Saturday, February 14, 2009
SHBC's River Ride
This morning 15 bicyclists joined the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club's river ride. We had some new riders for this 10-mile ride. Every Saturday, the SHBC has its 10-mile ride -- either the river ride along the side streets along the Hillsborough River, or a ride into downtown or back.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sad Tales of Stolen Bicycles
I have had three bicycles stolen in my lifetime and I'm sure most of you have a sad tale to tell, too, about a bike being stolen.
But it's hard to top this one where a USF prof making six figures stole a red bike probably worth a couple hundred dollars.
And if you want to read about bikes getting stolen, here's a Web site you might enjoy.
Time To Kick In The Pedal Power Movement
It's time for bicyclists to stand up and be heard at three big government meetings during the next two weeks.
Feb. 18 9 AM County Building, Kennedy Blvd, downtown Tampa: The Hillsborough County Commission will discuss problems regarding the alignment of the connector trail that would link the Upper Tampa Bay Trail with the Suncoast Trail to create the longest continuous paved trail in the state of Florida. A property owner along the proposed alignment contacted the county that she would not sell after the county commission already approved the alignment and eminent domain proceedings. This project has been in the works for years and the county has spent millions of dollars to make this happen. It was identified as the number one bicycle infrastructure project in the Tampa Bay area.
Message: Tell the county comissioners to spend the money to acquire the properties and build the trail.
Feb. 23 3 PM Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority Board meeting, 1104 E. Twiggs downtown Tampa: The Expressway Board will hear a staff report about SWFBUD's request to close the upper deck of the Selmon Expressway on Sunday mornings and allow bicyclists to use the top tier for two to three hours. On early Sunday mornings, there are hardly any commuters and bicyclists also lost the Friendship Trail on the old Gandy Bridge.
St. Pete Times story on the issue
Message: Tell the board you want to bike on the closed upper deck of the expressway, especially on early Sunday mornings when there are hardly any commuters.
Feb. 26 1:30 PM City Hall downtown Tampa: Tampa Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena has arranged a meeting with public works staff to discuss bike lanes.
Message: Tell city staff to be responsive to bicyclist needs and stripe bike lanes on wide one-way roads such as Platt Street.
Feb. 18 9 AM County Building, Kennedy Blvd, downtown Tampa: The Hillsborough County Commission will discuss problems regarding the alignment of the connector trail that would link the Upper Tampa Bay Trail with the Suncoast Trail to create the longest continuous paved trail in the state of Florida. A property owner along the proposed alignment contacted the county that she would not sell after the county commission already approved the alignment and eminent domain proceedings. This project has been in the works for years and the county has spent millions of dollars to make this happen. It was identified as the number one bicycle infrastructure project in the Tampa Bay area.
Message: Tell the county comissioners to spend the money to acquire the properties and build the trail.
Feb. 23 3 PM Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority Board meeting, 1104 E. Twiggs downtown Tampa: The Expressway Board will hear a staff report about SWFBUD's request to close the upper deck of the Selmon Expressway on Sunday mornings and allow bicyclists to use the top tier for two to three hours. On early Sunday mornings, there are hardly any commuters and bicyclists also lost the Friendship Trail on the old Gandy Bridge.
St. Pete Times story on the issue
Message: Tell the board you want to bike on the closed upper deck of the expressway, especially on early Sunday mornings when there are hardly any commuters.
Feb. 26 1:30 PM City Hall downtown Tampa: Tampa Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena has arranged a meeting with public works staff to discuss bike lanes.
Message: Tell city staff to be responsive to bicyclist needs and stripe bike lanes on wide one-way roads such as Platt Street.
WOW -- Women on Wheels
Tina Russo passes along this announcement about WOMEN ON WHEELS (WOW).
It's a monthly get-together of women to have fun, learn about bicycling and riding our bikes.
The Next Session will be Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 9:00 am
TOPIC: Brakes and stopping
We will be starting to do one bike handling skill per session.
If you have any questions call or email.
Tina A Russo, Russot@Hillsboroughcounty.org/ 813-801-6732
Upper Tampa Bay Trail 9201 W Waters Ave,
Just west of Sheldon/Across from the YMCA
Join Tina Russo and other women for a women only bike clinic and bike ride on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.
We will try to meet one Saturday of every month
Meet at the Channel Park Trail head. The first 30 minutes will be teaching time.
After the teaching time we will go for a ride on the trail.
Some of the clinics will include the following items.
Buying the right bike, bike fit for woman, basic mechanics, changing a flat tire, loading and transporting your bike, gears, riding in groups, avoiding hazards, clothing, road position, riding on the road, basic bicycle handling skills. This is only just the beginning.
Or anything you want to learn about bicycling!
MISSON STATEMENT: TO HAVE FUN!
It's a monthly get-together of women to have fun, learn about bicycling and riding our bikes.
