Heal Fast Tim -- Anyone Know Where A Bicycle Can Be X-rayed For Damage?

SWFBUD sends quick healing thoughts to Tim Bustos, the executive director of the Florida Bicycle Association, who was biking recently when he was struck by a sheriff's deputy who ran a stop sign.

Tim, a veteran bicyclist, took evasive action to minimize his injuries. Tim also is concerned about his vintage Trek road bicycle that has an aluminum frame. Tim said he was told hairline cracks not visible to the naked eye could be a hazard resulting in frame failure.

Tim is looking to see if there are any bike shops or other sources that can x-ray his bicycle for damage. Contact Tim at tim@floridabicycle.org

FBA Reports Some Wins In Tally

Timothy Bustos, the new executive director of the Florida Bicycle Association, has some good news out of Tally.

"I reported our potential wins right after the legislative session ended, but it's now official - the Governor has signed our bill:

CS/CS/HB 1223 — Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

The bill contains numerous changes to highway safety and motor vehicle laws administered by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This is a very long bill with many sections. However, the important verbiage that affects cycling includes the sections below. Specifically, from the perspective of cycling in Florida, the most significant change is clarification in the “mandatory bike lane law” that explicitly spells out when we can leave the bike lane:

“Clarifies situations in which a bicyclist is not required to ride in the marked bicycle lane (if the roadway is marked for bicycle use) or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. The bill clarifies that a bicyclist is exempt from this requirement when a “potential conflict” or a turn lane interrupts the roadway or bicycle lane.

Other sections that affect cycling include the following:

  Effective October 1, 2012, requires compliance with the federal safety standard for bicycle helmets contained in 16 C.F.R., part 1203. Helmets purchased prior to October 1, 2012, in compliance with the existing statutory standards may continue to be worn legally by riders or passengers until January 1, 2016.

 Allows law enforcement officers to issue bicycle safety brochures and verbal warnings to bicycle riders and passengers who violate bicycle lighting equipment standards in lieu of issuing a citation.

Tim says, "These are all great wins for cycling in Florida, and are a direct result of FBA’s influence in Tallahassee. Everyone involved should be commended, particularly members of the legislative committee, and our lobbyists with Capital Alliance. Additionally, I think this signals a turn-around with our lobbying efforts, so expect good things in the future!"

Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor Discusses Importance of Share the Road Decals On Police Cars

SWFBUD's J. Steele Olmstead Presents $2,000 To Tampa Police For Share The Road It's The Law Decals

SWFBUD was happy to arrange a check presentation ceremony this afternoon to Tampa Police in the amount of $2,000 courtesy of SWFBUD lawyer J. Steele Olmstead. The money will be used to affix rear window decals to another 100 Tampa police cruisers that will sayd

 "Share the Road It's the Law" and also show motorists they need to pass a bicyclist by a minimum distance of three feet. The decal is pictured below. J. Steele and I pose with the check with Tampa officer Irene Thomas, who arranged today's ceremony, while Chief Jane Castor and Mayor Bob Buckhorn are pictured below.  

SWFBUD Member J. Steele Olmstead Donates $2,000 To Tampa Police For More Share the Road It's the Law Decals For Tampa Police Cruisers

TAMPA -- SWFBUD (South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers), the alliance of Tampa Bay retail bicycle stores and bicycle lawyers committed to growing bicycling in Tampa Bay, is proud to announce that SWFBUD member lawyer J. Steele Olmstead is donating $2,000 to the Tampa Police Department for more "Share the Road It's the Law" decals on the police cars' rear windows.

Last year, Tampa Police began using the Share the Road It's the Law decals, which extend across the width of the police cruisers' rear window. The decals also show that motorists must pass a bicyclist by a minimum distance of three feet in compliance with state law.

With the $2,000 donation, Tampa Police will be able to buy even more Share the Road window decals. SWFBUD has worked with Tampa Police Sgt. Carl GiGuere to arrange the donation by Mr. Olmstead to Tampa Police.

J. Steele Olmstead, a Tampa lawyer and bicyclist who has been a SWFBUD member for the past two years, will make the donation to Tampa Police today at 3 PM at Police Headquarters in downtown Tampa. SWFBUD has identified bicyclist safety as a major safety issue because eight bicyclists in Hillsborough County have been killed since last December.

Olmstead said that the Share the Road It's the Law message is vital for motorists, who might not understand that bicyclists have a right to public roads. In addition, Olmstead said most motorists do not understand that they are also required to pass a bicyclist by a minimum distance of three feet. Olmstead said he's pleased that the Share the Road message will be backed by the authority of Tampa Police on cruisers across the city.

Olmstead will present his contribution to Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn at the check presentation ceremony this afternoon.

"SWFBUD appreciates the Tampa Police Department's efforts to make the city more bicycle-friendly," said Alan Snel, SWFBUD director. "The Share the Road It's the Law decals on Tampa Police cars are a combination of education and law enforcement coming together for the betterment of both bicyclists and motorists."

People Want To Bike, So Build The Infrastructure

We had a hunch this was true -- build bicycle lanes and the bicyclists will come:

http://www.good.is/post/if-you-build-bike-lanes-they-will-ride/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+good%2Flbvp+%28GOOD+Main+RSS+Feed%29


And check out the bicycle infrastructure scene in Copenhagen. You might get a tad jealous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtX8qiC_rXE&feature=related

SWFBUD Says Great Job To The Bicyclists Who Stepped Up This Weekend

SWFBUD says great job to all the MS bicyclists to raised thousands of dollars for a wonderful cause this weekend.

SWFBUD says great job to the bicyclists in St. Petersburg who held a moving ghost bike ceremony Saturday to remember bicyclist Kris Jones, killed while biking in a bike lane by a driver on drugs last week.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/252134/250/Bicyclists-gather-to-remember-one-of-their-own

SWFBUD says great job to the bicyclists who came by today's swap meet in Seminole Heights.

http://www.alansnel.blogspot.com/2012/04/lots-of-bicycle-spirit-at-todays-swap.html