VENICE, Fla. -- With year round sunshine, Florida is a popular place for bike riding, but it's also the most deadly state in the country for cyclists.
"I've had people cut in front of me even though I had the right of way," said longtime cyclist Everett Baker. "School buses, trucks, you name it. Some people respect and others just don't."
A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control says that an average of more than 100 cyclists are killed every year in Florida
"Not enough people who drive cars ride bikes and know what it feels like to be intimidated when a car is less than a meter away from you passing you on the left hand side," said cyclist Lenny Sales.
Bike advocate Monty Andrews is working hard to change that statistic in the City of Venice. Though Venice is one of the more bike-friendly cities in the state, Andrews says safety still isn't where it needs to be. He's advocated for bike paths, larger bike lanes and more signage, but he says that, above all else, education prevents accidents from happening.He holds monthly classes and publishes articles in the local paper to raise awareness.
"It's our responsibility to teach both cyclists and motorists the rules of the road regarding cycling," said Andrews. "Most vehicle drivers don't realize it, but the bicyclists have the same right as the motorists on the road."
