Bike/Walk Central Florida

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Bike/Walk Central Florida

We strive toward a connection and equitable transportation system that is safe and effective for all.

Bike/Walk Central Florida (BWCF) advocates for bike and pedestrian safety, the development and maintenance of recreational trails and complete streets in Central Florida. Bike/Walk Central Florida, a 501(c)(3) formed in 2010, promotes walkable and bikeable communities through raising public awareness and advocating for safe, active transportation, and recreation by:

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MISSION
BWCF educates and advocates to make communities more walkable, bikeable, and rollable. VISION
To transform Central Florida into a premiere biking and walking community. VALUES
Safety, Health, Civility, Transportation Choice, Collaboration, Equity, Transparency

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
• POLICY: Advocate, educate, and support policies and infrastructure that reduce serious and fatal bicycle and pedestrian crashes.
• PERCEPTION: Normalize walking and biking and foster a culture of courtesy among road users.
• PRACTICE: Get people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, and roll more.
• SUSTAIN: Ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization to achieve our mission.

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LEADERSHIP:
• Board Chair: Lisa Portelli
• Vice-Chair: Rick Geller, Esq.
• Founding Chairs: Linda Chapin; Hal Downing, Esq.
• Secretary: Christy Lofye, P.E.
• Treasurer: Kelly Brock, Ph.D., P.E. Board Members:
• Franki Gonzales
• Jamie Krzeminski
• Eliza Harris
• John Paul (JP) Weesner
• Douglas Henley II
• Vincent Hsu
• Tina Valeri
• Laura Turner
• Judith Cevelin Pizzo

Executive Director:
• Emily Hanna

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BIKE/WALK CENTRAL FLORIDA PROGRAMS:
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BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

In Central Florida on average, 3 people are injured every day, and at least 1 person is killed every week for doing something as simple as crossing the street. 14 percent of those fatalities in Central Florida occur in marked crosswalks. In 2012, the Best Foot Forward coalition formed on the belief that the status quo is unacceptable. The coalition comprised is of partners in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola Counties. As a pedestrian safety initiative, Best Foot Forward focuses on one simple, measurable goal: to get more drivers to yield and stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks, as Florida law requires. Best Foot Forward works to accomplish this goal using the proven, “Triple-E” approach of combining community education with low-cost engineering changes and high-visibility enforcement.

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BIKE 5 | 5 MILES, 5 PARKS, 5 CITIES | Advocacy Ride

Bike 5 Cities is a 30-mile regional bike ride for bicyclists of any age, experience, or ability level. It’s for those who want to discover where to comfortably ride their bikes through these five urban cities — whether it’s through a neighborhood, down a local trail, or to a shop, restaurant, or park in one of the five cities. Since its inaugural ride in 2017, the Bike 5 Cities Ride, the bike-friendly route map, and the push for awareness of the effort were all to further a greater goal of encouraging our decision-makers to build more bike-friendly roads with slow speeds and special infrastructures like cycle tracks and trails. As the movement has grown stronger, the Bike 5 Cities route has grown into a tool used to heighten awareness toward places that need safer connections while celebrating the comfortable places to ride that are already in place. The route isn’t just a one-day ride anymore, it’s about showing people how to get around on bike-friendly roads and enabling them to feel safe to travel between cities on two wheels.

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HEALTHY WEST ORANGE TRAILS CONNECTION

Healthy West Orange Trails Connection (HWOTC) promotes, activates, and enhances the trail system throughout West Orange to create opportunities for physical activity, social engagement, prosperity, and happiness. To fund the initiative, the Foundation for a Healthier West Orange and HWOTC have been entrusted with $5.5M from the West Orange Healthcare District to support the mission. The HWOTC Steering Committee will determine the best use of the funds, accelerating the implementation of projects that support walking, cycling, and wellness activities within the communities while improving multi-modal safety. The $5.5M grant also serves as seed money to attract additional investments in the region’s trails and enhance current and future trail projects. Bike/Walk Central Florida administers the coalition on behalf of its partners.

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CONNECT WITH US AROUND THE WEB
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RIDE WITH US!
• Strava Club: https://www.strava.com/clubs/270648
• Ride With GPS: https://ridewithgps.com/organizations/7613-bike-walk-central-florida
• Love To Ride: https://www.lovetoride.net/florida/groups/3916?group_invite=true&ic=d561efb0&locale=en-US

SUPPORT US!
• Candid. (Guidestar): https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-1958502
• Volunteer Match: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/org1221596.jsp

08/21/2026

🚲 Help make a difference for young riders in Sanford!

Next Saturday, Bike/Walk Central Florida's SAFE Travelers Youth Program is joining , Get Sanford Cycling, and for Sanford’s Youth Cycling Rodeo & Family Festival—and we’d love to have you there!

Volunteers will help create a fun, welcoming experience for kids and families while supporting bike safety activities and helmet fittings.

📅 Saturday, August 29
⏰ 7–11:30 a.m.
📍 Downtown Sanford

Come spend your Saturday morning helping kids build confidence, learn bike safety, and have fun on two wheels.

👉 Sign up to join us: https://bikewalkcentralflorida.app.neoncrm.com/forms/volunteer?opportunityId=236

08/20/2026

You don’t need to be a professional writer or have a long list of accomplishments to submit a nomination for the Wheel of Achievement Awards. A strong nomination simply helps us understand what the nominee did and why it matters.

