Flying Fish Joins SWFBUD

SWFBUD welcomes Flying Fish Bicycles to the SWFBUD group and announces that Flying Fish will be at Sunday's Bicycle Bash festival in downtown Tampa at Cotanchobee Park.

Bicycle Bash Celebrates the 2014 SWFBUDdy Award Winners For Bike Advocacy

SWFBUD is pleased to announce the WINNERS of the "SWFBUDdy AWARD" for 
2014. These are individuals who embody the mission of SWFBUD to "Make 
the Bay Areas Better for Bicycling."

From the City of Clearwater our SWFBUDdy Award Winners Chip Haynes. 
Chip is a lifelong Clearwater resident. His uncle Dick Phillips owned 
Clearwater Schwinn which was the Schwinn franchise in town back in the 
day when many of started discovering bicycling as a lifestyle. Chip grew 
up around bikes. He rode around the country on his bike back in the 
70’s. He has an antique bike collection and has always championed 
cycling. He is an example to all of us because he practices what he 
preaches and travels by bike most everywhere and when possible. Chip has 
served on the Pinellas County Bike Advisory Board. Whenever there is a 
cycling cause in our area he is on it. He provides weekly road condition 
reports to the city of Clearwater. He wrote a couple of books about 
cycling one of which is “The Practical Cyclist.” Because of this 
excellent work as a champion and an shining example of the bicycling 
lifestyle for bicycling in the Bay Area, SWFBUD is proud to announce 
Chip Haynes as a 2014 SWFBUDdy Winner.

Our next SWFBUDDy award winner is also from Clearwater. She is an 
employee of the City of Clearwater, she has worked hard over the years 
to make Clearwater the bicycle friendly city it is today. That Bay Area 
Bicycle Activist is Felicia Leonard, from Clearwater Parks and 
Recreation Department where she is the City’s Parks & Recreation 
Administrative Support Manager. Felicia has made sure that bicycles have 
a place in the City’s recreation areas and that there are safe ways for 
us to ride in and around the many parks of which she is in charge. This 
City of Clearwater employee has been consistent and unfailing in her 
commitment and support of bicycling as both viable transportation and 
recreation, making Clearwater a better place for us cyclists. Because of 
this excellent work making places where the bicycling community of the 
Bay Area can safely enjoy our passion for bicycles, SWFBUD is proud to 
announce Felicia Leonard as a 2014 SWFBUDdy Winner.

Our next a SWFBUDdy winner come from Tampa, Assistant State Attorney 
Barbara Coleman is a SWFBUDdy winner. She is a Hillsborough County 
Assistant State Attorney. This wonderful person, In her career as a 
prosecutor, has convicted and sent to prison many dangerous drivers who 
have killed or seriously injured other motorists, pedestrians, and 
bicyclists. Her skill as an advocate for the bicycling community is 
prodigious.

She obtained a 7-year, 3-month prison sentence for the hit-and-run 
motorist who killed bicyclist and USF cancer researcher Kayoko Ishizuka, 
She obtained a 10-year prison sentence for the hit-and-run motorist who 
killed bicyclist Humberto Saez, and just recently, obtained on behalf of 
all Bay Area cyclistsa 13-year prison sentence for the racing motorist 
who killed one our us, bicyclist and veterinarian Robert Niedbalec. 
Barbara Coleman has not stopped there putting motorist who kill 
bicycylists. Currently, she has upcoming cases against the second 
motorist who contributed to the crash that killed Dr. Niedbalec, against 
the motorist charged for the hit-and-run crash that killed bicyclist 
Ivan Miller, and against the motorist charged for the hit-and-run crash 
that killed bicyclist Michael Lee. SWFBUD and all bicyclists using the 
roads of Hillsborough coungy appreciate her hard work, commitment, and 
dedication to locking up dangerous drivers who threaten the lives and 
bodies of bicyclists and everyone else who uses our public streets. 
Because of this excellent work bringing Justice to the bicycling 
community of the Bay Area, SWFBUD is proud to announce Assistant State 
Attorney as a 2014 SWFBUDdy Winner.



