Pinellas Trail extension popular before official opening

By Mariana Minaya, Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The downtown extension of the Pinellas Trail won't officially open until next month, but that hasn't stopped bicyclists from using it.

Take Maurice Haynes, who parked his gas-guzzler pickup after gas prices hit $4 and started riding his beach cruiser to work at the city's water resources department.

He loves using the 2.1-mile extension, which runs from 34th Street to First Avenue S to the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront.

"It's a safe way to travel on your bike because I remember coming up, you had to dodge cars," said Haynes, 28, who lives in Childs Park and rides to his check-in station on Burlington Avenue.

"People need a spot to safely ride their bikes, especially with gas prices," he said. "I think it was perfect timing. It really was."

David Segler's motivation for using the trail is more social than economic.

The 16-year-old teen takes it to visit friends and perform bike tricks along the landscaped medians without having to worry about cars.

"I love it," said Segler, a rising sophomore at Boca Ciega High School who lives in St. Petersburg. "It gives me enough space to go really fast."

The city won't start tracking ridership numbers until the extension officially opens, but on one recent Sunday morning, city transportation and parking director Joseph Kubicki noticed at least 20 people riding the extension.

"We've been kind of monitoring, and it's been getting good use," he said.

Nathalia Estrada, 24, an employee at Local Coffee + Tea on First Avenue S, said she sees about four or five cyclists using the extension in front of the restaurant in the early morning and again at 5 p.m.

And, "I've seen five cars accidentally drive on the trail," she said.

On July 12 there will be a ribbon-cutting for the extension, which cost $6-million, mostly in federal funds.

"All the traffic signs have not been activated, all the crosswalks have not been completed yet," Kubicki said. "It's very close, but not done yet."

Pinellas Trail on the Today Show

The Today Show ran a piece this morning about how prices at the pumps are pushing pedal power. Their first example: commuting via the Pinellas Trail.

[via Bike Pittsburgh]

Trail across Courtney Campbell Causeway proposed

The Florida DOT held the first of two public forums to discuss the proposed multi-use trail across the Courtney Campbell Causeway tonight in Tampa. If this plan goes ahead, there will be major improvement for cyclists and others to cross the bay from north Pinellas to Tampa. Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 22 in Clearwater.

It will extend from the area near the proposed Bayshore Trail extension in Pinellas County (Bayshore Boulevard at SR 60) to the eastern end point at the sidewalk/multi-use path currently under construction as a part of the Tampa Airport Interchange project in Hillsborough County.

The public meeting will be held:

Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Clearwater Christian College, Bldg. D
3400 Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Clearwater, Florida

For more information, you can download the proposal .pdf document here.

[Via Tampa Bay's 10]

Bike commuting on Tampa Bay's 10

You can't mention bike commuting these days without talking about the rising cost of gas. Tampa Bay's 10 featured both in this short video report. Naturally it appears during Bike To Work Week.

[via Alan Snel's Bike Stories]

What's up with the Progress Energy Extension?

Do you know what’s up with the Progress Energy Extension in NE St. Pete?  I’ve been driving by the intersection of 9^th and Gandy, seeing what looks to be work on the trail, but haven’t been able to find any information anywhere online about it.  Is this indeed a part of the trail – and if so, when is it expected to be completed.  The planned trail runs close to HSN and I’m hoping to be able to use it for commuting.

Thanks,
Kenneth

Thanks for writing Kenneth. The Pinellas Energy Extension will eventually connect the Friendship Trail (Gandy Bridge) and continue to the northern terminus of the Pinellas Trail in East Lake/Oldsmar.

Other new Pinellas Trail extensions currently under construction include the section into downtown St. Petersburg and along the Pinellas Bayway towards Ft. DeSoto.

I haven't been able to find a timetable for these projects, but they seem to be moving along quite quickly. You can view excellent maps of the current and proposed trails here and here. (Both .pdf files)

 

The stupidest bike lane - Part II

 

To see Part I, follow the link below.

[via Slate V]

Bike vs. Boar: No clear winner

I'm a little late with this, but it's so crazy I had to post it.

