Riding toward a solution

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Picot Floyd rides his bike to work each day. When he discovered Hillsborough County had installed a new concrete island in the middle of his bike lane on Fletcher Avenue, he said it forced him to enter vehicle travel lanes to get around it.

"Instead of being a safe commute, all of a sudden I'm forced to compete with 50 mile-per-hour traffic for the same space," Floyd said.

Instead of complaining directly to the county, Floyd contacted the Southwest Florida Bicycle United Dealers (SWIFTBUD) for help. Six Bay area bicycle dealers in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties formed the group in February to exert more influence over government policies involving bicyclists.

Coordinator Alan Snel said it's like a local lobbying group.

"I think by banding together and using our resources collectively, we're a strong voice out here on the landscape," Snel said.

The unusual partnership seems to be working. The county sent representatives to check out the problem on Fletcher Avenue and it's currently looking into possible solutions.

The bicycle dealers are competitive. They're in business to sell bicycles. But they also have a common cause - selling cycling to the general public. Part of that is making sure bicycling is safe for everyone.

David Luppino, who owns Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, said the dealers have put aside rivalries for the cause.

"If we can make bicyclists safer, and make cycling safer in the area, they're going to want to buy more bikes," Luppino said. "And also feel better out there. So it's good for everybody."

Floyd said the group can speak much louder than he could as an individual.

SWIFTBUD said it's already looking to expand its membership so it can expand its political influence.

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