the Tamiami Trail” brochure has just been published and is now available at various welcome centers and businesses along US41 from Naples to Miami.

This light-weight glossy brochure includes a map and mileage chart, providing hikers and cyclists a valuable source of information regarding park facilities (food, water, parking, sight-seeing, nature viewing, accommodations, etc.). Online at evergladesROGG.org.

In addition to riding the Tamiami Trail, there are many opportunities for off-road hiking and biking throughout the six area state and national parks. Now that the rainy season is over, biking on the hard-packed dirt roads and trails will be a lot easier to navigate. This time of year is wonderful in south Florida with beautiful weather, migrating birds, and stone crab season!

For specific information about facilities within various parks, visit these websites:Everglades National Park (Shark Valley with bicycle rentals available)

nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/upload/171-Bicycling-at-Shark-Valley.pdf Big Cypress National Preserve – nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (Janes Scenic Drive)

orchidswamp.org/plan-your-visit/janes-scenic-drive/ Picayune Strand State Forest – freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-

Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Picayune-Strand-State-Forest

Ten Thousand Islands Wildlife Refuge – fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=41555

Collier Seminole State Park – floridastateparks.org/park/Collier-Seminole If you are not familiar with southwest Florida, Everglades City is a small, historic

town located on the Barron River, just 30 miles east of Naples. Arriving by plane, we are just 1½ hrs from three major airports: Ft Lauderdale and Miami on the east coast and Ft. Myers on the west coast. To learn more about what’s happening around town, visit our local newspaper (The Mullet Rapper) online at evergladesmulletrapper.com. We have something to offer everyone: museums, kayaking, fishing, photography, and the peace and quiet of old Florida.

Everglades Cycling Maps by Patty Huff

For those who want to get off the beaten path, or off the urban bike lane, Bear

Island offers a chance to experience a variety of beautiful Everglades’ ecosystems and trail conditions.

Bear Island is a 38,000 acre unit of the Big Cypress National Preserve, managed by the National Park Service. There are two (2) access points; one is off of SR 29, 4 miles north of I-75. There is a gate on the east side of the road which is usually unlocked. Pass through this gate, and there is a second vehicular gate which is locked, unless you have a permit. There is a person/bike gate which is always open. Park here, and take care to not block the private driveway. The second access is off of Turner River Road, 21 miles north of US 41 – this is a lime-rock road, be prepared for dust! There is a Ranger shack at the entry and you can park here – pull off so you don’t block the gate.

Primitive camping and hunting is allowed within the Preserve; if you want to do more than a day trip, be sure to fill out a backcountry permit and pay for your campsite, many of which are very scenic and have nice big Live Oaks for shade. Primitive restrooms are also available at the campgrounds. Be aware of the hunting seasons, and be sure to wear high visibility attire if you visit during hunting season! We rode during turkey season and had positive interactions with several hunters (one friendly young fellow found and returned my lost cell phone!). It is recommended that you fill out a backcountry permit even for a day trip of biking – just in case

NPS needs to do a sweep of the area in the evening to account for folks who have not returned to their vehicles.

The trails are lime-rock road, with several alternative sections and routes. You can vary the length of the ride from 10-20+ miles depending on which segments you choose to ride. Mountain bikes or hybrids are best suited for this terrain. Your skills for dodging potholes will improve as the day goes on. It is advised to do this in the dry season, as it is quite wet during the rainy season.

The trails traverse a variety of natural ecosystems, with shaded sections of Cypress wetlands & adjacent canals, other areas of open prairies and some Pine Flatwood/Live Oak uplands. Expect to see wildlife – on our first trip, we spotted a Florida Panther on the trail ahead – he saw us and just casually turned around and sauntered off into the woods’ edge. Thrilling, as this was the first panther we had ever seen in over 30 years in South Florida!

You probably will also see lots of different birds, as well as gators sunning themselves along the shoulder, some of which you may come upon unexpectedly in which case our advice is to keep on riding! Pass as far away as possible, even though sometimes you don’t even know they are there until too late!

Off-Road Trails – Bear Islandby Dayna Fendrick – Photos by Tara Saathoff-Wells

Up-to-date map of designated trails for all units of the preserve available at: nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/designated-trail-implementation.htm. For more information, call the Big Cypress Preserve Welcome Center at (239) 695-4757.Dayna Fendrick is Chair of Collier County’s MPO Pathways Advisory Committee and a board member of the Friends of the River of Grass Greenway (FROGG). This article was reprinted by permission from the FROGG Spring 2016 Newsletter.

Beautiful cool weather has arrived in South Florida and we are seeing more

people getting outside and enjoying nature, including the cyclists who love to travel along the Tamiami Trail to the various state parks. Everglades City is just 25 miles from east Naples and the Florida Department of Transportation has made several improve-ments for bicyclists to travel this route.

