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At mile 40 of the 50-mile Bridges ride, I saw my usual pals in a watery area off the U-Path trail behind the Hyatt Hotel near the airport.
Close-up of the roseate spoonbills.
They're Back -- Roseate Spoonbills Hanging Out Off U-Path Trail
At mile 40 of the 50-mile Bridges ride, I saw my usual pals in a watery area off the U-Path trail behind the Hyatt Hotel near the airport.
Close-up of the roseate spoonbills.
Good-bye 2011 From A Kayak On The Hillsborough River
On the final day of 2011 Bicycle Stories becomes Kayak Stories as a I paddled -- not pedaled -- my vehicle on the Hillsborough River and enjoyed stunning views of the river and homes that I usually see from the road.
My arms became my legs and I churned the serene waters of the Hillsborough River from the Lowry Park boat ramp to the dam on the river next to Rowlett Park -- some 2 1/2 hours of paddling amid a wonderful array of water birds, trees and views.
Let's start paddling!
What a cool bridge! I usually see it from the road on Park Circle in Seminole Heights -- now my vantage point is the Hillsborough River.
Fans of Bicycle Stories may have seen photos of the famed Hanna's Circle section of the Hillsborough River from the shore, but now I'm smack in the middle of this wonderful bend in the river.
There's Faye, saying hey on the river. We'll see Wes, Faye's hubby, on the way back.
I'm heading to the train bridge next to Rowlett Park Drive.
Yes, I made it to the dam.
Below the train bridge.
One of my favorite photos today.
There's the wonderful Wes from the perch of his amazing back yard on Park Circle. Wes is with his granddaughter.
I normally see this bridge while walking on Park Circle, but from the water I get a front=row look at this small bridge.
Woot -- I'm in the middle of Hanna's Swirl.
The water birds are amazing.
This was one of my favorite houses because of the work beneath the main floor.
Trees look so natural from the water.
The old vacant Harbor Club looks sad.
On the way back I saw the tower once more.
Four Women Ride For Bicycle Safety
Four ambitious women are undertaking a cross country endurance ride that will kick off in Key West on February 5, 2012 and culminate in San Francisco in late April.
Two sisters, Jeanie and Chelsea Ward-Waller, their mother, Jane, and close friend Stephanie Palmer are riding across America to benefit the bicycle safety advocacy efforts of the League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
Dubbed "Ride America for Safe Routes" (RASR), their ride follows a route traversing 13 southern states and 20 major cities, logging over 5,000 miles between Florida and California.
The mission of RASR is to raise $50,000 for the League’s Bike Friendly America program and for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs in local communities.
In addition, the RASR Team will advocate the critical need for bike safety and promote the public health benefits of bicycling through events with local bicycle groups and SRTS programs in communities along their route.
See the RASR website at http://rideforsaferoutes.blogspot.com or contact rideforsaferoutes@gmail.com for more information on the Ride and to support a future of bike-friendly communities.
Come out and ride with the RASR riders in Tampa on February 12, 2012.
read more...
Two sisters, Jeanie and Chelsea Ward-Waller, their mother, Jane, and close friend Stephanie Palmer are riding across America to benefit the bicycle safety advocacy efforts of the League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
Dubbed "Ride America for Safe Routes" (RASR), their ride follows a route traversing 13 southern states and 20 major cities, logging over 5,000 miles between Florida and California.
The mission of RASR is to raise $50,000 for the League’s Bike Friendly America program and for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs in local communities.
In addition, the RASR Team will advocate the critical need for bike safety and promote the public health benefits of bicycling through events with local bicycle groups and SRTS programs in communities along their route.
See the RASR website at http://rideforsaferoutes.blogspot.com or contact rideforsaferoutes@gmail.com for more information on the Ride and to support a future of bike-friendly communities.
Come out and ride with the RASR riders in Tampa on February 12, 2012.
SWFBUD Works With Reps Cruz and Harrison To Build BAM Network
By Alan Snel
SWFBUD Director
(South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers)
Democrats and Republicans don't agree on much these days but when it comes to local, back yard issues, SWFBUD has been able to unite Democratic state legiuslator Janet Cruz and Republican state legislator Shawn Harrison behind a SWFBUD initiative -- building the BAM Network.
