I've lived in the major population centers in both northern and southern California - LA and SF (east bay) - and I could always bike year round.

Golfers. ;)

DocJ,

I realize that I've taken the wrong apporach in this thread in attempt to explain to people that have never ridden here that Florida is a diverse place with some great places to ride.

So let's not tell them they can ride near Orlando around Clermont through beaucolic scenery with actual hills, and little traffic.

Or that they can ride around Ocala, and think they were in Kentucky Bluegrass country.

Or they can ride through miles of Orange gorves and along connecting lakes in Polk county.

Or that the can ride from Amelia Island to St Augustine, 75 miles along the coast with designated bikelanes, and/or bike friendly roads, with sweeping vistas of the Atlantic ocean.

Or that they can ride to Key West across miles of the Gulf of Mexico, with panoramic views, with much of it on protected bike path (and planned to soon be complete to Key West)

Or that they can ride in the Panhandle with rolling Farmland.

And lets not mention that Florida law requires the DOT to build a bike lane with every new or expanded road.

Better to simply keep it ourselves, and let them think the whole state is their stereotypical view of South Florida.

I blame it on the old people.

It was when I was in the Naples area for a week about 15 years ago. I'm not sure why I survived.

Correct.

Yet another reason not to like Florida.

Look, I'm not standing up for TX...I hate this state. What I'm saying is that the article included a number of other states that I felt threw your hypothesis about the statistics out the door.

I bet Dallas gets ice storms in winter. But winter is short. What about Houston? San Antonio? San Antonio gets a good nasty winter freeze once every 5 years...plus it rains/storms a heck of a lot less than in FL.

Basically I'm saying that if you control for miles, I think the numbers are the same.

People are outside a lot in CO...a lot more than FL. FL leads in lightning strike deaths because people are outside a lot AND there are a lot of eff-ing storms with lightning in them.

FL leads in cycling deaths because there are a lot of people out riding AND there are a lot of eff-ing redneck drivers...and old drivers...and aggressive Miami drivers.

Yes, that's Gator fans for you. :rolleyes:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/tcoast/...411mcbike.html

Ugh.

Flat. Hot. Windy. Panama City Beach.

Yuck.

When I came here from Vermont I was in absolute shock at what
I saw. Incredible. Florida is the state of de-evolution. I wrote
Crists office and asked if its possible, given our murder rate for
cyclists, to run some PSA's saying the guy/women you are trying
to kill is a human, has a family, etc....The answer was astounding
but not unexpected-----Based on a questionnaire filled out by Florida
MOTORISTS, a majority believe bikes shouldnt be allowed on the road.
Also, since bikes are at fault in almost 100% of the accidents with
cars, its up to us to police ourselves. No PSA funding will happen-----
This is a weird, violent kulture of consuming and hate. Another human is only
something that holds you up on the way to a mall. Being vulnerable users,
we suffer the most. :)

lies, damn lies and statistics.

PLEASE, don't use Houston in your argument. This is NOT a safe place to ride.

Drive north 60 minutes. Hills and farmland. Great riding.

this.

That's kinda my point. It's still safer than FL.

Dallas typically gets 1, maybe 2, ice storms a year. The ice usually is gone in 24-36 hours. We also get several 70+ degree days each winter. Highs are in the upper 50s and lower 60s for most of January. Some of the state (e.g. Amarillo) does get a lot of winter weather. However, most of the population is in the eastern and southern portions of Texas, which have much milder winters.

Doesn't it rain a lot in Florida? I would think that would limit riding just as much as the winters in the states located in more arid regions.

edit: Beaten like a red-headed stepchild...

Do you still have the original answer? That would be a good one to send to some publication. Maybe even Bicycling, since they've been doing a lot more advocacy lately.

There is a rainy season in FL but when it happens you really dont mind it.
It feels good. Obviously, the torrential stuff is not fun, but the rainy season
rains are usually short 15 minute drenchings throughout the day that the sun
stays out for. When its 95 degrees, and you have 5 more miles to go, its refreshing.

Ill comb through my emails and see. I got it almost 2 years ago.
Im sure not much has changed since then :)

Spirit Crushing Wind
Blue Hairs
Silver Hairs
No Hairs
Persons driving in Haitian
Spirit Crushing Wind
Persons driving in Cuban
Persons driving in Venezuelan
Persons driving in Honduran
Spirit Crushing Wind
Persons driving in Jamaican
Persons driving in Nicaraguan
Persons driving in many other South American Countries
Spirit Crushing Wind
No habla Englais del libro de automobile
Yenta's on cell phones
Shapiro's on cell phones
Any nationality on cell phones
In fact all of the above on cell phones
Spirit Crushing Wind
Red Necks
Pseudo Red Necks
People driving that have way more important places to be than anyone else
Spirit Crushing Wind
Yesterday your in your mother land feeding hay to your mode of transportation
Today your on the road coming up behind me with no auto experience
Spirit Crushing Wind
There's more. You just caught me on a good day.

Sincerely,

A. Bunker

Oh, did I mention: Spirit Crushing Wind?

ah, the Redneck Riveria, good times...

^^^All of that, plus a high rate of drunks on the road. And people who drive too fricking fast.

D@mmit, those were on the tip of my index fingers. Thanks however.

Will you guys quit posting pictures of me and my friends outside of the Jax stadium all over the internet already?