Thursday, October 27, 2011
Peopleforbikes.org Will Be At The Bicycle Bash
Today's Bicycle Bash message comes from Peopleforbikes.org -- a national bicycle organization that's coming from Boulder, Colo. for the Bash on NOV 6 at Flatwoods Park. They are looking forward to having Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn sign the peopleforbikes pledge to support bicycling in this country. Peopleforbikes.org is signing up 1 million people across the U.S. to support bicycling. www.peopleforbikes.org
Another U.S. Senator Tries To Kill Vital Enhancements
From the League of American Bicyclists:
It’s happening again. Just one month ago, Sen. Coburn (R-OK) failed in his efforts to strip funding for Transportation Enhancements from the six-month transportation extension.
Senator Rand Paul’s 80-year Bridge Repair Plan
Now, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is taking the lead in trying to destroy Transportation Enhancements. On November 1, the Senate will finalize the transportation appropriations bill, which sets funding levels for FY2012. Sen. Paul has offered an amendment to redirect all funding for Transportation Enhancements to bridge repair.
We agree on the need to keep our bridges safe, but the lives of pedestrians and cyclists are important too. Thirteen people died when the Minneapolis bridge collapsed in 2007: since then, close to 20,000 pedestrians and 2,800 cyclists have died on our nation’s highways, largely as a result of poor highway design and a lack of safe non-motorized infrastructure – exactly what the enhancement program was created to fix.
If Sen. Paul’s amendment is successful, it would eliminate approximately $700 million in federal funding for FY2012 that is used to construct sidewalks, bike lanes, bike paths, trails and other infrastructure that makes it safe for bicyclists and pedestrians to get around. Even if every penny of these funds is diverted to bridge repairs, Senator Paul’s plan will still take 80 years to fix the backlog of bridge repairs we have today.
Remember that the TE program represents less than two percent of the Federal transportation program and these projects help alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety, get people active, and create more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects.
Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong (which will be at the Bicycle Baash on NOV 6) issued this statement on the issue:
Last month, we asked you to contact your U.S. Senators to oppose Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn's plan to strip funding from the Transportation Enhancements program, which is the main source of the federal investment for bike projects of all types. Peopleforbikes.org supporters and our allies generated more than 75,000 emails to Congress in 48 hours. This rapid and powerful grassroots response succeeded: Mr. Coburn withdrew his amendment and crucial funding for bicycling was preserved.
We are sorry to report today that bike infrastructure funding is under serious and immediate attack again – this time in an amendment proposed by Senator Rand Paul (KY) that would redirect all funding for Transportation Enhancements to bridge repairs. Mr. Paul's amendment is set for a Senate vote Tuesday, Nov. 1.
While we are all for bridge repairs, gutting the Transportation Enhancements program is not the way to get the job done. We must defeat this amendment and we need your help. We need you to contact your state's two U.S. Senators today and ask them to oppose this amendment. Here are four reasons why:
1. Everyone deserves to be safe. We agree that we must keep our bridges safe, but the lives of pedestrians and bicyclists are important too. Nearly 5,000 Americans die each year biking or walking on our nation’s roadways.
2. Reallocating bike funding won't make a dent in the cost of bridge repairs. Even if every penny of Transportation Enhancements money is diverted to bridge repairs, Senator Paul’s plan would still take 80 years to fix the backlog of bridge repairs we have today.
3. Transportation Enhancements provide essential transportation benefits, like reducing road congestion, improving safety, getting people active, and creating more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects.
4. States don't spend all the money they already receive for bridge repairs.
This is the third attempt in a month by a small group of Senators to target Transportation Enhancements, using a different angle each time. It is a waste of the Senate's time and taxpayers dollars to focus on eliminating this modest, cost-effective, valuable program when we are in dire need of real and viable solutions to fix our failing transportation system.
Please contact your Senators today to ask them to vote against the Paul amendment (SA-821) to eliminate Transportation Enhancements. (You can find your Senators, review basic suggested text for your email, and send your note directly from this link.)
Thank you for your help today, and for passing this call to action along.
Tim Blumenthal
Director, Peopleforbikes.org
It’s happening again. Just one month ago, Sen. Coburn (R-OK) failed in his efforts to strip funding for Transportation Enhancements from the six-month transportation extension.
Senator Rand Paul’s 80-year Bridge Repair Plan
Now, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is taking the lead in trying to destroy Transportation Enhancements. On November 1, the Senate will finalize the transportation appropriations bill, which sets funding levels for FY2012. Sen. Paul has offered an amendment to redirect all funding for Transportation Enhancements to bridge repair.
We agree on the need to keep our bridges safe, but the lives of pedestrians and cyclists are important too. Thirteen people died when the Minneapolis bridge collapsed in 2007: since then, close to 20,000 pedestrians and 2,800 cyclists have died on our nation’s highways, largely as a result of poor highway design and a lack of safe non-motorized infrastructure – exactly what the enhancement program was created to fix.
