Received this from a group of Orlando Sentinel bike riders (The Chain Gang) this morning. Pretty depressing.... It states that these are 2007 numbers not sure if that is a typo or does it take this long to compile figures????

From Tampa Tribune: New rankings by federal traffic safety officials put Florida at the top as the nation's deadliest state for riding a bike, surpassing even more heavily populated California.

The study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 119 bicyclists died on Florida highways in 2007, topping California's 109 traffic deaths and New York's 51 that year.

"Because it's a warm weather southern state, chances are good that more people are riding year-round," said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington-based group that promotes cycling and cycling safety.

The Sunshine State consistently ranks at or near the top in the administration's annual study. Florida ranked second to California in 2006 after claiming the top spot the year before with 124 fatalities.

Cycling advocates say other factors add to the problem, including an abundance of cars on the road and a general lack of bike lanes and paths next to highways.