Some of you may have seen a TBO/Channel 8 news report Thursday of the case of Brad Mercel, a bicyclist cited for impeding traffic by a police officer recently in Tampa. I wanted to use this case as a learning experience, so I invited George Martin, an expert on bicycle laws and a staff member of the Florida Bicycle Association, to come with me and chat with Tampa Police about bicycling in Tampa this week.
We had a cordial meeting on Wednesday with Assistant Police Chief John Bennett and two other officers about bicycle laws and I mentioned the law does permit a bicyclist in Florida to bike in the middle area of a traffic lane under certain circumstances such as:
-- Preparing to make a left turn.
-- Avoiding debris on the side of the traffic lane.
-- When a traffic lane is so narrow (sun-standard in width) as to be dangerous for a driver to safely pass a bicyclist while also giving that cyclist the required three feet of passage. (Brad's case).
Do I take the lane all the time? No. My rule of thumb is to give myself at least two or three feet on the right edge of the roadway and I carefully bike toward the center for safety purposes when there are circumstances that permit me under law to drive my bike closer to the center of the lane. Generally speaking, I try to bike to the right (as "practicable" as the law says) but NOT on the edge. And I routinely take the lane for safety and visibility purposes when legal circumstances allow.
I did not discuss Brad's case with Tampa police two days ago. That was not the focus of our meeting. Instead, we focused on ways to move ahead together to improve bicycle safety in Tampa.
I told Howard Altman of the Tampa Tribune about what I thought was a successful meeting with Tampa police about bicyclists' rights and safety issues. He passed the story to Natalie Shepherd of Channel 8, who did a "he said, she said" story about Brad's case and did little to educate people about bicycle laws.
She did not interview George Martin, who devotes his time to educating people in Florida about bicycle laws. And she did not put the story into context -- that the city of Tampa has a reputation for having unfriendly streets for bicyclists and that Tampa ranks near the bottom of U.S. cities for offering safe and accommodating infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Coming to Tampa Bay?
Wow, check out this beautiful bicycle station in Washington, D.C. that can hold 100 bikes.
Bicycle Stories correspondent Ellen Pierson sent it in.
Bicycle Stories correspondent Ellen Pierson sent it in.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Meeting With Tampa Police About Bicyclists' Rights To The Road With The Help Of The Florida Bicycle Association
This morning, SWFBUD met with George Martin, Florida Bicycle Asociations's bicycle laws director, and three members of the Tampa Police Department to discuss bicyclists' rights to be in the traffic lane under certain circumstances and to see if we can start a public campaign to better educate drivers and bicyclists about sharing the road together.
Tampa's new police chief, Jane Castor, a veteran bicyclist, made a cameo during the meeting to say hi and check in, mentioning Tampa's "unfriendly streets" for bicyclists. The new chief responded to my email promptly about this issue two weeks ago.
SWFBUD's goal was to offer George's services to help educate Tampa police about bicycle laws and to kick-start a public awareness camapaign about bicyclists and drivers sharing the narrow roads and streets in the Tampa area.
This meeting stemmed from a case connected to bicyclist Bradley Marcel, who was cited by a Tampa officer for not being close to the right edge of a road in Tampa even though he had the right to be in the lane because the traffic lane was too narrow and sub-standard in width.
That's right folks -- bicyclists are supposed to be as close to the right side of the road as practable, but there are circumstances under the law that permit cyclists to take the lane such as to avoid debris, preparing to make a left turn and when a lane is too narrow.
My goal was not to argue Bradley's case before the trio of Tampa police members but to use it as a learning experience and a point of departure to educate officers about a bicyclist's right to be in the lane.
Enter George Martin, a long-time bicyclist and Florida Bicycle Association's bicycle laws director who advises police around Florida about bike laws. George offered his services to the Tampa police and he was well-received.
I want to thank John Bennett, Assistant Chief of Police for Operations; Ed Croissant, who teaches Tampa police officers about cycling; and Sgt. Carl Giguere, who spent an hour listening to our concerns and appeared willing to accept George's offer of providing education modules to improve the understanding of bicycle laws.
