The Florida Department of Highway Safety has finally released their 2007 Traffic Crash Facts report. According to crash reports submitted by local police departments and the Highway Patrol bicyclist fatalities declined slightly to 121 (from 124 in 2006) and reported bicyclist injuries increased to 4,303 (from 4,227). The majority of deaths happened to people in the 45-54 year old age group and 5 cyclists less than 15 years old were also killed. Of the 121 fatal crashes, 96 of the cyclists were not wearing a bike helmet. The report does not break it down for bicycle crashes but 39% of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol.
The full report (including county statistics) is online at www.flhsmv.gov/hsmvdocs/CS2007.pdf.
The League of American Bicyclists has ranked Florida 20th out of 50 in its inaugural ranking of states for bike friendliness. The Bicycle Friendly States program looked at more than 70 factors in 6 key areas: legislation; policies and programs; infrastructure; education and encouragement; evaluation and planning; and enforcement. The states were scored on responses to a questionnaire sent to FBA and FDOTwhich was used to evaluate Florida’s commitment to bicycling. The top 20-ranked states are:
1 Washington 11 Utah
2 Wisconsin 12 Michigan
3 Arizona 13 North Carolina
4 Oregon 14 Hawaii
5 Minnesota 15 South Carolina
6 Maine 16 Massachusetts
7 California 17 Vermont
8 Illinois 18 Wyoming
9 New Jersey 19 Nevada
10 New Hampshire 20 Florida
The full story is on the League’s website: http://www.bikeleague.org/news/090508bfs.php.
FBA Board members Linda Crider, Mighk Wilson and David Henderson chat with former NCBW Executive Director Bill Wilkinson and current NCBW Executive Director Sharon Roerty at the 2010 Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle
FBA Board members Mighk Wilson, Linda Crider and David Henderson (and Advisory Board member Dwight Kingsbury) were among the 800 attendees of the national Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle September 2-5. This biennial event (from which the Florida Pro Bike/Pro Walk conference takes its name) is put on by the National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW). Over 80 conference sessions and mobile workshops gave participants the latest information on advocacy, bike facility planning and design, educational programs and safety.
Mobile workshops showed the best of Seattle’s bike lanes, shared-use paths, experimental green lanes and “sharrow” projects. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) spoke at the closing plenary and told the crowd that although programs like Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School have been successful, advocates must stay in touch with their members of Congress and let them know that bicycling is important to America and must continue to be supported in the next federal transportation bill. The next Pro Walk/Pro Bike will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 13-17, 2010.
Photo courtesy of Susan Fortini at Fast Signs. (Banners were fabricated by Fast Signs)
Today the Lynx Buses rolled out into Central Florida with a message to motorists about passing cyclists. The message is more than just passing clearance. It’s about courtesy, too, and the reality that passing a cyclist safely does not cause any measurable delay.
Here are some notes about both the visuals and the law:
The position of the cyclist. Cyclists should ride no farther right than the right tire track on any road (this is typically 2-3 ft. from the edge). Often, they should ride even farther left. Riding too far right causes cars to pass too close and increases the risk the cyclist won’t be seen or registered by motorists crossing and turning in his path. The common, incorrect expectation that cyclists should cower along the edge of the road is the source of many, many injuries to cyclists.
The double yellow line. When the oncoming lane is clear, a motorist may legally cross the double yellow to pass a cyclist or other vehicle moving significantly below the speed limit. A motorist MUST cross the center line on most roads in order to give a cyclist safe clearance.
3 ft. is a MINIMUM clearance. It is adequate for small vehicles passing at low speed differentials and speeds under 30 mph. At higher speeds, greater clearance is required for safety. Larger vehicles and trucks pulling trailers should give a cyclist more than 3 ft. at any speed.
A huge congratulations to the members of the Central Florida cycling community whose enthusiasm made this happen. And most importantly… started the momentum for cycling education in this community. We hope that legacy lives well beyond the need to educate motorists about passing clearance.
This artwork was donated to FBA and is available for use in other communities. The only condition for use is that the integrity of the visual image be strictly maintained. You can obtain files by contacting the artist.
The story of the group of cyclists hit by a cab driver on Miami’s MacArthur Parkway has of course taken the Florida cycling community by storm, but we have to do what we can as cyclists to counter the perception that this a “bicyclist safety” story. Focusing on this event as a bicyclist problem will only reinforce our culture’s belief that roadway cycling is a dangerous activity.
The average law-abiding cyclist is more likely to get skin cancer from sun exposure than to be hit by a car.
The real story here is how the State of Florida (and many other states) continue to permit tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of incompetent motorists to travel our roads. This cab driver (who fell asleep at the wheel) could have just as easily hit a police officer writing a citation, a motorist fixing a flat tire, a pedestrian in a crosswalk, or someone working along the road. On an undivided roadway he could have just as easily drifted left and killed a family in an oncoming minivan.
We are all endangered by such drivers, no matter how we travel.
All that aside, I know I can speak for all Florida Bicycle Association members, board members, and staff in wishing the victims the speediest of recoveries.
Ride strong people.