Our next SWFBUDdy winner is Detective Jennifer Shelton. For so long we 
have watched and experienced motorist violating 3 foot law, hitting us 
with mirrors of all kinds and sizes, with trailers and driving so close 
as to make us feel the presence of death. The death of bicyclist Mike 
Lee is a chilling tale. Last year, on August 6, Mike Lee, 29, was riding 
at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday on the right shoulder of the U.S. 92 overpass near 
an off ramp for Interstate 4 and the Florida State Fairgrounds on his 
way as usual to work when he was hit by a hit and run driver. The 
murderer drove away from the crash and left Mike to die. Detective 
Shelton was called in. There seemed to be no clues. But The 
investigative team lead by Detective Shelton combed over the scene found 
one and only one. A small chip of green paint. Working on tips from the 
800 number tip line. She matched this small chip of pain to a section of 
missing paint from the hood of a suspect’s truck and lead to the 
killer’s arrest. All of this in ONE DAY later. Today that bicycle killer 
was in jail awaiting prosecution. This was stunning news to the 
bicycling community. When somehting like Mike Lee’s death happens on a 
road with a wide bicycle lane as Tim Bustos executive Director of the 
Florida Bicycling Association was quoted: “it’s inexplicable.” Because 
of this excellent work bringing Justice to the bicycling community of 
the Bay Area, SWFBUD is proud to announce Detective Jennifer Shelton as 
a 2014 SWFBUDdy Winner.

There are individual citizens who are making the bay area a better place 
for bicyclists. The next recipients of our SWFBUDdy award are Nancy and 
Gary Chapin. As you know, we have had a wonderful place given to the 
cyclists as a result of the Rails to Trails program. One such trail is 
the Pinellas trail. Despite being provided to us by the state and 
federal government, it’s like anything good, it takes work. One 
organization doing that work is the Auxiliary Rangers of the Pinellas 
Trail. Nancy and Gary joined the 2011 Auxiliary Rangers on the Pinellas 
Trail in February 2011. To describe the amount of work Gary and Nancy 
speaks to the goodness and greatness that Bicycle Advocates give to the 
community. Gary spends 500 hours a year alone riding the trail and Nancy 
250 hours a year also riding the trail. As Auxillary Rangers they help 
people with flat tires, sweep up glass left by the decrepit vandal, and 
patrol the the trail making sure suspicous activities don’t turn into a 
threat to the bicyclists on the trail In 2012 they encouraged their 
church, the Allendale United Methodist Church, to adopt several miles of 
trail as their own to keep the trail clean and safe. In addition, Nancy 
and Gary adopted their onw mile to do on their own. Think about that. A 
full mile, to clean, watch over and maintain. Imagine you do that 
yourself. Their dedication to bicycling and making the Bay Area has 
inspired us all to do more for us to enjoy bicycling. SWFBUD Thanks Gary 
and Nancy Chapin you for volunteering your time, all the help you have 
given, for making the Bay Area a Better Place for Bicycling.

Mike Olsen's God's Pedal Power, Sierra Club and Florida Bicycle Association Will Be At Bash

-- Mike Olsen of God's Pedal Power will be collecting old used bicycles and bicycle parts, or accessories, as part of his group's efforts to fix them up and give them to people in need of a bicycle. Come by and drop off your old used bike at Mike's tent.

-- The Sierra Club will have a booth telling us how wonderful our Florida environment is and how they are trying to preserve and restore it.  Stop by and say hello to this nice bunch of environmental cyclists. 

-- Florida Bicycle Association will be joining us at Bicycle BASH! The is our statewide advocacy group that has the wonderful Cycling Savvy program and the wonderful Bicycle Messenger newspaper.  It's a group that you and your whole family can join. the FBA motto is: "Creating a Cyclist-Friendly Florida."  www.floridabicycle.org.  Stop by and speak with Dan Moser.



Check out the Bicycle Bash sign at Flatwoods Park!

And the Bicycle Bash poster is up at Randy Myhre's Oliver's bike shop in New Tampa.