As discussed in the Spring 2016 Messenger, US41 east of Collier Blvd. (SR951) in East Naples was widened to six lanes with bike lanes and a shared use path-way for 3½ miles towards Everglades City. The road narrows back to two lanes with shoulders for 2½ miles, then cyclists are treated to a new 10’ wide multi-use pathway for another 2½ miles from 6L Farm Road to San Marco Road (CR92, the east entrance to Marco Island). You will see people jogging, hiking and bicycling on this short stretch. Just before the bridge (which takes you back

to the road to cross) there is an off-road bik-ing/hiking trail, part of Collier-Seminole State Park. It’s a fun three mile ride if you have the right tires (see floridastateparks.org/activities/collier-seminole-hiking-na-ture-trail). Beyond CR92 is Collier-Seminole State Park which has many inter-esting sites and a new campground.

At the request of Friends of the River of Grass Greenway, FDOT installed two new “Share the Road” signs in November; one east-bound at the entrance of Collier-Seminole State Park and the other west-bound just passed SR29 (Carnestown). The pathway and new signs will improve safety features along this corridor. Thanks, FDOT!

San Marco Road to Port of the Islands Resort (6.2 miles) is the most challenging part of bicycling on US41 since this section still has the reflective pavement markers (RPM) placed there as a safety measure to notify motorists of an upcoming narrow

bridge. FDOT has agreed to look into removing these where feasible, however, they will probably not all get removed. There are many narrow bridges that require the cyclist to move into the traffic lane. This situation is even more hazardous since the double yellow lines and oncoming vehicles prohibit cyclists and motorists to “share the road.” When traveling along this section, be sure to take a break and visit the Ten Thousand Islands National Refuge (fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=41555).

The 10 miles between Port of the Islands and the entrance to Everglades City at SR29 is smooth riding with the resurfacing of US41 by FDOT earlier this year. The RPMs were removed so the shoulders are clear. Again, take caution going over the multiple narrow bridges. The only road work in the section between Marco and Everglades City is maintenance on the bridges which will continue for several more months.

Early version of SJR2C map, courtesy England-Thims & Miller

Enjoy Florida’s Many Wonderful Bike Trails!

South Florida Cycling from Naples to Everglades Cityby Patty Huff

For more information about hiking and biking along US41, current facilities and amenities, visit the Friends of the River of Grass Greenway website at evergladesrogg.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Amenities-along-the-Tamiami-Trail.pdf.

The best parts of the trails are the off-road vehicle (ORV) sections, which are really fun! This is where you get to test your mountain biking skills – lots of big wash-outs, gullies and ups & downs! The ground can quickly switch from mud to hard pack to soft sand, so picking a line, looking ahead, and keeping up momentum are skills that will keep you upright (most of the time). I ended up in the palmettos on one of these gullies! The easternmost trail includes a big hill, which we think was constructed as an ORV challenge; this provides an excellent vantage point to view miles out over the Glades. We opted not to go down the steep side of the hill; we’ll save that for the next trip! All in all, enjoy the beauty and diversity of the Everglades, and you can know that the few people you encounter also value and share the love of this unique environment.

Dayna found paw prints as big as her hand on the off-road trails

To learn more about trails and activities in Polk County: visitcentralflorida.org.


Competing for $100 million, Six-Year Grant

100&Change is a MacArthur Founda-tion competition for a $100 million grant to fund a proposal that promises real and measurable progress in solving a critical problem of our time. The Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation is among the applicants who have completed MacArthur’s in-house review. Our proposal, which emphasizes sustainable communities, cities and regions, is now under consideration by outside reviewers. Their decision on finalists for the award will be announced in late December.

The Foundation’s 100&Change proposal is intended to accelerate the development of a safe, scenic and accessible system of greenways and trails within the state of Florida and to market the success of this effort as an exemplar for what others can do to realize the economic, health and recreational benefits of greenways and trails.

Initially, the plan calls for building coalitions of support at the local and regional level that sustain trail creation, community economic development, urban renewal and healthy lifestyles. These efforts will bring together local community leaders, planners, citizens groups, developers

and others for the purpose of building communities centered on alternative transportation, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and sustainable development. Next, through matching grant programs, the Foundation will support planning, design and environmental feasibility studies for community trail development that will close the gaps in the proposed regional system. A portion of these matching grants will be reserved for small rural communities and urban cores in order to “seed” amenities such as landscaping, restrooms, parking areas and signage in communities that lack the taxing capacity or local effort needed to enhance greenways and trails. Finally, systematic sponsored research on the benefits of trails, expanded partnerships with other non-profit and for-profit entities at the state and regional level, and commitment to the vision of Florida’s safe, scenic and “sun-sensational” trail system will be key elements as the Foundation continues its work.

MacArthur intends to select up to ten finalists for the award, and these finalists will be vetted at meetings held in Chicago in mid-January.

by Joe Beckman, FGTF President

Now Available Online!

50% Off Thru

December 31!

Proven tra�c cycling strategies developedright here in Florida.See free sample videosand register at: Online.CyclingSavvy.Org

It’s time to nominate worthy individuals and organizations for their significant

service and contributions to bicycling in Florida during 2016. The awards bring attention to the efforts and achievements of those who forward FBA’s vision for all Florida bicyclists to be safe, respected and encouraged to bicycle for transportation and recreation.