Those of us who like to get the tires dirty once in awhile all share one thing in common: wild animal stories. I've come across my fair share of tortoises, armadillos, pigs, deer, snakes and strange birds out in the woods, but this one tops them all.

Last week Alan Snel posted about a friend who stuck a wild boar while riding at Flatwoods. Well, something like that doesn't happen every day, and sure enough, the cyclist was found. Turns out it was Joel Concepcion and his wife who took a spill. Check out what it did to his bike (!!!) and get the whole story at  Alan's blog. 

[photo by Kristie Concepcion]

Cherry Blossom Bike Valet: WOW!

If you've ever been to Washington D.C. during the spring and been lucky enough to catch the cherry blossoms during peak bloom, you know what a beautiful sight it is.

You also know what a traffic nightmare it is.

So, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association organized a free bike valet service for visitors the National Cherry Blossom Festival. At the two locations they safely parked 460 bikes in the first weekend alone. (The festival runs through three weekends.)

Since you can bring your bike on D.C.'s Metro, you can effectively start from anywhere in the area and make it to the cherry blossoms with limited fuss. Check out some lovely pics here.

Hat's off to WABA for putting this together. There are plenty of events in downtown St. Petersburg that could certainly benefit from a service like this.

[via TheWashCycle]

Orlando group rides targeted by police

Just like every other group ride in history, the ones in Winter Park are becoming a nuisance to local motorists. They complain about riders hogging the road and blowing through stop signs, just like every group ride does. So the police went out and followed these rides and their video ended up on the local news.

Two things worth pointing out about this story:

1. At one point there is footage of a line of cars being backed up behind the police vehicle. Now, even if it is an unmarked car, very few motorists are going to pass another vehicle AND the group ride, so I don't see this as an accurate demonstration of what motorists deal with.
2. Here I quote: "According to deputies, the cameras revealed large groups of bike riders -- mostly on weekends -- illegally disrupting traffic." I'm not saying weekend warriors are bad cyclists, but there are reasons many dedicated riders I know shy away from the popular weekend rides. The groups are too big and unruly.

So as the popularity of the sport increases and there are more and more riders on the road, the issue will only get worse. But bike lanes are not the answer, each bike stopping individually at a stop sign is not the answer and riding single file is not the answer. There are no easy answers.

[via Dave Moulton]

Seminole Heights Bike Club in high gear

Cycling advocate and blogger Alan Snel has gotten the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club off to a fast start with three regularly-schedule monthly rides and some upcoming special events:

First Saturday of the Month (April 5): 5-Mile Family Ride. Start at 1203 E. Powhatan Avenue at 9 a.m. Slow, leisurely ride ideal for kids and families.

 

Second Saturday of the Month (April 12): Intermediate 10-Mile Ride. On April 12, this bike ride will be a new River Ride led by Rick and Lisa Hickman. Gather at the Garden Center on Central Avenue a half-mile north of Hillsborough Avenue at 8:30 a.m., and this ride leaves promptly at 9 a.m.

 

Third Saturday of the Month (April 19): 22-Mile Ride. Mike Limerick and Steve Swiger will lead this new longer and faster ride (15-16 mph) to Davis Islands and back. Gather at the Garden Center at 8 a.m. and this ride will leave promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday April 13: A special 18-20 mile ride courtesy of Susia Cooke of the Tampa Bay Freewheelers. This ride departs from the Lowry Park Zoo parking lot at the SE corner of Lowry Park at Sligh and North Blvd. The ride will tour the neighborhoods of Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, Ybor City, Channelside and Harbor Island. The ride features a leisurely return through downtown Tampa, and then head north along the Hillsborough River. About 18-20 miles at 10-12 mph. Contact Susie Cooke at 813 236-8119 for more info.

Sunday April 20, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- The Seminole Heights Bicycle Club has bought a table for $50 at the Earth Day event at the Lowry Park bandshell park at the corner of Sligh and North Blvd. If you would like to spend some time at our SHBC table to chat with visitors, contact SHBC steering committee member Ken Sturrock at ks@decaocto.org. Ken will set up a schedule of SHBC members to man the table.

