This Week's Visit To South Florida

This week I paid a visit to South Florida to see family and a few friends, too. I was able to bike from Boca Raton to Fort Lauderdale, where I stopped in and saw my old newspaper -- the Sun-Sentinel.

Here's my pal Juan Ortega, who I first met when he was a young buck out of the University of Florida working at Florida Today. He writes about breaking news in the mornings these days at the Sun-Sentinel.


If you recall the famous 100-mile Dunkin' Donuts bicycle ride to celebrate the Rays making the playoffs last season, it was because my friend Toby here at Tilson saw the potential of bicycles and baseball and donuts. Toby does public relations work for Dunkin' and we collobarated on the fun 100-mile ride last September on a Sunday. It began at my house and ended at Tropicana Field and in between I visited 13 Dunkin' Donuts stores along a 100-mile route -- a vow I fulfilled when I promised to visit as many Dunkin' Donut stores as possible along a 100-mile route.

Here's Toby at his Boca Raton office.


One of the cool backdoor bike roads is Old Dixie Highway between Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield Beach. It's a four-laner with a sweet bike lane on the side along the freight railroad tracks.


Along old Dixie Highway is the famed Goodyear blimp hangar. Pompano Beach.


Fort Lauderdale High School has one of my favorite mascots -- the Flying L's.


One of the great high school logos -- The Flying L's.

Time For The River Ride

This morning the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club held its monthly intermediate ride -- this one was the famed River Ride, an easy ride on the streets around Hillsborough River.

We had 18 cyclists, including several kids.


Off and riding.


That's us -- like the jersey says, Seminole Heights Bicycle Club.


Margaret and Dale chat on the road.


Here's Will, a first-timer on a club ride. He has lived in the SH neighborhood his whole life near Hillsborough High.


The beauty of our bike club -- so many different types of bicycles.


Jack "Ghost Rider" Sweeney and son Gray. Jack is sporting the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club jersey


Great message" "Pass Gas Just Ride"


Jose enjoys sporting the Tampa BayCycle vest. He's become a regular on SHBC rides.


Almost back to the home base at the Garden Center.


Oh so obvious.

Trying To Avoid Being Doored

I was doored twice while bike-commuting in New York City. It's no fun to be struck by a door swinging open and then falling to the pavement. Lucky for me, no broken bones. Just sore ribs and collarbone.

My pal Picot Floyd sent a cool link on the subject.

Ciclovia In Clearwater Set For April 26

Just a reminder: The Ciclovia Event in Clearwater that was washed out by rain on March 1 is rescheduled for Sunday April 26.

Tampa PD Assistant Chief Advises Gandy Bridge Is Open And Legal For Bicyclists

Tampa Assistant Police Chief Jane Castor, who is a bicycle rider herself, called me Thursday to inform me that she has sent out a memo to TPD officers advising them that the Gandy Bridge is open and accessible for bicycle riders.

We had a good talk and I hope bicyclists will no longer be stopped by Tampa police officers on the Gandy Bridge.

Please let me know if you or anyone you know is stopped.

Assistant Chief Castor likes to bike the San Antonio area and supports the local Police Unity Tour.

Growth of Retail Bicycle Stores in the Tampa Bay Area

Business writer Ted Jackovics of the Tampa Tribune did a cool story on the growth of retail bicycle stores in the Tampa Bay region.

Nice mention of SWFBUD here.

It's Legal To Bicycle Across The Gandy Bridge

I want to share a letter I wrote today informing the city of Tampa to please instruct its police officers to not stop bicyclists from crossing the Gandy Bridge. Tim Butts, president of the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, has informed me that Tampa police have stopped cyclists on at least two occasions.


Dear Mayor Iorio, Mr. Daignault, Mr. Lee, Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Edge,

I want to bring to your attention that several officers of the city of Tampa Police Department have stopped road cyclists from crossing the Gandy Bridge even though the state Department of Transportation says it is LEGAL to cross the Gandy Bridge by bicycle. While I personally have not been stopped by a Tampa police officer when I biked across the Gandy Bridge, the president of the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club has informed me that Tampa officers have stopped bicyclists on two occasions. As you know, the Friendship Trail has been closed and it's imperative that the Gandy Bridge be open for road bicyclists because now it's the only link between Tampa and St. Petersburg for cyclists.

Local DOT Secretary Donald Skelton also informed me via email that he instructed DOT staff to install "Share the Road" signs on both sides of the Gandy Bridge so that drivers would be aware that bicyclists might be on the bridge. Those signs are now up. Keep in mind bicyclists use the wide shoulders to cross the Gandy Bridge and do not interfere with motorized traffic.

I am requesting you to please remind the city of Tampa police department that it is LEGAL to cross the Gandy Bridge by bicycle. Below I have attached the email from Tim Butts, president of the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club.

Thank you for your time.

Alan Snel

Director of South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers (SWFBUD)
www.swfbud.blogspot.com



Yes, once at the end of January a City of Tampa Police officer stopped us as we (4 of us) were heading back into Tampa returning from the Saturday morning club ride. He was polite and professional and listed to our discussion (that it was legal to cycle on the bridge) and ultimately agreed that he was not sure riding on the bridge was illegal (or legal). The next week I communicated with the City of Tampa Attorney ’s Office about that issue. Kirby Rainsberger – of the COT Attorney’s Office - agreed that cycling on the Bridge was legal and that would be communicated to all police officers. Subsequently, Lori Snively, FDOT D7 Cycling Coordinator, wrote an e-mail restating that and indicating that information would be provided to all area law enforcement (COT Police, Pinellas County Sheriff, FHP, etc.) Problem solved.

However, a few weeks ago (I believe it was the afternoon of the March 21st) a buddy of mine was stopped west-bound on the bridge just east of the hump by a COT Police Officer who was not polite (per my friend, I was not there) and who threatened to arrest – not just ticket - the cyclists if he did not return to Tampa by riding (illegally) east-bound on the west-bound bridge. I again communicated that to the COT Attorneys Office who said they would circulate that information to all police officers, particularly traffic enforcement. Problem solved - maybe.

I am interested to know if others have been stopped. I can understand – somewhat – if a few officers did not “get the memo”, but if this is a common occurrence than that needs to be addressed.