Saturday's Homestead ride called off

We learned late today that the Biscayne-Everglades Bicycle Festival, featuring supported rides of 42 miles and 62 miles this Saturday, has been called off because of low registration numbers. I thoroughly enjoyed riding this event last year, and salute Yvonne Knowles, Homestead Main Street, and their many volunteers for their efforts. Tom Burton advises that the festival's Greenway Fat Tire Ride will proceed as scheduled on Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. from Homestead Bayfront Park. There are details and a cue sheet you can download at http://www.greenmobilitynetwork.org/event/greenway-fat-tire-ride. Be aware, please, that the Sunday ride will be rough going -- not suited for road bikes at all.

Bike Florida cyclist killed by pickup truck

A rider in the annual Bike Florida tour was killed early Wednesday afternoon in the North Florida town of Newberry. Details at the Gainesville Sun.

Group cyclists' class returns

David Henderson, left, starts close-order riding drill during a 2010 class. 

Tom Burton, in yellow, assists.

We all know how to ride, right? But do we ride right for the occasion? It's an apt question this time of the year, as cyclists all over South Florida train for the area's MS Ride on May 14-15 -- an event that draws thousands of participants. As anyone who has done one of these big rides can testify, biking with hundreds of cyclists all around you is a whole different thing from going out with your buds on a favorite road or trail. That's why Green Mobility Network and the Florida Bicycle Association are again offering the Road Cyclists' Safety Course. It happens Saturday afternoon, April 16, in South Miami. To learn more and to register, click here. Space is limited, so don't dither about it.

Get ready for the Greenway Bike Festival

Homestead Main Street again presents the Greenway Bike Festival, this year with fully-supported rides of 42 and 62 miles. You can still register at Active.com. Your fee includes a great lunch at the Homestead Community Center. Following the road ride on Saturday there's a Sunday fat-tire ride on the (often-bumpy) route to be followed by the Biscayne-Everglades Greenway.

Tweed ride fun -- and more

Gary Mendenhall welcomes bicyclists to Green Mobility Network's 2nd annual Tweed Ride on Saturday in Coral Gables. Sixty-five riders pedaled to the Coral Gables Museum for brunch, socializing, and a raffle. Paul Steely White, executuve director of Transportation Alternatives, went along on the ride and congratulated local advocates for their progress in moving bicycling closer to the transportation mainstream.

A voice excluded from the Mica hearing

Linda Stewart had been on the witness list for the recent House Transportation Committee hearing upstate in Maitland. She was bumped by someone in Rep. John Mica's office. But she got to say her piece in an oped in the Orlando Sentinel. Notably:

The only way to break our oil dependence is to invest in transportation options like world-class public transportation, high-speed rail, and safe pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, in addition to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.

You can read more here.

Cyclists honor Central Florida sheriff

The Florida Bicycle Association recognized Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders today for his efforts to teach safe riding to local children. The award was announced at the third Florida Bicycle Summit, a day of rallies and lobbying in Tallahassee.

NY "bikelash" affects all urban cyclists

The blowback against bicycles on the streets in a nice part of Brooklyn may frame an argument we'll see in big cities all across the land, writes a blogger in Los Angeles. And that would be as much a problem in Miami as in New York City. So read the piece in BikingInLa, my friends, and be prepared to stand up for what we've won these recent years.

One way to prepare would be to come hear Paul Steely White's talk Friday evening at the University of Miami School of Architecture. White is the upbeat executive director of Transportation Alternatives, which has been on the vanguard of NYC street reforms and transit improvements. Here's the what-where-when:

Paul Steely White lecture at UM School of Architecture
Topic: Streets for People: A Bike Advocate's Lessons from NYC
March 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Glasgow Hall, Perez Architecture Center, 1215 Dickinson Drive, Coral Gables.
Details available from the co-sponsors: School of Architecture, Green Mobility Network, and TransitMiami.

Mountain bikers' epic coming to O Cinema

This award-winning film is coming to the O Cinema for two shows on April 27. From everything I've read, mountain bikers are guaranteed to love it.


Ride The Divide Movie Trailer from Ride The Divide on Vimeo.

The producer was Barry University grad Joe Cantwell. The O, by the way, was a perfect venue for last weekend's Bicycle Film Festival, which was quite the happening thing on Saturday night.

Bike film fest underway

Bicycle action films showing tonight and Saturday at O Cinema for Bicycle Film Featival Miami. Brendt Barbur greeting film fans, Green Mobility Network providing bike valet. The location is 90 NW 29th St., in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood. Next show 9 tonight, then tomorrow at 5 pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm.

Ray LaHood at bike summit

This is a little bit behind the curve, but I just stumbled across a video of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's talk at the National Bicycle Summit.  Here goes:

Try out Tri-Rail's bike lockers

Republican Congress will put us on our toes

Miami's Kathryn Reid Moore writes in Streetsblog that the current Republican-dominated Congress may turn out to be a good thing for the bicycle movement. It will force us to sharpen our thinking and get away from the easy pro-environment arguments of the past decade. Read more here.

