About BWCF

The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) established a Central Florida chapter in January 2010 to advocate locally, serving Orange and Seminole counties, for a healthier, safer community for walkers and bicyclists thanks to a two-year, $95,600 grant from the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF).   The Central Florida Chapter is the second local chapter of FBA and the first to have a paid part-time executive director.

The Central Florida Chapter will be known as Bike/Walk Central Florida and will enable FBA to localize its advocacy and educational efforts.  The chapter’s goals are to increase the number of people biking and walking and create a safer environment for them.

In addition, the organization plans to:

• Create a user-friendly web platform that offers maps and descriptions of short, easy rides for new cyclists and walking routes to fun destinations.
• Encourage non-cyclists to sample riding in ways that are non-threatening and fun and require a limited investment of time and money
• Consider other ways to lower barriers for non-cyclists, such as providing bikes that can be borrowed, rented or given to needy families or children.
• In partnership with METROPLAN ORLANDO, work to establish a signed bike route to assist residents in locating roads that are considered safer and more appropriate for cycling.
• Organize “Bike Out” days, perhaps quarterly, that encourage both novice and dedicated cyclists to visit participating businesses and events.

Bike/Walk Central Florida will enable FBA to build on the results of the “Civility on the Road in Metro Orlando Social Marketing Plan” research into what is needed to create a safe, civil and friendly traffic environment, made possible by a 2009 WPHF grant.