 

Saturday, May 17, 8 p.m. -- The Seminole Heights Bicycle Club is proud to launch Movie Night at the Seminole Heights Bike-In Theater. The SHBC will show that all-time great bicycle movie, Breaking Away, in my back yard at 1203 E. Powhatan Avenue. Pot luck dinner begins at 8 p.m. and Breaking Away starts at 9 p.m.   

 

The Seminole Heights Bicycle Club is open to all bicyclists no matter where you live and feel free to bring a friend!

               

Bike Florida begins, but to what end?

I typically refrain from editorializing here, but as I was posting about this event, I started to wonder: the organizers of Bike Florida certainly mean well, but is this in the best interest of cyclists in Florida?

Published today at Tampabay.com:

CLEARWATER -- A group of cycling advocates (above) -- wait for the drawbridge this morning at the Dunedin Causeway after cycling from the Ross Norton Park and Sports Complex where they camped overnight in Clearwater.

The ride kicks off the 15th annual Bike Florida, a weeklong camping tour in which cyclists will travel from Clearwater north to Dunnellon. For much of that trip, they'll be on "off-road" trails such as the Pinellas Trail, and they plan to use the Bike Florida event this year to highlight the need for more trails restricted to biking and walking.

Today's event will feature two longtime activists -- Bike Florida executive director Linda Crider and writer advocate Herb Hiller -- who 30 years ago called for cars to share the road with bikes. This year, they're calling for more trails. -- Douglas R. Clifford, Times photographer

The non-profit organization behind this ride (also known as Bike Florida) was created to promote cyclists' rights and raise funds for the state's cycling eduction program. The tour is a week-long point-to-point camping tour ridden almost entirely on paved bike trails and right-of-ways. This is all well and good and seems like fun.

But seeing these riders clogging up a sidewalk and riding almost exclusively on trails, both new riders and motorists are receiving the message that cars belong in the road, bikes belong elsewhere. The Bike Florida Web site states the ride is "fully supported with assistance from local law enforcement agencies and safety signage, alerting motorists to 'Share The Road'."

I don't see any road-sharing going on here. 

Has anyone participated in this ride? Am I missing something?

[photo by Douglas R. Clifford]

Pinellas Trail reaches to downtown St. Petersburg

By Michael Maharrey, Times Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG - Work on a 2.1-mile extension of the Pinellas Trail along the south side of First Avenue S into downtown St. Petersburg began last week.

The downtown spur, part of a countywide plan to grow the 34-mile recreational trail to 75 miles by 2020, will cost the city about $6-million, with a large part paid for through federal funding. It will connect the southern end of the trail at 34th Street to the downtown waterfront, creating an unobstructed route running from Tarpon Springs all the way through downtown St. Petersburg.

City workers began building the 4-foot-wide traffic medians, which will separate the recreational path from traffic lanes, near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street. Work will progress east to the waterfront near Demens Landing during the next couple of months. The trail will be 10 feet wide and narrow First Avenue S to three lanes along its route.

The trail should be ready for bikers and joggers in May, according to Joe Kubicki, director of St. Petersburg's transportation and parking department.

There were concerns that the extension would eliminate a significant amount of parking along the main thoroughfare, but the project will result in the loss of only about six spaces, according to city officials.

Evan Moray, St. Petersburg's parking manager, said some blocks will lose parking because of required sight lines or driveway accesses, but other blocks actually gained spaces.

"The idea was to maintain as many parking spaces as possible," he said. "We did lose a few, but the impact is small."

Despite the loss of some parking, John Long, president of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, called the trail's opening a long-awaited event that will ultimately benefit downtown.

"This is a real positive connection for people to exercise, whether it be walking or riding bikes," he said. "The opportunity for more folks to come into the business area and not have to drive, I think, will offset concerns of losing a few parking spaces."

Keith Lukat, the administrator of the Lutheran Apartments at 550 First Ave. S, said he didn't think local business owners were too worried about the impact of the bike path. He was the only person who attended a meeting between city officials and business people along the street held six months ago to discuss the trail. Lukat said the apartments will only lose one parking spot.

