Looks like we are on for the 2012 GEICO Road Safety Bicycle Tour. The dates are

set for February 19-23. The ride begins in Orlando on 2/20 (2/19 is an

assembly/team meeting day) and snakes through Tampa, back up through

Gainesville, and finally ends in Tallahassee. The team of riders will hit UCF,

USF, UF, and of course, FSU, and be spreading the word about road safety,

including DUI, seatbelt, bike, speed, and car-surfing education. The team is

populated by stake holders and people closely affected by traffic safety,

including first responders, survivors, medical professionals, and students. Two

crew members lost their only sons in traffic crashes. The team is motivated and

dedicated to using the tour as a platform to get the word out. I also

personally like the light it puts cyclists in. In all, the ride ends up being 4

consecutive centuries bookended by media events. A tough ride, physically,

mentally, and frankly, emotionally.

 

The riders and crew are coming together, but I wanted to extend to our

cycling, public safety, and fitness community an invitation to apply if you are interested

in being a partof something amazing. We have completed this tour in 2006, 2007, and 2011 and

the impact has been profound. NHTSA listed it as a Best Traffic Safety

Marketing Practice. I expect we will have one or two rider slots open and one

or two crew slots.

 

Riders should be excellent bike handlers, be able to ride distance, have

positive team personalities, and be well versed in traffic safety concepts.

They should also not be camera shy.

 

Crew should be ready to work hard for the riders over the course of 5 days, and

ensure the riders are always hydrated, fed, encouraged, and rested. Crewing is

hard, and crew also need to be ready to speak in front of a camera and in front

of a crowd.

 

The ride is fully supported -- all food, drinks, hotels, and jerseys are

provided by our sponsoring organizations. Law enforcement escorts are provided

the entire way, as well as SAG, and even ambulance support. The ride has been

integrated as a traffic safety awareness program by several public safety

agencies, which makes for a great partnership.

 

If you are interested, contact me JLRussell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ph: 850-644-2900. There

is a qualification ride (riders) at your expense so I can get a look at your KSA's and

this is currently planned for January 7th in Gainesville - a 200K (125mi) ride.

If this is an extreme hardship, still call or email me and we can maybe set up a

long ride with some people. There is a written application too, as well as the

(of course) waiver.

 

Visit our FB page too - Road Safety Week -- GEICO Road Safety Bicycle Tour. 

 

Thanks - ride safe!