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
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Buddy Brew Coffee Comes To The Bicycle Bash Again
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.
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.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Creative Loafing Honors SWFBUD In Its Best Of
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.
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.
SWFBUD Asks Tampa City Council To Build the BAM!
Jim Shirk helps SWFBUD lobby Tampa City Council to Build the BAM!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
SWFBUD Thanks Nico For BAM Network Map
SWFBUD thanks talented architect Nico Stearley of HOK in Tampa for creating this gorgeous map illustration of the BAM Network Plan -- SWFBUD's proposal to unify the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail, the South Coast Greenway and the Selmon Greenway into a unified superhighway system for bicyclists in the Tampa/Hillsborough area.
I look forward to showing this map at a presentation before the Tampa City Council on Thursday morning.
I look forward to showing this map at a presentation before the Tampa City Council on Thursday morning.
Monday, September 19, 2011
SWFBUD Bicycle Bash Banner Goes Up Today
All 12 SWFBUD bike shops are amazing, including Bicycle Outfitters and owner Adam Beland pictured here with the 2011 Bicycle Bash Festival banner that he tied to the fence behind his store on the Pinellas Trail in Largo, Fla.
Shop at a SWFBUD bike shop because that store supports bicycle advocacy here in Tampa Bay. Check out more info about the Bash at www.bicyclebash.com.
Shop at a SWFBUD bike shop because that store supports bicycle advocacy here in Tampa Bay. Check out more info about the Bash at www.bicyclebash.com.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Taco Bus To Be At Bicycle Bash Nov 6
SWFBUD is happy to report that the famed Taco Bus of Tampa is sending its food truck to serve the hungry Bicycle Bash goers on Nov. 6.
And Brendan Mclaughlin, a bicycle enthusiast and Channel 28 news anchor, will also be at the Bicycle Bash to offer some announcing in the afternoon of the Bash.
And Brendan Mclaughlin, a bicycle enthusiast and Channel 28 news anchor, will also be at the Bicycle Bash to offer some announcing in the afternoon of the Bash.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Bikes Belong To Exhibit At Bicycle Bash Nov 6
Happy to report that Bikes Belong, a terrific national bike advocacy organization based in Boulder and led by Tim Blumenthal, will be having an exhibit at the Bicycle Bash. check out www.bikesbelong.org for more info.
Friday, September 16, 2011
SWFBUD Makes Calls To Help Keep Transportation Enhancements
At Interbike, SWFBUD called Florida senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio to advise them to oppose efforts to kill Transportation Enhancement funds that help build bicycle infrastructure -- and those phone calls helped.
Here is an update from Bikes Belong:
The U.S. Senate affirmed its time-tested support of bicycling Thursday by forcing Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma to withdraw his proposal to eliminate dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements program.
Peopleforbikes.org supporters and our advocacy partners influenced this outcome by sending close to 50,000 emails and making thousands of phone calls to their U.S. Senators in just 48 hours. Thank you!
As a result, funding for all federal transportation programs has now been extended to March 31, 2012. The key, cost-effective programs that make bicycling safer and easier -- Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails -- will continue to receive modest, dedicated support -- about 1.5 percent of the total federal transportation investment.
Every U.S. Senate office received an unprecedented number of well-crafted emails and articulate phone calls this week from people who bike. This powerful show of support for bicycling made a strong impression on Congress and influenced the positive outcome.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Greetings From Interbike In Vegas
SWFBUD is on the scene at the Interbike show, the bicycle industry's annual get-together where some 1,200 bicycle brands set up exhibits and thousands more from the bicycle world come to schmooze, network and hob-nob.
SWFBUD is spreading the word about our 2011 Bicycle Bash festival on NOV 6 at beautiful Flatwoods Park and is recruiting exhibitors to be Bash vendors in less than two months.
SWFBUD is also spreading the word about the BAM (Bicycle Area Mobility) Network that we have lobbied for in the Tampa Bay area. The BAM Network is a unified paved trail system made up of the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail, the South Coast Greenway and the Selmon Greenway as a superhighway for bicyclists in the Hillsborough County and Tampa area. Check out Creative Loafing for a great story about the BAM.
SWFBUD is happy to see SWFBUD bike shop owners on the scene, such as David Luppino of Just Ride Bicycles, Tom Jessup of Chainwheel Drive and Carlos Mirabal of University Bicycle Center. On the flight to Las Vegas from Tampa, SWFBUD bumped into Tom's son, Scott Jessup, from Chainwheel Drive and also Brian and Jen are here from Chainwheel as well. Waiting for the flight fromk Tampa, I also chatted with Bicycle Bash supporter Clayton Bramlett of American Classic wheels, as AC owners Bill and Ellen are on the scene at Interbike, too.
