Wait. Didn’t we just celebrate Bike Month? Yes and no. March is Florida Bike Month. But now it’s time to celebrate all across the U.S. with National Bike Month – hosted by the League of American Bicyclists.
Established in 1956, this monthly celebration has been a thing for 60 years!
You might remember our Florida Bike Month challenge (It’s Florida Bike Month – 5 fun ways to celebrate). This still applies but here are five more ways to celebrate National Bike Month in May. The League of American Bicyclists also has some awesome resources on their website.
Five ways to roll out National Bike Month:
5. Make your commute count with Strava’s Global Bike to Work Day on May 10. #commutescount
Whether it's 2 miles or 20 miles, let's show that our #CommutesCount. https://t.co/zu9SyYBLyJ pic.twitter.com/YEkaz2FjbI
— Strava (@Strava) April 25, 2016
Help track what routes Central Floridians use to bike to work. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has a partnership with Strava to analyze this data. The route information can help planners and engineers gauge where there is need for more bike infrastructure.
4. Get trained on how to organize a bike helmet fitting or bike rodeo (and host one).
@Mayor_Jacobs' #walkridethrive team at Pine Hills Boys & Girls Club talking bike safety & doing helmet fittings. pic.twitter.com/wupYKX3r49
— Best Foot Forward (@bestfootcfl) April 30, 2016
Kicking of #NationalBikeMonth w/ Bike Rodeo at Maitland MS. This is Camryn's silver award project for GS Troop 1409. pic.twitter.com/tgKkqWQ6pv
— Bike/Walk Central Florida (@bikewalkcfl) May 1, 2016
The Florida Pedestrian & Bicyclist Safety Resource Center out of the University of Florida has a statewide network of trainers who can teach you how to fit bike helmets and organize bike rodeos. Click here to find out more about becoming a community partner.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs’ Walk-Ride-Thrive team has been out and about doing just this – most recently at the Pine Hills Boys & Girls Club. They gave away and fitted over 100 helmets. In case you missed it, Mayor Jacobs also recently re-affirmed Orange County’s commitment to improving bike infrastructure in the region during her State of the County address.
On May 1, middle schooler Camryn Belawski, who bikes to school every day, organized a community bike rodeo at Maitland Middle School. Girl Scout Troop 1409 cadets, friends, and family were all on hand to help. The bike rodeo was Camryn’s Girl Scouts silver award project. She picked May 1 to celebrate the launch of both National Bike Month and National Bike to School Day (which was May 3).
Fun fact: Camryn’s bike commute to school takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Her Mom says Camryn rides her bike rain or shine. Be more like Camryn.
3. Sign up for Metro Orlando CyclingSavvy course. Next class is Sat., May 7.
Not too late to sign up for @CyclingSavvy's classroom session this Sat., 5/7 from 10am-1pm. https://t.co/l93Ib4phEM pic.twitter.com/NBtFLiZ9EK
— Bike/Walk Central Florida (@bikewalkcfl) May 5, 2016
Learn about Florida bike laws and improve your assertiveness whether riding your bike on the road, the sidewalk, a bike lane or a trail. CyclingSavvy is a three-part course with the second part of the class scheduled for May 14.
2. Go to a public meeting and voice your thoughts on how we can make Central Florida more bikeable and walkable. Or write an email or letter to your local government representatives if you can’t attend in person.
https://twitter.com/WestOrlandoNews/status/727240626345897984
Talk about Denning Dr. conditions w/ @WinterParkFla at these 2 comm. meetings 5/12 & 6/7. Details: https://t.co/SjBMOgFOvU
— Bike/Walk Central Florida (@bikewalkcfl) April 27, 2016
Several bicycle-related studies and projects are in the works and need community input. Below is a list of some of the streets currently on our radar. This is by no means a comprehensive list.
Recent and Upcoming Public Meetings
April 21: Oak Ridge Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Study Community Meeting
Meeting took place on Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Sadler Elementary School. Orange County continues to seek input.
May 11: Corrine Calming Coalition will be introduced at MetroPlan Orlando Board Meeting
Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd will introduce the Corrine Calming Coalition (C3) to the MetroPlan Board. C3 seeks to make Corrine Drive more bikeable and walkable. Read more here from The Bungalower. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board has also already weighed in twice this year on this issue back in January and March 2016.
May 12: Denning Drive “Right-sizing” Project Public Workshop
For the past several months, BWCF has been covering the Denning Drive “Right-sizing” project in Winter Park – which our board officially supports (read Slimming Down Denning Drive for more background). The City is hosting public meetings about the project on May 12 and June 6. More details on the upcoming meetings here.
May 18: UCF Area Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Study Public Meeting
West Orlando News has reported a UCF Area Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Study public meeting is scheduled for May 18 at 6pm at Union Park Middle School. There is currently not a meeting scheduled to take place on the UCF campus.
Orlando Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab has brought much attention to on-going pedestrian and bicyclist safety concerns in the UCF area (read her May 2 editorial hot off the press as well as another piece from August 2015).
Summer 2016: Robinson Street Corridor Study Public Meeting (FDOT study in partnership with the City of Orlando)
You may remember BWCF covering the public workshop back in November 2015. Another public meeting is slated for sometime this summer. Follow this space for an updated date, time and place.
1. Celebrate Bike to [Fill in the Blank] Day. Every day. All year long.
This time tomorrow, we'll be riding to @DWNTWN_ORLANDO with @orlandomayor. Join us! #TheCityBikeable pic.twitter.com/vOpfS3zVSW
— City of Orlando (@citybeautiful) May 5, 2016
Bike to a date, the neighborhood BBQ, bingo night, school, the farmer’s market, the bank, the bus stop, a SunRail station, etc. And definitely bike to work with the rest of Orlando on May 6. City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Bike to Work Day 2016 starts pedaling at 8 a.m. from Orlando Festival Park. Arrive by 7:30 a.m..
Did you see Mayor Dyer’s recent State of the City address? He put forth a call-to-action to support biking especially for last-mile connections using Juice Bike Share.
With additional passenger rail, expanded LYNX service, infrastructure improvements, and more than 300 miles of urban trails, routes and dedicated lanes for walkers and bikers in the city, Orlando is transforming into something more than just The City Beautiful. Think The City Connected, The City Bikeable, The City Walkable and so much more.
Here’s a list of some of the other big Bike Month dates. More info available here:
- May 4 – National Bike to School Day
- May 8 – CycloFemme
- May 16-20 – National Bike to Work Week
- May 20 – National Bike to Work Day
Don’t have a bike? No problem. Juice Bike Share and reThink your Commute can help.
Hold up a second. You might be thinking to yourself – I don’t have a bike. No worries! Juice it (ride Juice Bike Share). reThink Your Commute can also connect you with some resources to make the leap and become a regular. You have options.
Celebrating #Florida #Bike Month by riding the #LakeNona trails. Check out those @juicebikes & @lynxbusorlando! pic.twitter.com/DGwUGETSYE
— reThink Your Commute (@reThink_CFL) March 4, 2016
