Riding The Tampa Crit

Michael Ploch wrote a personal account of participating in last Saturday's road race in downtown Tampa.

And here is some video from chavezcycling.com

U.S. DOT Says Transportation Just Not For Cars

It's official: The U.S. DOT declares every transportation agency needs to integrate walking and bicycling into their transportation systems.

The policy -- "The DOT policy is to incorporate safe and convenient walking and bicycling facilities into transportation projects. Every transportation agency, including DOT, has the responsibility to improve conditions and opportunities for walking and bicycling and to integrate walking and bicycling into their transportation systems. Because of the numerous individual and community benefits that walking and bicycling provide — including health, safety, environmental, transportation, and quality of life — transportation agencies are encouraged to go beyond minimum standards to provide safe and convenient facilities for these modes."

Tampa, that means not doing bike lanes like this on Cross Creek Blvd.

Tampa's Downtown Rocked With Bicycle Racers at the Twilight Crit

It's a special day when that pro-bicycle city, St. Petersburg, closes its downtown streets so that Indy, open-wheel cars can zip around the business district while the city that's supposedly a bit behind the bicycle times, Tampa, closes its downtown so that bicyclists can race on the pavement.

But it was Tampa that ruled the bicycle world in Tampa Bay today, as the Tampa Twilight Criterium offered a full day of high-speed bike races by rockhard cyclists whose bikes probably cost more than many used cars.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership's Karen Kress did a great job at pulling together the day of downtown bike racing. It featured a fun 1:20 p.m. family ride led by the mayor herself and the day of racing included a green expo called ECO.lution pulled off by the Urban Charrette urban planning organization.


I was at the Crit representing SWFBUD, which is holding our Bicycle Bash festival on NOV 7 in Flatwoods Park off Morris Bridge Road in Hillsborough County.

It was wonderful to see all my local bicycle pals, from Jack "Ghost Rider" Sweeney to bicycle photographer Mary Stewart Latta to bicycle planner Michael Moule to Ellen Pierson of the Police Unity Tour to Jim Shirk, Tampa's all-around bicycle volunteer. Nice to see my buddies from the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club, plus Tim Butts and Wendy Menne of the St. Pete Bike Club.

On the scene were also SWFBUD store owners Brian Eckman, David Luppino, Geoff Lanier and SWFBUD member Tom Singletary, who doled out free legal and insurance advice at the SWFBUD tent.

Sure, there were more than 400 urban street racers flying through Tampa's downtown at breakneck speeds during the variety of races through the streets of Tampa. But there were also a colorful array of other bicyclists.








Bike crashes hurt no matter what your age.


Even The Big Wheel was on the course.


With Mayor Pam leading the Family Ride, it was time for my every-two-years photo with Pam.


The Ghost Riders team was in town. Does Tampa's famed Ghost Rider, Jack Sweeney, know about this?


Lawyer Tom Singletary gets animated while chatting legal issues this afternoon.


Bridget's green Electra was the envy of the bicycle crowd.


There's Karen Kress and two of her three sons during the Family Ride.


Michael Ploch of Caleb's Creations, Inc. stopped by to say hey.


As for the action, it's breathtaking speeds on the streets of Tampa.

Just a Thought: If You're a Motorcyclist, Stay Out of the Bike Lane

Here's an idea I'd like to pass along to our two-wheeled motorized cousins.

If you're a motorcyclist, please stay out of the bike lane.

The life you save might be your own.

And you might want to wear a helmet, too.

Just like us two-wheel riders whose engine is our legs.

Stop by and Say Hi at the SWFBUD Table at the Tampa Crit

This weekend is a bicycle blockbuster in Tampa.

Stop by the SWFBUD table at the Tampa Downtown Crit and say hi on Saturday. I'll be at the downtown park starting at 11 am.

Tampa lawyer Tom Singletary of SWFBUD will be at the SWFBUD table from 1-3 PM at the Crit to answer legal and insurance questions.

And on Sunday, the Strawberry Century Ride is being held by the Tampa Bay Freewheelers.

SWFBUD Announces Bicycle Bash's New Home On Nov. 7

SWFBUD tonight announced officially that we're moving the Bicycle Bash Classic, presented by Cure on Wheels to Flatwoods Park in Hillsborough County to be held NOV 7 from 10 am to 4 pm.

SWFBUD tonight recognized the work of Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who reached out to SWFBUD to find out ways to improving bicycling and suggested moving the Bicycle Bash to Hillsborough County.. We then discussed moving the bicycle festival to Flatwoods Park, where we can have live bicycling in the park to go with our popular vendor/exhibitor village.

We gathered tonight at SWFBUD store Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, where owner Brian Eckman hosted a nice announcment. Thank you Brian.

Thanks also to Jack Sweeney, the famed Ghost Rider of Tampa, for attending with son Gray and snapping off these photos. Jack does a great job writing for bikecommuters.com.

Here's Commissioner Sharpe telling his commitment to improving bicycling.


Next up was Tina Russo, a bicycle leader from Hillsborough parks who explained the importance of cycling in the county. Tina oversees the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.


I enjoyed telling the folks tonight that SWFBUD is committed to growing bicycling in the Tampa Bay area.


I'll be manning the SWFBUD table at Saturday's Tampa Downtown Crit -- feel free to stop by and say hi.

Cited Bicyclist Loses Impeding Traffic Ticket In Tampa

Bicyclist Brad Mercel, who was cited by a Tampa police officer for impeding traffic last November, called me this morning to say he lost his case in court today.

Brad argued that because his road lane was "sub-standard" in width -- that is, less than 14 feet wide -- he had a legal right to be in the middle of the lane because the lane is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side. That is one of four legal reasons that allow a bicyclist to be in the road.

The police officer testified, according to Brad, that if 14 feet is sub-standard, then all Tampa's roads are sub-standard.

You are correct, officer.

The officer also testified, according to Brad, that a bicyclist could have biked on the sidewalk at the location where Brad was cited.

It's tough to fight a legal and police system that thinks sidewalks are the correct place for bicyclists.

Brad argued his case before the judge without a lawyer. If you are a bicyclist and you are cited, my suggestion is to consider enlisting a lawyer.


* * *

In another bicyclist citation case -- this time in Pasco County -- Tom Jackson of the Tampa Tribune's Pasco County office made the same cliche jokes about bicyclists in bike shorts and slammed cyclists in his column.

Thank goodness, Tom and friend of Bicycle Stories, Bret, are protecting the interests of drivers. Hardly a day goes by in Florida where some bicyclist or pedestrian doesn't slam into a car and kills the driver.