SWFBUD also appreciates the support of Steve and Laura Toll, owners of the incredible ISM bicycle saddle. Steve and Laura are from the Tampa area and are big supporters of SWFBUD, the local cycling scene and the kids' triathlon programs put on by Suzanne Henslee. Steve and Laura are spreading the word about ISM and people are listening.
SWFBUD has caught up with Andy Clarke, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, who wrote letters of support to Hillsborough County commissioners and Tampa city council members advising them to help the local bicycle scene in light of the 12 bicyclists killed in Hillsborough County in 2010. I also enjoyed chatting with Bill Nesper, the guy at the League who runs the program that awards bicycle-friendly honors to towns and businesses.
Bill has a personal connection to Tampa because his wife is from the Tampa area, so Bill keeps tabs with the SWFBUD work to make the Tampa Bay area a more friendly place for bicyclists.
It was also great to see Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Boulder, Colo.-based Bikes Belong, which is collecting 1 million signatures from people who favor bicycling to give to the power brokers in Washington, DC. By the way, please call your local US senators and congressmen and tell them to keep funding for bicycle infrastructure. Bikes Belong will be at the Bicycle Bash (bicyclebash,com) so please sign the 1 million bicyclist petition at the Bash on Nov. 6.
My cycling pal Ellen Pierson has rolled into Vegas and it's her first Interbike, so she's in for a treat today when she sees the endless sea of bicyle exhibitors at the gargatuan Sands Expo and Convention Center.
I arrived Tuesday morning to torrential rain in the Vegas area -- how bizarre is that? I came Tuesday to experience the second day of the Outdoor Demo in Boulder City and took the shuttle bus from the convention center to the Bootleg Canyon park, where the demo is staged.
It stopped raining at the demo by the time I got there, but threatening skies kept the crowd low and subdued at the demo, where I met Facebook friend Ben Coffey of Cinelli bicycles. Ben might be from Santa Fe, NM but he also supports SWFBUD and bicycling in Tampa. Ben, how about coming to the Bicycle Bash?!
It was nice to see Dan Thornton and Fred Clement of the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) -- and remember SWFBUD's own Tom Jessup of Chainwheel Drive is a NBDA board member.
I also hope today to catch up with my friend Ira David Levy from Chicago, who plans to start of a PBS TV show called "Pedal America."
I'll be back late Thursday night and will post photos when I'm back in Tampa.
SWFBUD is spreading the word about our 2011 Bicycle Bash festival on NOV 6 at beautiful Flatwoods Park and is recruiting exhibitors to be Bash vendors in less than two months.
SWFBUD is also spreading the word about the BAM (Bicycle Area Mobility) Network that we have lobbied for in the Tampa Bay area. The BAM Network is a unified paved trail system made up of the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail, the South Coast Greenway and the Selmon Greenway as a superhighway for bicyclists in the Hillsborough County and Tampa area. Check out Creative Loafing for a great story about the BAM.
SWFBUD is happy to see SWFBUD bike shop owners on the scene, such as David Luppino of Just Ride Bicycles, Tom Jessup of Chainwheel Drive and Carlos Mirabal of University Bicycle Center. On the flight to Las Vegas from Tampa, SWFBUD bumped into Tom's son, Scott Jessup, from Chainwheel Drive and also Brian and Jen are here from Chainwheel as well. Waiting for the flight fromk Tampa, I also chatted with Bicycle Bash supporter Clayton Bramlett of American Classic wheels, as AC owners Bill and Ellen are on the scene at Interbike, too.
SWFBUD also appreciates the support of Steve and Laura Toll, owners of the incredible ISM bicycle saddle. Steve and Laura are from the Tampa area and are big supporters of SWFBUD, the local cycling scene and the kids' triathlon programs put on by Suzanne Henslee. Steve and Laura are spreading the word about ISM and people are listening.
SWFBUD has caught up with Andy Clarke, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, who wrote letters of support to Hillsborough County commissioners and Tampa city council members advising them to help the local bicycle scene in light of the 12 bicyclists killed in Hillsborough County in 2010. I also enjoyed chatting with Bill Nesper, the guy at the League who runs the program that awards bicycle-friendly honors to towns and businesses.