The BAM stands for "Bicycle Area Mobility" and it centers on SWFBUD's idea to get Tampa and Hillsborough County to partner on building a regional paved trail system that would unite the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail, the South Coast Greenway and the Selmon Greenway into one comprehensive highway system for bicyclists. The tri-trail BAM Network would interface with roads with bike lanes like Fletcher Avenue and also HART bus routes.
Cruz and Harrison both attended the SWFBUD Bicycle Bash festival at beautiful Flatwoods Park on Nov. 6 and support bicycling. Rep. Harrison rode his bicycle with his son during the Bicycle Bash, while Rep. Cruz gave a speech at the Bash supporting bicycling in Tampa,
Bicycling transcends politics. Which is why SWFBUD sat down with Rep. Harrison recently to garner his support for the BAM Network. Rep. Cruz has backed the idea of paving a trail along the Bypass Canal Trail and making it part of the bigger BAM Network.
Rep. Harrison came up with the idea of co-writing a letter with Rep. Cruz supporting thr BAM Network and getting our local state legislators on both sides of the aisle in Tampa Bay to co-sign the letter that SWFBUD plans to share with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, the Tampa City Council members and the Hillsborough County Commissioners. Commissioner Mark Sharpe is already a big advocate of the BAM Network and wants to see it built.
SWFBUD thanks Reps. Harrison and Cruz for stepping up and agreeing to co-write this BAM Network letter and for getting the local state legislator delegation to support SWFBUD's multi-trail system idea in Hillsborough County.
The BAM consists of three trails that would make up more than 30 miles of paved trails to provide effective transportation and a safe haven for our many local bicyclists.
The BAM can't be built fast enough as three more Tampa Bay bicyclists were killed by motorists in three days over the Christmas holiday weekend.
SWFBUD is already making strides with the BAM. SWFBUD has successfully lobbied the local MPO to conduct a feasibility study of the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail crossings, while the South Coast Greenway is in the MPO's 2035 Long Range Plan. The MPO has already had an open house for a consultant to preview the Selmon Greenway, too.
SWFBUD is asking you to also support the construction of all three trails as a cohesive unit and network of paved trails in Hillsborough County and Tampa that would interface with local road bike lanes and HART routes. As you know, the Hillsborough/Tampa area has a high bicyclist fatality rate and bicyclists need safe places to ride their vehicles.
SWFBUD offers several benefits of the BAM Network:
Economic impact: A trio of bicycle paths in Orange County, Fla. pumps $42 million into the local economy annually and supports 516 jobs, according to a study conducted by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-trails-economic-impact-20111017,0,3028584.story
Tourism: Trails promote Florida tourism.
http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2009/07/02/bike_florida_trail_boosts_sust/
Health benefits: Bicycling is a great exercise that promotes wellness and fitness.
http://www.adultbicycling.com/component/content/article/9-bicycling-basics/37-health-benefits-of-cycling-ii.html
Jobs creation: Studies show trail projects create more jobs per dollar than roads.
http://seattlebikeblog.com/2011/07/28/trail-projects-in-seattle-create-more-jobs-per-dollar-than-roads/
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/career/employment/bike-paths-power-job-creation
Please write emails to your local elected officials asking them to support the BAM Network and attend public meetings to support the BAM. Let's turn Tampa and Hillsborough County around and go from worst to first in bicycle safety and bicyclist enjoyment.
Three Bicyclists Killed By Motorists In Three Days In Tampa Bay
The Christmas weekend in Tampa Bay was a deadly one for bicyclists.
A bicyclist was killed Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- three dead bicyclists in three days.
Motorists killed bicyclists on both sides of the Bay.
Friday in St. Petersburg: A motorist was charged with DUI manslaughter for the Friday hit-and-run death of a bicyclist in St. Petersburg. The driver of the motorized vehicle killed the bicyclist at 2:15 am. Read the Times story here.
