Florida Cyclist

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jashgtp

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et3surge

What are you looking for? experiences or facts and figures?

jashgtp

sure.

Looking for anything really. Just getting some background information first.

Any local news articles. Any facts and figures, Any person opinions.

All are welcome.

Thanks.

-=£em in Pa=-

I moved here from Vermont so this is quite a culture shock
for me. Im astounded by how mean people are here.
Just mean. In the store, walking.....everywhere. Its only
a logical extension of the S. Fl. mindset to take the meaness
to the 'acting out' level when afforded the anonymity a car
does.

jaxgtr

Personal opinion: Having grown up in South Florida, Lake Worth be to be exact, I had a paper route that I rode on my bike and the old people driving were the biggest danger I had then. The last time I was down there, 2 yrs ago, it seems that the population has increased about 30% and there are more foreign drivers as well as more retirees that should have long ago retired the drivers licenses.

I think North Florida, currently where I reside, is a little bit safer, in that we do not have the population issues that the central and southern areas of the state have, thus few cars to deal with, however we have a bigger population of rednecks in trucks that like to hurl bottles at you.

My biggest belief truly is the age of the drivers. Many to old and many to young with to many horsepower in their cars. Its a bad situation.

jdec42

From my experiences, people are just hostile towards cyclists. I was born and raised in south Florida and have had a few run ins with angry motorists who think we are slowing them down and not riding on the sidewalks like they think we should. Also the state is full of a lot of just plain bad drivers, this all boils down to education. The more we as cyclists can educate motorists as to the laws the better off and safer everyone will be. The 3 foot law hasn't hurt but not enough people know about it yet, especially tourists that are visiting from other states and providences.

PS I forgot to add the sun as a contributing factor, we don't have any mountains or hills for the sun to hide behind and since most roads are north to south ,east to west you get a blinding early morning or late afternoon sun that has been the cause of a lot of accidents where the driver couldn't see the cyclist.

stonecrd

I have lived and cycled in Chicago (30yrs), San Fransisco (10yrs) and now S. Fl. (4yrs) I don't really find that attitudes are any worse in FL than anywhere else (never been to VT). I think that FL may seem more dangerous via stats because you can ride more often than many other places with worse weather, more opportunity to be a statistic.

I do believe that drivers tend to be less skilled probably due to laxer licensing rules, more tourists, old people and immigrants than in other areas. Also in S. Fl bike lanes don't exists in many places and you are forced to share pretty crowded roads.

My biggest problem is drivers on cell phones, primarily women in SUVs. They seem oblivious to the world around them. I don't think this is unique to Fl though.

mollusk

I've been a "roadie" in north central Florida since the early 1980's. Before that I roamed the rural roads around Champaign, IL. I've known a number of fellow cyclists that have been killed on the road. I've known lots more that have been hit and seriously injured. It is dangerous out there and not only in Florida. I also rode in the Austin, Texas area in the summer of 1982. It was the same there as well. Ditto for Yellow Springs, OH in the summer of 1988 and Ithaca, NY, for the summer of 1985.

Having said that I find that I find the road to be MUCH safer now than it was 25 years ago. Back then it was not only before Lance, it was before Greg Lemond. Back then whenever I rode out in the country either alone or with a group it was expected to have some sort of ugly encounter with a person driving a motorized vehicle. Now I find it to be a rare occurrence. Now I find people usually giving me a thumbs up, instead of the middle finger. For this I thank the media machine that has promoted Lance to the US masses.

That is not to say that there aren't motorized vehicle drivers out there that will f*ck with you. They are still around. It's just that there are a whole lot less of them than there used to be.

BILLB58

I commute 24.8 miles R/T daily in SW FL, and usually ride anywhere from a 40 mile to an 80 mile run on either Saturday or Sunday......I just don't have significant driver problems....the few times I have had issues, they have been drivers with cell phones...some of this I attribute to the flashing Dinotte tailight....they know where I am when they are a long way off.

Lee County is doing a pretty good job in promoting cycling...
http://www.mpo-swfl.org/content/Maps/bikemap_front.pdf

as this map attests to.