The Next Session will be Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 9:00 am
TOPIC: Brakes and stopping
We will be starting to do one bike handling skill per session.
If you have any questions call or email.
Tina A Russo, Russot@Hillsboroughcounty.org/ 813-801-6732
Upper Tampa Bay Trail 9201 W Waters Ave,
Just west of Sheldon/Across from the YMCA
Join Tina Russo and other women for a women only bike clinic and bike ride on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.
We will try to meet one Saturday of every month
Meet at the Channel Park Trail head. The first 30 minutes will be teaching time.
After the teaching time we will go for a ride on the trail.
Some of the clinics will include the following items.
Buying the right bike, bike fit for woman, basic mechanics, changing a flat tire, loading and transporting your bike, gears, riding in groups, avoiding hazards, clothing, road position, riding on the road, basic bicycle handling skills. This is only just the beginning.
Or anything you want to learn about bicycling!
MISSON STATEMENT: TO HAVE FUN!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Call To Arms
If you're a bicyclist and want to see Hillsborough County connect the Upper Tampa Bay Trail with the Suncoast Trail -- like they said they would -- then you need to tell the Hillsborough County Commission next week that you won't stand for an 11th hour attempt by one of the county comissioners to derail this project.
Hillsborough County has spent millions of dollars on the planning of this connector trail, which would link the two popular trails into the longest continuous trail in the state of Florida. It would be a regional bicycle gem for not only Hillsborough County, but everyone who likes to bike in the Tampa Bay region. It would be a continuous paved trail of more than 50 miles from just north of Hillsborough Avenue to Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.
Hillsborough County sold people on supporting the tax that paid for the Buccaneers' football stadium by saying that sales tax money collected from this "community investment tax" would go to local projects like this one.
Connecting these two trails was also identified as the number one priority bicycle infrastructure project in the Tampa Bay region. In fact, the trails planners in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties even said this connector trail in Hillsborough was the most important trail plan in the region.
After spending millions of dollars for planning and lining up the property purchases to build the 7-mile connector, a property owner along the route contacted the county to say she doesn't want to sell and County Commissioner Jim Norman decided to re-arrange the route to accommodate a developer who supposedly wants to use the property. All this after Hillsborough County lined up properties along the connector trail route for this "done deal."
By the way, the Hillsborough County commissioners stiffed this $13 million connector trail project when the comissioners doled out $40 million in community tax dollars a few months ago. The DOT would have reimbursed $7 million of the $13 million, but the commission spent all $40 million on ballfields.
Then last week at the Feb. 4 county commission meeting, Commissioner Norman tried to pull a fast one by slipping in these proposed changes to the connector trail into what is called the "consent" agenda part of the meeting -- supposedly routine items that do not draw discussion from the commission.
Commissioner Mark Sharpe caught it and requested county staff look into the matter and he pushed this item to the Feb. 18 county commission meeting.
This is where you come in. If you care about bicycling and want to see this project built, then tell that to the county commissioners.
The meeting is 9 a.m. Feb. 18, next Wednesday at the county building on Kennedy in downtown Tampa. Show up at 8:45 a.m. at the county building commission meeting room and sign a speaker card so that you can tell the county commissioners to build the connector trail like the county has said it was going to do all along and don't let Commssioner Norman derail this project.
Hillsborough County has spent millions of dollars on the planning of this connector trail, which would link the two popular trails into the longest continuous trail in the state of Florida. It would be a regional bicycle gem for not only Hillsborough County, but everyone who likes to bike in the Tampa Bay region. It would be a continuous paved trail of more than 50 miles from just north of Hillsborough Avenue to Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.
Hillsborough County sold people on supporting the tax that paid for the Buccaneers' football stadium by saying that sales tax money collected from this "community investment tax" would go to local projects like this one.
Connecting these two trails was also identified as the number one priority bicycle infrastructure project in the Tampa Bay region. In fact, the trails planners in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties even said this connector trail in Hillsborough was the most important trail plan in the region.
After spending millions of dollars for planning and lining up the property purchases to build the 7-mile connector, a property owner along the route contacted the county to say she doesn't want to sell and County Commissioner Jim Norman decided to re-arrange the route to accommodate a developer who supposedly wants to use the property. All this after Hillsborough County lined up properties along the connector trail route for this "done deal."
By the way, the Hillsborough County commissioners stiffed this $13 million connector trail project when the comissioners doled out $40 million in community tax dollars a few months ago. The DOT would have reimbursed $7 million of the $13 million, but the commission spent all $40 million on ballfields.
Then last week at the Feb. 4 county commission meeting, Commissioner Norman tried to pull a fast one by slipping in these proposed changes to the connector trail into what is called the "consent" agenda part of the meeting -- supposedly routine items that do not draw discussion from the commission.
