Tampa Number 9 In The Country In Bike-Commuting Out of the 70 Biggest Cities

Gene Bisbee, my bicycle blog comrade from Seattle, published the top bike-commuting cities in the country. Gene contacted me because he wanted to let me know that Tampa finished NUMBER 9 out of the 70 biggest cities and experienced "the largest growth in bicycle commuting in the past year -- more than double at 121 percent."

Check out Gene's blog at www.bikingbis.com -- Gene reported:


Here are the top 20 bicycle commuting cities of the 375 cities in the report, as compiled by the League. You'll notice that most are home to large colleges or universities. We can hope it shows a trend for the future:

1. Davis, California 22.1%
2. Boulder, Colorado 9.9%
3. Eugene, Oregon 8.3%
4. Berkeley, California 8.0%
5. Cambridge, Massachusetts 6.8%
6. Santa Barbara, California 6.4%
7. Madison, Wisconsin 6.0%
8. Gainesville, Florida 6.0%
9. Portland, Oregon 6.0%
10. Iowa City, Iowa 5.6%
11. Chico, California 5.5%
12. Missoula, Montana 5.4%
13. Flagstaff, Arizona 5.1%
14. Miami Beach, Florida 5.0%
15. Pasadena, California 4.8%
16. Fort Collins, Colorado 4.4%
17. Mountain View, California 4.1%
18. Boise, Idaho 3.9%
19. Seattle, Washington 3.6%
20. Somerville, Massachusetts 3.6%

Top 10 of the 70 largest cities:

1. Portland, OR 6.0%
2. Seattle, WA 3.6%
3. San Francisco, CA 3.5%
4. Minneapolis, MN 3.5%
5. Washington, DC 3.1%
6. Tucson, AZ 3.0%
7. Sacramento, CA 2.5%
8. Denver, CO 2.2%
9. Tampa, FL 1.9%
10. Philadelphia, PA 1.8%

Interestingly, Tampa is the only city on that list of 10 that is not a (League of American Bicyclists) bicycle-friendly city. However, it experienced the largest growth in bicycle commuting in the past year -- more than double at 121%

Art & Antique Bicycle Ride in Seminole Heights on Oct. 22

I'm working with Susan Gott, the famed glass artist of Seminole Heights, on an art and antique bicycle ride for Oct 22 from 9 am to 1 pm when we will visit six art studios and antique shops in the bike route in Seminole Heights.

The bike ride will start and finish at Susan Gott's art studio on Knollwood Avenue right off Nebraska Avenue on the side street across from the Sulphur Springs Post Office. You must sign a ride waiver and be ready at 8:45 am.

Thank you Doreen Jesseph of the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club for arranging the bicycle flier.

Cure on Wheels Is Bicycle Bash Presenting Sponsor

SWFBUD appreciates Cure on Wheels being the presenting sponsor for the 2011 Bicycle Bash on Nov 6 at Flatwoods, so please participate in the Cure on Wheels ride one day before the Bicycle Bash on Nov 5 at Flatwoods.

Sign up at www.cureonwheels.org

Buddy Brew Coffee To Participate In The Bicycle Bash

SWFBUD welcomes Buddy Brew coffee of Tampa to the Bash festival on NOV 6 at Flatwoods Park outside Tampa.

Buddy Brew owners Dave and Susan Ward are friends of bicyclists and check out the bicycle cargo rig created by SWFBUD bike shop Velo Champ. Buddy Brew will be bringing that cargo bike to the Bash.

Buddy Brew was at the Bicycle Bash last year and don't forget to visit their coffee shop on Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa.

Look Who Won A Creative Loafing "Loafie" Award

SWFBUD is recognized by Creative Loafing for our bike advocacy. We're a "Best Of" Winner -- from Creative Loafing:

Best Advocates for Bicyclists

Alan Snel and the South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers
SWFBUD is the country’s only localized alliance of bike store dealers, comprising 10 shop owners and two lawyers. Group spokesman Alan Snel, a bicycle advocate and former metro newspaper reporter, has lobbied local governments to provide more bicycle resources and helped put on the touted Bicycle Bash festival each year. With the staggering statistics placing Tampa at the bottom of bike-safety lists, it’s encouraging to know that Snel and SWFBUD are fighting the good fight for two-wheelers. Snel also organizes the popular Hub Grub Bike Ride, and the next Bicycle Bash takes place at Flatwoods Park on Nov. 6. bicyclebash.com/swfbud.html, hubgrubride.blogspot.com.

Also, two SWFBUD stores won Loafies, too:

Best New Bike Shop

Velo Champ

This year, Velo Champ has upped Seminole Heights’ retail profile, bringing life to Central and Hanna’s long-abandoned vintage storefronts. The sleek, distinctive one-stop shop offers a range of performance road, cyclocross and track bikes, as well as today’s most functional townie and commuter bikes. Mad props to owner Jordan Miller, who has helped organize and bring sanity to the PBR Pub Bike Rides and has been a staunch supporter of bike culture and safety in Tampa Bay. 6112 N. Central Ave., Tampa, 813-374-2424, velochamp.com.

******

Best Bike Retailer Before Bikes Were Cool

Chainwheel Drive

Clearwater isn’t known for much in the way of hip retail (exceptions include back-in-the-day shops Sagittarius and Crash and Burn, of course), but Chainwheel Drive is a survivor, thank God, a stellar standout amid the city’s strip-mall mediocrity. The mainstay in North Pinellas for the past three decades supports local bike clubs and state and national cycling organizations, providing support for rides and races all over the region. They are also involved with many different aspects of cycling, including racing, triathlon, mountain biking, cross country touring, and BMX. 1770 Drew St., Clearwater, 727-441-2444, chainwheeldrive.com.

Jim Shirk, You Da Man -- Build The BAM!

Construction Site Protects Kay Ghost Bike

The construction crew at the USF entrance off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. protects the Kay ghost bike.