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take the tampa baycycle challenge!

Tampa BayCycle is a new movement happening in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to get commuters to bike to work, school or even play. BayCycle officially kicks off during National Bike Month this May, offering activities that will include Bike to Work Days, Commuter Challenges, Safety Classes, and Free Bike Gear.

The BayCycle website, www.tampabaycycle.com, is in full gear. Visit the website now to:

ü Enter the “Words for Wheels” essay contest for a chance to win one of two new Trek 820 bicycles donated from Oliver’s Cycle Sports and Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium,

ü Join the “Elite 100” or the “1,001 Friends” of cycling,

ü Sign up for the Business or Individual Bicycle Commuter Challenge, and more.

Hillsborough and Pinellas County residents are invited to enter the “Words for Wheels” essay contest. Those interested should write an essay describing how winning a bike would change their life and submit it via the online entry form or by mailing it to Words for Wheels, c./o Julie Bond, New North Transportation Alliance, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., CUT100, Tampa, FL, 33620.

The Elite 100 is a group of bicyclists who pledge to recruit five other friends, neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances, community leaders, or anyone to become one of the “1,001 Friends” of cycling. “1,001 Friends” of cycling are those who try riding a bicycle to work, school or play at least one day during the month of May.

Businesses and individuals can compete for prizes for having the most miles logged, the most days ridden, and more. If your business would like to participate, go to www.tampabaycycle.com, click on Bicycle Commuter Challenge and complete the Business Challenge Pledge Form. Individuals who want to participate can take the Individual Commuter Challenge. Each day during the month of May, all those participating in the challenge must log their miles on the new GoLog trip tracker located on the Tampa BayCycle website. Prizes include Bike Lights, Wireless Cyclometers, gift certificates and more.

Tampa BayCycle events scheduled to date include:

Bicycle Street Skills Class - April 24, 11:30 am - 1 pm, TECO Plaza, 702 E. Tampa St. RSVP to   KKress@tpadowntown.com

Bicycle Street Skills Class - April 27, 11:30 am – 1 pm, Center for Urban Transportation Research/USF, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. CUT100, Tampa. RSVP to bond@cutr.usf.edu

Proclamation Bicycle Relay - May 1, teams of bicyclists will carry a proclamation to Temple Terrace, Tampa, and St. Petersburg to spread the word that May is Bike Month!

Bicycle Move Night - May 1, 7:00 pm, Sacred Grounds Coffee, 4819 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa

National Bike to Work Day - May 18

Commuter Challenge - May 1-31

Tampa BayCycle is hosted by the New North Transportation Alliance and the Tampa Downtown Partnership and sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation. To become a sponsor or for general information on how you can become involved, contact the New North Transportation Alliance at 813-974-9799.

Senate Bill 670 could change florida pedestrian law

A new bill working its way through the Florida House of Representatives (HB331) and Senate (SB670) would amend sections 316.075 and 316.130 of the Florida Statutes, which currently require drivers of vehicles to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians to allow the pedestrian to cross the roadway.

The new bill clarifies the requirement for drivers to come to a stop before entering a crosswalk when a pedestrian has entered a crosswalk with a permitted signal or where signage indicates pedestrian right-of-way, and remain stopped while the pedestrian is on the same side of the roadway centerline as the vehicle or approaching the opposite side so closely as to be in danger. The bill further clarifies drivers approaching stop sign-controlled intersections to, unless directed otherwise by signage, yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the roadway in a crosswalk while the pedestrian is on the same side of the roadway centerline as the vehicle or approaching the opposite side so closely as to be in danger. A violation of these new provisions would be a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation for the operator of a motor vehicle ($60 plus court costs as assessed by the county and 3 points assessed on the driver’s license).

tampa downtown partnership, westshore alliance and   new north transportation alliance come together to    pass a joint transit resolution

In an unprecedented move, the Executive Committees of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, Westshore Alliance and New North Transportation Alliance have joined together to emphasize the importance of a significantly improved transportation system for the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County and the greater Tampa Bay region. These three organizations represent the major employment and activity centers in Hillsborough County.
The joint resolution demonstrates unity among these organizations on the need for convenient and affordable transportation options and recommends that all agencies in the Region with transportation responsibilities:

1. Aggressively pursue new transit solutions that will provide convenient, fast and affordable transportation options to the residents of Tampa and Hillsborough County, including bus rapid transit, high occupancy bus transit lanes, light rail, commuter rail and circulator systems;

2. Review the priorities of existing funding sources and aggressively pursue new revenue sources to support significantly improved transit service;

3. Support the development of new transit oriented land use densities, land development, workforce and affordable housing policies to encourage usage of transit service;

4. Re-evaluate and update the rail transit alternatives in the Tampa Bay Commuter Rail Study and the Tampa Rail Study and examine the development of new and enhanced bus transit routes; and

5. Pursue the establishment of transportation connections to all major regional activity centers while working to enhance local transit and circulation systems that support such regional connections.

The joint resolution also supports the concept of a regional transportation authority to the extent that the creation of such an authority will further the goals of the Resolution. It also gives support to the resolution adopted by the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission.

“This is an exceptional cooperative effort to address our region’s transportation needs,” said Frank Margarella, chair of the New North Transportation Alliance. “The benefits and importance of transportation options impact everyone, and is essential to the economic and social quality of life of our citizens. This resolution is right on the mark.”

Construction on the new flyover ramp from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to southbound I-75 is now underway. The $41 million Florida Department of Transportation project is expected to take two years.

The major feature of the project is to change the entrance from southbound CR 581 from the existing two-lane left turn to a right entrance flyover bridge. The project will also realign and/or widen the other ramps to I-75 and widen southbound I-75 from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to the Hillsborough River to three lanes.

Road closures will occur between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., however, portions of Bruce B. Downs and I-75 will be closed entirely at times. The Bruce B. Downs closure will force motorists to drive on I-75 either north to Route 56 or south to Fletcher and double back to get from one end of New Tampa to the other. Project updates and detour maps are available at www.mytbi.com.

Want to save money & make better use of your time by carpooling or vanpooling-
but don't know anyone to share the commute with?
We may be able to help! Join the regional rideshare database by following the link on the Commuter page of our website, www.newnorthalliance.org,  or by calling 813-974-9799 to speak with a New North Transportation Alliance representative.