Meet at 4:45 PM at Garden Center To Ride To Transit Hearing

Strap on your helmets and get ready to ride: SWFBUD is leading a bike ride to today's big county transit tax hearing.

We will gather at 4:45 PM at the Seminole Heights garden Center, 5800 Central Ave., and leave promptly at 5 PM to bike to the county's All Peoples community center at 6105 E. Sligh Avenue. The hearing begins at 6 PM.

Our message: Bicycles=Transportation.

SWFBUD Leads Ride To Thursday's Transit Hearing

I know it's probably more fun to be cycling at Flatwoods, or San Ann, or Alafia at 6 PM Thursday May 13, but it's also important that your voice as a bicyclist be heard at public hearings where local governments discuss transportation.

Such is the case Thursday when the Hillsborough County Commision holds a 6 PM hearing for residents to offer their two cents about the transit penny sales tax proposal to fund light rail, buses and road improvements.

The county commissioners need to be told that bicycling needs to be part of any transportation plan -- whether it be for more bike lanes or bike storage facilities at light rail stations or to be told bikes are efficient and fun ways of getting around.

The hearing is 6 PM at the All Peoples Life Center, at 6105 East Sligh Avenue (1 block East of 56th Street behind King High School).



SWFBUD will be leading a ride to the hearing. Please gather at 4:45 PM in front of the Seminole Heights Garden Center, 5800 Central Avenue. We will leave at 5 PM and bike about 5 miles east on Hanna Ave. to the hearing (just like at last summer's county budget hearing). Bring a helmet, lock and lights.

Or please attend the hearing via any other mode.

Please wear a bike shirt or jersey to the hearing to show the commissioners and public that you are a bicyclist.

Call Gov. Crist at 850- 488-7146 and Tell Him To Veto HB 971

SWFBUD says, call the governor and urge Gov. Crist to veto HB 971!

Join Florida cyclists and urge Governor Crist to veto HB 971, which requires cyclists to use bike lanes and allowing golf carts on shared use paths.

HB 971 amends Florida code Section 316.1995 to mandate that cyclists use dedicated bike lanes when present. We support the development and use of bike lanes but oppose mandatory-use laws. Cyclists must be able to determine where it is safest for them to ride in the street. There are exceptions in the current law that allow cyclists to leave the lane - but in practice law enforcement and the driving public is frequently unaware of these exceptions and may incorrectly "advise" cyclists to ride where it isn't safe or appropriate.

Further, the bill amends section 316.008 to allow local jurisdictions to permit golf carts and other motorized vehicles to use sidewalks and shared use paths that now are for the exclusive use of non-motorized transportation. This provision does not require these vehicles to yield to pedestrians or others traveling by non-motorized means, and has the potential to add congestion and conflict on Florida's well-used trail network.