Saturday near Brandon: A Plant City bicyclist riding his bike across U.S. 301 just north of State Road 60 was killed by a pickup at 6:40 am Saturday near Brandon. Read the Trib story here.
Sunday in Dover in Hillsborough County: A hit-and-run motorist killed a bicyclist on Sydney Dover Road at 6 pm Sunday. Read the Times story here.
The stories are breaking news items with not too much information. But if you look at the times of the motorists striking and killing the bicyclists, you will see that there was little or no daylight -- Friday at 2:15 am, Saturday at 6:40 am and Sunday at 6 pm.
This a reminder to light you and your bicycle up like a Christmas tree or a menorah so that you have the best chance to be seen by motorists when the daylight is dwindling or non-existent.
In two of the three cases this weekend, the motorist struck and killed bicyclists and drove away. That gives you a little sense of the character of the motorists around here.
In 2010, there were a dozen bicyclists killed by motorists in Hillsborough and with the two killed bicyclists in Hillsborough over the holiday weekend, the 2011 bicyclist death number hit eight. In 2011, the Pinellas County bicyclist death count hit 10 with the hit-and-run DUI manslaughter case in St. Petersburg.
read more...
A bicyclist was killed Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- three dead bicyclists in three days.
Motorists killed bicyclists on both sides of the Bay.
Friday in St. Petersburg: A motorist was charged with DUI manslaughter for the Friday hit-and-run death of a bicyclist in St. Petersburg. The driver of the motorized vehicle killed the bicyclist at 2:15 am. Read the Times story here.
Saturday near Brandon: A Plant City bicyclist riding his bike across U.S. 301 just north of State Road 60 was killed by a pickup at 6:40 am Saturday near Brandon. Read the Trib story here.
Sunday in Dover in Hillsborough County: A hit-and-run motorist killed a bicyclist on Sydney Dover Road at 6 pm Sunday. Read the Times story here.
The stories are breaking news items with not too much information. But if you look at the times of the motorists striking and killing the bicyclists, you will see that there was little or no daylight -- Friday at 2:15 am, Saturday at 6:40 am and Sunday at 6 pm.
This a reminder to light you and your bicycle up like a Christmas tree or a menorah so that you have the best chance to be seen by motorists when the daylight is dwindling or non-existent.
In two of the three cases this weekend, the motorist struck and killed bicyclists and drove away. That gives you a little sense of the character of the motorists around here.
In 2010, there were a dozen bicyclists killed by motorists in Hillsborough and with the two killed bicyclists in Hillsborough over the holiday weekend, the 2011 bicyclist death number hit eight. In 2011, the Pinellas County bicyclist death count hit 10 with the hit-and-run DUI manslaughter case in St. Petersburg.
Bicyclist Enjoys Hannukah Event In St. Petersburg
What happens when you combine a bicyclist who likes his helmet with a menorah=lighting ceremony? You get my new friend, who I met last night at the Hanukkuah event in downtown St. Petersburg.
read more...
Get Your Free Bike Rack In The USF Area
Are you a business in the USF area and want a bike rack?
Contact the New North Transportation Alliance, which provides FREE “inverted U” bike racks to qualified New North Area businesses that agree to install the racks.
The Alliance gave six "U" bike racks to the building that houses TBARTA at the USF Reaesrach Park. Here it is.
Each rack holds two bikes and can accommodate many types of bike locks. Racks can be easily bolted into any concrete surface. Contact Julie Bond at bond@cutr.usf.edu. She can hook you up with the free bike racks.
Nice job by the NNTA to offer free bike racks, which encourages bicycling. That's good for your business and the community.
read more...
Contact the New North Transportation Alliance, which provides FREE “inverted U” bike racks to qualified New North Area businesses that agree to install the racks.
The Alliance gave six "U" bike racks to the building that houses TBARTA at the USF Reaesrach Park. Here it is.
Each rack holds two bikes and can accommodate many types of bike locks. Racks can be easily bolted into any concrete surface. Contact Julie Bond at bond@cutr.usf.edu. She can hook you up with the free bike racks.
Nice job by the NNTA to offer free bike racks, which encourages bicycling. That's good for your business and the community.
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