--- Bill Nesper <bill@...> wrote:

> Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 12:45:00 -0500
> To: AEROD@...
> From: Bill Nesper <bill@...>
> Subject: Bikeleague- Take Action for Bicycling in
> Florida
>
>
> Dear James,
>
> We wanted to make sure that you had this important
> information for
> bicycling in Florida. Please see below for more
> details.
>
> Thank you again for being a member of the League of
> American Bicyclists
>
> Team Membership
>
>
**********************************************************************
> From the Safe Bicycling Coalition of Palm Beach
> County. President Randy
> Scheid.
>
> Dear bicyclist,
>
> Important legislation that will ensure that bicycle
> lanes are built on
> Florida 's roads is in jeopardy! All too often, the
> rights and safety of
> bicyclists and pedestrians are ignored as roads are
> constructed and
> reconstructed. Despite existing legislation that
> strongly encourages
> accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians, the
> Florida Department of
> Transportation doesn't always get the job done. You
> are probably already
> familiar with what has happened in Delray Beach ,
> where local officials and
> adjacent homeowners persuaded the state to remove
> bicycle lanes and
> sidewalks from their plan to reconstruct State Road
> A1A.
>
> To prevent this from happening again in other areas,
> Representative Anne
> Gannon, an outspoken advocate for bicyclists and
> pedestrians, has drafted a
> bill proposal to ensure that the needs of bicyclists
> and pedestrians will
> be a taken into account during the planning, design,
> and construction of
> all state roads. The bill, HB 603, is titled Bicycle
> Lanes and Pedestrian
> Ways, and will close loopholes in existing laws.
>
> Right now the bill is in trouble and we need your
> help. It has been
> referred to the Growth Management Committee
> recently, and Rep. Randy
> Johnson, the chair of that committee, has told Rep.
> Gannon that he will not
> allow HB 603 to be put on the agenda. If this
> happens, the bill will die
> and we will have to wait another year for the
> possibility of passing this
> important piece of legislation.
>
> It is absolutely urgent that all bicyclists and
> concerned citizens contact
> the Growth Management Committee's office, and Rep.
> Randy Johnson's office
> in Tallahassee. If we bombard the Committee and Rep.
> Johnson's office with
> emails, letters and calls, we might be able to get
> this bill heard.
>
> Please support Rep. Anne Gannon in her fight to make
> Florida 's roads safer
> for everyone. Taking a few minutes to do this will
> be an investment in your
> safety and quality of life, and will help improve
> the conditions that we,
> as bicyclists, face everyday on Florida 's roads.
>
> Please call, email and send letters to State
> Representative Randy Johnson.
> His contact information is below:
>
>
>
> Representative Randy Johnson
>
> Chairman
>
> Growth Management Committee
>
> 402 South Monroe Street , 303 HOB
>
> Tallahassee , FL 32399-1300
>
> Phone: (850) 488-0256
>
> Committee Phone number: (850) 488-1489
>
> Randy.Johnson@...
>
>
>
> You can also visit www.myfloridahouse.gov to get
> more information.
>
>
> The message we want to communicate is detailed in
> the following letter.
> Please feel free to cut and paste this letter or
> write your own. If you do
> choose to write you own we encourage you communicate
> a similar message,
> because we feel that it is the most effective.
>
>
>
> Dear Representative Randy Johnson:
>
>
>
> I would like you to add HB 603, titled Bicycle Lanes
> and Pedestrian Ways ,
> to the Growth Management Committee's agenda. This
> legislation is sponsored
> by State representative Anne Gannon and is important
> to our communities and
> state for three reasons.
>
>
>
> 1. Safer roads for bicyclists, pedestrians
> and drivers.
>
> 2. Creates alternative means of
> transportation to our congested
> communities.
>
> 3. HB 603 compliments the governor's
> initiative "Step Up, Florida -
> On Our Way To Healthy Living!"
>
>
>
> In 2003, there were 604 bicycle and pedestrian
> traffic fatalities in the
> Florida , 19% of the state's traffic fatalities.
> This is 5% higher then the
> national average of bicycle and pedestrian traffic
> fatalities, making
> Florida one of the most dangerous areas for
> bicyclists and pedestrians.
> Constructing bicycle lanes and pedestrian ways in
> congested and urban areas
> will help decrease this number while also providing
> an alternative to driving.
>
>
>
> Our state's communities are growing at an astounding
> rate and Florida is
> seen as one of the fastest growing states in the
> nation. With this growth
> comes increased traffic congestion, especially in
> our urban areas. Adding
> bicycle lanes and facilities to sprawling
> communities will help decrease
> traffic congestion by encouraging alternative means
> of transportation. This
> could be especially effective in areas that do not
> provide thorough public
> transportation.
>
>
>
> This legislation would also encourage healthier
> living by providing
> Floridians with an outlet for exercise. We all
> understand the rising rates
> of overweight and obesity among adults and youth.
> Florida has tried to
> tackle this issue with Governor Jeb Bush's statewide
> initiative "Step Up,
> Florida - On Our Way To Healthy Living!" which
> promotes physical activity
> and healthy lifestyles to Florida 's citizens and
> visitors. However, if
> there are no bicycle lanes or pedestrian ways, this
> initiative becomes less
> effective. This legislation would be a perfect
> compliment to the Governor's
> initiative.
>
>
>
> Once again, I encourage you to add HB 603, sponsored
> by State
> Representative Anne Gannon, to the Growth Management
> Committee's agenda.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your consideration.
>
>
>
>
**********************************************************************
> Your League expire date: 3/2005
> Your membership number: 51175990
> If you would like to renew:
> www.bikeleague.org/support/renew.htm
> Your email: AEROD@...
> **************************************************
>
>




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