As a bicyclist, where would you rather bike – on a busy road or a scenic trail?
Those who prefer transportation on two wheels have heart: A proposal to link a network of bicycle trails has gained momentum recently. It will keep bicyclists off the main roads, and, more importantly, away from distracted motorists. This is good news for those whose interest in recreational cycling takes them on highways and thorough fares that demand they not only keep watch on their own activity but on the actions of motorists who can’t pull themselves away from the distractions of their various gadgets.
According to WFSU producer Rob Diaz de Villegas, who was appointed to the Florida Greenways and Trails Council in 2013, $25 million was budgeted two weeks ago towards the completion of this trail network, so that one day, bicyclists will be able to ride from Pensacola to Key West.
Specific to bicyclists in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County is a route known as the East Coast Greenway Tropical Terminus, running along the Atlantic but, with two gaps in this trail of 19.3 miles, it leaves those bicyclists out for pure recreation no choice but to head, once again, onto busy and often dangerous roads.
Understanding that these trails pose both a safety and economic benefit, Florida is in the midst of investigating existing trails, abandoned railways, and local, state, and federally owned lands to combine them all into a regional trail system. This proposal has gotten a boost from legislation that will act to combine these trails into a statewide network currently known as the Shared Use Non-motorized (SUN) Trail system.
Information released by the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation, Inc., discusses the opportunities to link trails in Florida, and by closing the gaps, such as the one that exists in Broward, smaller communities will connect with the bigger cities offering a “scenic and safe bicycle and pedestrian experience.” This is huge, as Florida leads the nation as the most dangerous state in which to cycle, with the highest levels of bicycle and pedestrian fatalities. Couple this with the fact that bicycling is cited as the third most popular outdoor recreation activity for residents and the problems with cyclists and their encounters with motorists become obvious.
Anything that can protect bicyclists from a personal injury is worth pursuing. A personal injury litigation attorney knows how to get justice after the accident has occurred but cyclists in Florida should have available the safest means to travel and these trails will become important links in the battle to save lives.
