LOCAL NewsSouthEast Cycling ExpoThe SouthEast Cycling Expo will be held November 17th at the Orange County Convention Center and  is open to the general public. And, if you watched any of the Tour de France this year, you will be excited to learn that Bob “Bobke” Roll will be there! For details, see here.The Dinky Line Story
If you have taken advantage of the Orlando Urban Trail lately, you might be curious about the history behind the recent additional trail miles, near Loch Haven Park, referred to as the Dinky Line. In 1889 the Orlando-Winter Park rail line was opened. The line was six miles long and it took thirty minutes to get from Orlando through the Rollins College Campus to a small dock and station at the southern end of Ollie Avenue (the city park there is known as Dinky Dock). The train was notorious for being tardy and for jumping the tracks.  The train was small enough, though (dinky), that the passengers could pick it up and continue on their journey. In its heydey, the Dinky Line made up to eight trips daily for a mere fifteen cents. With the advent of automobiles, the need for such transportation waned, and the final tracks were removed in 1969. The DInky Line was such a beloved “character” that poems and songs were written about it. For more information and photographs, check the Winter Park Public Library website here.
Hurricane Sandy Relief
The Children’s Safety Village, which teaches bicycle and pedestrian safety to the children of Orlando County, has partnered with the Orange County Firefighters Benevolent Fund to collect supplies for children affected by Hurricane Sandy. Items requested: diapers, wipes, formula, canned and powdered milk, blankets, socks, knit caps, gloves and bottles. Please contact 407-521-4675 for more information.
Volunteer Riders Needed
Embrace your inner elf and ride your bike in the 60th Annual Winter Park “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade! De corate your wheels and join the New Hope for Kids on Saturday morning, December 1st. Then, join us December 8th for the New Hope for Kids Annual Holiday Bicycle Ride. We need sixteen volunteers to act as marshalls for this evening ride. Details here. Please call 407-412-5980 or email [email protected] to confirm your participation.
Trail Ride Suggestions
If you are new to Central Florida and are looking for some quick advice on family-friendly trails, check out this blog from 2011. It includes maps of five trails, with descriptions. Keep in mind that since this was published, some or all of the trails may have been extended, offering the opportunity to have more fun!
OTHER News
Chattanooga BikeShare
 There may be bike sharing in Orlando’s future, and a recent trip to Chattanooga, TN offered the opportunity to see bike sharing in action. In the photo, a user reads instructions and pays with a credit card. The poster to his right shows a map of downtown and BikeShare stations throughout the downtown area. Walking around just the heart of town, near the waterfront, there were at least six stations within a six block area. See here for details about the Chattanooga program.
Open Streets, Open Fun
The Alliance for Biking and Walking and the Street Plans Collaborative partnered in 2010 to bring the Open Streets Project to cities across North America.The project aims to open city streets to pedestrians and cyclits while temporarily closing to vehicles. The Open Streets website has several articles, maps and videos, including Santa Cruz and the Happening Couch.
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 17 – Florida Bicycle Club Leadership Workshop
Are you the president of your biking club? Or even in a leadership position? Join the Florida Bicycle Association on November 17, 2012 from 3-6 p.m. for the Florida Bicyle Club Leadership Workshop to share ideas with other club leaders. It is being held in conjunction with the Florida Freewheelers’ Horrible Hundred. They will extend one free registration per club to individuals who attend. The Workshop will be held at Fairfield Inn & Suites, 1750 Hunt Trace Blvd., Clermont, FL. Click here to read more and to register for FREE!
Sponsored by the Florida Freewheelers, rides of varying lengths, including a century ride, take you through the hills of Clermont.
See details below under Recurring Rides.
RESOURCESBicycle 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. Read more . . .
 Best Foot Forward is a community-wide coalition formed to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries in Metro Orlando.The five-year initiative is currently focused on Orange County and will 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, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, 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, MetroPlan Orlando, Orange County, City of Orlando, Florida Department of Transportation, Orlando Police Department, Orange Cycle, David’s World Cycle, and Track Shack.
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 32791-6715. Please specify that you are donating to Best Foot Forward.
Community Calendar Link
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/community-calendar/
RECURRING RIDES
First Fridays: Take it to the Streets bike ride to promote civility: 6 p.m. on the First Friday of each month (Upcoming Dates December 7, January 4).
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 .
Sunday Ride in the Hills: Ride 30-plus miles through the hills of Clermont and Mineola, Sundays mornings at 7am, beginning at David’s World Cycle. Call Ross at 407-654-7071 to confirm.
See our Community Calendar for other family rides: www.bikewalkcentralflorida.org
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 challenging 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
brad@bikewalkcentralflorida.org
Bike/Walk Central Florida Would like to thank our sponsors:
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Transforming Central Florida into a Premier Biking and Walking Community! 