"I'm not that concerned about it," he said. "Some residents may have to walk a little further when they park, but the trail will benefit a lot of our residents who ride bikes."

The first 5-mile section of the Pinellas Trail between Taylor Park in Largo and Seminole Park opened in 1990. Primarily built along an abandoned CSX Railroad right of way, the trail stretches 34 miles from Tarpon Springs in northern Pinellas County to St. Petersburg in the south. About 90,000 people use the recreational path each month, according to county estimates.

Pinellas Trail: By the numbers

1990 the year the first 5-mile section of the trail was completed

34 trail's current length in miles

$6-million projected cost of the trail extension into downtown St. Petersburg

90,000 people estimated to use the Pinellas Trail each month

12 publicly accessible water fountains along the trail

88 street crossings

8 raised overpasses

What's your least favorite weather?

Yesterday was a tough ride for anyone who ventured out in the stiff wind. In the afternoon it calmed enough that I felt like it was safe to go out, but it was still difficult. I have to say, wind is my least favorite weather condition to ride through. It slices through your clothes, makes even flat roads hard to ride and generally pushes you all over the road. Give me uphill in the rain any day!

What's your least favorite weather to ride in?

What do you think about when out on a ride?

Something has to take your mind off your aching rear on a century ride. St. Petersburg Times columnist Jeff Klinkenberg says he thinks about the wildlife he sees, hills and his own mortality after suffering a stroke after a ride in 2006.

I am traveling light, on a 16-pound bike, with a hard-boiled egg, four energy bars, a banana and a cell phone in the rear jersey pocket. I've clamped two bottles containing Gatorade below the saddle. My goal is to ride 100 miles in a day.

I straddle my carbon-fiber Orbea, clip my shoes into the pedals, head north into the wind.

Do bluebirds know they are mortal? They probably don't dwell on it, concentrating on the moment of living. A half dozen males - Thoreau described them as "carrying the sky on their backs" - flit past. I flit along with them. On my bike I always feel like I'm flying, not in a jet, mind you, but in a modest biplane. Speed kills.

Read more of Jeff's take on how a long ride can put life in perspective.

What do you think about when out on a long ride? Do you dwell on nagging worries or do they glide away with the wind? Do you distract yourself with music or embrace the solitude? Share your thoughts!

New Seminole Heights Bike Club formed

Got a note this week from fellow Tampa Bay cycling blogger Alan Snel. He wanted to report his blog is back up and running, but at a new address: alansnel.blogspot.com.

He also wanted to let the community know about a new venture of his: the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club. The group is already hard at work on the details. The group will host its first club ride February 16 with special guest bicyclist Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and her husband Mark Woodard. Meet at 1203 East Powhatan Avenue at 8:15 AM and the ride will begin at 8:30 AM.

Find out more about the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club at Alan's blog.

Gettin' those tires dirty with Terry Tomlin

St. Petersburg Times outdoors editor Terry Tomlin recently took a trip to the Morris Bridge and Flatwoods areas of Wilderness Park in Tampa. If you're a total beginner in the mountain bike world, this is a great place to start. The area is mostly flat and you could easily have a great time exploring on a hybrid or cruiser.

As for more, I'll let Terry tell it:

Forty years ago, when I swapped the skinny tires off my Sting-Ray-style bicycle for fat ones, I didn't think twice about jumping over logs. My banana seat was well padded, and when you're a kid, landing never really hurt that much.

Today, I'm old, a little gray and a tad overweight. Falling doesn't feel so good, even if you land in the mud and miss the cypress knees.

However, as my riding companion Aaron Freedman explained, when mountain biking, it is best to remain seated.

"Are you all right?" he asked, as I slowly picked myself up off the ground. "Watch out for those roots. They will get you every time."

With the wind knocked out of me, I climbed back in the saddle and headed off down the trail - cautious and slow - but ready for anything. The off-road bicycling trails here at Wilderness Park, which is actually three separate riding areas, would hardly be called "technical" by die-hard, fat-tire devotees.