Commissioner Mark Sharpe caught it and requested county staff look into the matter and he pushed this item to the Feb. 18 county commission meeting.
This is where you come in. If you care about bicycling and want to see this project built, then tell that to the county commissioners.
The meeting is 9 a.m. Feb. 18, next Wednesday at the county building on Kennedy in downtown Tampa. Show up at 8:45 a.m. at the county building commission meeting room and sign a speaker card so that you can tell the county commissioners to build the connector trail like the county has said it was going to do all along and don't let Commssioner Norman derail this project.
The League Says Get Involved!
The League of American Bicyclists would like to pass this along to folks who care about public resources fof cycling:
Calling All Bicyclists and Pedestrians! Please Take Action Today!
Thanks to calls from bicycle and pedestrian advocates like you, the Senate refused to hear an amendment that would have blocked any Economic Recovery Bill money from being spent on biking and walking infrastructure projects. Now we need EVERYONE’S HELP to make certain that there is strong support for Transportation Enhancements $ for biking and walking in the final bill!
Support Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects in the Economic Recovery Bill
The House and the Senate have each passed their own version of the Economic Recovery Bill, aimed at creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Both bills include billions for transportation infrastructure, but only the House bill includes funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the Transportation Enhancements program. The House bill includes approximately $1.35 billion for Transportation Enhancements of which 50-60% is traditionally spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects. The Senate bill does not explicitly include Transportation Enhancements, so it’s unclear whether this funding will be in the final bill.
We need to make sure Transportation Enhancement funding is in the final bill.
This week there will be a conference committee where several members of the House and several members of the Senate will work together to reconcile the two bills. Conferees need to hear that Transportation Enhancements are important to stimulating the economy, creating green jobs, and moving us towards a sustainable future.
CALL TODAY! http://capwiz.com/lab/callalert/index.tt?alertid=12647931
Please call your senators and representative and ask them to tell the Conferees to support Transportation Enhancements in the Economic Recovery bill. Tell them:
--Bicycle and pedestrian projects create jobs at the same or better rate than highway projects.
--These smaller projects can move quickly to hire local businesses and help local economies.
--Providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access gives families healthier and cheaper transportation options
--Improving sidewalks and bike lanes can make a downtown a destination further helping the local economy.
--Better biking and walking options also help ensure greater energy independence, less pollution, and a healthier United States!
Please share this email alert with all bicyclists and pedestrians you can, and encourage them to join you in supporting biking and walking today! Thank you – together we will make a big difference!
Andy Clarke
League of American Bicyclists
Help protect the rights of cyclists across the nation! Donate today!
Calling All Bicyclists and Pedestrians! Please Take Action Today!
Thanks to calls from bicycle and pedestrian advocates like you, the Senate refused to hear an amendment that would have blocked any Economic Recovery Bill money from being spent on biking and walking infrastructure projects. Now we need EVERYONE’S HELP to make certain that there is strong support for Transportation Enhancements $ for biking and walking in the final bill!
Support Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects in the Economic Recovery Bill
The House and the Senate have each passed their own version of the Economic Recovery Bill, aimed at creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Both bills include billions for transportation infrastructure, but only the House bill includes funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the Transportation Enhancements program. The House bill includes approximately $1.35 billion for Transportation Enhancements of which 50-60% is traditionally spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects. The Senate bill does not explicitly include Transportation Enhancements, so it’s unclear whether this funding will be in the final bill.
We need to make sure Transportation Enhancement funding is in the final bill.
This week there will be a conference committee where several members of the House and several members of the Senate will work together to reconcile the two bills. Conferees need to hear that Transportation Enhancements are important to stimulating the economy, creating green jobs, and moving us towards a sustainable future.
CALL TODAY! http://capwiz.com/lab/callalert/index.tt?alertid=12647931
Please call your senators and representative and ask them to tell the Conferees to support Transportation Enhancements in the Economic Recovery bill. Tell them:
--Bicycle and pedestrian projects create jobs at the same or better rate than highway projects.
--These smaller projects can move quickly to hire local businesses and help local economies.
--Providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access gives families healthier and cheaper transportation options
--Improving sidewalks and bike lanes can make a downtown a destination further helping the local economy.
--Better biking and walking options also help ensure greater energy independence, less pollution, and a healthier United States!
Please share this email alert with all bicyclists and pedestrians you can, and encourage them to join you in supporting biking and walking today! Thank you – together we will make a big difference!
Andy Clarke
League of American Bicyclists
Help protect the rights of cyclists across the nation! Donate today!
How The Mighty Have Fallen
We intterupt regular bicycling programming for a sober snapshot or two or three of life inside the arena where the Tampa Bay Lightning play. As you can see, not too many people showed up last night to watch the Lightning host the Atlanta Thrashers. Seems only yesterday when people were posing next to the Cup, as it made the rounds around the Tampa Bay region.
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