Categories include but are not limited to: Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Bicycle Club, Off-Road Club or Advocate, Enforcement Officer or Agency, Educator or Regional Trainer, Trail Manager or Promoter, Bicycle Friendly Community or

Business, Supporting Agency, Program or Event, Bicycle Business or Store Advocate, Bicycle Professional, Citizen Bike Advocate, Developer, Elected Official Champion, Volunteer, Special Recognition.

Please go to our website, floridabicycle.org, to submit your nomination online or mail your nomination to FBA, PO Box 2452, Oldsmar, FL 34677 (please include your contact information with mailed nominations).

Nomination Deadline for 2016 FBA Annual Awards is January 31, 2017.

Recipients announced March 1, 2017 to kick off Florida Bike Month!

Thank You, BillyThe Florida Bicycle Association would like to take this opportunity to thank Billy Hattaway for all his efforts as Florida Department of Transportation’s District 1 Secretary and as the department’s Pedestrian & Bicycle Focused Initiative champion.

We wish all the best to Billy and look forward to his continued success as he pursues a new position as the Director of Transportation for the City of Orlando.

Winter 2017 Page 11

Yield to Bicyclists and Pedestrians at Intersections?

Q Barry asked: If I’m driving a car and approach an intersection with

a stop sign. Do I yield to pedestrians and cyclists approaching on a sidewalk or are they supposed to yield to vehicles in this instance?

AWhen on a sidewalk or crosswalk, a bicyclist has the same rights and

duties as a pedestrian.s. 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations(9) A person propelling a vehicle by

human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

(10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

Golf Carts in Bike Lanes

Q Alan asked: Perhaps you can give some advice as to the legality and op-

tions we have regarding our GSCDD Board decision to convert the designated bicycle lanes in our community to ones which per-mit golf carts to utilize those lanes.

I live in Ft. Myers in the Pelican Preserve Community. The GSCDD, which now own the major roads in our development, has painted over the bicycle chevrons and declared the lanes are no longer strictly for bicycles. These lanes were planned bicycle lanes by the developer. Our community action group understands that the four-foot shoulder lanes should be exclusively for bicycles and that golf carts should be operated in the regular vehicle lanes. Their plan is to conduct a traffic study and make a recommendation based upon that.

Have you heard of this kind of conversion before?

My question is regarding the legality of this conversion and our options since there is a statute which says bike lanes are for bicycles only?

AI don’t know the nature of your com-munity. I will assume it is governed by

Questions about the laws related to bicycling?

Ask Geo @ FlBikeLaw.org*by George Martin

As part of the Bicycle Law Enforcement Program, FBA maintains FLBikeLaw.org to provide a place to ask questions about the laws. Questions come direct to FBA via the “Contact FBA” form from floridabicycle.org as well as other sources. Herein is a very limited sample of questions and answers found on the site. Go online for more.

*DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this column is to inform about bicycling laws. The material provided here and through other means is for general informational purposes only and shall in no way constitute or be construed as legal advice by the officers, directors, agents or employees of the Florida Bicycle Association. If your experience in a court of law or on the streets differs from that presented, we want to know about it, but George Martin and FBA are not accountable for a ruling contrary to our interpretation of Florida Law or other consequences of cycling. You should seek legal advice on a particular situation.

the state statutes regarding the state high-way system.

s. 316.003 – Definitions(77) Street or Highway(a) The entire width between the bound-

ary lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic;

(b) The entire width between the bound-ary lines of any privately owned way or place used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons, or any limited access road owned or controlled by a special district, whenever, by written agreement entered into under s. 316.006(2)(b) or (3)(b), a county or municipality ex-ercises traffic control jurisdiction over said way or place;

Local authorities may enact ordinances related to golf carts on sidewalks under certain circumstances. That does not seem to include operating golf carts in bike lanes.

s. 316.008 – Powers of Local Authorities(7) A county or municipality may enact

an ordinance to permit, control, or regulate the operation of vehicles, golf carts, mopeds, motorized scooters, and electric personal as-sistive mobility devices on sidewalks or side-walk areas when such use is permissible un-der federal law. The ordinance must restrict such vehicles or devices to a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour in such areas.

Other statutes apply to the operation of golf carts in the roadway.

s. 316.212 – Operation of Golf Carts on Certain Roadways

(The operation of a golf cart upon the public roads or streets of this state is prohib-ited except as provided herein:

(1) A golf cart may be operated only upon a county road that has been designated by a county, a municipal street that has been designated by a municipality, or a two-lane county road located within the jurisdiction of a municipality designated by that munic-ipality, for use by golf carts. Prior to making such a designation, the responsible local gov-ernmental entity must first determine that golf carts may safely travel on or cross the public road or street, considering factors in-cluding the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using the road or street. Upon a determination that golf carts may be safely operated on a designated road or

street, the responsible governmental entity shall post appropriate signs to indicate that such operation is allowed.

Above, you state that bicycle lanes are “strictly for bicycles” and “four foot shoulder lanes should be exclusively for bicycles”.

I believe the statute to which you refer is this:

s. 316.074 – Obedience to and Required Traffic Control Devices

(1) The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device.

Bike Lanes Required?

