CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. -- A new project in Citrus County is promoting exercise and art at the same time.
- Project promotes exercise and art
- Bike racks will be installed for community use
- Artists will design the cutout featured on the racks
If you drive by Citrus Oral and Facial Surgery in Crystal River, you may notice something different out front. It's not a lawn decoration. It's a bike rack for the community to use.
"I just love cycling always have since I had a paper route at 11," Dr. Robert Brockett said. "I've been a commuter on a bicycle."
Brockett and his business partner Dr. Rushi Patel are the first to have one of these racks installed.
An avid cycler himself, Brockett hopes it will encourage others to hop on two wheels too.
"When I grew up we went outside playing when it was dark. I rode my bicycle to school. Kids don't do that much anymore," he said.
The Citrus Cultural Alliance is spearheading the project. The idea is to have different artists create designs for the bicyclist cutout and place them throughout the county.
Julie Weaks is the artist behind the first piece of artwork. It depicts images of breast cancer awareness as well as Florida's natural beauty.
"Kind of my signature are turtles in most of my art so I had to include one of those," Weaks said. "Always as an artist I didn't really have a lot of confidence but this really helped build my confidence."
"The artist I thought did a really great job," Brockett said.
And Brockett hopes to soon see many more bike racks put up all over the county.
"To promote this county as a cycle-friendly county I'm all for that," he said.
Withlacoochee Technical College also plays a role in this project, helping to put the racks together.
If you're interested in getting involved, visit the Citrus Cultural Alliance website.