SWFBUD Appears On Bay News 9 Today On Flatwoods Issue

Bay News 9 included SWFBUD in its Monday report on the Hillsborough County proposed budget that calls for the county to close Flatwoods and nine other county parks two days a week. SWFBUD is leading a bike ride on July 16 to the county budget hearing at 5 PM and is asking people to bike with us to tell the county commissioners to keep Flatwoods open 7 days a week.

Check out the live link to the Bay News 9 report.

SWFBUD on Bay News 9 Today

Look for a Bay News 9 TV report today on the SWFBUD bicycle ride at 5 PM July 16 to the Hillsborough County Center to tell the county commissioners to keep Flatwoods county park open 7 days a week. The proposed budget calls for Flatwoods and other county parks to be closed two days a week.

Biking To The Tampa Channelside Fireworks

The SHBC, under the organizational guideance of Jack "Ghostrider" Sweeney, had a Fireworks bike ride into downtown Tampa last night. It was a great way to go. Five easy miles of pedaling, zipping right by the car traffic and then parking a few feet from where we watched the Channelside fireworks.


Jack had a camera that videotaped the ride.


An easy five miles later we're at the downtown park. And we arrive with lots of time to spare to find a place to watch.


There's no better way to get around an urban setting than by bicycle. And parking is a snap. We parked a few feet from our seats for the fireworks.


And the main event.

Happy Fourth From Your Friends At The Seminole Heights Bicycle Club

Happy Independence from the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club. This morning we had a hearty group of Bridget, Jack and Gray and Jose, the green-vested cyclist of Tampa.

Our first-Saturday-ride-of-the-month was a splendid 5.7-mile ride through Seminole Heights. Enjoy the day and the photos.

City Bike Tampa Is Here -- Tonight's Open House Drew A Nice Crowd

Congrats to bike friends Kellie and Jason Cyr, who had a fun open house tonight to celebrate the opening of Tampa's downtown bike shop == City Bike Tampa.

They're selling urban bikes and renting bikes for downtown Tampa folks.

Look for them at the 2009 Bicycle Bash by the Bay, presented by Cure on Wheels at North Straub Park in downtown St. Pete on Oct. 11.

Outside their store on Cass were a bunch of fixie folks, who also enjoyed the opening of City Bike Tampa.

Public Input Sought on Friendship TrailBridge

The Friendship TrailBridge might be closed, but it's not dead. SWFBUD wants Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to fix and re-open this valuable regional resource that bicyclists on both of the Bay enjoy and value.


Public Input Sought on Friendship TrailBridge

Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are seeking input on alternatives for the future of the Friendship TrailBridge.

The counties received a follow-up inspection report for the Friendship TrailBridge in May. The inspection and tests confirmed the initial reports that girders of the bridge were heavily corroded and broken. Several options and their cost were provided in the report that included repair, replacement and/or demolition of all or portions of the bridge. The full report, along with graphics of proposed options, is available on the Friendship TrailBridge Oversight Committee website.

Two public meetings will be held, one in Pinellas County and one in Hillsborough County. Following the Hillsborough County meeting, the Friendship TrailBridge Oversight Committee will make its recommendation to the two County Commissions.

The dates, times and locations of the meetings will be:


Tuesday, July 14
4 p.m.
Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center
1800 Weedon Drive N.E., St. Petersburg

Wednesday, July 15
7 p.m.
Presentation and decision on recommendation
Jan Platt Regional Library
3910 S. Manhattan Ave.

All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. For additional assistance, call Steve Valdez at (813) 307-8384 (TTY: (813) 301-7173).

Residents can submit a comment through July 14 at the Friendship TrailBridge Oversight Committee website or by mailing it to: Pinellas County Planning Department, Attn: Friendship TrailBridge, 600 Cleveland St., Suite 750, Clearwater, FL 33755.

Send Your Favorite Flatwoods Photos and Stories

As you might expect, the SWAMP mountain biking club is very concerned about the prospect of Flatwoods county park closing Mondays and Tuesdays under the proposed Hillsborough County budget.

As one county commissioner aide told me Tuesday, the prospect of closing Flatwoods two days a week has struck a nerve.

Please contact your county commissioners, call a budget hot line at 813-307-8337 and send an email to hcbudget@hillsboroughcounty.org to advise the county to maintain Flatwoods as a seven-day-a-week park.

SWFBUD is also leading a bike ride to the July 16 budget hearing at the county building in downtown Tampa. Meet on Central Avenue in front of the garden center in Seminole Heights at 5 pm.

Also, email me any of your favorite stories, experiences or photos about Flatwoods and I will post them here on Bicycle Stories.