But for this aging outdoorsman, the trails were challenging enough to prompt me to embark on a fitness plan, or at least, wear a catcher-style cup next time I get on a mountain bike.

Trail maintenance

Volunteers play a big role in keeping Hillsborough County's mountain biking trails open to riders and hikers. Members of the Wilderness Trails Association (WTA) meet at the Morris Bridge boat ramp on the third Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. then hit the woods for trail maintenance. To help, contact Sharon Noll at Noll2@juno.com or Joe Humble at jrhumble@aol.com You can also call the WTA at (813) 987-6211.

SWAMP mountain biking club

There's safety in numbers, and the Southwest Association of Mountainbike Pedalers (SWAMP) host regular group rides and clinics for everybody from the novice to the expert. The club's Web site has a wealth of information for fat-tire enthusiasts. You can find out everything from local trail conditions to upcoming mountain biking festivals. To learn more, call the SWAMP hotline at (813) 689-5109.

Morris Bridge site

Place names such as The Pits, Misery, Gator Bait and Grandpa, give you some idea what to expect on this stretch of trail. The miles of single track (trail wide enough for just one bike), the Morris Bridge site is a workout for both mind and body. The terrain varies between hard-packed dirt to soft, sugar sand and everything in between. Experienced riders will love the exposed roots - they will send you flying - but beginners should beware. You will learn how to land after a fall. With plenty of pine and oak trees, the shade makes this a fun ride anytime of the year. But be careful. No matter how many times I have taken this trail, I still manage to get lost.

Flatwoods site

Ideal for beginners, the Flatwoods site has a 7-mile paved loop that is favorite spot for "roadies" and in-line skaters. But Flatwoods also has great double track (dirt access roads that are wide enough for cyclists to ride side by side) and a network of single track as well. Like Morris Bridge, this area has plenty of shade and varied terrain to keep you interested. When combined with the other two riding areas, you can cover 15 miles of trail.

Trout Creek site

The smallest of the three riding areas, Trout Creek is a great place to introduce kids to off-road riding. The trail winds around two lakes. The double track section is easy to master. A bridge over the Hillsborough River at Trout Creek links the other sections of Wilderness Park. There are several tables on the water, so pack a picnic lunch for after the ride. Another added benefit is the park's canoe launch. Bring along your favorite paddlecraft. Ride in the morning and explore the river in the afternoon.

Other places to ride

Alafia River State Park, southeast of Brandon, is one of the top mountain biking destinations in the state. You will get your fill of big drops, hairpin turns and white-knuckle ridge rides on the park's 20 miles of trails. For information, go to www.floridastateparks.org or call (813) 672-5320.

Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve in South Brandon has 4,900 acres of wild scrubland peppered with a dozen or more lakes. This Hillsborough County park has nearly 20 miles of challenging trails. For information, go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks or call (813) 672-7876.

The Croom Tract in Withlacoochee State forest has Florida's longest contiguous single-track bike trail. This off-road network forms two loops of 12 and 35 miles. The actual trail length, including connectors, is more than 55 miles. For information, visit http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/withlacoochee_trails.html or call (352) 754-6896.

At top: Left to right, Darry Jackson; Aaron Freedman, who rides for the Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure Racing Team; Times Outdoors Editor Terry Tomalin; and Hank Campbell, who rides for Florida Bicycle Sports, cruise along a wide portion of the Morris Bridge trail area in the Wilderness Park cycling area. More grueling single-track trails came later. Photo by Carrie Pratt/Times.

 

It's cold out there!

Finally, we get to break out those wool jerseys and winter wear that seem to get so little use here in Florida. I wasn't sure what to wear on my ride today and ended up expecting the worst but being somewhat overdressed. As they say, if you're not cold for the first 15 minutes, you're wearing too much. The bright sun felt good but the wind was brutal. Anyone have some cold ride stories to share?

Where did you ride today?

Thanks to the open-source code of Google Maps, several sites have sprung up that feature route planning for cyclists and other athletes. One of the best is MapMyRide.com. Totally free to use, MapMyRide lets you enter your route by clicking on the map or find new routes in your area. It then shows you total mileage, calories expended and even elevation gain. (Not much use here in Florida) You can add notes to the route along the way, include waypoints for breaks, hills or dangerous intersections and email them to your friends.