Porter20

I have two points to add.

1. From my time living in Florida (Orlando), I quickly learned there are two types of drivers in Central Florida - 1. Locals that are late & driving like the last lap of the Daytona 500 & 2. Tourists that are lost & figure the best way to get found is drive in the left lane at 10 mph less than the speed limit. Neither situation makes it safe for motorists let alone cyclists.

2. The other thing I agree with is the amount of retired people down there. I was almost hit while running on the sidewalk in New Smyrna Beach by a walnut that was pushing 90.

I think anywhere in the country, there is a chance of an accident. But the more the community is aware of it the more careful members of the community are.

chimpboyardee

Here in Tampa Bay,most of our fatalaties are people with DUIs who are riding at night,on streets with no bike lanes...wearing dark clothes,no lights and lit like a Christmas Tree(hic...)-also,seniors crossing streets very slowly get nailed,too...

drew55

Too many snowbirds, aged retirees that shouldn't be driving, drunks, just those that shouldn't be driving. The lack of bike paths, or those that aren't in good enough shape to stay on, always cause additional problems. Overall though, I believe the state's vastly improved over the past 2-3 years. Many people are working to increase awareness of cyclists on the streets.

dgasmd

I think most have touched on the biggest points here. A lot of stupid people driving in very stupid ways, too many old people that should not be out alone, much less DRIVING, bad roads that force you more into the lane rather than the shoulder, endless amounts of rednecks in gigantic trucks, too much drinking and drunk driving (must be a southern thing!), too many people from other countries that are now forced to drive when they were barely able to walk in their country of origin, bad attitudes and ignorance, too many hauling boat trailers and motor homes/RV that can barely drive a small Yugo, much less these monstruosities, etc.. You name it. It is all a bad combo!

Sprocket_Jockey

There is a big difference between south Florida and northwest Florida. Up here the drivers seem to be very tolerant of cyclists. Most of the roads have a wide shoulder / bike lane. And, most importantly, there are fewer retirees.

YMMV

jashgtp

thanks guys this has been very valuble to my project.

i really appreciate it

bikingtolive

I live in Jacksonville, FL and the traffic where I live isn't bad when I ride - at 5:00 A.M. During the day though it's near impossible to do riding in some parts of this town.

jasandalb

IMHO.......its the majority of old drivers AND people not giving a crud about a red light, running it

jdec42

jaxgtr

Jdec, I really feel for you folks down there. I grew up in Palm Beach area, but I have no desire to ever move back. Stay safe.

kenyan_boy

After reading this thread, I hope the two cyclists I saw, about 6.30-6.45pm at the intersection of US-192 and I-95, are OK. They had black road bikes, and wore red-blue and/or orange-blue jerseys with black cycling shorts. This was in Melbourne, FL. I've seen crazier people driving there in one afternoon (technically, around 12 noon and also at 6pm) than I have seen in my 10 years in Tampa. Ok, I exaggerate a wee bit. :thumb:

jaxgtr

^^^ That is a nasty area and people are nuts there. I try and avoid it when I am down there and use Wickham Rd. interchange instead.

kensuf

Need a little help.

Im looking for more information on why cycling in Florida appears to be dangerous.

Just looking into the reasons why and also why there are so many fatalities from cycling there.

Thanks in advance,

Jash

Because motorists in Florida are oblivious.

Here's proof. (http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/20/Tampabay/Driver_goes_3_miles_w.shtml)

beatnik

bro they have too much blue hair and pick-ups
imho cheers

linux

I have grown up here in West Palm beach (Palm beach County) and I must say that the problem lies with the older generation and their poor ability to drive. Then there are the immigrants who have NEVER had proper training on how to drive (like the DMV really has a test that works...lol).

You also have to consider that most "rich" people come down here and look at cyclists as "lower grade scum who can't afford cars". When in reality I hate driving and feel guilty about the consumption of natural resources. I also like how my body looks and the health I am in.

