Bicycling in Broward
March is Florida Bicycle Month
Every March since 2005, Broward County Parks has designated Bicycle Week, which expanded in 2008 to become Bicycle Month.
Bicycle Month Calendar of Events
Bicycle month is designed to promote bicycle safety and education; to provide leisure and recreational bicycling opportunities for all ages and abilities; and to offer competitive/challenging cycling opportunities throughout Broward County within both the public and the private sectors.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist proclaimed March 2009 as Florida Bicycle Month.
Last year, more than 60 activities and events were held from March 1 through 31 throughout the County. Those events were made possible by Broward County and the cooperation of the Cities of Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Margate, Miramar, Parkland, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac, Weston, and West Park.
For information about Florida Bicycle Month for March 2010, contact the program coordinator at 954-357-8801. For bicycling opportunities in the Tri-County area, visit South Florida Commuter Services.
BiKE Broward Website Now Available!
The Broward Metroplitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO) has developed an innovative Internet-based bicycle route-planning tool that allows bicyclists to enter their start and end locations and receive turn-by-turn directions on how to reach their destination. This new tool has been named BiKE Broward.
BiKE Broward includes five types of route selections users can choose from, including short, fast, least interaction with traffic, simple and scenic. When planning your trip you can also include multiple travel points along your designated route.
The concept for BiKE Broward began in March 2008 and is funded by the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO); it is also a joint effort by Florida International University Geographic Information System (GIS) Center, and the University of Florida’s GeoMatics Program at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
To provide feedback on the BiKE Broward Web site, contact Mark Horowitz, Broward MPO’s Bicycle/ Pedestrian Coordinator, at 954-357-6641; to view the Web site visit http://bike.browardmpo.org.
Limited Edition Bicycle Month Jerseys For Sale!
A limited amount of commemorative Bicycle Month jerseys were made in sizes XS to XL for $69. Interested? Contact 954-357-8801.
Bicycling Within Broward County Parks
Who rides bicycles? At least 57 million people, or approximately 27 percent of the population ages 16 and up, according to a survey sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Another survey, this one conducted by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, found that the majority of these people ride for exercise/health (41 percent) and recreation (37 percent). South Florida Adventures lists the "Top 9 Cycling Stories" which may interest bicycle enthusiasts.
The Broward County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee recently produced a Bicycle Suitability Map that is intended to serve as a reference for bicycling in Broward County.
The good news for local bikers is that a dozen County parks offer paths for recreational bicycling:
Brian Piccolo Park
Central Broward Regional Park
Hollywood North Beach Park
Markham Park
Plantation Heritage Park
Quiet Waters Park
Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park
Tradewinds Park
Tree Tops Park
T.Y. Park
Vista View Park
West Lake Park
Brian Piccolo Park also has a bicycle racing facility called a Velodrome. Whether you’re biking for exercise and health, for recreation, or, more and more commonly these days, to commute, safety is of utmost importance. Visit the Metropolitan Planning Website, where you’ll find such information as a Broward County Bicycle Suitability Map, Defensive Driving (tips for riding in traffic), How and Where to Lock Your Bicycle, and an especially comprehensive section called Bicycles Are Vehicles, which includes information on avoiding accidents, emergency maneuvers, Florida’s bicycle safety laws, handling hazards, safety equipment, and traffic law highlights.
Bicycle Rentals
Bicycle rentals are available through Toby's Concession Services, Inc. at T.Y. Park and C.B. Smith Park. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, Broward County holidays (when the park is open), and school breaks. A standard 2-wheel bike is $5 per hour; Junior Carriage (seats 3-4) is $10 per hour; and a Limo Carriage (seats 6) is $20 per hour.
Mountain Bike Trails
Just because there are no mountains in South Florida doesn’t mean you can’t go mountain biking. You can, at both Markham and Quiet Waters parks, which have miles of trails maintained by volunteer groups that are members of the International Mountain Bicycling Association. These groups organized a major cleanup and rebuilding effort after Hurricane Wilma and continue to maintain the trails on a regular basis (see photos below).Richard Butler used a chain saw to cut over 200 tree stumps in just one day! Dave Williams, a former Division volunteer of the year, straps warning tape on a tree branch at Markham Park.
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For safety purposes, all ages must watch a safety warning video and complete a waiver of liability (PDF-80KB). Riders under 17 must watch the safety warning video and have a release and waiver of liability signed by a parent/guardian. This can be done at the park office.
Tandem Bicycle Program
The Parks and Recreation Division’s Special Populations Section provides a Tandem Bicycle Program designed for adults who are blind or visually impaired. This six-week program offers basic biking skills, leisure rides, fun, and socialization. Call Special Populations at 954-357-8160/8170 to find out when the next program is scheduled.
Safety Town Teaches Bicycle Safety
Three parks -- C.B. Smith Park, Tree Tops Park and T.Y. Park -- have miniature roadways set up in areas designated as Safety Town, a program of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Here children learn such bicycle safety basics as which side of the road to ride on, how to observe a stop sign, and how to proceed at railroad crossings. To schedule a Safety Town visit for a children’s group, call Jennifer at 954-276-5991 or e-mail JBelyeu@mhs.net.
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