Bicycle Bash: April 6; 10AM -- Contanchobee Park behind the Forum in Downtown Tampa

Memories From the Last Bicycle Bash

Tampa BayCycle Becomes SWFBUD Member and Sponsors 2014 Bash

Thank you Tampa BayCycle for becoming a SWFBUD member and a sponsor of the Bicycle Bash!

Bicycle Bash List of Activities

The Bicycle Bash is fast approaching and here is your list of activities for the April 6 Bash at 10AM at Cotanchobee Park.

10 am -- Start of Bicycle Bash
10:30am -- Group stretch
11am -- Best New Thing
1:00 noon -- SWFBUDDY Awards
2 pm -- Kids bikes along Riverwalk
3 pm -- Free gear raffle
4 pm -- Bike Bash ends

Sign Up For Your Bicycle Bash Table and Tent Space

The Bicycle Bash is open to everyone who loves bicycling in Tampa Bay!

To sign up for a table for your bicycle or community group, call SWFBUD at 813-388-0673 and talk to one of the Board of Directors and she/he will hook you up.

We LOVE community and we love our bicyclists.

The MORE the merrier at SWFBUD Bike BASH 2014!

Hillsborough County Parks and Rec Rocks!

Thank You Hillsborough County For The Bicycle Bash Supplies!

SWFBUD wants to thank Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation for its continued support of the Bicycle Bash festival by providing tents, tables and chairs for the 2014 Bicycle Bash on April 6 at 10 AM. Specifically, Jason Gilson and Kevin Church have been very helpful and kind to provide the resources to help make the Bicycle bash the premier bike advocacy event in Florida! Cheers to Hillsborough County!

2014 Bicycle Bash is APRIL 6 at Cotanchobee Park

The Bicycle Bash continues.

Under new leadership guided by bicycle advocates Jim Shirk and J. Steele Olmstead, the Bicycle Bash will be held on April 6 from 10 am to 4 pm at beautiful waterfront Cotanchobee Park behind the Forum next to the Tampa Bay History Museum.

The group's name is the same -- SWFBUD -- but now the letters stand for South West Florida Bicyclists United with Dealers as bicyclists and bike shop owners will work together to further the cause of bicycling in Tampa Bay.

Contact Jim and J. Steele for more info.

It's Time For The Bicycle Bash! Nov 10 in Cotanchobee Park Behind the Forum

The Bicycle Bash festival -- Tampa Bay's premier annual bicycle advocacy event -- is returning once again for an amazing day of bike activities on MARCH 30, 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm at beautiful Cotanchobee park in downtown Tampa behind the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

South West Florida Bicyclists United with Dealers is joining forces with the Bay Area Freewheelers to put on this amazing and fun day of bike activities.

Participants will range from bike shops from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to food vendors to bike safety advocates.

So circle the date -- MARCH 30, the last Sunday in March.

It's time Bicycle Bash time again!

We're Ready To Bicycle Bash In Downtown Tampa

I couldn't have a better partner to put on a bicycle festival than James E Shirk. We staked out exhibitor sites tonight and we're ready to Bicycle Bash in downtown Tampa Sunday, 10am-4pm at Cotanchobee Park behind the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Talking Bash With Channel 10 News

Chatting up the Bicycle Bash event with Channel 10 anchor and reporter Allison K. -- thanks Allison!

Ride With Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn 10:30AM Sunday During the Bicycle Bash

Small change to the Mayor's Ride during Sunday's Bicycle Bash in downtown Tampa. Ride with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn at 10:30 am from City Hall to the Bicycle Bash site at Cotanchobee Park behind the Forum.

This Poster Will Be At The Bicycle Bash Sunday

Bring Your Old Used Bikes To Donate at the Bash

Some fun updates -- Mike Olsen of God's Pedal Power will be collecting old used bicycles as part of his group's efforts to fix them up and give them to people in need of a bicycle. Come by and drop off your old used bike at Mike's tent.