Bill has a personal connection to Tampa because his wife is from the Tampa area, so Bill keeps tabs with the SWFBUD work to make the Tampa Bay area a more friendly place for bicyclists.
It was also great to see Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Boulder, Colo.-based Bikes Belong, which is collecting 1 million signatures from people who favor bicycling to give to the power brokers in Washington, DC. By the way, please call your local US senators and congressmen and tell them to keep funding for bicycle infrastructure. Bikes Belong will be at the Bicycle Bash (bicyclebash,com) so please sign the 1 million bicyclist petition at the Bash on Nov. 6.
My cycling pal Ellen Pierson has rolled into Vegas and it's her first Interbike, so she's in for a treat today when she sees the endless sea of bicyle exhibitors at the gargatuan Sands Expo and Convention Center.
I arrived Tuesday morning to torrential rain in the Vegas area -- how bizarre is that? I came Tuesday to experience the second day of the Outdoor Demo in Boulder City and took the shuttle bus from the convention center to the Bootleg Canyon park, where the demo is staged.
It stopped raining at the demo by the time I got there, but threatening skies kept the crowd low and subdued at the demo, where I met Facebook friend Ben Coffey of Cinelli bicycles. Ben might be from Santa Fe, NM but he also supports SWFBUD and bicycling in Tampa. Ben, how about coming to the Bicycle Bash?!
It was nice to see Dan Thornton and Fred Clement of the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) -- and remember SWFBUD's own Tom Jessup of Chainwheel Drive is a NBDA board member.
I also hope today to catch up with my friend Ira David Levy from Chicago, who plans to start of a PBS TV show called "Pedal America."
I'll be back late Thursday night and will post photos when I'm back in Tampa.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
SHBC Cycling To Hyde Park Village
This morning I biked with the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club to Hyde Park Village and back. Nice bicycling everyone.
Thank you city of Tampa transportation dept. for re-working North Boulevard with bike lanes, shared road markings and Share The Road signs -- we need more.
Beautiful Flatwoods Park -- as seen from Morris Bridge Road.
Order your 2011 Bicycle Bash T-shirt with the Build the BAM message. They cost only $10. Contact alansnel@yahoo.com
Thank you city of Tampa transportation dept. for re-working North Boulevard with bike lanes, shared road markings and Share The Road signs -- we need more.
Beautiful Flatwoods Park -- as seen from Morris Bridge Road.
Order your 2011 Bicycle Bash T-shirt with the Build the BAM message. They cost only $10. Contact alansnel@yahoo.com
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Creative Loafing Does Cover Story on the BAM Network
SWFBUD's plan for a regionwide paved trail system called the BAM Network got a big boost today when Creative Loafing wrote a cover story on the BAM in its current edition that just hit the streets.
The SWFBUD Bicycle Bash T-shirt just came out and it features the "Build the BAM" message on the front.
The T-shirt costs $10 and the money will go to promoting the Bicycle Bash and the BAM. Contact Alan Snel at alansnel@yahoo.com if you would like to buy a shirt.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
SWFBUD's Build The BAM Shirts Are In
SWFBUD is pushing our local elected leaders to Build the BAM (Bicycle Area Mobility) Network -- a regional multi-trail system that would include the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail, the Soputh Coast Greenway and the Selmon Greenway.
Check out Tampa bicyclists Jason Wilson and Nereia Cormier sporting the Build the BAM shirts that are this year's Bicycle Bash T-shirts.
If you want one, it only costs $10. Contact alansnel@yahoo.com.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Velo Champ Bike Store Joins SWFBUD
SWFBUD is happy to report that a new bike store has joined the bike store alliance.
Velo Champ, owned by Jordan Miller, is the 12th bicycle store in the Tampa Bay market to join.
Jordan is a strong bicycle advocate and appreciates SWFBUD's work to further the cause of cycling in the Tampa Bay area.
Jordan's Velo Champ store is located in the Tampa neighborhood of Seminole Heights and is a specialty boutique bike shop that sells brands such as Cinelli road bikes, Linus urban bikes and Brooks accessories.
Jordan can be reached at info@velochamp.com.
Please welcome Jordan to SWFBUD.
SWFBUD Pleased With MPO Trail Item Approvals
SWFBUD appeared before the Hillsborough-Tampa MPO Board this morning to urge the board members to amend the long range plan to accommodate the construction of the proposed Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail beyween Tampa and Clearwater and to also approve a feasibility study of the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail road crossings.
I'm happy to report the MPO Board -- which is made up of Tampa city council members, Hillsborough county commissioners and other transportation agency heads -- approved both.
