[Joe_Ryder]

What coastal city in Florida would you consider to be the most bicycle friendly?

By friendly, I mean reasonably safe for a 10-year-old kid. I can ride anywhere and am very aware of all the neat and interesting little tricks drivers can pull but for my kid I'm hoping to find a place where he's reasonably safe.

My son has been riding bicycles and motorcycles since he was 3 so he's very skilled but like any other kid, he doesn't really grasp the gravity of the situation. He can tell you that when a bike and a car meet, the car always wins but still. If you have a kid, you can relate.

Recommendations? Thanks.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Florida is not very bike friendly in most places for
commuters. By far and away the highest death(murder) rate
for cyclists in the country. It varies from place to place though...
If you stick to A1A or other scenic routes, you should
be OK. There are some great trails, too.

Here is a link you might find interesting:
Florida Bicycle Association

[On-da-Beach]

Well, now that the entire state of Florida has been thrown under the bus...

Not many cyclist murders here on 30A...

There's an 18 mile bike path along 30A here in Walton County with some awesome scenery. Also, state parks to bike through.

30A traffic will typically stop for bikes and pedestrians to cross.

The panhandle is still part of Florida...maybe the best part

[annerk]

There's a bike/walking path that runs alongside 1A from Sebastion Inlet Park down to the St. Lucie area. That's a good 15-20 miles of riding, and there are some great little places to stop for a casual meal along the way as well.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Originally Posted by On-da-Beach

Well, now that the entire state of Florida has been thrown under the bus...

Not many cyclist murders here on 30A...

Florida has by far and away the highest death rate for cyclists
of any state in the USA. Three times higher than CA, even.
That is fact, not "Throwing under the bus".
Commuting is very different than sightseeing along a shore road
and I specified that. If someone sticks to a park or scenic route
they will be Ok, most likely. Stray outside and your risk factor
skyrockets. People should be aware of this on the off-chance they
are coming from, or think they are coming to a bike friendly
environment.

[On-da-Beach]

Well, the most recent figures I found were from 2007.

Florida had 119 bicycle deaths (highest state)
California had 109 (not 1/3 as claimed)
New York (a distant 3rd) had 51

Much of Fl. and Cal. rate was due to... ready? Tourists on rented bikes and were unfamiliar with their surroundings. Not to mention, there is a huge number of the populace that ride daily.

So, I submit that it isn't the state that's dangerous... it's the careless riders and drivers. Much like the tourists who were brought out of the water by the beach patrol due to the rip current, then went back in later and drowned. Florida's fault I guess.

Look, it sounded like 'don't ride a bike in Florida 'cuz you'll probably be killed' and that's not right.

[daytonadewd]

Originally Posted by Joe_Ryder

What coastal city in Florida would you consider to be the most bicycle friendly?

By friendly, I mean reasonably safe for a 10-year-old kid. I can ride anywhere and am very aware of all the neat and interesting little tricks drivers can pull but for my kid I'm hoping to find a place where he's reasonably safe.

My son has been riding bicycles and motorcycles since he was 3 so he's very skilled but like any other kid, he doesn't really grasp the gravity of the situation. He can tell you that when a bike and a car meet, the car always wins but still. If you have a kid, you can relate.

Recommendations? Thanks.

Not certain if your OP is regarding for a visit or to move?

I'm an avid cyclist. But I'm also an adult.

As a sweeping generalization, most coastal cities usually have more dense populations and traffic than the rural inland areas. Most coastal cities will also usually have some decent public parks or bike trails -- but that doesn't mean they will be close by where you will be staying. Many State parks have paved trails which are great for cycling, but you have to research how crowded they can get so there's room for your child to wander without much worry.

If you're planning a move, I do know that Celebration (inland, near Orlando) and some new town on the Panhandle coast (can't remember name now) were specifically designed to be more pedestrian/cyclist friendly, instead of focusing on cars.

Key West and Daytona Beach are great places to rent scooters and zip about town as a tourist, but may be too urbanized driving for junior.

Remember, Florida is full of senior and cell phone drivers. I just had one today pull out in front of me while I was in a car. If you're also unfamiliar with the traffic in the area, this also makes a big difference.

I guess I'd stick with the quiet park trails.

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by On-da-Beach

Well, the most recent figures I found were from 2007.

Much of Fl. and Cal. rate was due to... ready? Tourists on rented bikes and were unfamiliar with their surroundings. Not to mention, there is a huge number of the populace that ride daily.

Since there isn't much in the way of public transportation in the state, you also get a lot of people who don't or can't have a driver's license who end up as not careful bike commuters. They're riding home from work at night, on busy streets, and are often not terribly careful, and that group ends up being a pretty large share of the cyclist serious injuries and deaths.

And a lot of times, the cyclists are their own worst enemies. Spouse was driving to work today and nearly hit a teenage cyclist who was swerving in and out of the bike lane on a 45-50mph highway because he was texting while biking.

[HeartofFlorida]

Try St. George Island. Very little traffic and quiet.