George is working on launching a bicycle laws training program for police and hopes to have a two-hour web-based program ready by the end of next year and the education modules ready to go in a few months. George's big goal is to take his bike education program for police national down the road.
Asst. Chief Bennett agreed to refresh a legal bulletin for police officers about a bicyclist's right to be in the lane under certain circumstances; add the www.flbikelaw.org Web site to the Tampa police Web site; add a PDF showing bike routes in Tampa; target schools to educate kids about bicycling and look into getting training from the education modules. He also said police would consider using electronic message boards to advise drivers about sharing roads with bicyclists.
Here, George talks with Asst. Chief Bennett, Croissant, and Sgt. Giguere.
After discussing bicycle laws with the Tampa Police, George and I took a short ride to SWFBUD member store Streetfit 360 on Gandy Avenue to talk bicycling issues with Streetfit 360 owners Jana and Andy Clark.
Then at lunchtime, I enjoyed listening to George discuss the topic of bicycle laws with an ad-hoc group of interested downtown Tampa bicyclists at a brown-bag lunch at the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
George talks about bicycle laws with the downtown Tampa bicycle committee today. That's Jim Shirk listening to George.
Tampa's new police chief, Jane Castor, a veteran bicyclist, made a cameo during the meeting to say hi and check in, mentioning Tampa's "unfriendly streets" for bicyclists. The new chief responded to my email promptly about this issue two weeks ago.
SWFBUD's goal was to offer George's services to help educate Tampa police about bicycle laws and to kick-start a public awareness camapaign about bicyclists and drivers sharing the narrow roads and streets in the Tampa area.
This meeting stemmed from a case connected to bicyclist Bradley Marcel, who was cited by a Tampa officer for not being close to the right edge of a road in Tampa even though he had the right to be in the lane because the traffic lane was too narrow and sub-standard in width.
That's right folks -- bicyclists are supposed to be as close to the right side of the road as practable, but there are circumstances under the law that permit cyclists to take the lane such as to avoid debris, preparing to make a left turn and when a lane is too narrow.
My goal was not to argue Bradley's case before the trio of Tampa police members but to use it as a learning experience and a point of departure to educate officers about a bicyclist's right to be in the lane.
Enter George Martin, a long-time bicyclist and Florida Bicycle Association's bicycle laws director who advises police around Florida about bike laws. George offered his services to the Tampa police and he was well-received.
I want to thank John Bennett, Assistant Chief of Police for Operations; Ed Croissant, who teaches Tampa police officers about cycling; and Sgt. Carl Giguere, who spent an hour listening to our concerns and appeared willing to accept George's offer of providing education modules to improve the understanding of bicycle laws.
George is working on launching a bicycle laws training program for police and hopes to have a two-hour web-based program ready by the end of next year and the education modules ready to go in a few months. George's big goal is to take his bike education program for police national down the road.
Asst. Chief Bennett agreed to refresh a legal bulletin for police officers about a bicyclist's right to be in the lane under certain circumstances; add the www.flbikelaw.org Web site to the Tampa police Web site; add a PDF showing bike routes in Tampa; target schools to educate kids about bicycling and look into getting training from the education modules. He also said police would consider using electronic message boards to advise drivers about sharing roads with bicyclists.
Here, George talks with Asst. Chief Bennett, Croissant, and Sgt. Giguere.
After discussing bicycle laws with the Tampa Police, George and I took a short ride to SWFBUD member store Streetfit 360 on Gandy Avenue to talk bicycling issues with Streetfit 360 owners Jana and Andy Clark.
Then at lunchtime, I enjoyed listening to George discuss the topic of bicycle laws with an ad-hoc group of interested downtown Tampa bicyclists at a brown-bag lunch at the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
George talks about bicycle laws with the downtown Tampa bicycle committee today. That's Jim Shirk listening to George.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Richard Gonzmart, a Big Bicycle Fan, Celebrates Book on the Famed Columbia Restaurant
Richard Gonzmart, owner of the famed Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, last night celebrated the publication of a book marking the amazing 100 years if his family's iconic restaurant. the book -- The Columbia Restaurant: Celebrating A Century Of History, Culture and Cuisine.
