Community

I recently encountered the following:

Someone figured out how to build community and it’s not in a long-range multi-year plan.  In fact, it’s so simple, you could complete the first two steps in seconds.

I guess the real question is, is this something you want?

I’m in Miami this week for the WHEELS event that starts tomorrow.  I’m making the most of my time here in the process.  I attended an Underline meeting last night and tonight I will present the FBA Complete Streets Savvy program to the Everglades Bicycle Club during their monthly meeting.

Meanwhile, I need a blog for today.  I received an email moments ago with a link to a blog that I will share parts of with permission.  Mark Kaire has been practicing law in Miami for 20 years. He is partner at Kaire & Heffernan, LLC and is an avid cyclist in his free time.  In his column today, “Miami is Not Ready for The WHEELS Bike Symposium”, he states the following:

Miami city leaders welcome WHEELS with open arms, and while I’m happy to see these ambitious bikers working to change our city too, it’s strange to see officials ask more cyclists to visit a city that has done very little to protect them.

It’s a bit like hosting a fondue party when all your cheese is moldy and the forks are rusted.

Miami should fix its pedestrian problem before it invites more would-be victims to join in Magic City’s shameful statistics.

The piece is well-written and ends with the following:

Miami may not be ready for these conscientious cyclers, but it might nevertheless need them. Their message is one of momentum. Maybe they’ll be the WHEELS on which change arrives at long last.  (Please visit Kaire Law to read the entire column.)

I’m not from here, but I lived in the area years ago.  The fact that the Magic City is hosting WHEELS is change and the WHEELS Bike-in Street Bash on Saturday covers a few of those “how-tos” on building community.

But how do we protect our ‘cycling community’ from transportation dangers?  Is there a “how-to” on pedestrian and bicycling safety we can follow for ourselves?

Turns out, there is.  Simple safety information from our friends at Alert Today Alive Tomorrow.

It’s not enough to want pedestrian and bicycling safety, we have to practice it.  Every day, every one, as a community.

Editor’s note:  WHEELS recently unveiled their transit PSA that is so feel good, you’ll want to start using alternative transportation right away.  

If  you can’t make it to WHEELS but are in the Clermont area this weekend, be sure to check out Bike Florida’s Share the Road Celebration of Cycling.  

Bike Florida and Florida Bicycle Association share a common cause in bicycle education for residents and visitors to the Sunshine “Bike-Ped” State.  Share the Road license plate proceeds benefit Bike Florida and Florida Bicycle Association to further these bicycle educational efforts.  What’s on your motor vehicle?  Get the Share the Road license plate!

Did you know Rejjee is the only nation-wide multi-product registry and crowd sourced Lost & Found that includes discount product replacement offers on bicycles?  Rejjee also supports Florida Bicycle Association and FBA supports Rejjee.

Do you have a bicycle story to tell?  Photos to share?  Be our guest and be our next guest blogger!  Send your story and photos to Becky@floridabicycle.net.  Speaking of stories, our quarterly Messenger newsletter is available online for your internet reading pleasure.  Visit the FBA website Home page or click here.

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