They Pedal with a Purpose
FSU officer leads 1,100-mile journey for safety awareness
April 18, 2006

By MICHON ASHMORE

TALLAHASSEE - Two Tampa area cyclists are helping to draw attention to alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths by participating in a 12-day, 1,100-mile bike ride across the state to promote alcohol and seat belt awareness.

The goal of the journey is to promote public awareness of safe driving and to raise money for Florida Stay Alive From Education Inc., a 16-year-old nonprofit education organization dedicated to reducing teen injuries and fatalities that result from impaired driving.

"Any awareness we can raise, I'm all for it," said Billy Poertner, one of the Tampa cyclists. "I think it's phenomenal."

Poertner, 33, and Shawn Carroll, 42, along with four other cyclists, kicked off the campaign Monday in Tallahassee. They'll make stops in Gainesville, Orlando, Boca Raton and Miami before ending their trip in Tampa on April 28.

Poertner and Carroll are firefighters with Tampa Fire Rescue. They said they've seen many people in drunken driving accidents and have seen the effects of not wearing a seat belt.

"I've seen a lot of tragedy that's avoidable if young adults would make different choices," Carroll said.

The 1,100-mile bike ride represents the approximately 1,100 alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities reported each year by the Florida Highway Patrol.