I'm working on a magazine story about the Columbia, so Richard invited me to attend and soak up the amazing stories told over a 5-course dinner in the restaurant's Siboney Room. As many of you know, Richard is a big bicycle fan and told me he hopes to do some rides with the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club.
First, there was the Columbia Centennial Museum Tapas Reception in the museum, of course.
Richard is checking out his mom's wedding dress in the restaurant museum.
During dinner, Richard's daughter, Andrea, and Andrea's daughter enjoyed listening to the book's author, Andrew Huse, discuss the book.
Andrew talks about the book with the crowd of 180.
Richard and wife Melanie enjoy watching a video at the end of the dinner.
2009 -- An Incredible Year For SWFBUD
In 2009, SWFBUD (South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers) came of age, forging political alliances in the Tampa Bay area and winning national awards for its bicycle advocacy work in the Tampa Bay market.
SWFBUD was already known as the organizer of the popular and award-winning Bicycle Bash by the Bay -- Tampa Bay's annual bicycle festival. In fact, SWFBUD won an Event of the Year Award from the Florida Bicycle Association in 2007 for the Bicycle Bash.
But in 2009, SWFBUD became an advocacy force as SWFBUD Director Alan Snel lobbied local government boards and commissions to improve infrastructure for bicyclists; organized a bike ride to a Hillsborough County Commission budget hearing to help keep county parks open seven days a week and created key political alliances with local elected officials such as Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe and Tampa City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena to increase the profile of cycling in the Tampa Bay area.
SWFBUD's efforts paid off and drew national attention and recognition.
In April, SWFBUD won the prestigious Retailer Advocacy Award from the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) magazine, the trade publication that covers the bicycle industry in the U.S. Here, Alan Snel receives the BRAINy award from Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong and BRAIN Editor Megan Tompkins.
And then this summer, the Trek Bicycle Corp. gave its Advocacy Leadership Award to SWFBUD for working with Hillsborough County officials to keep the parks open seven days a week after the proposed budget called for closing the parks two days a week. Here are some SWFBUD store owners with mountain bike building legend Gary Fisher after SWFBUD won the award.
* * *
SWFBUD became political and Alan Snel was showing up at Tampa City Council meetings and Hillsborough and Pinellas County Commission meetings and TBARTA meetings and just about any public forum to sound the call for improved and better infrastructure for bicyclists in the Tampa Bay area.
Alan appeared before the TBARTA board to advise them to make sure that bicycles are part of a future light rail plan. Here is Alan with former TBARTA Board Chairman Shelton Quarles.
Alan also appeared before the Hillsborough County Commission numerous times to implore the commission to connect the Upper Tampa Bay Trail with the Suncoast Trail and to keep the county's parks open seven days a week.
SWFBUD organized a bike ride to a Hillsborough County Commission budget hearing this summer to save the county's parks.
Once at the meeting, SWFBUD spoke loud for parks for bicyclists. Here, SWFBUD member Brian Eckman, owner of Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, spoke to the commission.
SWFBUD's appearance led to a meeting with Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who asked SWFBUD for ways to improve bicycling in the Tampa area. Snel came up with a 10-point bicycle improvement plan that ran the Tampa Tribune and that he presented to the county's MPO board.
SWFBUD arranged a meeting with Florida Bicycle Association Bike Laws Director George Martin to discuss bicycle laws with the Tampa Police after a bicyclist was cited in Tampa for biking in a road that was sub-standard in width,
SWFBUD is also lobbying the city of Tampa to improve its reputation as a hostile place for bicyclists. Alan is lobbying Mayor Pam Iorio and other officials in city government to install more bike lanes. He plans to work with City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena to enhance bike-commuting in the city.
SWFBUD appeared before local organizations to spread the word of improving bicycling. Here, Alan speaks at an Open Mic Night held by the Urban Charrette in Tampa.
* * *
Then, there is SWFBUD's signature event -- the Bicycle Bash by the Bay.