MapMyRide also has features that require a free registration. There is a community forum, a training log where you can track your rides and listings of upcoming events in your area. When you register, you can create a profile and share your routes. I created this one of the popular St. Pete Bike Club morning ride from North Shore Pool:

Some of the other sites that feature map planning are Gmaps Pedometer, Bikely, RouteSlip and BikeJournal. Check them out and share some of your favorite rides with Spoke N Word!

Ride to the Lightning game - get in free!

For the second year in a row the Tampa Bay Lightning will host its Go Green night at the St. Pete Times Forum to celebrate recycling and environmental awareness. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, as the Lightning take on the Carolina Hurricanes, any fan who arrives wearing green or with a valid transit pass will receive $15 off their ticket. Additionally, anyone who rides their bicycle to the St. Pete Times Forum will receive free admission. Secure bicycle parking will be provided.

Times photo by Dirk Shadd

Trek / Fisher / Lemond demo day at Alafia

Three SWFBUD member stores - Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, Oliver's Cycle Sports and Suncoast Trailside Bicycles - will be having a Trek/Fisher/Lemond "Ride the Best" Demo at Alafia River State Park on Friday, November 9, from 9am-3pm at the main mountain bike trailhead.
Demo days like this are a great way to try out new models in the real world woods, not just in the shop parking lot. Be sure to get there early, it will be crowded!

Possible new trail system in Hernando

The Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Association have announced the rumor about resurrecting the Gran Canyon trail system in Hernando County is true. Gran Canyon is where mountain biking first found a home in Florida in the 80's and where some of the first races were held.

Ridge Riders is asking anyone who might be interested in such a great trail coming back to life to contact Hernando County and let them know of your enthusiasm.  Please send an email with your
support to: StevenD@Hernandocounty.us.

For the latest developments, check out the FLMTB bulletin board.

Orlando Bicycle Weekend!

Orlando has a great cycling scene and quick access to some of the nicest roads for cycling in Florida. On the weekend of November 30-December 2 throw your bike in the car and head over to check out the Orlando Bicycle Weekend.

Friday, November 30
Critical Blast: Just like a Critical Mass ride, but more fun and hopefully, fewer arrests.

Saturday, December 1
Florida Flurry Alleycat Race: The second Orlando alleycat. This time with catered food, bands, beer, water and more.

Sunday, December 2
Bicycle Bonanza Fun Day: Local vendors and bike shops, workshops teaching and discussing skills, food, drinks, live music, raffles, games (foot-down, skid competitions, sprints, freestyle). All ages are welcome.

Where can you find more cool stuff like this? Oh yeah, the Spoke 'N' Word calendar:

Back from Boston

Spoke N Word took a trip to Boston this past weekend. It was great to see so many people choosing cycling as a way to get around the notoriously crowded and congested streets.

Not every part of town was bicycle friendly. Since Harvard's campus predates the invention of the bicycle by, oh.... 250 years, bikes were not permitted to be ridden in most areas:

But by and large it looked like any other college campus:

New bike lane on Tampa Street

The new one-way southbound bike lane extends from just north of MLK Blvd. all the way in to downtown. There isn't a corresponding outbound lane yet, so getting home might take a little longer.

Via Bike Commuters.

Photo by Jack Sweeney

To group ride, or not to group ride?

Group rides are a great way to get more involved in cycling. Being around others with whom you share a passion will undoubtedly boost your own enjoyment. It's also a great way to push your limits, make new friends and motivate you to get out there and ride more.

But if you're training for specific goals -- a century ride, a triathlon or racing -- the structure of group rides may not be a good match for you.

Adam Baskin, a cycling coach at the National Training Center in Clermont, has some great advice about how to make the most of group and solo rides.

Via Team Armada

Photo by James Borchuck/St. Petersburg Times

Mountain biking in Florida?

Take a trip to Flatwoods Park with St. Petersburg Times outdoors editor Terry Tomlin and some friends in this cool video.

