MINUTES
CITY OF PENSACOLA
BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
City Hall
222 West Main Street, First Floor
Vince Whibbs Conference Room
Pensacola, FL 32502
March 3, 2016 8:00 am
PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Board members Rand Hicks, and Richard Sherrill; Committee members
Tim Bustos (Bicycle Program Manager), Bobby Cooley, and Domenick Risola. (Quorum not required for
this committee due to the purpose of the committee, it is not subject to Sunshine Laws.)
CITY STAFF: Tim Land (Volunteer and Outdoor Pursuits Coordinator), Heidi Thorsen (Director’s
Assistant)
CITIZENS: Barbara Saddler

In the absence of Chairman Mayo, Committeeman Sherrill was elected acting chairman for this
meeting.
PRESENTATION:
 No business was discussed, just a presentation by Manager Bustos.
o Florida has the highest bicycle crash rate in the nation.
o Bicycles are defined as vehicles in the State of Florida, and belong on the road. The Florida
Statutes that pertain to bicycles are found in section 316.003.
o “Bicycle Friendly” goes by different names including “Complete Streets” and “Livable
Communities”, but they all have the goal of making the roadways safer for everyone.
o Florida law states that when passing a bicyclist, there be a minimum of 3 ft., although more is
preferred. Most vehicle drivers do not know this.
o Bicyclists are legally allowed to drive in the center of the car lane.
o There are various different types of “bike lanes”, and the terms that are used interchangeably
 Bike Route – include roadways, and are designated by signs, or pavement markings
 Bike Lane – designated by striping, minimum width of 4 ft., but preferred width of 5 ft.
 Buffered Bike Lane – added space to the bike lane, designated by two solid stripes
 Bike Path – also known as a shared use path. It is shared with pedestrians and bicycles. It is
the most expensive type of bike lane.
 Cycle Tracks – a hybrid between a bike lane and a separated bike path. Usually separated by
bollards or landscaping.
o Bollards are not required to keep cars off the bike paths. Paths can be designed so that cars
can’t get in.
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The biggest potential for being hit on a bicycle is not from behind, but being doored, car
occupants opening doors without checking for bicyclists. Worst case is the right handle bar of
the bicycle gets hit by the door, turning the front wheel of the bike to the right, and the bicyclist
to be ejected from the bike into the car lane where they subsequently get hit by a car.
Roundabouts and Traffic Circles
 The difference between the two is the diameter, and the angle of deflection of the splitter
islands
Other treatments which have potential
 Colored bike lanes, especially at major conflict points
 Bike box – A box that is painted on the road surface in front of motor vehicles at signaled
intersections. The bicyclist has the right of way first when the light turns green.
 Bicycle Boulevard – an enhancement of a bicycle route. This is for slow moving traffic like
through neighborhoods, the boulevard has the right of way, and all stop signs face away
from the boulevard giving the bicyclists the right of way. Some places local vehicular traffic
is permitted, but at slower speeds. The bicycle lanes are typically in the middle of the road.
Manager Bustos also touched on bike storage, bike parking, and good bike racks. The best bike
racks have the ability to lock a wheel and the frame of the bicycle to a rack.
ADJOURNMENT