We drew more than 3,000 people of all bicycle backgrounds to North Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg to celebrate bicycling. It was a hot day, but a great setting for SWFBUD's Bicycle Bash.
The Bicycle Bash drew bicyclists of all ages.
And Alan gave out SWFBUDDy Awards to people who made Tampa Bay a bicycle-friendly area.
The SWFBUDDy winners.
SWFBUD plans to keep the pressure on in December as Alan is appearing before several local government boards and plans to work with Saul-Sena to improve bicycling in Tampa.
SWFBUD was already known as the organizer of the popular and award-winning Bicycle Bash by the Bay -- Tampa Bay's annual bicycle festival. In fact, SWFBUD won an Event of the Year Award from the Florida Bicycle Association in 2007 for the Bicycle Bash.
But in 2009, SWFBUD became an advocacy force as SWFBUD Director Alan Snel lobbied local government boards and commissions to improve infrastructure for bicyclists; organized a bike ride to a Hillsborough County Commission budget hearing to help keep county parks open seven days a week and created key political alliances with local elected officials such as Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe and Tampa City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena to increase the profile of cycling in the Tampa Bay area.
SWFBUD's efforts paid off and drew national attention and recognition.
In April, SWFBUD won the prestigious Retailer Advocacy Award from the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) magazine, the trade publication that covers the bicycle industry in the U.S. Here, Alan Snel receives the BRAINy award from Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong and BRAIN Editor Megan Tompkins.
And then this summer, the Trek Bicycle Corp. gave its Advocacy Leadership Award to SWFBUD for working with Hillsborough County officials to keep the parks open seven days a week after the proposed budget called for closing the parks two days a week. Here are some SWFBUD store owners with mountain bike building legend Gary Fisher after SWFBUD won the award.
* * *
SWFBUD became political and Alan Snel was showing up at Tampa City Council meetings and Hillsborough and Pinellas County Commission meetings and TBARTA meetings and just about any public forum to sound the call for improved and better infrastructure for bicyclists in the Tampa Bay area.
Alan appeared before the TBARTA board to advise them to make sure that bicycles are part of a future light rail plan. Here is Alan with former TBARTA Board Chairman Shelton Quarles.
Alan also appeared before the Hillsborough County Commission numerous times to implore the commission to connect the Upper Tampa Bay Trail with the Suncoast Trail and to keep the county's parks open seven days a week.
SWFBUD organized a bike ride to a Hillsborough County Commission budget hearing this summer to save the county's parks.
Once at the meeting, SWFBUD spoke loud for parks for bicyclists. Here, SWFBUD member Brian Eckman, owner of Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, spoke to the commission.
SWFBUD's appearance led to a meeting with Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who asked SWFBUD for ways to improve bicycling in the Tampa area. Snel came up with a 10-point bicycle improvement plan that ran the Tampa Tribune and that he presented to the county's MPO board.
SWFBUD arranged a meeting with Florida Bicycle Association Bike Laws Director George Martin to discuss bicycle laws with the Tampa Police after a bicyclist was cited in Tampa for biking in a road that was sub-standard in width,
SWFBUD is also lobbying the city of Tampa to improve its reputation as a hostile place for bicyclists. Alan is lobbying Mayor Pam Iorio and other officials in city government to install more bike lanes. He plans to work with City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena to enhance bike-commuting in the city.
SWFBUD appeared before local organizations to spread the word of improving bicycling. Here, Alan speaks at an Open Mic Night held by the Urban Charrette in Tampa.
* * *
Then, there is SWFBUD's signature event -- the Bicycle Bash by the Bay.
We drew more than 3,000 people of all bicycle backgrounds to North Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg to celebrate bicycling. It was a hot day, but a great setting for SWFBUD's Bicycle Bash.
The Bicycle Bash drew bicyclists of all ages.
And Alan gave out SWFBUDDy Awards to people who made Tampa Bay a bicycle-friendly area.
The SWFBUDDy winners.
SWFBUD plans to keep the pressure on in December as Alan is appearing before several local government boards and plans to work with Saul-Sena to improve bicycling in Tampa.
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