Speaking Out For Bicyclists

Thank you Urban Charrette for inviting me to speak Wednesday night at Bamboozle Cafe about what we can do together to improve bicycling in the Tampa Bay area. As you can tell, if my legs are not in motion my arms will be.


No. 1 piece of advice: Let's get political.

For too long, bicyclists in the Tampa Bay area -- and specifically Tampa -- have been politically shy about asking for what I believe is a fair share of the infrastructure pie for bicyclists.

Bicycling is a legitimate, if not preferred, form of transportation around the world, and many cities in this country routinely include bicycling in its transportation plans.

Such cities include big cities like New York and Chicago -- and smaller cities, too, such as Davis, Calif. and Boulder, Co. They all have terrific bicycle plans.

But not the city of Tampa. Mayor Pam Iorio is a pleasant woman and likable politician who given us more lip service than actual infrastructure such as bike lanes on roads and off-road bike trails.

Let your voice be heard at city council meetings and tell the mayor you want a city that's safer for bicyclists.

See you at the 2009 Bicycle Bash by the Bay festival on Oct. 11.