I just called the Florida Legislation Administrative office to talk to Steven Fielder. He is the head of the Legislative Affairs (legislative and budgetary issues) portion of the DMV. It took great string pulling to get in contact with this guy, but I was able to do it. He works directly with the Senators of the state on all issues pertaining transportation. The last word I got from him in late November or so, is that the Senators only had one problem with allowing the gas motor bikes to ride in the state. That issue turned out to be” they didn’t want to be on a bicycle trail enjoying a ful ride and then get passed by a gas powered bicycle” I referred him to the Florida state statue 316.1995 which we both know prohibits anything other than human powered on sidewalks and bicycle paths. Once I armed him with that information, he was more than certain that there shouldn’t be any problems getting it passed, but anything can happen before now and then. The change to allow the gas bikes would be nothing more than removing the word “electric” from the definition of a bicycle. Very ingenious. No other law would need to be put in place. This change will be part of a bigger transportation bill that is being submitted. He told me that he knows how the Senators work out issues and for me to go to the press would be a bad thing. He told me that if he can get them to feel comfortable with the idea then it would bury itself in the bill and be forgotten. Steven has been on our side from the beginning and will do everything he can do get it passed. Turns out he is a big alternate fuel nut. He wants to see all kinds of alternate fueled vehicles on Florida roads. Our bikes fall right in to that class. If I don’t hear back from him by Friday I am going to call him on Monday. When I get that bill number I will surely spread it out for all to see. Till next time..