Q Anon asked: The Palmer Ranch Association in Sarasota County is

proposing a large community center on Palmer Ranch Parkway where there is NOT a bike lane. From what I see from the plans NO bike lane is under consideration at the Planning Commission’s Public Hearing on Dec 1st. I see this as a real safety issue. Can you tell me what Florida Statute applies as to the need or requirement for a bike lane? This area is well used by bikers as we have a long bike/walking trail called ‘The Legacy Trail’ nearby and bikers come and go and use this piece of roadway from all directions. I plan to speak at the Public Hearing as the proposed community center requires a ‘Land Use Change’. It is presently zoned for single family homes only. Any help much appreciated.

ABicycle facilities are required when any change is made to a state roadway.

See this post: http://flbikelaw.org/2012/06/bike-lanes-required/

It appears that Palmer Ranch Parkway is a county or municipality roadway and not a state roadway and is not guided by the mandatory requirements of s. 335.065. Rather, it is controlled by the Florida Greenbook.

In 335.065, the word “shall” is used. Note the use of “should” in the Greenbook. Also note the use of the term “are not required” when discussing exceptions. I’m not sure how to interpret that.

Clearly, FDOT is trying to convey that bike facilities are desirable and should be given full consideration in planning roadways.

Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways (Florida Greenbook)

CHAPTER 9 – BICYCLE FACILITIESA INTRODUCTIONBicycle facilities should be given

full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities, including the incorporation of such facilities into state, regional, and local transportation plans and programs under the assumption that transportation facilities will be used by cyclists. Bicycle facilities should be established in conjunction with the construction, reconstruction, or other change of any transportation facility and

special emphasis should be given to projects in or within 1 mile of an urban area.

The provision for bicycle facilities is also desirable for resurfacing, restoration & rehabilitation (RRR) projects.

Bicycle and pedestrian facilities are not required to be established:

1. Where their establishment would be contrary to public safety;

2. When the cost would be excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use; or and

3. Where other available means or factors indicate an absence of need.

Appropriately designed and located bicycle facilities play an important role in supporting bicycle travel. Bicyclists should be considered in all phases of transportation planning, design, construction and maintenance activities. Particular emphasis should be given to new construction, reconstruction, intersection improvement, and transit projects. Bicycle facilities can include bicycle lanes, paved shoulders, wide curb lanes, shared lanes, shared use paths, and bicycle parking facilities.

You may want to remind the planners that bicyclists, with few exceptions, have the same rights and duties as other drivers.

s. 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations(1) Every person propelling a vehicle by

human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle

Lacking bike lanes, bicyclists are not required to use paved shoulders and will be in the roadway. When narrow lanes (less than 14 feet wide) are present, the lane is considered a substandard-width lane, and bicyclists are not required to keep right.

s. 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle

upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to,...substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

Bicycle lanes are not just for bicyclists. They tend to provide separation between bicycles and motor vehicles. In narrow lanes, one of the most dangerous things a bicyclist might do is keep right, encouraging unsafe and illegal passing within the lane by motorists.

Lacking bike lanes, there will be traffic conflicts.


Those sentiments might well have been the central themes of this year’s Share

The Road Celebration of Cycling event, held in Gainesville on Oct. 28-29. It was a time to remember those who came before us, to recognize those who continue to work on behalf of safe cycling and to set the stage for a more prominent role for cycling in Florida – to transform Florida into The Cycling State.

Honoring the Past: Saturday, Oct. 29 dawned a clear,

crisp autumn morning. Dozens of cyclists assembled on the campus of the University of Florida to embark on a two-mile Ride of Silence.

With a Gainesville Police Department escort in the lead and Bike Florida’s own Share The Road van bringing up the rear, the cyclists made their way to downtown Gainesville’s newly opened Depot Park.

Anchoring the northeast corner of the park are six “rammed-earth” sculptures - memorials created in 1997 by friends and family members of a group of cyclists who left Gainesville the morning after Christmas in 1996 on a ride to St. Augustine.

Two of the cyclists would not return.At about noon on that day, on a lonely

rural road in Clay County, while riding in a pace line, all six cyclists were run down from behind by a distracted driver in a pickup truck. The driver was not tested for alcohol use and was never charged for his deadly act of negligence.

Two cyclists were killed and the others were severely injured. Among the dead were Margaret Raynal – one of Florida’s most respected safe cycling advocates – and Doug Hill, manager of a Gainesville bike shop. The accident, and the failure of police to charge the offending driver, sent waves of shock and outrage throughout Florida’s cycling community.

Bike Florida recently raised $16,000 to restore the sculptures, and the Oct. 29 dedication was a time to remember the

victims of that crash - and to resolve anew our collective determination to make Florida roadways safe for all users. At the suggestion of the sculptures’ artist, Eric Amundson, the site was renamed the Share The Road Memorial. And newly installed signage asks visitors to take the Share The Road Pledge to “CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF BICYCLES, PEDESTRIANS AND MOTORISTS ALIKE WHEN USING THE PUBLIC ROADWAYS....”

