BIKE SAFETY GROUP SELLS CLOTHING DESIGNED FOR KEY WEST

Bart Kahler, Charles Cole and Anne Barnett in November 2020 celebrated the launch of Jump Start, a bike recycling program for homeless people, organized by Cornerstone Resource Alliance, which operates Key West’s homeless shelter. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed

Are you a cyclist or athlete? Want to promote bicycle safety and awareness, as well as Key West, and look good while doing it?

Road cyclist Richard Cahlin has launched a statewide nonprofit Bicycle Action Committee that encourages businesses and city governments to support bike safety and awareness. “Through the sale of city-specific bike clothing, the Bicycle Action Committee raises money to be given back to the cities to spend on local bike projects and initiatives,” states the organization’s website at bicycleactioncommittee.com.

Cahlin launched the committee in 2008 to encourage “Share the Road” awareness, while acknowledging that both cars and bicycles have a responsibility toward each other to know and obey the rules.

The statewide Bicycle Action Committee sells bicycle clothing designed for participating cities, and then donates the profits back to the city for use on bike safety awareness programs. CONTRIBUTED

“We partner with cities and put the city name, colors and city seal on high-performance bicycle clothing with ‘Share the Road’ messaging,” Cahlin told the Keys Weekly after Key West signed on to participate. “We raise the $6,000 or $7,000 from private sector donations to pay for rustburgpharmacy.com/eszopiclone the clothing, and then we donate any funds raised above that back to the city. We also donate 100 outfits to the cities to raffle off or give away at bicycle awareness events.”

The committee is active in 20 Florida cities, but Cahlin, an accountant by trade, hopes to make the initiative nationwide as soon as he finds enough time.

“I went through the proper channels with the city and got approved for Key West, and now I’m working with the Key West Chamber of Commerce to help spread the word,” Cahlin said.For more information, or to order an outfit, visit bicycleactioncommittee.com.

Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.