Here's my compatriot Jim Shirk, all-universe bicycle volunteer and chairman of the Hillsborough-Tampa Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, just completing his comments advising the MPO board to approve the Bypass Canal Trail feasibility study for crossings and to amend the long range plan to accommodate the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail.
Here's a Florida DOT staffer explaining an item about the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail.
MPO staffer Michelle Oglivie shows photos taken by SWFBUD on a bike ride along the Bypass Canal Trail, which is open to the public but grassy with some access but other more difficult access points at a few road crossings.
This is what SWFBUD wants -- a paved trail along the Bypass Canal. This is the prototype -- a half-mile section along the canal at the Bypass Canal Park east of Rt 301 and south of I-4.
I'm happy to report the MPO Board -- which is made up of Tampa city council members, Hillsborough county commissioners and other transportation agency heads -- approved both.
Here's my compatriot Jim Shirk, all-universe bicycle volunteer and chairman of the Hillsborough-Tampa Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, just completing his comments advising the MPO board to approve the Bypass Canal Trail feasibility study for crossings and to amend the long range plan to accommodate the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail.
Here's a Florida DOT staffer explaining an item about the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail.
MPO staffer Michelle Oglivie shows photos taken by SWFBUD on a bike ride along the Bypass Canal Trail, which is open to the public but grassy with some access but other more difficult access points at a few road crossings.
This is what SWFBUD wants -- a paved trail along the Bypass Canal. This is the prototype -- a half-mile section along the canal at the Bypass Canal Park east of Rt 301 and south of I-4.
Monday, September 5, 2011
SWFBUD Will Lobby MPO Board To Support BAM and Causeway Trail
Please contact these Hillsborough MPO Board members and tell them you want them to support the the building of the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail and the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail as part of the BAM Network (Bicycle Area Mobility),which also includes the South Coast Greenway and the Selmon Greenway.
There is a MPO Board meeting Tuesday at 9 AM at the County Center on Kennedy Avenue in downtown Tampa and attend to speak out at the meeting foe these trails and the BAM Network.
Your MPO Board
Mayor Joe Affronti, Chair
City of Temple Terrace
P.O. Box 16930
Temple Terrace, FL 33617
813/989-7141
Commissioner Sandra Murman
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5740
Commissioner Kevin Beckner
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5730
Commissioner Lesley "Les" Miller
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5452
Commissioner Mark Sharpe, Vice Chair
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5740
Councilman Mike Suarez
Tampa City Council
315 E Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Fl
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-7072
Councilman Harry Cohen
Tampa City Council
315 E Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Fl
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-7072
Councilwoman Lisa Montelione
Tampa City Council
315 E Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Fl
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-7072
Commissioner Rick A. Lott
City of Plant City
302 W. Reynolds Street
Plant City, FL 33563
813/659-4274
Joseph C. Waggoner
Executive Director
Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority
1104 E. Twiggs St., 3rd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-6740
Joe Lopano
Executive Director
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
P.O. Box 22287
Tampa, FL 33607
813/870-8705
Richard Wainio
Port Director
Tampa Port Authority
1101 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
813/905-7678
Steve Polzin
HART Representative
CUTR
4202 E Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33620
There is a MPO Board meeting Tuesday at 9 AM at the County Center on Kennedy Avenue in downtown Tampa and attend to speak out at the meeting foe these trails and the BAM Network.
Your MPO Board
Mayor Joe Affronti, Chair
City of Temple Terrace
P.O. Box 16930
Temple Terrace, FL 33617
813/989-7141
Commissioner Sandra Murman
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5740
Commissioner Kevin Beckner
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5730
Commissioner Lesley "Les" Miller
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5452
Commissioner Mark Sharpe, Vice Chair
Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-5740
Councilman Mike Suarez
Tampa City Council
315 E Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Fl
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-7072
Councilman Harry Cohen
Tampa City Council
315 E Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Fl
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-7072
Councilwoman Lisa Montelione
Tampa City Council
315 E Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Fl
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-7072
Commissioner Rick A. Lott
City of Plant City
302 W. Reynolds Street
Plant City, FL 33563
813/659-4274
Joseph C. Waggoner
Executive Director
Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority
1104 E. Twiggs St., 3rd Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
813/272-6740
Joe Lopano
Executive Director
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
P.O. Box 22287
Tampa, FL 33607
813/870-8705
Richard Wainio
Port Director
Tampa Port Authority
1101 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
813/905-7678
Steve Polzin
HART Representative
CUTR
4202 E Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33620
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