Celebrating the Present:At our Oct. 28 award luncheon Bike

Florida and the Florida Bicycle Association presented this year’s Share The Road awards to those organizations and advocates that continue to work to make Florida a more bike-ped friendly state. Among this year’s honorees:

Leadership Award: To Ft. Lauderdale, for being the first city in Florida - indeed, in the entire southeast United States - to adopt a Vision Zero plan. The City’s ambitious goal is to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and injuries by employing a range of enforcement, engineering, education, encouragement and evaluation strategies.

Honor the Past. Celebrate the Present. Plan for the Future.Article and photos by Ron Cunningham

Visionary Award: To Ryan and Jamie Altman, founders of Gainesville’s Freewheel Project, a non-profit bicycle collective established to help make cycling safer, more accessible and more affordable for low income residents, children and others.

FBA Positive SpinKen Hillier is that guy. The guy that goes beyond riding a bicycle for transportation by collecting road-side garbage and debris during the ride to keep the streets clean. Ken has been a member of FBA since 2010 and resides in St. Petersburg. I hope to ride with Ken one of these days to document the clean-up and share with local officials as part of our Positive Spin initiative. Keep up the good work, Ken!

Memorial sculptor Eric Amundsen and Ron Cunningham proudly unveil the new Share the Road memorial marker.

Founder’s Award: To B. Kraig McClain, director of the St. Johns River To Sea Loop Alliance, for his years long championship of rail-trail development and expansion.

Advocate’s Award: To Erica Bea Pucket, founder of Tallahassee’s Joyride Bicycle Collective, an organization dedicated to making cycling a more family-friendly and inclusive activity in Florida’s Capital City.

Volunteer Award: To Earle and Lois Richards, for their years-long work in support of numerous cycling events throughout Florida. Earle Richards passed away this year and his contributions to cycling will not soon be forgotten.

Media Award: Dedicated to Wayne Ezell, a longtime Florida newspaper journalist who, since his retirement, had become a key member of the North Florida Bicycle Club’s leadership team. Wayne was killed this year in a crash while riding in Iowa’s RAGBRAI tour.

President’s Award: To Ron Cunningham, who is retiring after four years as executive director of Bike Florida.

Cyclists gathered as Bike Florida Executive Director Ron Cunningham explains the history of the Share the Road memorial.

Ryan & Jamie Altman proudly accept the Visionary Award. (continued on next page)

Advocate’s Award went to Erica Bea Pucket.

Winter 2017 Page 13

In March of 2013, I sold my car! For the first time since my teenage years, I did

not own a motor vehicle. It was strange at first, but I quickly learned to love it. My original motivation was to lose weight. I always had a hard time with self-discipline when it came to exercise. This was a way to force myself into riding a bicycle almost everyday, and probably lose weight and become much healthier and happier. In addition to the health aspects, I was looking forward to saving money and stress related to owning and maintaining a motor vehicle.

After easing into it with the help of my wife and her minivan, I was soon a full-time bicycle commuter. It was 22 miles round trip to my office here in sunny, hot, Southwest Florida. I had learned how to ride a bike at a very young age, and this skill had not gone away. What I didn’t know how to do was drive my bicycle. As in, how to operate it among other vehicles in the safest, most comfortable way.

Luckily, I found the Florida Bicycle Association and the CyclingSavvy program. The techniques I soon learned literally changed my life. I was comfortable, happy, and truly enjoying my time on the bicycle. I ran into a few issues with motorists and law enforcement here and there, but over-whelmingly it has been a positive experience.

After being inspired by others, I purchased a bicycle trailer from Bikes at Work, an Ames, Iowa company, who is “devoted to providing bicycle-powered products and services to help people accomplish useful work.” I quickly realized

Two-Tired Bicycle Business

by Ryan Scofield, FBA member and 2014 Citizen Advocate of the Year Award Recipient

the potential. I combined that with my love of environmental conservation and my hatred for gas-powered lawn equipment to form Two Tired Services.

Two Tired Services is a bicycle-powered company that focuses on gas-free and emission-free services. The main services currently offered are lawn care, landscaping, and gardening. I do this with a combination of manual and electric tools. I have a long-tail cargo bike capable of hauling materials, from which I pull the 8’ trailer that has been customized with re-purposed pontoon boat rails. This is my ‘landscape trailer’ that I carry 1 or 2 lawn mowers, a blower, a string trimmer, as well as other related garden and lawn tools.

One major challenge has been establishing a large enough service area. When the trailer is fully loaded, it can be difficult or nearly impossible to travel distances covered by conventional lawn-care companies. Trying to service a customer 20 miles away would require 4 hours travel time round-trip, as I can only achieve 10mph or so average at best.

Even if I had 3 or 4 customers in that same location, that day may not be profitable. Not to mention extremely tiring!

Another challenge I face is the weather. Here in Southwest Florida we have a very rainy and stormy summer. Conventional landscapers face this same obstacle, but they are able to jump into their large vehicles to stay safe when a storm approaches. I am pretty exposed with no vehicle to jump into. I have a tarp to cover the trailer with me at all times, so at least the equipment won’t get ruined. But I have to pay extra attention to the weather for my own safety.

