The state of Florida is well-known for a few things: famously tropical warm and sunny winters, gorgeous coastal and mountain landscapes, an above-average active aging population, and, since 2011, the #1 highest bicycling and pedestrian fatality rates in the country.
Floridians also consume 21 million gallons of gasoline per day, placing them firmly at 3rd in the nation for gasoline use -- and rank a lowly #42 for state bicycling and walking commuter levels.
Some blame it on the urban sprawl, some on the freeway-focused transportation design. But understandably, many in the “Sunshine State” are not content with these last few grim statistics.
Image: jsrcyclist / Flickr
One organization working to change up the game is newest Alliance member, Bike Florida.
Known for their large-scale cross-state touring rides and support for “Share the Road” safety initiatives, Bike Florida is a statewide organization with a mission to promote cycling as a major boon to local economies.
They also happen to dabble in bicycling safety, giving away over $10,000 a year in mini grants to programs ranging from racks and road signage to in-school student bike education through the Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program.
“We believe that the more cyclists we put on the roads, the safer those roads are for all cyclists,” said Ron Cunningham, Executive Director of Bike Florida.
The Bike Florida team prioritizes building close relationships with local governments and community organizations in the cities their rides pass through, cultivating a celebratory spirit and encouraging community engagement.
Ken Foster, Associate Director and Share the Road Coordinator, estimates that a typical tour will pump $10,000 a day into the local businesses of towns their riders stop in -- a number he says is reflective of the positive economic impact that cyclists make everywhere they pedal.
In the process, Ken describes improved cyclist-law enforcement relationships as well as enthusiastic support from the community -- breaking down barriers and stigma about cycling. These kinds of grassroots informal relationships and interactions will be instrumental in cultivating a safer road environment for all people who bike in the state.
Florida has been making great strides toward improving its active transportation landscape since that original 2011 “worst state for bike-ped” indictment, but thus far has stayed at the bottom of the safety charts.
With 3 years of focused progress under their belts though, there are some promising outlooks: sixteen bicycling and pedestrian specialists appointed to the state DOT, many counties and cities hopping on board, adding their own bike-ped-specific coordinators, a statewide Complete Streets prioritization, and a federal funding prioritization for Florida bike-ped issues.
What’s next for these trailblazers?
This past October, Floridians flocked to the state's big annual Celebration of Cycling, hosted in conjunction with fellow Alliance member organization Florida Bicycle Association -- this year featuring an important new Bike Ped Safety Summit to discuss policy opportunities for raising Florida up in the bike-friendly rankings. And if this talk of touring oils up your chain, definitely check out Bike Florida’s spring Caverns to Coast, a 151-500 mile flexible-length tour, hitting the roads in March 2015.