New bike lanes coming to Nebraska Ave.

Construction has been crawling along Nebraska Ave. in Tampa since June. The state-funded $11 million project to replace the roadway between Kennedy and Hillsborough Avenue should be finished next summer.

Some details:

• The roadway will go from four lanes to three. A center turn lane will be bordered by one lane in each direction. The state thinks this will help traffic flow because drivers won't hold up traffic while making left turns.
• Bicycle paths from 3 to 5 feet wide will run along both sides.
• Crosswalks at 12 intersections with traffic lights will get a faux-brick treatment.
• Traffic signals that hang from wires at Scott Street, Lake Avenue and Osborne Avenue will be replaced with signals attached to metal arms that can stand up to hurricanes.

via TBO.com

2.6 mile Progress Energy Trail opens in Pinellas

Just west of U.S. 19 in Clearwater a new ribbon of smooth, flat asphalt stretches from Belleair Road to Bright House Networks Field. The Progress Energy Trail is the newest member of the county's trail network. Crossings at Gulf-to-Bay and Drew street are still a bit hazardous, but it is very close to connecting with the Ream Wilson Trail which runs to Safety Harbor.

The Progress Energy Trail is part of a project to eventually complete a continuous loop, connecting to the current Pinellas Trail and featuring a Friendship Trail extension across the Gandy Bridge. Next up: a section from Bright House field to Enterprise Road with federal funds going towards an overpass on U.S. 19. No completion dates have been set.

For a view of all of Pinellas County's current and proposed trails, click here. [.pdf]

Fast facts

• $3.5-million from Penny for Pinellas tax dollars.

• 2.6 miles long from Belleair Road to Bright House Networks Field.

• 5.5 miles long when the next extension to Enterprise Road is complete.

Pros: flat, smooth, convenient as a neighborhood trail.

Cons: Little shade, frequent road crossings, not challenging enough for serious cyclists.

Photo by Douglas R. Clifford/St. Petersburg Times

The future of Town 'N Country?

In 1998 Town 'N Country was selected as one of several Hillsborough County neighborhoods chosen for community-based planning. Now residents are still trying to shape the future of their "downtown" center known as Town 'N Country Commons. A new library is on its way, as are some other government buildings and a park, but it is still far from being the pedestrian-friendly mecca envisioned by urban planners. So far $16 million of taxpayer money has been spent.

Not everyone is convinced a walkable downtown is the best idea.

"People don't walk," Hyon Pak, owner of a sewing alterations shop on Paula, told the Times. "They want the convenience of cars."

Rob Gamester, who lives in Town 'N Country and was one of the plan's architects, said an important component is a series of transportation improvements that will help nondrivers.

"There are channels and ditches in Town 'N Country that stop pedestrian traffic cold," Gamester said. He's proud of the new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and pedestrian bridges over Sweetwater Creek, Rocky Creek and Channel G.

So is Greg Thole, owner of Flash Antiques at Paula and Hanley Road. "I'm looking forward to when it's all finished," Thole said. "It would be nice to have this as a walkable destination. It has the potential for cute shops."

If you're a Town 'N Country resident, there is still time to get involved. Tampa is already one of the least walkable cities in America. Let's not pave paradise and put up a parking lot.

Central Florida gets a new 52-mile rail trail

Today the Florida cabinet unanimously agreed to spend $16 million to convert an abandoned railway right-of-way in Brevard and Volusia counties. The East Central Regional Rail-Trail should be open within two years. More details are available via the Orlando Sentinel, along with some cool multimedia and maps of trails in the Orlando area.

We're lucky here in Tampa Bay to already have access to the 42-mile Suncoast trail and the 46-mile Withlacoochee State Trail.

Rides you will never take in Florida

From deputydog, a blog who "loves ranking", we bring you the steepest streets in the world. Taking the top spot: Canton Ave. in Pittsburgh, above, at 37%. It's not "officially" the steepest street in the world, but is actually steeper. Check out some of the steepest streets on earth here.
 

Think you can ride this? It's Fargo Street in Los Angeles.

