Newsletters

Presidents Message

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!!

Well Thanksgiving and Christmas are behind us and I hope you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving ride and are getting out over the holidays to work off some of the holiday meals. As we ready ourselves to close out 2019 and roll into 2020, I wanted to take the time to pass on a few thoughts.

​ First off, I want to recognize and thank several club members for their service over the past several years. First on the list is Ron Gabriel, who took on the challenge to be club President in 2018 and helped guide the club and expand the membership and participation over the last 2 years. As a result, not only is membership up, but the number of club rides, social activities as well as community engagement has expanded.

As many of you know, past President, Dennis Holmquist has recently retired and moved to Georgia. We wish him the best and many, many happy and safe miles of riding in his retirement. Dennis was a great teacher and mentor to many of us riding in the club. He always had an encouraging message, and was always reaching out and helping others on our rides. Luckily for us, Dennis still has family in Palm City, so we hope we will see and ride with him often when he is visiting family.

Next, I would like to recognize and thank Bill Eaton (Treasurer), Danielle Van Horn (Secretary) and Kelly Johnson (Socials), who have been serving in their board capacity for the last 2 years. Club engagement and participation would not be where it is today without their efforts to plan, organize and put on so many great rides, and social events.

2019 was also special for the club as we were able to increase our outreach to the community. While every year we support the annual Ride For Heroes and the LCpl Justin Wilson – Memorial Foundation and JustingWings.org., this year we also were able to support several local bike shops fundraising rides including The Tykes and Teens – Pedal it out ride put on by Cyclewerks and Beyond Bikes, the Cyclewerks Pink ride, the Beyond Bikes United Way Project Ride, and the Eagles Wings Bahamas relief effort.

Finally, I would like to thank all of our corporate sponsors and local bike shops for their support of the club, and would like to specifically recognize Javier Munoz and Millers Ale House for always stepping up and donating food for our rides and functions.

As we move into 2020, I hope you will all continue to support and participate in the club. That means renewing your membership. The membership dues allow us to fund our socials, as well as participate in the community outreach rides. In addition, it allows us to provide annual club insurance for our organized club rides. Another way to support the club is by volunteering and providing some of your time to organize and put on our events. They do not happen just by posting them on the website and facebook page. In order to minimize the burden/impact on our board members, in addition to the titled board positions, we are adding 5 at large board member positions. These positions will support the 4 titled board positions, as well as be available to fill in when board members are out of town for business or vacation.

The following is the current 2020 board makeup – if you are interested in filling any of the vacant positions, please reach out to the club.

President – Michael MacLeod
Vice President – Vacant
Treasurer – Stephen Muller
Social Media Director – Tim Barrett
Social Director – Fran Jenkins
At Large Board Member – Bill Eaton
At Large Board Member –Tracey Curivan
At Large Board Member –Cheryl Barrett
At Large Board Member –Vacant
At Large Board Member – Vacant

Thank you Stephen, Tim, Fran, Tracey, Bill and Cheryl for volunteering your time.

In closing, I wish you all a Happy New Year. I hope to see you at either our New Years Day ride (Jan 1 at 8 am from Jensen Beach Park – Bagels and OJ will be served after the ride), and/or our 2020 New Year Kick off Social to be held on January 4th at 6 pm at Kingswood Phase 3 Clubhouse in Stuart. See the Website or the Facebook page for additional details.

Ride Safe
Mike

Traffic Law Highlights

(see Section 316.2065, F.S.)
A bicyclist must obey all traffic controls and signals.
A bicyclist must use a fixed, regular seat for riding.
No bicycle may be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped.
Parents and guardians must not knowingly allow a child or minor ward to violate any provisions of this section.
Every bicycle must be equipped with a brake or brakes which allow the rider to stop within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.

Sidewalk Riding (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)
When riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks, a bicyclist has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian.
A bicyclist riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before passing.

Lighting (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)
A bicycle operated between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from 500 feet to the front and both a red reflector and a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from 600 feet to the rear.
Additional lighting is permitted and recommended.

Roadway Position (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)
A bicyclist who is not traveling at the same speed of other traffic must ride in a designated bike lane (see Bike Lane Law Explained in the left tab menu) or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. A bicyclist may leave the right-most portion of the road in the following situations: when passing another vehicle moving in the same direction; when preparing for a left turn; when reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian , animal, surface hazard, or turn lane; when a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side. (see Roadway Position Explained in the left tab menu)
A bicyclist operating on a one-way street with two or more traffic lanes may ride as close to the left-hand edge of the roadway as practicable.
Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
Persons riding two abreast shall not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, and shall ride within a single lane. (see Impeding Traffic Explained in the left tab menu)

Left Turns (see Section 316.151 (1)(b)(c), F.S.)
A bicyclist intending to make a vehicle left turn is entitled to full use of the lane from which the turn is made. After scanning, signaling, and moving to the center of that lane, the bicyclist must check the signal, then proceed when it is green and safe to do so. In addition to the normal vehicle left turn, a bicyclist may proceed through the right-most portion of the intersection and turn as close to the curb or edge as possible at the far side. After complying with any official traffic control device, the bicyclist may proceed in the new direction.

Signaling Turns (see Sub-section 316.155(2) and 316.157(2), F.S.)
A signal of intention to turn must be given during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. If a bicyclist needs both hands for control, the signal need not be given continuously.
A bicyclist may signal intent to turn right either by extending the left hand and arm upward or by extending the right hand and arm horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.

Headsets (see Section 316.304, F.S.)
A bicyclist may not wear a headset, headphone, or other listening device other than a hearing aid when riding. Wearing a headset blocks out important audio clues needed to detect the presence of other traffic.

Civil Penalties (see Sub-section 318.18(1),(2),&(3), F.S.)
Non-moving violations, such as failure to use required lighting equipment when riding at night, failure to have working brakes Moving violations, such as running stop sign or signal, riding against traffic

Violations of Chapter 316, F.S. by a bicyclist 14 years of age or younger

Local Ordinances
The local governments of counties, cities, towns, and other municipalities can adopt ordinances regulating bicycle riding. Some towns may also have registration and licensing ordinances.
Sidewalk riding may be prohibited entirely or only in certain areas such as business districts. Local law enforcement agencies can provide copies of local ordinances.
Operation on limited access highways

[FBA is working with FDOT to modify this section to provide access to bridges and other roads where there are no surface street options to access destinations]

[§316.091] No person shall operate a bicycle on a limited access facility, except as otherwise provided. No person shall operate a bicycle on an interstate highway.

Comment: At this time, the only exception provided is for the Jacksonville Expressway System [§ 349.04(1)]. A limited access facility is “a street or highway especially designed for through traffic and over, from, or to which owners or occupants of abutting land or other persons have no right or easement, or only a limited right or easement, of access” [§316.003(19)].
For more information or to ask questions about Florida Bicycle Laws, visit flbikelaw.org.