The 2011 SWFBUD Bicycle Bash was another success for the small businesses that support bicycling in Tampa Bay and bike riders in the region. The appearances of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, St. Petersburg Council Members Leslie Curran and Jeff Danner, Tampa Council Members Yvonne Yolie Capin and Lisa Montelione, and State Reps. Janet Cruz and Shawn Harrison, speak to the awareness that bicycling and pedestrian safety has among our elected leaders.
But despite the speeches and efforts to make the region a better place for bicyclists and pedestrians, was the frustration that not enough has been done. Ultimately, the concern was Tampa Bay could be left behind by other regions that have built complete transportation systems.
Tampa Bay’s continued unsafe climate for bikers and pedestrians was a part of this discussion. Tampa Bay is the second most dangerous place for pedestrians in America. In the tight knit bicycling community, any death of a rider is personal, even if the rider doesn’t fit in with the stereotype of a granola chewing, francophone in spandex. (By the way, vast majority of riders are going to work, school or weekend recreation. And they don’t dress like Lance Armstrong.)
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn leads the "Buckhorn Ride" at the 2011 SWFBUD Bicycle Bash on Sunday, Nov. 6. Picture courtesy of Chainwheel Drive.
Bicyclists will admit there are bad bicyclists who cause accidents, just like bad drivers cause accidents. But, it’s hard to swallow the idea that bad bicyclists cause a large number of accidents when you consider that 10 percent of the pedestrians and 17 percent of the bicyclists killed in America were killed in Florida. One state creating that many deaths is evidence of our state’s policy to design roads for cars, not people.
These stats are not the only concerns of bicyclists. Several riders told me that they truly are concerned that Tampa Bay is being left behind by places that have improved pedestrian and transit infrastructure, increasing the quality of life in those regions. Charlotte, Denver and Salt Lake City use their quality of life features to recruit businesses and talented people, giving them an economic edge over Tampa Bay. Some spoke of the failure of last November’s Hillsborough transportation referendum and felt all hope was lost to build a complete transportation system in the region that can improve our economic competitiveness and increase our quality of life.
Yet, there is work being done that can make Tampa Bay safer for bicyclist and pedestrians, while building a complete transportation network.
- Both Mayor Buckhorn and Council Member Curran spoke of efforts in Tampa and St. Pete to include pedestrian safety in planning and redevelopment. In Tampa, the Urban Land Institute has provided a playbook on building livable communities. Both spoke of the economic power Complete Streets can have. Tampa Bay On Track will have videos of those interviews in the coming days.
- Pinellas On Track, the Pinellas Alternatives Analysis study, continues rolling forward. The most important feature of the study is how they have analyzed the economic growth of areas touched by the proposed light rail or bus rapid transit route.
- Tampa International Airport, easily the best feature of our current transportation system, includes future rail connections in their master plan. For TIA, rail means competitiveness. If rental cars are the only way for tourists from Tampa’s new European flights to get around town, why would they come back to Tampa Bay when they have better transportation options in Miami or Orlando?
- In partnership with TBARTA, Manatee and Sarasota continue their work towards connectivity along the US 41 corridor. TBARTA is also working on mobility studies that link Tampa to USF, Wesley Chapel, Citrus, Hernando and Gateway.
Progress towards a complete transportation system and improved safety takes time, which is inconvenient when we needed improvements yesterday. Tampa Bay On Track’s job is to not just advocate for transportation, but to also communicate the timelines for future success. For area bicyclists though, it is hard to accept this, when so many bicyclists and pedestrians have been lost on our roads.
Picture of Mayor Bob Buckhorn courtesy of Chainwheel Drive.