Tampa BayCycle

Bicycle Commuting Skills Course – Present by Sharon Monahan
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND SPACE IS LIMITED TO THIS FREE CLASS SPONSORED BY TAMPA BAYCYCLE
You will receive a Bicycle Commuting Manual and a Bicycle Light or Helmet
RSVP Required to bond@cutr.usf.edu

DATE: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Time: 12:00 noon sharp – 1:30 PM
Location: Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR)
4202 E. Fowler, CUT100, Room 207 (second floor)
Located off of Alumni between the Engineering Bld. and the Beard Parking Garage

Friday 4/30 – - City Bike Tampa’s Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting of the Rental Hut… Marriott Waterside/Riverwalk at 4:30pm

 Tuesday 5/4 – - Bike to Work Day… groups meeting and riding in to Indigo Coffee downtown. 

 Thursday 5/6 - – Clean Air Fest w/ FREE Street Skills Workshops offered at 12:30 and 1:15 pm….. sponsored by City Bike Tampa and the Tampa Bay Bicycle Co-Op

 Saturday 5/8 – - FREE Urban Safety Clinic and Ride sponsored by City Bike Tampa from 9:30 – 11:00 am 

 Friday 5/21 – - National Bike to Work Day… groups meeting and riding in to Indigo Coffee downtown.

 Saturday 5/22 – - Hands-on Basic Bicycle Maintenance Clinic from 9:30 – 11:30 am…. brought to you by City Bike Tampa and sponsored by Tampa BayCycle. Space is limited, first come, first served. Cost for this clinic is $25/person paid up front at City Bike Tampa to hold your spot and includes an awesome toolkit for your saddlebag and for use during this clinic.

 Tuesay 5/25 – - Hands-on Basic Bicycle Maintenance Clinic from 5:00 – 7:00 pm…. brought to you by City Bike Tampa and sponsored by Tampa BayCycle. Space is limited, first come, first served. Cost for this clinic is $25/person paid up front at City Bike Tampa to hold your spot and includes an awesome toolkit for your saddlebag and for use during this clinic.

 Thursday 5/27 – - Urban Restaurant Bicycle Hop from 6:00 – 10:00 pm… sponsored by City Bike Tampa 

The Suncoast Cycling Club is having its annual Ride of Silence on Wed,May 19, 2010 at 7:00pm.  Meet at Caladesi Shopping Center at Alt 19 andCurlew Road in Dunedin .  For more info go to http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php?s=FL#FL.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership and the Tampa BayCycle campaign have teamed up with Tampa Bay Technical High School to create an innovative program to help provide safe and secure bike parking for the growing number of bicycles being ridden to and within the numerous downtown destinations.

Students in the school’s architecture program designed 10 bike racks made in part from old bicycle parts. Under the leadership of several teachers and supported by school administration, students were encouraged to think creatively and critically about both the design and functionality of each rack as well as the location for installment in downtown. The bike racks were fabricated by welding students and painted by auto body students at the school.

“We are always searching for creative ways to enhance downtown’s outdoor environment” notes Karen Kress, director of transportation and planning for the Tampa Downtown Partnership. “This project is a win for all involved – bike riders, public art lovers and students gaining valuable experience.”

Designed for the urban environment, each rack is painted with a rust-resistant paint used for outdoor projects. The color black was chosen so it would blend well with the rest of downtown Tampa’s street furniture.

“The students working with me to develop these concepts understand that great functional art helps make a community a wonderful place” said Bryant Martinez, TBT teacher and local artist. “Because of this experience, upon graduation several of the students will be heavily involved in large scale art projects at the Winthrop development in Brandon.”

The 1st rack will be installed on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22 at 2:30pm at the St. Pete Times Forum at 401 Channelside Drive in a ceremony with the students. A photo of the rack is attached.

“We are excited to be one of the recipients of these bike racks. The work of the students is tremendous. As an organization, the Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Pete Times Forum support both bike friendly and earth friendly endeavors. Many of our workers bike daily to work. These racks will be well used by our employees and visitors” said Mary Milne, vice president of operations.

Opportunities to photograph, get a list of locations and/or speak with the students creating additional bike racks can be arranged. Please contact the Tampa Downtown Partnership by dialing (813) 221-3686.

The winners of the Tampa BayCycle “Log Your Bicycle Miles” contest held during March 2010 are:

Tom Krumreich:  Vehicle Miles Reduced – 628;  Estimated Savings-$188.48; Greenhouse Gas Savings, 530 pounds

Bob Wise: Vehicle Miles Reduced-235; Estimated Savings: $70.70; Greenhouse Gas Savings, 198 pounds

Marie Andrews: Vehicle Miles Reduced-90; Estimated Savings-$27.14; Greenhouse Gas Savings, 76 pounds

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who participated in this activity!

*Total reductions and savings were calculated from self reported bicycle trips taken from 3/01/10 – 3/31/10.  Figures vary based on personal commute distance.

The first USF Bulls Bicycle Bash was held on Friday, April 16.  Attendees enjoyed food, prizes and great company. In case you weren’t there, we have provided a few photos.

During the Words for Wheels contest participants each submited a 200-word essay detailing how winning a bike would change their lives. Two winning entries were selected, and the winning authors each received a bicycle, light, helmet and lock. Runner Up winners each received a bicycle safety item to help them with their endeavors to commute via bicycle. The winners are: First Place- Meeta Saxena, Tampa, USF; Amy Chin, Tampa
Runners Up – Norene Dagly, St. Petersburg; Robert Blair, Tampa; Tejsingh Rana, Tampa, USF; Keiland Smith, Tampa; USF, Nina Mabilleau, Temple Terrace; Adolfo Lopez, Clearwater 

Meeta with her bicycle from Oliver's in New Tampa.

Amy Chin receiving her new bike from CityBike Tampa employee Michael Weimer

A second Words for Wheels winner has been announced.  Meeta is a student at USF and will use the bicycle for trips on campus.  Her cruiser came equipped with a basket, lock and lights.  Meeta recently attended a safety course taught by Sharon Monahan at USF.  Tampa BayCycle encourages safe riding and we strive to educate and inform everyone in our area.