A Month to Remember

March is Florida Bike Month! On this, the last day of OUR month, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been an unforgettable month for me personally and an incredible month for the Florida Bicycle Association as a whole .

The first two weeks of March were spent working on and attending the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. As state coordinator representing the Florida Bicycle Association, I had the privilege to work with other Florida advocates (Team Florida) and to take steps in developing legislative relationships on the federal level.    Together, Team Florida advocated for alternative transportation funding and the Vision Zero act, reaching the staff of both Florida U.S. Senators and all 27 Florida U.S. House of Representatives.

This Florida girl also took in a rather chilly ride down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, wearing her Ride the Rockies jacket and telling everyone that Bike Florida doesn’t need outer wear.

Courtesy of the League of American Bicyclists. Photo by Brian Palmer.

I had the Bike Florida jersey on underneath, along with a few other layers.

Courtesy of fellow rider using my iPhone.

The third week, our Bike to Work or Whatever Week, was the most enjoyable week I have had this year to date. I got to ride!! I rode with City of Oldsmar employees on Wednesday and the Mayor of Temple Terrace on Friday.

City of Oldsmar employees give bicycling to lunch a try. It is now being discussed as a monthly ride.

I represented the Florida Bicycle Association with an appearance on the Polk County Sports Central television show and stood next to Florida Department of Transportation District 7 Secretary Paul Steinman center ice at Amalie Arena between periods of a Tampa Bay Lightning game. If anyone in central Florida did not know March is Florida Bike Month, it’s not for lack of trying.

Talking Florida Bike Month with Neal Duncan and Mark Jackson of Polk County Sports Marketing.

As the month comes to an end, I’m happy to report that FBA’s March Membership Madness water bottle campaign was so successful, we hope to bring it back in May for National Bike Month.  Our goal to reach 1,000 members by end of March was not only met, we SURPASSED it!  That’s right!  Your Florida Bicycle Association is now near 1,200 individual and family members, in addition to 74 bicycle clubs, shops and agencies.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  Every person riding a bicycle in Florida is welcome to join our ‘team’.  If you are not a member of FBA, become one now.   Join Today!

Speaking of teamwork, it would be very remiss of me to not mention a key partner in the Florida Bike Month celebration – the Florida Department of Transportation and their Alert Today Alive Tomorrow initiative.  Alert Today Florida continues to address public roadway user safety with social media, appearances and major league marketing, all in an effort to educate the public and reduce traffic fatalities.  Sure, we know bicycling to be the best mode of transportation, but we can’t ignore some rather serious issues with regards to distracted driving, drunk driving, or hit and run occurrences.

The Florida Bicycle Association is following current state legislation as bills make their way through committees and will keep those following FBA on social media abreast of any necessary Action Alerts.  FBA will also assist Alert Today Florida with other safety awareness campaigns that may not be bicycle specific, but do address what every Florida bicyclist wants – respect on public roads and trails.

As our Florida Bike Month concludes and we gaze towards National Bike Month in May, I encourage everyone reading this blog to honor and respect two very important April campaigns:  National Alcohol Awareness Month and National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.  I also encourage everyone reading this blog to check out the One Foolish Act videos from Alert Today Florida.  The message is for everyone: One foolish act can ruin a thousand other great ones.  If you’re impaired, don’t drive.

If you wish to work together to build a bicycle friendly Florida, then join our partners and the over one thousand Florida Bicycle Association members.  Join FBA Today!