Florida is one of the most dangerous places in the United States for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Bicycling fatalities are higher in Florida than any other state, and the four most dangerous large metropolitan areas for pedestrians in the country are Orlando-Kissimmee, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Jacksonville, and Miami. These alarming statistics and everyday worries about the safety of themselves and their children have led concerned Floridian bicyclists to start a petition demanding change.
If you are a bicyclist in Florida please show your support by signing their petition. Started just 48 hours ago, the petition already has more than 225 signatures as of this post’s publication.
Addressing the number of bicyclist fatalities in Florida is our No. 1 point of feedback through our Bicycle Friendly States program – and adopting a Vulnerable Road User law is a great way to begin.
“It’s time to make Florida’s roads safe for all users,” William Davis, member of the North Florida Bicycle Club, told me.
The petition asks Florida’s Governor and Legislature to pass a meaningful Vulnerable Road User law. The law that they propose is based upon the League’s model statute, which was developed through our Legal Affairs Committee. I also recently wrote about these kinds of laws as part of our Bike Law University series.
Christopher Burns, a cycling attorney in Florida and one of the cyclists behind the petition, has seen firsthand how our judicial system can fail cyclists who are injured by motor vehicles.
The League supports Vulnerable Road User legislation because it can address the imbalance between motorists that are protected by thousands of pounds of steel and other road users who are not.
Interested in advocating for a Vulnerable Road User Law in your community? Read more about out our model legislation here.
(Photo credit: Roey Ahram via Flickr).
Ken McLeod
Legal Specialist, Advocacy Advance
Ken joined the League in 2012 after graduating from William & Mary School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Virginia. During law school he worked for a private law firm in Cambodia and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Prior to that, Ken worked at a law firm in Orange County and a legal services provider in Seattle. He graduated from Pomona College in 2007 with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He began using his bike regularly after college and has been car-free since February 2012.
via Bikeleague.org Blog http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2013/06/florida-cyclists-pursue-vulnerable-road-user-law/