I have enjoyed doing this part-time business so much that I recently resigned from my great job of 13 years. I am now taking this venture full time and opening up all kinds of possibilities! I will be setting my own schedule and enjoying the outdoors. I am looking forward to taking additional certification programs and educational courses to further my landscape and gardening knowledge. I hope to specialize in native plants, edible landscaping, and organic lawn-care.

One common goal of each Community Traffic Safety Team is to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes within their community. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is active in the support of Community Traffic Safety Teams. Each FDOT District has a CTST Coordinator who works closely with the CTSTs in their geographic area, and the Central FDOT Safety Office acts as a liaison to the District Coordinators. For information (meeting times, locations, people) regarding CTSTs in your community, visit FDOTdot.state.fl.us/safety/7B-YourCommunity/YourCommunity.shtm

Join a CommunityTraffic Safety Team

Planning for the Future:One key to making Florida safer for all

cyclists is to get more people on bicycles. The more cyclists on the roads, the more aware motorists are of the need to pay attention and drive responsibly. Moreover, getting large numbers of cyclists on the road – especially non-Floridians – not only makes cycling safer for everyone, but holds an economic bonus as well.

The theme of this year’s Share The Road Celebration of Cycling was “Cycling Is The New Golf: Can Florida Be A Major Destination For Cycle Tourism?” A series of speakers and panel discussions fleshed out the economic implications of marketing Florida as a cycling destination.

What implications? Well according to Adventure Cycling Association – whose executive director Jim Sayer was a key speaker at our event – bicycle tourism generates: $400 million a year in Oregon, $924 million annually in Wisconsin, $427 million in Minnesota, $88 million in Arizona.

Oh yes, and $57 billion a year in Europe.Florida, with a great climate and cycle-

friendly terrain, should indeed be a major destination for cyclists from all over the

world. The good news is that Visit Florida - the state’s tourism promotion agency - was a major sponsor of and active participant in this year’s Share The Road Celebration of Cycling discussions. With strong marketing support from Visit Florida in partnership with touring organizations like Bike Florida, a boom in cycle tourism could indeed help transform Florida into The Cycling State.

Pat Ezell accepted the Media Award on behalf of her late husband Wayne Ezell, who was killed in a bicycle crash this year. After his retirement from journalism, Wayne became a key member of the North Florida Bicycle Club’s leadership team.

Bike crash survivor Lauri Triulzi speaks during the ceremony with Ron Cunningham.

Bike Florida Board of Directors: L to R: Roger PIerce, Bob Stevens, Colleen Nicoulin, Leigh Matusick, recently retired executive director Ron Cunningham, Randy Wells & Gary Kirkland.


JANUARY January 8 (Sun) Venice FLPiggy’s Revenge Endurance ChallengeA challenging endurance race/ride consisting of 10,20,40,60+ miles of off-road goodness in Sarasota County Florida. Get ready for a self supported single track,gravel, dirt, sand and water ride.This year we will also have a Pigglet Ride: 10 miles of great double track riding perfect for beginners.The 20 and 40 options will have single track riding more suitable for mountain bikes,the 60 miler is a gravel grinder and includes some road riding. The big loops will connect several wilderness areas. Choose the marked 10,20,40 MTB loops or the 60 mile gravel grinder/monster cross with GPS track. 1800 Mabry Carlton Pkwy, Venice, FL 34292.

January 16-20 Cross City FLgulfcoasteventstours.comTour package consists of 5 days and four nights; cycling on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, other attractions include a visit to Historic Yulee Sugar Mill, see the Mermaids perform at Weeki Watchee Springs, and see the Manatees at Crystal River. www.gulfcoasteventstours.com/ January 22 (Sun) Cape Coral FLThe 26th Annual Tour de CapePresented by the City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department offers a 5K run on Sat. Jan. 21, and on Sun. Jan. 22 there are four cycling courses that travel through the City of Cape Coral, one of the largest cities in the state. The Tour De Cape offers a 15mi., 30mi, 60mi and 100mi. course. All courses are manned with support teams and rest stations throughout. This is a great family event. www.tourdecape.net

FEBRUARY February 12 (Sun) White Springs FLSuwannee Sweetheart RideThere will be rides of 25, 52, 62, and 100 miles. The century ride starts at 8:00 from Suwannee Bicycle Association Headquarters in White Springs, FL. If you’re spending the weekend, join us for a club ride on Saturday. Call 904-563-7724. suwanneebike.org/events/sweetheart.php February 18 (Sat) Boca Raton FLRide 4 OrphansCharity bike ride with 30 and 62 mile routes. Kid’s Fun Ride benefitting orphan children in Chad and Malawi (Africa), Haiti, and abused and neglected children in foster care via 4KIDs of South Florida and Place of Hope. Fully SAG supported escorted by sheriff ’s deputies with several rest stops along the routes. After-ride food and entertainment with raffles and silent auction. ride4orphans.com

