Tampa BayCycle

http://twitter.com/TampaBayCycle

Two popular events are joining forces on Saturday, March 27 – the Tampa Twilight Criterium and ECO.lution Festival for an exciting day in downtown Tampa!

This community event will incorporate many options for guests including:
• bike races all day long culminating with a professional race at dusk
• live music from a stage
• food and beverage with a focus on local companies (beer garden open till 10pm)
• kids area including a bike rodeo to teach kids safe biking skills, bounce house, bike decorating station, etc.
• wellness area including fitness demonstrations, healthy cooking demos and more
• exhibitors with a “green” or biking-related theme
• “Celebrity” races on adult trikes (5:30pm) and a family fun ride (1:20pm)

Hope you can come out and play with us on March 27!

THE SEMINOLE HEIGHTS BICYLING CLUB PRESENTS:

 Bike In Movie Night

7:00 pm Pot-luck dinner
Movie at 8:00 pm

Location:  1203 East Powhatan Avenue

Contact Alan Snel for more information at alansnel@yahoo.com

A dozen or so hardy people working downtown braved the cold weather for the first of two scheduled group bike to work rides. May 26 is the second ride in case you missed out! Join people who believe cycling is good for our environment, community and everyone commuting in the Tampa Bay Area. 

Contact Karen Kress for more information at kkress@tampasdowntown.com.

02/22/10 Jon Butts
Radioactivity: Live Call-In (Monday) Listen to this entire show: http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/8283

 We started today’s program talking about our upcoming local Bicycle Month in March. Our guests were some of the organizers: Karen Kress with the Tampa Downtown Partnership and Julie Bond with the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida.

 Bike Month activities will include biking contests, workshops, races, and other events throughout the month. Visit Tampa Bay Cycle for the complete schedule. The main safety issue that came up was how dangerous it is to ride against traffic.

The USF Bicycle Club is organizing group rides on campus during March.  Find out more by visiting their website at http://usfbc.blog.usf.edu/ or contact Jason Jackman at jackman@cutr.usf.edu.

The USF Bicycle Club met last night and enjoyed winning prizes during Tampa BayCycle.  Stay updated and join their Facebook page.  The group works to provide safe cycling on the campus and is a great way to meet other cyclists.

Attend this free Urban Safety Course on Saturday, March 13 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the St. Pete Time Forum sponsored by Tampa BayCycle and City Bike Tampa.  The information you need to register and attend is included on the Poster.  You must RSVP to attend this event to City Bike Tampa at 813. 225.1777.  Contact Karen Kress with the Tampa Downtown Partnership for further information at kkress@tampasdowntown.com.

We believe and encourage safe riding.  These courses will help you learn how to ride your bike safely and follow the rules of the road.

Calling all Cyclists: 

Log your miles during March via Bay Area Commuter Services Commuter Calendar and win fabulous prizes.  While you are on the BACS website, remember to sign up for the free Emergency Ride Home Program.  The website has all the rules and instructions to register and use the Commute Calendar.  You will need to register with BACS.  This is a free service funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Prizes will be awarded for most days and miles ridden.  You can back track and log your trips within a one week time period.

Go to this link and join us during Florida Bike Month:https://www.rideproweb.com/bacs/

Story Sources:           
Julie Bond
(813) 974-9799
New North Transportation Alliance
Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florid
mailto:bond@cutr.usf.edu

Karen Kress
Tampa Downtown Partnership
(813) 221-3686
mailto:kkress@tampasdowntown.com

 Tampa Bay Area Celebrates Florida Bike Month with Baycycle Events

TAMPA, Fla. (March 2, 2010) – The New North Transportation Alliance and the Tampa Downtown Partnership announce Tampa BayCycle during March in conjunction with Florida Bike Month. Tampa BayCycle is an initiative that encourages commuters to cycle to work, school or play all year.

This is the fourth year that events of this nature will be held in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa BayCycle is made possible through a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation.

Each year Tampa BayCycle recruits “Ambassadors” and “Friends” to join more 1,000 cyclists that have already gotten involved.  The Ambassadors are a group of bicyclists who know that riding a bike provides for a sound mind, fit body, and helps the environment. Those who join the Tampa BayCycle Ambassadors commit to encourage at least five other friends, neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances, community leaders, or anyone who wants to join the movement, to try biking instead of driving during the month of March.  They gain recognition as local leaders and will be listed on the Tampa BayCycle website. Those who are recruited can become part of the Friends of Cycling, a long-term network of cyclists.

In addition to the Ambassadors and Friends of Cycling, activities are planned throughout the month of March, including a Words for Wheels essay contest, Safety Courses, Individual Commuter Challenge; downtown Tampa Criterium and more. A schedule of events can be found at http://www.tampabaycycle.com.

“We are encouraging people of all ages and abilities to ride bicycles to their destinations instead of driving” said Julie Bond, executive director, New North Transportation Alliance managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. “Bicycle safety is a top priority and through education, bicyclists and motorists can share the roads more safely and enjoyably.”

Bond, an avid bicycle commuter herself hopes this month will bring greater visibility to the needs of cyclist in the Tampa Bay area. She also encourages cyclists and drivers to sign up for one of the Bicycle Street Skills classes offered during March at USF and downtown Tampa. 

Area residents are invited to enter ‘Words for Wheels,’ an essay-based bike giveaway contest. To enter, participants should submit a 200-word essay detailing how winning a bike would change their lives.

“With Tampa BayCycle, we hope to generate an awareness of bicycling as a mode of transportation,” said Karen Kress, director of transportation and planning, Tampa Downtown Partnership, and a bikes on bus commuter. “Fifteen percent of trips are within one mile of home and could easily be taken by bicycle instead of car. With a helmet, proper safety skills and careful route choice, biking becomes a much more feasible and healthier way to get around.”

For additional information regarding Tampa BayCycle and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.TampaBayCycle.com.

Tampa BayCycle encourages commuters to cycle to work, school or play. Tampa BayCycle was recently formed through efforts of the New North Transportation Alliance and the Tampa Downtown Partnership. For more information, visit www.TampaBayCycle.com.