The Sunshine State

MysticOceansFL · 12-14-2011, 11:41 PM

Happy Holidays Floridians!!!!

Smiling · 01-25-2014, 10:01 AM

Hello Floridians,

Can anyone please explain to me why there are fluorescent spray-painted and festively decorated bikes chained to telephone poles and fences beside roads all over central Florida?

They seem to be randomly scattered about and not denoting nearby bike trails or anything.

Just wondering if anyone else has seen this and has any idea why.

Thank you!

C0LLETTE · 01-25-2014, 10:18 AM

In Ontario those denote locations of fatal accidents involving victims on bikes. Hoping that's not the case in Florida on any large scale.

Smiling · 01-25-2014, 10:25 AM

Given their joyous presentations, I'd venture to say not. I had wondered that at first, too, though. As many as I've seen pop up recently, I imagine it would be all over the news that there was some sort of recent bike accident epidemic.

They are really fun looking, actually. I want to get on one and ride off into the sunset with it, lol.

C0LLETTE · 01-25-2014, 10:34 AM

OK, glad to hear it. Oddly enough, the commemorative bikes here are quite festive and colourful too...and far too numerous. I do hope you are right and this is just some group's way of reminding folks of the pleasures of biking. It's still early in the day and I'm sure some informed Floridian will be awake soon enough to give you an answer lol. Good luck

Jesse · 01-25-2014, 11:45 AM

The ones that are painted and decorated, (usually with flowers and such) are generally, as Collette said, locations of fatal bike accidents.

The ones that are painted solid orange, if there are any left, were used as a marketing ploy for a new fitness center called Orange Theory Fitness or something like that.

A couple of years before the orange ones, there were some blue ones making the rounds that were basically just put there by a couple of guys to give people something else to look at other than everyday stuff and to give them a reason to smile. They would move these bikes to new locations every few days. They were down in south Florida.

Then there are the eight multicolored mystery bikes. No one but the artist knows the reason for these supposedly.

This colored bike phenomena has been going on since early 2000 as far as I know. I think it's a great marketing strategy personally, and quite inexpensive to boot.

Smiling · 01-25-2014, 11:54 AM

Thank you, Jesse! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.

I had no idea about any of this. How interesting! Now I'm going to have to look more closely at them in my travels to see exactly how many of each type there are around, but I have seen quite a few on my commute to work and around my apartment complex.

One of them is multi-colored with Hawaiian-style garlands all over it. I'm not sure how to categorize that one, but I will observe it more carefully next time.

12-14-2011, 11:41 PM	#1
MysticOceansFL Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Butch, Preferred Pronoun?: People call me by my nic name. Relationship Status: Not Single, Not Desperate. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 3,833 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,645 Thanked 4,033 Times in 1,720 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	Happy Holidays Floridians!!!! __________________ Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. It is said, " Some lives are linked across time..... Connected by an ancient calling that echoes through the ages "......

01-25-2014, 10:01 AM	#2
Smiling Senior Member How Do You Identify?: with a distinct flair Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: somewhere else Posts: 1,852 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7,623 Thanked 4,388 Times in 1,009 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	? Hello Floridians, Can anyone please explain to me why there are fluorescent spray-painted and festively decorated bikes chained to telephone poles and fences beside roads all over central Florida? They seem to be randomly scattered about and not denoting nearby bike trails or anything. Just wondering if anyone else has seen this and has any idea why. Thank you! __________________ Beauty is truth's smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror. -Rabindranath Tagore

01-25-2014, 10:18 AM	#3
C0LLETTE Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Depends on the day. Preferred Pronoun?: "I" and "we" Relationship Status: Very good. Thank you for asking. Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 11,501 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,676 Thanked 15,175 Times in 4,338 Posts Rep Power: 21474860	In Ontario those denote locations of fatal accidents involving victims on bikes. Hoping that's not the case in Florida on any large scale. __________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

01-25-2014, 10:25 AM	#4
Smiling Senior Member How Do You Identify?: with a distinct flair Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: somewhere else Posts: 1,852 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7,623 Thanked 4,388 Times in 1,009 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Given their joyous presentations, I'd venture to say not. I had wondered that at first, too, though. As many as I've seen pop up recently, I imagine it would be all over the news that there was some sort of recent bike accident epidemic. They are really fun looking, actually. I want to get on one and ride off into the sunset with it, lol. __________________ Beauty is truth's smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror. -Rabindranath Tagore

01-25-2014, 10:34 AM	#5
C0LLETTE Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Depends on the day. Preferred Pronoun?: "I" and "we" Relationship Status: Very good. Thank you for asking. Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 11,501 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,676 Thanked 15,175 Times in 4,338 Posts Rep Power: 21474860	OK, glad to hear it. Oddly enough, the commemorative bikes here are quite festive and colourful too...and far too numerous. I do hope you are right and this is just some group's way of reminding folks of the pleasures of biking. It's still early in the day and I'm sure some informed Floridian will be awake soon enough to give you an answer lol. Good luck __________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

01-25-2014, 11:45 AM	#6
Jesse Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Transguy Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: single Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central West Coast of Florida Posts: 5,204 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 34,866 Thanked 17,785 Times in 3,940 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	The ones that are painted and decorated, (usually with flowers and such) are generally, as Collette said, locations of fatal bike accidents. The ones that are painted solid orange, if there are any left, were used as a marketing ploy for a new fitness center called Orange Theory Fitness or something like that. A couple of years before the orange ones, there were some blue ones making the rounds that were basically just put there by a couple of guys to give people something else to look at other than everyday stuff and to give them a reason to smile. They would move these bikes to new locations every few days. They were down in south Florida. Then there are the eight multicolored mystery bikes. No one but the artist knows the reason for these supposedly. This colored bike phenomena has been going on since early 2000 as far as I know. I think it's a great marketing strategy personally, and quite inexpensive to boot. __________________ “You’re so hard on yourself. Take a moment. Sit back. Marvel at your life: at the grief that softened you, at the heartache that widened you, at the suffering that strengthened you. Despite everything, you still grow. Be proud of this.”

01-25-2014, 11:54 AM	#7
Smiling Senior Member How Do You Identify?: with a distinct flair Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: somewhere else Posts: 1,852 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7,623 Thanked 4,388 Times in 1,009 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Thank you, Jesse! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I had no idea about any of this. How interesting! Now I'm going to have to look more closely at them in my travels to see exactly how many of each type there are around, but I have seen quite a few on my commute to work and around my apartment complex. One of them is multi-colored with Hawaiian-style garlands all over it. I'm not sure how to categorize that one, but I will observe it more carefully next time. __________________ Beauty is truth's smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror. -Rabindranath Tagore Last edited by Smiling; 01-25-2014 at 11:58 AM. Reason: Adding that yes; I have noticed at least 2 orange bikes in the mix.