Gainesville Cycling Festival Registration is Open
GCC members should register on the News Page in the Members Area to get club member pricing.
FBA Link with Updates on Florida Ebike Legislation
The Florida Legislature has taken up an effort to address e-bikes and e-motos. Earlier versions of House Bill 243 and Senate Bill 382 have undergone revisions. The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) has a web page for updates on this legislation: Florida’s E-Bike Laws May Be About to Change: What You Need to Know — Florida Bicycle Association.
The FBA position on e-bikes and e-mobility can be found here: Navigating the Future of Electric Mobility: FBA’s Stance on E-Bikes and E-Motos — Florida Bicycle Association.
US Transportation and Infrastructure Bill
The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has called attention to the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Bill. The Chair of the House Committtee on Transportation and Infrastructure has been quoted as indicating there would be no funding for bicycle or pedestrian infrastructure this year.
The LAB therefore joined with many other organizations and issued an open letter to Congress on the importance of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, like bike lanes and bike paths. You can see the letter here, most of which is the list of signatories: A United Call to Congress: Walking and Biking Infrastructure Matters | League of American Bicyclists.
Magnus White and Safer Streets for Everyone Act
The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has called attention to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is working on its part of the next transportation bill. The LAB supports inclusion of the Magnus White and Safer Streets for Everyone Act. That bill would would require new vehicles to include Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems capable of detecting cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other studies, cyclist‑detecting AEB could prevent 26–50% of bicycle‑vehicle crashes and reduce bicyclist fatalities by 50–80%. The AEB bill is named for Magnus White, a 17-year-old competitive cyclist who was killed in a car-on-bike accident.
LAB has a web link if you would like to contact your Representative about the Magnus White and Safer Streets for Everyone Act: Action Center | League of American Bicyclists.
Reminder: Hands Free Florida Petition
Greetings all,
Just a reminder about the Hands Free Florida (HFF) petition drive. The petition asks the Florida State Legislature to pass a law to make holding mobile devices while driving illegal. Hands-free means that you cannot hold your mobile phone while driving. If Hands-Free Florida is adopted, one can still use GPS and make phone calls (using hands-free technology common in contemporary vehicles) while driving, but the mobile phone cannot be in one’s hand while driving.
Statistics on traffic crashes make plain the importance of a hands-free law for reducing distracted driving. Of the many traffic crashes in Florida, two thirds (2/3) are caused by distracted driving.
Distracted driving is six (6) times more dangerous than drinking and driving. Simply holding a mobile device in one’s hand is four (4) times more likely to lead to a crash than if one has both hands free.
Florida has a “no texting while driving law” but it is very hard to enforce. Thirty-four (34) other US states have passed enforceable hands-free laws. These are easier for law enforcement to enforce; they need only observe the mobile device in someone’s hand while driving. In the first 12 states to pass hands-free laws, traffic fatalities dropped within months.
A hands-free law will make traffic safer for everyone: motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. You can find more information and sign the petition here: https://www.handsfreeflorida.org/.
Thanks for considering this and taking action not only by signing the petition, but by sharing it with others, and contacting your state representatives to urge their support.
Stephen Perz, President, GCC
Dean Mimms, Vice President, GCC
Cycling Mentors for Cancer Survivors
The Pedal Florida initiative, a research project at UF, seeks to connect cancer survivors (who are currently living relatively inactive lives) to cycling clubs and mentors. Dr. Kristy Boyer, a GCC member, is also on the project team, and has informed the GCC that they are ready to recruit cycling mentors for cancer survivors. Dr. Boyer attended the GCC Annual Meeting, and reportedly some of our membership stepped forward as mentors! If you or someone you know would be interested in knowing more about the Pedal Florida project or in cycling mentoring, you can get more information at PedalFlorida@hhp.ufl.edu. If you would like to sign up as a cycling mentor, go.ufl.edu/pedalflmentees. The Pedal Florida initiative thanks you!
Parents: E-Bike Gift Guide
E-bikes can be a great way to ride more often—especially when families have clear guidance on readiness, safety gear, and what to look for before buying an e-bike for a young rider.
Read the guide:
https://floridabicycle.org/news/the-parents-e-bike-gift-guide
Florida Bicycle Safety Quiz
Have you taken the quiz yet?
A quick way to refresh safety basics and start better conversations about sharing the road—whether you ride, drive, or both.
Take the quiz:
https://floridabicycle.org/bicycle-safety-quiz