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Posted by on Mar 14, 2017 in FBA | 0 comments

Team Florida DC

Last week a dedicated group of bicycling enthusiasts from Florida went to Washington, D.C., to attend the League of American Bicyclist’s National Bike Summit.  It was a good week to be in DC weather-wise and a good week to meet up with other bicycling enthusiasts from around the nation to share ideas, best practices and most importantly, to ‘storm the castle’ on Wednesday – Lobby Day – as a united voice for bicyclists.

This year marked my third year as the state coordinator for Florida.  Those attending the summit and willing to participant on Lobby Day form what has come to be known as “Team Florida”.  This year Team Florida represented the third most populated state with a small group of seven.  We efficiently and effectively visited 29 offices in five different buildings on either side of the Capitol in one day – Lobby Day – and we proudly carried the Alert Today Florida safety baton.

Ready to ‘storm the castle’ for bicycling

Allow me to introduce Team Florida – the ones who were up to the challenge this year to represent the Sunshine State and talk up the importance of bike/ped projects for federal funding.

Ralph Monti – League of American Bicyclists Board Director and member of the Sarasota-Manatee Bicycle Club

 

Beth Brainard – Executive Director of Naples Pathway Coalition

 

Jim Shirk – former chairman of the Hillsborough County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

 

Christine Acosta – Executive Director of Walk Bike Tampa

 

Xavier Falconi and Margarita Yerastova from the City of Delray Beach

Attending the National Bike Summit and participating in Lobby Day is a rewarding and exhaustive experience you’ll always remember.

Team Florida with Nick Russell of Senator Bill Nelson’s staff – a great start for Lobby Day!

Some meetings may go well, some may not, and some may be with an actual elected official.

Representative Darren Soto (center), his wife and staffer Harry Kruglik (left) are proud to carry the baton for bicycling

Lobby Day will test your knowledge, your communication skills, your sense of direction and your choice of comfortable shoes.  As a member of Team Florida, however, there’s a reward at the end of the day, at a place called Tortilla Coast, and the state coordinator buys the first round.

A successful Lobby Day for Team Florida

I personally wish to thank the members of Team Florida for their time and efforts.  We may have traveled from different parts of the state, but we came together for Florida bicycling and made it fun.

Who’s up for 2018?

Congratulations to our 2016 Annual Award recipients!  Click here  for a complete listing.

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.  Want a hard copy of our Messenger?  Join Florida Bicycle Association or visit one of our bicycle shop members!

Complete Streets Savvy, or CSS, is a general bicycle educational presentation.  The purpose is to provide basic information with regards to the Florida Department of Transportation’s adoption of Complete Streets policy and how cyclists and motorists can share the road safely. This presentation runs 10 – 15 minutes and is designed for legislators, civic organizations and other entities that meet regularly and need informative content.  There is no fee.  Make your request for CSS today!

Florida legislative session is right around the corner.  Visit our Advocacy page to read about our legislative platform and to subscribe to email updates.

Bike Florida and Florida Bicycle Association share a common cause in bicycle education for residents and visitors to the Sunshine 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!

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