SOUTH BROWARD WHEELERS

FACT SHEET

Who are the South Broward Wheelers?

With over 300 members, SBW is South Florida’s largest and most active recreational cycling club. Incorporated as a not-for-profit 501C(4) organization since 1984, SBW’s mission is to provide the community with an organization offering safe, organized bicycle rides and to promote and advocate bicycle safety and the use of the bicycle as a healthy, non-polluting alternative mode of transportation. The club encourages people to bicycle and demonstrates that they can have fun and safe rides in our urbanized area. SBW also aims to increase the level of community awareness of safe bicycling (in an area with the highest number of bicycle fatalities in Florida).

What is the SBW Century?

The SBW Century is an event that consists of 100-mile (full century), 62-mile (metric century), and 28-mile (family) rides (not races) held in Broward County. It has been held annually since 1984 and is the largest and most popular recreational bicycling event in South Florida. It is fully supported with rest stops, maps, safety and SAG patrols, lunch, massages, and first aid.

What are some of the reasons for the event?

The primary reasons for the SBW Century are to promote cycling in Broward County and to raise money to help SBW support community bicycling programs in Broward County and around Florida. In its largest program last year, SBW donated 180 new bicycles, helmets, and locks – as well as other items and safety information – as holiday gifts for children in programs run by ChildNet, Women in Distress, the Children’s Home Society, The Village South, Community Enhancement Collaboration, and Covenant House. Since 2002, SBW has donated 650 bicycles to children who otherwise would not have them.

SBW also has a Helmets For Kids program, which provides free helmets to local children (helmets are required by law for children under age 16). SBW holds free “bike rodeos,” in which children are taught how to bicycle safely. Children who attend these rodeos without helmets are given one free of charge.

In addition, over the past several years, SBW has provided support for many groups, including:

v Broward County schools and the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division (through bike safety programs)

v Broward Sheriff’s Office and other police agencies

v Police Athletic League youth cycling development programs

v The Broward County Advisory Committee

v Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

v Florida Bicycle Association

v Multiple Sclerosis Society

v Lance Armstrong Foundation

How many people participate in the Century?

Generally, between 300 and 400 riders participate in the SBW Century event. Nearly 3,000 registration brochures are distributed throughout the tri-county area each year.