If Sen. Paul’s amendment is successful, it would eliminate approximately $700 million in federal funding for FY2012 that is used to construct sidewalks, bike lanes, bike paths, trails and other infrastructure that makes it safe for bicyclists and pedestrians to get around. Even if every penny of these funds is diverted to bridge repairs, Senator Paul’s plan will still take 80 years to fix the backlog of bridge repairs we have today.
Remember that the TE program represents less than two percent of the Federal transportation program and these projects help alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety, get people active, and create more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects.
Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong (which will be at the Bicycle Baash on NOV 6) issued this statement on the issue:
Last month, we asked you to contact your U.S. Senators to oppose Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn's plan to strip funding from the Transportation Enhancements program, which is the main source of the federal investment for bike projects of all types. Peopleforbikes.org supporters and our allies generated more than 75,000 emails to Congress in 48 hours. This rapid and powerful grassroots response succeeded: Mr. Coburn withdrew his amendment and crucial funding for bicycling was preserved.
We are sorry to report today that bike infrastructure funding is under serious and immediate attack again – this time in an amendment proposed by Senator Rand Paul (KY) that would redirect all funding for Transportation Enhancements to bridge repairs. Mr. Paul's amendment is set for a Senate vote Tuesday, Nov. 1.
While we are all for bridge repairs, gutting the Transportation Enhancements program is not the way to get the job done. We must defeat this amendment and we need your help. We need you to contact your state's two U.S. Senators today and ask them to oppose this amendment. Here are four reasons why:
1. Everyone deserves to be safe. We agree that we must keep our bridges safe, but the lives of pedestrians and bicyclists are important too. Nearly 5,000 Americans die each year biking or walking on our nation’s roadways.
2. Reallocating bike funding won't make a dent in the cost of bridge repairs. Even if every penny of Transportation Enhancements money is diverted to bridge repairs, Senator Paul’s plan would still take 80 years to fix the backlog of bridge repairs we have today.
3. Transportation Enhancements provide essential transportation benefits, like reducing road congestion, improving safety, getting people active, and creating more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects.
4. States don't spend all the money they already receive for bridge repairs.
This is the third attempt in a month by a small group of Senators to target Transportation Enhancements, using a different angle each time. It is a waste of the Senate's time and taxpayers dollars to focus on eliminating this modest, cost-effective, valuable program when we are in dire need of real and viable solutions to fix our failing transportation system.
Please contact your Senators today to ask them to vote against the Paul amendment (SA-821) to eliminate Transportation Enhancements. (You can find your Senators, review basic suggested text for your email, and send your note directly from this link.)
Thank you for your help today, and for passing this call to action along.
Tim Blumenthal
Director, Peopleforbikes.org
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Biking To Arts and Antiques In Seminole Heights
What a blast to work with talented glass artist Susan Gott to inaugurate the first ever Free Wheeling Art and Antique Bicycle Ride, which started and finished at Susan's Phoenix Glass Studio at Knollwood and Nebraska in Seminole Heights.
I led a ride of 25 terrific bicyclists who came from St. Petersburg to Wesley Chapel to my own neighborhood here in Seminole Heights. It was a gorgeous day to bike with my 'hood pals such as Rick, Dale, Lisa and CJ and meeting many cyclists who enjoyed biking to the art studios of Susan Gott and wood scuplturer Charlie Parkhill and the Tempus Project and also stopping off at terrific antique shops like Sherry's Yesterdaze, D & D Antiques and Kaleidoscope.
And we even met Mayor Bob Bukshorn, who was on his way to the Food Truck rally in Seminole Heights.
Let's starting biking!
Stop 1: Kaleidoscope
CJ enjoys a seat.
There's mason-bicyclist Dale Edminster, mesmermized by the cool Kaleidoscope items.
Stop 2: Charlie Parkhill's wood sculptures
Charlie's woodwork was stunning.
A gorgeous day to bike.
Stop 3: D & D Antiques
Thank you Debra Vallejo, who hosted us at D & D Antiques.
Stop 3 1/2: The Buckhorn Visit
We met Mayor Bob Buckhorn on the way to Sherry's Yesterdaze.
Biking to Sherry's Yesterdaze.
Stop 4: Sherry's Yesterdaze
Sherry opened her store to the bicyclists, who enjoyed checking out her wonderful vintage clothes and items. Thanks Sherry!
Stop 5: Tempus Project
Nicole and Tracy of the Tempus Project discuss the art work in its gallery.
Tracy chats with an arts blogger, who rode a very cool single-speed Paramount.
Come on, I have to try one photo that's framed by a bike frame.
Here's my idea of art.
Susan Gott rocks. The talented artist with gorgeous glass works held one-on-one demos with guests who were guided by Susan to make their own glass pumpkins this afternoon after the ride.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tampa Area Bicyclist Killed By Motorist Sunday
A 55-year-old bicyclist was killed biking across the eastbound lanes of West Waters Avenue Sunday. SeminoleHeightsPatch.com has the story. Michael Swanson was the bicyclist's name.
There are so many motorist-bicyclist crashes in Tampa Bay that hospitals use billboards for ads showing a bicycle to drive business. Consider this billboard in Pinellas County.
