NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA (352today.com) – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is promoting the use of alternative transportation during Mobility Week.

The ninth annual edition of this week, which will take place from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2, encourages Floridians to make safe, multimodal transportation choices.

“Mobility Week gives us the opportunity to connect with communities across Central Florida and showcase different ways of getting around – whether it’s biking, walking, ridesharing, or public transit,” said FDOT District Five Secretary John E. Tyler, P.E. “In partnership with local organizations, FDOT invites everyone to explore how new transportation options are safe and convenient alternatives for their daily commutes.”

FDOT says they are working with partners across Florida to host events and offer special promotions during Mobility Week. There are more than 50 planned events scheduled to take place in Central Florida, including:

  • BIKE 5 | 5 Miles, 5 Parks, 5 Cities. The eighth annual Bike 5 event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and is open to riders of any age and ability. It offers multiple ride options, such as biking in five cities, five miles, or five parks. FDOT’s Safe Mobility for Life Coalition will also share awareness of older adult safety and transportation choices at this event.
  • Try Transit Tuesday. Transit agencies like 321 Transit, LakeXpress, LYNX, SunRail, and SunTran offer free rides on Oct. 29 for Try Transit Tuesday, a day dedicated to encouraging Central Floridians to try a new mode of transportation. Participants can take transit to work, a fun destination, or one of Mobility Week’s in-person events. Votran is hosting rider appreciation events to thank riders for using public transit.
  • Ride Roll Stroll Challenge. The statewide multimodal challenge, Ride Roll Stroll, is currently taking place through Nov. 2. Participants can record their walking, biking, carpooling, and public transit trips for the chance to win prizes.

FDOT is creating a Mobility Week Virtual Conference Center for residents to learn more about their programs and initiatives throughout the week. After checking out the statewide initiatives in the “Main Hall,” visitors can take the “elevator” to visit virtual rooms from different regions.

Since the creation of Mobility Week in 2016, FDOT has highlighted a few of its statistics. They have partnered with more than 500 organizations, participated in around 1,000 events, provided over 500,000 free transit rides, and collectively rode 950,000 miles by bike.

For more information, visit the Mobility Week website.