February 19 (Sun) Clermont Tour Latino Waterfront Park FLFourth annual cycling fundraising event benefiting Prospera, supporting Hispanic entrepreneurs in Central Florida to create more sustainable businesses and jobs in our community. 7AM, Palm St. Clermont, FL 34711. Ride options include 100, 70,50, 25 and 10-mile bike routes with 2 timed sections in the 70 and 100 mile rides. Latin Food, Music and Awards. DOMINO tables at the finish. Prize drawings donated by sponsors and supporters, exclusively for event riders. Winners drawn from bib numbers, but you do need to be present to win. Call 407-428-5872 or visit prosperausa.org. http://tourlatino.org/

March 3-5 Chiefland FLChiefland Bicycle RideThree fun-filled days riding on Florida’s Gulf Coast Trails. All rides start in Chiefland. Choose from several options to these destinations –Trenton, Cross City, Cedar Key and Horse Shoe Beach. (727) 457-6994. www.chieflandbicyclefest.com March 11-12 Naples FLPan-Florida Challenge for Hungry Kids - 180 Miles 2-Day RideEpic ride across Florida from Naples to Fort Pierce over two days. Together we RIDE to END Kids’ Hunger, 1 meal at a time. Our challenge goal is 2,000,000 meals. Fully supported ride, comprehensive online fundraising support, 2017 Pan-Florida Challenge Cycling Jersey, multiple food & water stops every 20 miles, and SAG Support. Excellent overnight accommodations on Lake Placid. Day 1 Finish Party, Dinner and Breakfast, with Activies on the lake. Awesome Finish Line Party & Medals for your major accomplishment. Awards, prizes, recognition for top fundraisers, and bragging rights for life! 100% of riders’ donations fund meals for hungry kids.Registration fee $50, Fundraising minimum also. After February 1, the price to register is $75. www.panfloridachallenge.org/

March 11 (Sat) Dunedin FLRide 4 the Animals 2017Highlander Park. Benefits Suncoast Animal League. Ride at a leisurely pace, enjoy one of two shorter routes, or challenge yourself to “ride with the big dogs” for a metric Century along the Gulf Beaches. Well stocked rest stops and a SAG driver along the route. Stay and enjoy Mutt March Event. Receive a free beverage from the beer truck and complimentary lunch item. Other food available for purchase from vendors. Fun Raffle prizes! T-shirts for all who pre-register. Support the dogs and cats in need! Sign up today for EARLY BIRD PRICING! Ride4theAnimals.com

Upcoming Bicycle Touring Events in FloridaThis printed version is ABRIDGED 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. Data are gleaned and summarized from an online calendar database maintained by Roger Pierce and published on the FBA web site. To add an event to his (and our) calendar, e-mail to [email protected] or go online to post your own entry. See complete calendar, including many out-of-state rides we don’t have room to print here, at www.floridabicycle.org/touring.

March 12 (Sun) Fort Myers FLNineteenth Annual Royal Palm ClassicDetails to follow! royalpalmclassic.org March 18-22 Fort Myers FLEnds Cycling - Key West Bike RidePray, Pedal, Repeat! At Ends of the Earth Cycling, we host multi-day cycling tours throughout the United States to promote and resource global youth ministries. We do this, not just with hard-core cyclists, but people just like YOU! Join a Christ-centered cycling tour investing in global youth ministries through prayer, awareness, fundraising and a whole lot of fun! http://EndsCycling.com/tours March 25 (Sat) Monticello FLMonticello Bike Fest 100/60/30/10 miles. Registration through http://www.caamevents.com. Racec begin at 7:30am - 10am at 420 W Washington St.,

Monticello, FL 32344. Rates are $55 - $70. Enjoy a ride on our beautiful,quiet canopied roads. www.monticellojeffersonfl.com March 26 (Sun) Venice FLTour de Parks 2017Non-competitive bicycle tour of Sarasota Parks, including the Legacy Trail. Rides lengths: 20/35/62 miles. Starts 7:30am at Historic Venice Train Depot. Registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, on-course refreshment stations, SAG support and tech T-shirt to the first 650 registrants. Entry fees are $35-$45 depending on when you register. No rain date. No refunds. Most of the proceeds are used to support The Legacy Trail and efforts to expand it 8 miles to downtown Sarasota. See the Friends of The Legacy Trail website to register and for more information. www.friendsofthelegacytrail.org

CyclingSavvy Edition

Florida Bicycling

Riding Confidently,Legally, and Safely

Coming Soonin 2017

Winter 2017 Page 15

FDOT DistrictsDistrict 1Cities: Bradenton, Fort Myers, Naples, SarasotaCounties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Okeechobee, Polk, SarasotaFDOT Bike/Ped coordinator: Providance Nagy, 239-225-1983; Bike/Ped Safety Specialist: vacant; SUN Trail Coordinator: Bessie Reina, 863-519-2656FBA Member Bicycle Clubs: Bonita Bay Bicycle Club, Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, Coastal Cruisers Bicycle Club, Highlands Pedalers Bicycle Club, Peace River Riders Bicycle Club, Polk Area Bicycling Association, Sanibel Bicycle Club, Sarasota-Manatee Bicycle Club

Visit our website, floridabicycle.org, for additional FBA Member club and shop information.