It's cool when your banker says he's a bicyclist and says he plans to stop by the Bicycle Bash Sunday in downtown Tampa. Wes Hammer will be doing his Davis Islands ride, then swinging by Cotanchobee Park in downtown Tampa to catch the Bash from 10 am to 4 pm. See you there Wes.

See Mayor Bob Buckhorn of Tampa on a bicycle. And riding it, too. Bob will join Andy Clarke of the LKeague of American Bicyclists and others on a short urban ride through downtown and back to the park at 11 am.

Thank you Danielle O'Conner for heading up the efforts to decorate kids bikes and helmets in the Kids Zone at the Bash. we'll have a fun parade of kids bikes along Riverwalk at 2 PM.

We have amazing eats and rinks -- powerhouses Columbia Cafe and Cigar City will be serving their delicious food and beer.

Perfect Weather for Sunday's Bicycle Bash

Sunday's weather for the Bicycle Bash in downtown Tampa looks exquisite -- High of 80 degrees, sunshine and zero chance of rain! Special thanks goes to Jim James E Shirk whose work on the Bash is making this annual bicycle advocacy event possible. To my bicyclist friends in Pinellas, please come and enjoy the bike stores of SWFBUD, a short, easy bike ride with Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Columbia Cafe foo

d, free bike helmets courtesy of the Hillsborough County sheriff's office, bicycle legal advice from Steele Olmstead, Cigar City beer, chats with national bike advocacy leaders like Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists, a swap meet and free raffle for free bike goodies. And don't forget the first-ever Tampa Bay Bicycle Summit the next day on Monday Nov 5 from 1-4PM at the History Center. More info here --www.bicyclebash.info

You want to turn around Tampa and make it into a bicycle town where bicycling is both safe and enjoyable? Then get involved. See you at the Bash and stop by the SWFBUD table to say hi.

Bicycle Bash/Social Gathering/Bike Summit Schedule -- Nov 4 and 5

Bicycle Bash Schedule

Sunday NOV 4    10 am to 4 pm  Cotanchobee Park, Old Water Street in Downtown Tampa

10 am -- Start of Bicycle Bash
10:30am -- Group stretch
11am -- Mayor Bob Buckhorn bicycle ride
12 noon -- SWFBUDDY Awards
2 pm -- Kids bikes along Riverwalk
3 pm -- Free gear raffle
4 pm -- Bike Bash ends

Activities -- swap meet, demos, Columbia Cafe food, Cigar City beer, music, bring old used bikes to donate to God's Pedal Power

Sunday NOV 4   7 pm to 9 pm   Independent Bar, 5016 Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights

Meet and greet Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists; and Tim Bustos, executive director of the Florida Bicycle association


Monday NOV 5   1 pm to 4 pm    Tampa Bay History Center   Downtown Tampa

"The Big Turnaround: Bridging the Divide to Becoming a Great Bicycle Town"

Speakers/facilitators

Andy Clarke, League of American Bicyclists president -- What makes a great bike town?
Rick Baker, former mayor of St. Petersburg -- Why should an elected official invest in bicycling?
Cheryl Stacks, St. Petersburg bike-ped coordinator -- How do you keep bicycle projects rolling?
Jean Duncan, Tampa transportation director -- How does Tampa turn things around?
Tim Bustos, Florida Bicycle Association executive director -- How do we bridge the hopes of advocates with the goals of public officials?

Bicycle Bash Banners Are Going Up Around Tampa Bay

SWFBUD thanks the Hillsborough County parks guys at Flatwoods Park and Tina Russo at the Suncoast Trail for hanging Bicycle Bash banners promoting the NOV 4 bicycle festival in downtown Tampa. There are also two other Bicycle Bash banners hanging in Pinellas County -- email me with the locations of the other two Bicycle Bash banners and the first three people with the correct locations will get a free Polar Bottle at the Bash. Good luck!

Bicycle Bash banner Goes Up For NOV 4 Event

The first Bicycle Bash banner went up this week. It's hanging at Flatwoods Park -- a popular place for bicyclists. This year's Bicycle Bash festival is in downtown Tampa behind the Forum in Cotanchobee Park.