Anti-bike testimony challenged

We've learned today that a state official's anti-bike testimony at a congressional hearing on Monday

Frank Bruno

did not go unchallenged. Frank Bruno, chairman of the Volusia County Commission, spoke up for bicycle projects during his testimony to Rep. John Mica's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Bruno said, in part:

Volusia County recognizes the importance of providing pedestrian and bicycle facilities as a means of expanding the transportation opportunities for residents who, either by choice or by circumstance, do not use an automobile. Volusia County supports the intent of Federal Transportation Authorization Legislation with respect to creating an integrated, intermodal transportation system which provides travelers with a choice of transportation modes while reducing the demand and maintenance of the highway and local road systems.

The Volusia ECHO program, a voter-approved tax designed to enhance environmental, cultural, historic and outdoor recreational activities has augmented the County’s trail program to the tune of $1 million annually. Construction has started on a 5.7 mile segment of the East Central Regional Rail Trail. This $1.8 million project uses ECHO funds paired with a federal grant, and will help our trail system grow to an expected 27 miles by the end of this year.

For Bruno's full written testimony, click here.

Bike's the way to go to Sony Ericsson

The Sony Ericsson Open has been a popular event  for bike-riding tennis fans, because the ride to Key Biscayne is so attractive and bike parking at the Crandon Tennis Center was so convenient.  This year, park managers tell us, the bike parking is being moved to the ocean side of Crandon Boulevard. The tournament runs March 21 through April 3. More information about the park is available here.

Bike-sharing comes to Miami Beach

A long-awaited bikeshare program for Miami Beach made its official debut yesterday. DecoBike put 200 of its special-built bicycles into service yesterday and said it will have 1,000 on the street by the end of the summer. The bikes are available at rental stations placed at strategic intervals around the city. Read more at MiamiHerald.com.

Rail-trail leader calls for action

This follow-up on yesterday's Congressional hearing in Maitland came in today from Ken Bryan, Florida field director of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy:

It is fair to say that of the seven speakers who were hand-picked to offer testimony at the formal hearing conducted by Miami native Congressman John Mica (R- FL 7th), two specifically called out pedestrian, bicycling and trail facilities as not necessary during tough financial times (which is exactly opposite of the reality).  It was most disturbing that one of them is an assistant secretary with the Department of Transportation and a finalist for the vacant position of secretary of transportation.  

We will have our work cut out for us at both the federal and state level in the coming years to convince our leaders that walking, bicycling and trails are indeed viable transportation options.  Other groups, such as the Tea Party and anti high-speed-rail folks were well-organized, motivated and turned out in force to voice their needs and vision.  We must be prepared to do the same and more if we are to continue as part of the transportation funding mechanism and be relevant as a legitimate mode.

FDOT contender: Bike work should wait

Updated March 16
One of three finalists to be Florida's next secretary of transportation testified today

Anath Prasad

that in tough times no federal money should be spent on sidewalks or bicycle facilities.  He was Anath Prasad, assistant secretary for engineering and operations in the Florida Department of Transportation, and the highest-ranking Florida witness at U.S. Rep. John Mica's Orlando-area hearing on reauthorization of the nation's highway and transit programs. Here's what he said:

Over the years, Congress has asked state departments of transportation to do more things with fewer resources. With the downturn in the economy, it is time to tighten our belts and focus on what we do best. This is exactly what we’re doing here in Florida. Instead of funding more than 100 individual programs in the next transportation bill, we should focus on a few core programs which will grow our economy. We must give serious consideration to whether -—when resources and dollars are at a premium —- spending money on sidewalks, bike trails, beautification, and other projects like this is the most prudent use of taxpayer money.

This is pretty depressing. It's not like the 1.5 percent of the transportation budget currently going to bike-pedestrian matters would build even one mile of interstate highway.

Cafes are the cycling world's filling stations

Bicyclists no less than the rest of us need a third place -- a retreat that's neither work nor home. I'm a big fan of these friendly gathering spots and not at all surprised to learn that a few of them have begun to cater especially to the bicycling community. The story's well told on MS-NBC.

Let's bike to the Orchid Festival

Keynoter on eve of National Bike Summit

Encourage coworkers to bike on Fridays

However much we admire our friends who bike to school or work every day, many confirmed cyclists shy away from encouraging other people to become bike commuters. That's why I like bike-to-work as part of casual Fridays. It's easier to think about a bike commute when heels, neckties, and other dressy attire are not expected. Since March is Florida Bicycle Month, let's make every Friday from now until April a bike-to-work day. And here are some thoughts about how to approach it, from Bicycle Paper. (Ignore their headline reference to summer. In Florida, the time to act is now.)

Rider alert: Runners in Miami Beach

If Miami Beach or the MacArthur Causeway are part of your usual Sunday bike ride, this week you may want to change your plans.  The 13.1 run, organized by US Road Sports, will start from 12th and Ocean at 6:13 a.m. and the course will be restricted for 3.5 hours. So you can plan your detour, here's the map.

Knees hurt? Get back on your bike

If you've laid off riding because of sore knees, maybe you should reconsider. See this piece in the Washington Post.

Dozens join in Natasha's Ride

The UM student newspaper reports on law students' memorial ride for their fellow student who was killed while riding last fall in Maryland: The Miami Hurricane � Bike ride brings back memories