There are parks and other recreational areas that are nice to explore; however, these are not as fun as doing long raod trips. But the downfall, you have morons behind the wheel.

et3surge

Well a south Florida update, there are three main road clubs in my area, Memorial, Weston Flyers and South Broward Wheelers, I'm a member of the latter and former ride director. In the last week we have had one member put in the hospital by a hit and run driver that left him for dead and nearly succeeded and yesterday an irate driver went into a rage with our group which came close to fists flying but thankfully not. It's getting hotter and tempers are flaring, we've just been voted the worst area for road rage in the country and the cyclist is the easiest target, guess we'll have to live with it.

Sorry to hear about the rider that was hit, I heard about it. It happens quite regularly in fact WSVN in SE FL had a report on this about 6 months ago when a couple, mid 50's were struck and left on the curb.

I think now that this thread actually took off, it needs to be said FL is big, it is not defineable to one type of driver. What we have are old FL, Retirees, relocated ex-pat Canadians, general tourism, immigrants, illegal drivers even American ones, SUV's SUV's and more SUV's and of course hot rods (Vettes, Mustangs, Lambos, Ferraris, BMW's, Jap rockets etc...). The general feel while driving a car differs greatly throughout the state, but SEFL is by far the most aggressive and probably most dangerous for cyclists.

Much like a previous post last year I commuted 25 miles each way and then I decided this was too dangerous (scars to prove it). Now I do early and late rides in quiet rural or dirt roads or even stick to markham, Oleta and Amelia Earhart parks.

Be safe and be careful on Miami's mountain the Key Biscayne bridge!!! Many a riders downfall.

Saraneth

I live in Lake County (West of Orlando), and in our area we have a bike trail (The West Orange Trail- its a beast) and huge bike lanes on highway 27 and other roads. So considering lake county is a huge swamp and everything is far away, it seems to be really cycling friendly- you know besides the crazy drivers.

condiment

Palm Beach County cyclist here. Anecdotally I've only ever been put in danger by old people, who like to look me in the eye then pull out in front of me, but I'll wager the real reason Florida tends to be highly ranked as a dangerous cycling state is that we have more people than most states, and a "cycling climate" favorable to a larger percentage of those people being cyclists.

Beach roads, cool winters, relatively mild summers (though humid as heck), and lots of money = more cyclists.

kensuf

stonecrd

California has more people by far and fewer fatalities.

This is true but the weather does cut down on the cycling in Cali. If you live Santa Barbara or south you can do pretty much year around but you have to be pretty serious to cycle up north in the winter. Not a lot of people like to go out when the temps go below 60, just the serious bikers. Down here you have recreational cyclists out year around. But clearly the confluence of retired folks, tourists, immigrants and the weather make Fl more dangerous.

Saraneth

I think the other reason Florida is dangerous, besides for the the few bigger cities and coast, Florida is totally redneck land. Swamp and trees, that basically it. So everyone seems to think because there is no people they can go like 80 down a country road and when they almost hit you, like act like it is your fault and give you the finger.

punksurfer024

Need a little help.

Im looking for more information on why cycling in Florida appears to be dangerous.

Just looking into the reasons why and also why there are so many fatalities from cycling there.

Thanks in advance,

Jash

simply put, we have one of the highest populations of elderly drivers in the country. On top of that it is not required for the elderly to re-test for their lisences at any certain age, so you get 80 year old lady with severe kiphosis that cant see above steering wheel with alzheimers renewing her lisence through the mail and driving daily. im a paramedic and almost EVERY cycling crash ive ran on has involved an elderly driver that says the same thing......."i didnt see them there" or "I thought i was far enough over not to hit them"

scruffyboy

I moved here (Key West) from San Francisco about 10 years ago. Funny thing? SF was probably one of THE most dangerous places to ride and I did it daily. I would have to say that San Francisco Transit, "Muni" Drivers, were about the worst CDL drivers I have ever experienced. They just didn't give a rats ass. I only had 1 run in with a driver in 12 years of riding in SF. Go figure