When submitting your nomination:
• Be specific. Tell us what the person, project, organization, or initiative accomplished.
• Describe the impact. How did their work make a difference for walking, biking, or rolling?
• Share results. Include measurable outcomes, when available.
• Tell the story. A specific example or personal story can help bring the impact to life.

Most importantly, don’t overthink it. If you know someone making a difference, your nomination helps make sure their work gets recognized.

Self-nominations are welcome, too!

Submit your nomination by September 4: https://bit.ly/woa-nominate

08/19/2026

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Patra Stanley to the Bike/Walk Central Florida Board of Directors!

Patra brings a unique perspective shaped by her work in community leadership, real estate and land development, grassroots advocacy, and her leadership with The Life Cycle Club . Her commitment to bringing people together and strengthening communities aligns closely with our vision for a safer, healthier, and more connected Central Florida.

Learn more about Patra and the perspective she brings to BWCF: https://www.bikewalkcentralflorida.org/patra-stanley-joins-bwcf-board-with-a-passion-for-stronger-communities

08/18/2026

Child safety starts with simple habits that can make a big difference.

This Child Safety Awareness Month, here are a few ways to help kids stay safe on the move:
🚲 Wear a properly fitted helmet every time you ride a bike or scooter.
🚸 Use crosswalks and follow traffic signals when crossing the street.
👀 Look and listen for traffic before crossing and stay aware of your surroundings.
💡 Be visible by wearing bright or reflective clothing, especially when visibility is low.

And remember: kids are still learning. Give them the time, space, and guidance they need to practice safe habits and build confidence.

Together, we can help make everyday trips safer for kids and families.

Thank you to HDR for supporting safer communities and helping us share important safety messages with families throughout Central Florida.

08/17/2026

💚 Safer communities don’t happen by accident. They happen because people care—and take action.

This National Nonprofit Day, we’re celebrating the people who make our work possible: the volunteers who show up, the supporters who invest in our mission, the community members who speak up, and everyone who believes Central Florida can be a safer, healthier, more connected place to walk, bike, and roll.

But creating that future takes all of us.

Here’s how you can help:
🚲 Join us at an upcoming event
🙋 Volunteer your time and skills
📣 Speak up for safer streets in your community
💚 Make a donation to support our work
📲 Share our mission with someone who cares about safer communities

Every action—big or small—helps move us closer to a Central Florida where everyone can safely get where they need to go.

What will you do to help make our communities safer? Comment below or send us a DM to get involved!

08/15/2026

Ten years. Five cities. And a lot of BIKE 5 shirts.

As we celebrate 10 years of riding together, we’re taking a look back at some of the shirts that have marked the journey—and saving our newest design for last.

Swipe through the years, then meet the 10th Anniversary BIKE 5 shirt.

Designed to celebrate a decade of BIKE 5 and the five cities we ride through, this one is extra special.

Ready to make it part of your BIKE 5 collection? Register for the 10th Anniversary Ride on October 17 and get yours.

Register today: https://www.bikewalkcentralflorida.org/bike-5/2026

08/14/2026

Which Wheel of Achievement Award category fits your nominee?

With seven award categories, there are many ways to recognize the people, organizations, projects, policies, and ideas making a difference for walking, biking, and rolling across Florida.

Take a look at the categories and consider where your nominee’s work has made the greatest impact.

Know a person, organization, project, or initiative that deserves recognition? Self-nominations are
welcome, too.

Submit your nomination for the 2026–2027 Wheel of Achievement Awards: https://bit.ly/woa-nominate

08/13/2026

🎒🚲 Back to school means back to the daily trip to school.

Whether students are walking, biking, rolling, riding the bus, or getting dropped off, everyone has a role to play in making those trips safer.

This National Back to School Month, let’s help students start the school year on the right foot:
• Drivers: Slow down, stay alert, and watch for people crossing.
• Students: Stay aware of your surroundings and use crosswalks when walking or biking.
• Families: Practice your route and talk about safe ways to get to and from school.

Safe streets help students feel confident getting where they need to go—and make our communities better for everyone.

A special thank-you to for supporting our work to make walking, biking, and rolling safer throughout Central Florida. We’re grateful for your investment in safer communities.

08/12/2026

🚦 Two opportunities to have a voice in Orange County, Florida Government’s transportation decisions are happening tomorrow, August 13.

If you walk, bike, drive, or use transit in Orange County, these meetings are worth knowing about:

📍 Transportation Mobility Advisory Commission (TransMAC) Meeting
6–9 p.m. | Orange County Innovation Center
TransMAC will discuss transportation spending, mobility innovation, and past transportation expenditures—helping inform future transportation decisions in Orange County.

📍 Commissioner Mayra Uribe’s Crystal Lake Town Hall
6–7 p.m. | UF/IFAS Auditorium
The town hall will focus on a traffic study and transportation concerns in the Crystal Lake area, giving residents a chance to learn more and share their input.

Learn more and check meeting details through Orange County's Community Calendar: https://ocfl.net/Home/CountyCalendar.aspx

08/10/2026

🎬 Looking for some inspiration on how communities can become more walkable?

Walkable Volusia is hosting a free screening of Walkable USA on August 17 at Cinematique Theater. The documentary explores the history and revitalization of Hammond, Indiana, followed by a Q&A and discussion.

The evening will also include a raffle and giveaway!

🎟️ Admission is free, but space is limited. Check out Walkable Volusia’s post below for details and tickets.

Address

100 E. Pine Street Suite 110/74
Orlando, FL
32801

Website

http://www.bikewalkcentralflorida.org/

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