For comparison, Sugarloaf Mountain in Clermont, Fla., the highest point in peninsular Florida, is said to have a grade in the mid teens.

What's the steepest hill you've ever ridden?

 

St. Petersburg - CityTrails

In the past year St. Petersburg's Bicycles and Pedestrians program has taken great strides to improve the quality of resources for cyclists and pedestrians. New bike lanes are being designated and bike racks are popping up across downtown. A major intersection at 1st Ave. N and 34th St. now features colored bike lanes where cyclists must merge with turning vehicles. Whether or not you believe bike lanes are in the best interest of cyclists, their presence shows the city is committed to creating cycling infrastructure.

When I was in Portland, Ore., this spring I was amazed at how many public resources are dedicated to cyclists. Each neighborhood had a free map detailing which routes were best for cyclists, accompanied by a larger map featuring the entire city. These are available not only at bike shops, but coffee shops, bookstores and restaurants. I was pleased to discover St. Petersburg has printed similar maps this year. So far I've only been able to find them at bike shops, but it's worth stopping in to grab one. They feature color coded guides to cycling quality on local roads both across the county and with a detail of downtown.

There are online versions you can view, but be warned, they are fairly large .pdf files, so downloading is your best bet. Don't even bother trying to print them out. [Downtown map]  [County map]

Across the bridge, Tampa has a very basic map of city trails and parks online. I've not seen a Tampa road map featuring cycling routes. Anyone seen one out there?

The Tampa Bay commute - it IS possible

Photo by Georg Oehl

Reader Georg Oehl was willing to share the story of his commute with Spoke N Word. It's true, it may take some prior planning to navigate the area's roads, but the payoff is worth it.

Always funny, how exotic this topic is treated here. I come from Germany where bicycling to work is no big deal and to have a report on TV or an article in the newspaper about commuting to work by bicycle is kind of hilarious for me.

This article from 2003 in the St. Petersburg Times gave me the final push to start cycling to work here too. I had thought about it for a while but I was somewhat intimidated by traffic shortly after moving here in the summer of 2002. But it turned out not to be so bad as I had thought. Roads are mostly wider here than in Europe, so motorists who pass cyclists on a single lane with oncoming traffic (when they shouldn't) usually have more space to do so. I am also more visible than Kimberly (the subject of the article linked above - ed.), because I am taller than her and usually stick out above car roofs, so drivers can see me from several cars back.

But it does take some route planning for certain commutes. I used to commute to downtown Tampa for a project in the summer of 2004. I took a whole Sunday scouting a suitable route to go there. It's sometimes quite interesting what routes I have to come up with in order to avoid certain busy stretches, although sometimes even those are unavoidable.

Back then I had to take part of Memorial Highway between the Hyatt at the end of the Courtney Campbell Causeway and a side street off Spruce Street opposite International Plaza Mall. I continued on Spruce Street the whole way to the downtown area which was ideal in avoiding the busy streets that run parallel, like Kennedy Blvd. I also put some photos of that commute online. For another commute to Largo I found a very good route with the help of a local company's maps (Mapsource in Largo). In certain spots the online maps from Google, Mapquest or Yahoo are useless, since they often show minor roads going through when in fact they don't.

Georg also put together this great interactive map of his commute:

View Larger Map

Trail to Trail race

Dig mountain biking but want to try a road race? Are you a roadie who thinks he can show up those fat tire fans? Or maybe you and a buddy think you're the best at each. Check out the Trail to Trail race this Saturday (Aug. 19) at Loyce E. Harper Park (formerly known as Carter Road) in Lakeland. This unique event hosted by Red Trail Racing features at 45 minute mountain bike ride, a 35 mile road ride and then back to the woods for another lap of the singletrack. Registration is from 7-9 a.m. There is a riders meeting at 9:15, a kids race at 9:30 and then the mass start at 10!

Classes include: Solo men, solo women, all mountain bike, clydesdale, fun men's team, serious men's team, all-women's and co-ed. Registration is $35 solo, $75 team and free for kids.

Want to see what trail is like? Check out this vid:

Snake Ridge at Loyce Harp Park in Lakeland