News
(Big Thunder Moon – Photo courtesy of Commute Orlando – see event notice below)
Close the Gap
 From the June 16th Orlando Sentinel: It’s a bicyclist’s dream: hundreds of miles of uninterrupted trail winding past old Florida towns, forests, lakes, rivers and swamplands. Trail advocates are peddling a plan to make this vision a reality in Central Florida. The Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation has been working with local and state officials to try to connect the region’s existing trails to create a 250-mile loop. The advocacy group wants to fill in the gaps between the West Orange, Seminole Wekiva, South Lake and Spring-to-Spring trails. And it hopes to stretch the trail network westward to the Gen. James A. Van Fleet State Trail, Cross Florida Greenway and the Withlacoochee State Trail, which runs through Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. Read more . . .
Photo by Jim Crescitelli
Bicycle Parking Map
From our friends at Commute Orlando: Peter Martinez has created a collaborative Bike Parking map, designed to help Bicyclists plan their routes, and park their bikes on secure racks, rather than a stop sign or a tree. This can also help us advise business of the need for a rack, better placement, or even reward them for doing it right! Read more . . .
No steering committee meetings in June
The Best Foot Forward Steering Committee will NOT meet in June. Our meetings will resume with our regularly scheduled meeting in the MetroPlan Orlando board room, 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 24th.
About Best Foot Forward
State law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and pedestrians to yield to cars when crossing outside of a crosswalk. In Orange County, the fine for failure to yield is $164 and 3 points on your drivers license. And yet, our baseline data shows that, on average, only about five percent of drivers obey this law.
The five-year initiative is currently focused on Orange County and expand into Seminole and Osceola counties as resources permit. Five cities, two towns, and Orange County have passed resolutions supporting the initiative. Orlando Police Department has trained 24 officers. Orange County Sheriff’s office, this week trained 40 more. Police agencies in Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville, and police chiefs from throughout Orange County, have pledged their support to the initiative, launched by Bike/Walk Central Florida and the Florida Bicycle Association, with financial support from the Winter Park Health Foundation and MetroPlan Orlando.
We have met with representatives of Orange County Public Schools. Outgoing Superintendent Ronald Blocker spoke at our kickoff. And we hope to be able to negotiate the addition of pedestrian safety curriculum grades K-5 as early as this fall.
When was the last time you saved a life? Your contributions of $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, or more, can make a big difference. Checks should be made out to the Florida Bicycle Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and mailed to: Betsy Holl at: P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32793-6715. Please specify that you are donating to Best Foot Forward.
Leave Your Car at Home
Have you ever wanted to get from place to place using only your muscle power and bike? Or maybe you need to save money as the gas prices steadily climb. Whatever your reason is for wanting to commute by bike, we have a great resource to help you. You can start a bike pool here through reThink. It will match you with others who want to ride along the same path as you. This grouping of commuters makes the trip more fun and more safe!
The West Orange Trail is a popular trail for cycling and walking. You’ve enjoyed the natural beauty of the trail, but have you taken time to explore the town of Winter Garden? It’s history and quaintness make it well worth exploring. Take a stop off the trail to explore a museum or even just for a bite to eat or a soda.
Events
Big Thunder Moon Ride – July 3rd
Diana Steele, of Commute Orlando is organizing a pre-fourth night ride. Yep, it’s a weeknight, but many of us are off work the following day for the holiday. We’ll meet up at 7:00 PM at the Cady Way trailhead behind Fashion Square Mall. Keri Caffrey has a wonderful scenic route planned for us. We’ll ride at an easy, social pace, and enjoy the night. The moon rises at 8:23 PM. Hope for good weather. They don’t call it the Full Thunder Moon for nothing, especially here in Florida. (Photo courtesy of Commute Orlando)
Community Calendar Link
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/community-calendar/
Recurring Rides
(The next First Friday ride is July 6)
First Fridays: Take it to the streets bike ride to promote civility: 6 p.m. on the First Friday of each month. Check our Facebook Fan page for start locations.
UCF Bike Bus: Downtown Orlando to UCF, then UCF to Downtown Orlando. Follow bike bus in real time via GPS at http://commuteorlando.com/bikebus/
Ride With Steve: Beginner ride. Meet at Winter Garden Wheel Works in Downtown Winter Garden, 8 a.m., Saturdays. – Sponsored by Winter Garden Wheel Works .
See our Calendar for other family rides:
www.bikewalkcentralflorida.org
S-Cargo farmers market rides featuring utility bikes and trailers
Ice Cream Socials: night rides through Downtown Orlando
Unless specifically designated as a trail ride, our rides take place on public streets. Headlights and red rear flashers are required for night rides. Helmets are encouraged, and are required for children under 16.
We observe all traffic laws and traffic signals.
Our rides are typically 10 to 15 miles, roundtrip, and average 10 miles an hour, a comfortable pace for most adults and teens. May be too fast for younger children and adults with health issues.
These rides are social in nature.
For longer, more aggressive group rides, subscribe to Hal Downing’s group ride newsletter by emailing [email protected] .
If you have a social ride you would like us to help promote, please email me at the address below.
Brad
Brad Kuhn
Executive Director
[email protected]
Bike/Walk Central Florida Would like to thank our sponsors:
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Transforming Central Florida into a Premier Biking and Walking Community! 