That being said... I now ride in and around Key West. You might know it as that little "dot" at the very tip of Florida? 90 miles by boat from Cuba?
You would think since it's a 2X4 island that it's great for cyclists. Well... Not exactly. We get large numbers of tourists that leave their brains on the mainland and feel they MUST drive everywhere! As fast as they can! And sharing the road with a bicycle? Surely you jest! Or... If they DO decide to get on a bike themselves? They break every law ever written and expect you to just "let it go man..." "Hey it's Key West lighten up." And common sense? Like NOT stepping off the curb in front of a moving vehicle, Lights at night, at least LOOKING before you step off the curb AGAINST the light...Fugadaboutit! I call it the "Disney syndrome." "Oh I can't get hurt here... It's just Key West and I'm a TOURIST that car/bicycle/18 wheeler will stop if I step off the curb really it will"... NOT! (I was actually asked one time if I was a "cast member!" Yep that's the caliber of visitor we get.) Hell, even our feral chickens seem to have more sense!

O.K. O.K. Key West joke...
Q. What's the difference between a tourist and a chicken in Key West?
A. The chicken will look both ways and wait for the light to change before crossing the street!
Sounds funny but it's really true, the chickens seem to know when to cross. The tourists? IDIOTS!

And then there's our "residentially challenged" (homeless/drunks/druggies) They make nighttime riding SUCH fun... They usually don't have lights, they're wearing dark clothes and are riding all over the bikepath/roadway/sidewalk after they've spent their last dime at the local watering hole. If the wind is right you can usually smell them before you see them, at least then you get SOME warning. I actually had one guy fall off his bike in front of me 4 times! I called the cops and got him off the streets. Ah yes "paradise"

Now for the road (US1) in and out of Key West? There's only one road ya know... Actually it's not too bad, I have seen worse. It does get narrow at some points and there does seem to be FAR too much trash and "junk" on the shoulder at any given time. Just be sure to take along tools and tire-changing stuff and watch where you ride.

Now believe me, I have lived here long enough to know where the money comes from down here and our tourist development council would NOT want me. But it just seems to be getting worse and worse with every condo development, every hotel room that gets added every "guest" we try our level best to accommodate.
If you DO decide to come to Key West there are things you can do to help make your visit a great one... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... Bring your brain along with you willya? If you wouldn't do it at home...DON'T THINK IT'S O.K. TO DO IT HERE! Traffic laws, signs, and signals are REAL and MUST be obeyed! So are the Police officers THIS IS NOT DISNEY WORLD! (not yet at least. So until the ink dries on THAT offer...)
Be nice to us poor schmoos that live here and are working their butts off to make your visit memorable. Remember it's a small island... treat someone ****ty word travels FAST!
For the most part we are a nice friendly little island and are willing to help any way we can but USE YER HEAD DAMMIT! IT IS NOT O.K. TO STOP ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND HOLD UP TRAFFIC SO YOU CAN FIND OUT WHERE HEMMINGWAY HOUSE IS BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE A LOCAL!
LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO GIMME A F&#!IN BREAK ALREADY!!?
Key West gets it's water from the mainland, this makes it an expensive and LIMITED resource so DON'T WASTE WATER!
And remember... tipping is NOT a city in China! It's how we make a living! If you got good service show how much you appreciate it.

A note for you Europeans/Aussies... THE TIP IS NOT INCLUDED, IT NEVER HAS BEEN! So get with the program, stop "pretending" you don't know this stuff, just pisses us off!

SlimAgainSoon

North Florida is the American South -- with a particularly mean neighborhood known as Jacksonville. The South is not particularly bike-friendly, but there are sections that are very pleasant.

The Panhandle thinks it is Texas, with a chip on its shoulder the size of ... you get the picture. Nice scenery, nice country roads ... sometimes cranky rednecks.

Central Florida is confused Midwesterners looking out the window at the purty orange trees. Hey, pay attention!

South Florida is another land. Don't venture there on a bicycle.

Key West? See above post.

There is a lot of energy in Florida to educate the public about cyclists and drivers sharing the happiness. Governmental leadership is vacant in this state, on this and most other issues.

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