FBA Member Bicycle Shops: Acme Bicycle Shop, Bicycle Center of Port Charlotte, Bike Route (Fort Myers), Naples Cyclery, The Bike Route (Naples), Billy’s Bike Shop, Fort Myers Schwinn Cyclery, Ringling Bicycles, Pedelec SQB LLC Electric Bicycles, Island Bike Shop, Bicycles International

District 2Cities: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake City, St. AugustineCounties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, UnionFDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator: Derek Dixon, 904-360-5653; FDOT Bike/Ped

Safety Specialist: Jennifer Graham,904-360-5636; FDOT SUN Trail Coor-dinator: Barney Bennette, 386-961-7878FBA Member Bicycle Clubs: Gainesville Cycling Club, North Florida Bicycle Club, Suwannee Bicycle AssociationFBA Member Bicycle Shops:Champion Cycling & Fitness (3 locations), Lake Shore Bicycles & Fitness, Bike Works, Bike Works of Gainesville

District 3Cities: Destin, Panama City, Pensacola, TallahasseeCounties: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, WashingtonFDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator: Olen Pettis, 850-330-1543; FDOT Bike/Ped Safety Specialist: Andrew White, 850-330-1653; FDOT SUN Trail Coordinator: Olen Pettis, 850-330-1543FBA Member Bicycle Clubs: Capital City Cyclists, Emerald Coast CyclistsFBA Member Bicycle Shops: The Great Bicycle Shop (2 locations)

District 4Cities: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Palm Beach, StuartCounties: Broward, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, St. LucieFDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator: Alexander Barr, 954-777-4284; FDOT Bike/Ped Safety Specialist: Tom Miller, 954-777-4073; FDOT SUN Trail Coordinator: Lisa Maack, 954-717-2253FBA Member Bicycle Clubs: Boca Raton Bicycle Club, Vero Cycling Club, South Broward WheelersFBA Member Bicycle Shops: Bike America (6 locations), Lauderdale Cyclery, Tri Bike Run, Wheels of Wellington, Orchid Island Bikes and Kayaks

District 5Cities: Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, Melbourne, Ocala, OrlandoCounties: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, VolusiaFDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator: Deborah Tyrone, 407-482-7897; FDOT Bike/Ped Safety Specialist: Chad Lingenfelter, 386-943-5336; FDOT SUN Trail Coordinator:

Heather Garcia, 386-943-5077FBA Member Bicycle Clubs: Florida Freewheelers, Sumter Landing Bicycle Club, Orlando Runners & RidersFBA Member BicycleShops: The Cycling Hub, Village Cycles (2 locations), Greenway Bicycles, Orange Cycle, Full Circle Cycle, Retro City Cycles, Brick City Bicycles, Winter Garden Wheel Works

District 6Cities: Key West, MiamiCounties: Miami-Dade, MonroeFDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator: Zakary Lata, 305-470-5308; Bike/Ped Safety Specialist: William Abin, 305-470-5406; FDOT SUN Trail Coordinator: Lisa Colmenares, 305-470-5386FBA Member Bicycle Club: Everglades Bicycle Club, South Florida TriathletesFBA Member Bicycle Shop: Mack Cycle & Fitness, Elite Cycling & Fitness

District 7Cities: Brooksville, Clearwater, Port Richey, St. Petersburg, TampaCounties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, PinellasFDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator: Christopher Speese, 813-975-6405; FDOT Bike/Ped Safety Specialist: Alex Henry, 813-975-6256; FDOT SUN Trail Coordinator: Christopher Speese, 813- 975-6405FBA Member Bicycle Clubs: Central Florida Randonneurs, Florida Panthers Tandem Club, St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, Suncoast Cycling ClubFBA Member Bicycle Shops: Bike Sport, Chainwheel Drive (2 locations), Jim’s Bicycle Shop, Hampton’s Edge Trailside Bicycles, University Bicycle Center, Two Foot Drive (mobile shop), AJ’s Bikes and Boards

SHARE for SOCKS – 2017 marks our 20th AnniversaryTime to celebrate! Show your support for FBA by sending your action bicycle photos during our “Share for Socks” campaign. You could win a pair of limited edition 20th Anniversary FBA SockGuy socks! Email your action photos to [email protected] supplies last!


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

Applauds the Florida Bicycle Association for its effortsin making our community a healthier one by providingeducation and inspiration of cycling.

See you on the road!

Kenneth L. Scearce, CPADavid A. Satcher, CPACarla M. Hansen, CPA

(407) 647-6441 Office (407) 645-0099 Fax1030 W. Canton Avenue, Suite 210, Winter Park, FL 32789

800-828-7655 twitter.com/VisitCentralFL

facebook.com/VisitCentralFlorida

If so, spin down to Central Florida’s Polk County– your hub for some of the best and most diverse cycling experiences in Florida. Road, mountain, single track, rails-to-trails, bikepacking – with some surprisingly heart-thumping elevation changes.

Why not stay here and ride them all? Plan your velo-escape at ChooseEverything.com

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Documents

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS Messenger - Florida Bicycle … · Jack the Bike Man Brings Joy to ... repaired by the inmates for presentation of those bikes to kids in my neighborhood