There are so many motorist-bicyclist crashes in Tampa Bay that hospitals use billboards for ads showing a bicycle to drive business. Consider this billboard in Pinellas County.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Video Promo For The 2011 Bicycle Bash on NOV 6
Kudos to Hillsborough County TV and Commissioner Mark Sharpe for this terrific promo video for the 2011 Bicycle Bash Festival.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Bicycle Bash Press Release
TAMPA -- SWFBUD, the alliance of Tampa Bay bicycle stores, is proud to put on the 2011 SWFBUD Bicycle Bash Festival to celebrate bicycling in the Tampa Bay market at Flatwoods Park on Nov. 6 from 10 am to 4 pm.
The Bicycle Bash is Tampa Bay's bicycle festival and SWFBUD's 12 retail bicycle shops hosts the bicycle festival to bring Tampa Bay's bicycle community together and promote bicycling as a healthy lifestyle, effective transportation and asset to the region.
The 5th Annual Bicycle Bash will feature:
-- Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn leading a bike ride called the Buckhorn Bash Ride around the Flatwoods 7-mile loop at 11:15 AM.
-- The SWFBUDDY Awards given to local Tampa Bay residents and officials who have worked to make the area a more bicycle-friendly community.
-- A Swap Meet where people can buy used bike gear; food provided by the famed Taco Bus Food Truck; and music.
-- Guest announcers Skip Mahaffey and Brendan McLaughlin of Channel 28 Action News.
-- Free bike gear giveaway drawings; an artist doing creating live bicycle painting;
-- SWFBUD lawyers will be on hand to offer free legal advice regarding bicycle issues.
-- Tampa BayCycle will provide a free BikeSmart bike education class and Tampa Bay's bicycle clubs will be on hand to talk about bike rides throughout the region. Bikes Belong from Boulder, Colo. and the Florida Bicycle Association will also be participating. HART and the MPO will be on hand, too.
-- The Bicycle Bash is FREE.
-- The Cure on Wheels charity bike ride (www.cureonwheels.org) is the Bicycle Bash presenting sponsor and Hillsborough County is a co-sponsor.
SWFBUD is a nationally-recognized, award-winning alliance of 12 Tampa Bay bicycle stores: Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, Oliver's Cycle Sports, Bicycle Outfitters, Just Ride Bicycles, Chainwheel Drive, ABC Bicycles, Trek Bicycle Store of Tampa and Clearwater, Street Fit 360, University Bicycle Center, Trek Bicycle Store of St. Petersburg, The Ironman Store and Velo Champ. SWFBUD also includes three lawyer members: Tom Singletary, J. Steele Olmstead and the Mark Roman Law Group.
SWFBUD's achievements include prompting Hillsborough County to initiate a bicycle safety action plan in response to local bicyclist deaths and also prompting local officials to consider a regional paved trail system called the BAM (Bicycle Area Mobility) Network.
Please log on to www.bicyclebash.com and www.bicyclebash.blogspot.com for more information.
The Bicycle Bash is Tampa Bay's bicycle festival and SWFBUD's 12 retail bicycle shops hosts the bicycle festival to bring Tampa Bay's bicycle community together and promote bicycling as a healthy lifestyle, effective transportation and asset to the region.
The 5th Annual Bicycle Bash will feature:
-- Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn leading a bike ride called the Buckhorn Bash Ride around the Flatwoods 7-mile loop at 11:15 AM.
-- The SWFBUDDY Awards given to local Tampa Bay residents and officials who have worked to make the area a more bicycle-friendly community.
-- A Swap Meet where people can buy used bike gear; food provided by the famed Taco Bus Food Truck; and music.
-- Guest announcers Skip Mahaffey and Brendan McLaughlin of Channel 28 Action News.
-- Free bike gear giveaway drawings; an artist doing creating live bicycle painting;
-- SWFBUD lawyers will be on hand to offer free legal advice regarding bicycle issues.
-- Tampa BayCycle will provide a free BikeSmart bike education class and Tampa Bay's bicycle clubs will be on hand to talk about bike rides throughout the region. Bikes Belong from Boulder, Colo. and the Florida Bicycle Association will also be participating. HART and the MPO will be on hand, too.
-- The Bicycle Bash is FREE.
-- The Cure on Wheels charity bike ride (www.cureonwheels.org) is the Bicycle Bash presenting sponsor and Hillsborough County is a co-sponsor.
SWFBUD is a nationally-recognized, award-winning alliance of 12 Tampa Bay bicycle stores: Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, Oliver's Cycle Sports, Bicycle Outfitters, Just Ride Bicycles, Chainwheel Drive, ABC Bicycles, Trek Bicycle Store of Tampa and Clearwater, Street Fit 360, University Bicycle Center, Trek Bicycle Store of St. Petersburg, The Ironman Store and Velo Champ. SWFBUD also includes three lawyer members: Tom Singletary, J. Steele Olmstead and the Mark Roman Law Group.
SWFBUD's achievements include prompting Hillsborough County to initiate a bicycle safety action plan in response to local bicyclist deaths and also prompting local officials to consider a regional paved trail system called the BAM (Bicycle Area Mobility) Network.
Please log on to www.bicyclebash.com and www.bicyclebash.blogspot.com for more information.
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