The Bike Friendly Advocacy Group recently conducted its fifth and most comprehensive bike safety seminar at the Rohan Regional Recreation Center. The goal of the Bike Friendly Group, according to Diana Mirkin, the chairperson, is increased bike safety awareness and practices among the bicycling community in The Villages.
“We want our seniors to have a robust exercise program that enhances their cardiovascular and musculature health. We want them to be confident as they ride their bicycles. We want them to be both responsible and safe cyclists. We also want them to have fun,” she said.
The group works closely with The Villages Recreation Department, Lake Sumter Landing Bike Club, The Village Bike Club, and the PANTHERS Tandem Bike Club within The Villages. The Group calls on the expertise of the University of Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Program, the Florida Bicycle Association, as well as the League of American Bicyclists.
So far, the bike safety seminars have reached approximately 100 residents.
The group uses recreation centers for classes, and in one case a resident’s home to address a social and service group.
“We are trying to engage the bicycling community in The Villages so that through knowledge cyclists will ride more safely,” said Rose Jordan, a member of the Bike Friendly Advocacy Group.
The Bike Safety Seminar held recently at the Rohan Regional Recreation Center was deemed a success by the group.
John Egberts, Associate Director of University of Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Program conducted the class. Topics included: : Obligations of bicyclists – Bike and traffic laws; Riding situations and behaviors – scanning, merging, sidewalks, and turning; Preparation and maintenance of bikes (A-B-C Quick check); Selection and bike fit; Appropriate Clothing and helmet fitting, and; Hydration, sun, and rain protection. The seminar held a Bike skills rodeo, which emphasized practice of balance, straight line riding, shifting, slalom(in-and-out) riding around cones, hazard avoidance, and finished with a practice ride of 3-miles.
All 20 participants completed the seminar successfully.
Bob Jordan, a League Certified Instructor and resident of The Villages noted that “Skills and confidence grew noticeably as participants progressed through the rodeo circuit. People smiled as they met with success.”
John Komoroske, a resident and president of the Lake Sumter Landing Bike Club, was pleased with the success.
“Now that we have engaged a hundred bicyclists, we must continue. In fact, we are developing a program to teach adults to ride using balance bikes, similar to the way we teach youngsters. A generous neighbor recently donated five new bikes for the purpose of helping adults learn or regain the confidence and skills they had as kids. We need to work with the Recreation Department and its Enrichment Academy on additional projects including; planning for Camp Villages, Charter School engagement, future bike safety and skills activities for residents, and Florida DOT grants for equipment,” he said.
Diana Mirkin also notes that the Bike Friendly Advocacy Group and the eight League Certified Instructors are available to teach bike safety and skills to resident community groups – for FREE! Just send a note to Diana@drmirkin.com.