News / Articles

SPBC Newsletter -- 2023-07

July 2023

This month read about a new way by the bay to ride to Ft DeSoto plus info on cycling-related area events past and present as well as SPBC board news. And finally, some two wheeled inspired poetry and photography, too.

Upcoming Events

SPBC Watermelon Social at the Adopt-A-Mile Pinellas Trail cleanup, July 30: If you are riding the Pinellas Trail near Stonehenge Park (30th Ave N) between 830-10a, stop by the SPBC Watermelon and Water Station for a refreshing midsummer social. Everyone is welcome, including members, friends and family, future members...and anyone who passes by! Starting at 7:30a, board members and club volunteers are invited to meet up and help clean up this section of the Pinellas Trail which the club has adopted. To volunteer to help with the cleanup, email John Sinibaldi. To stop and slurp some watermelon, just show up!
Bicyclists Go Bowling, Aug 20: Set aside a Sunday afternoon for strikes and spares with your fellow SPBC members. $20 Bowling fee includes shoes and ball rental. 2-5p at Sunrise Lanes, 6393 9th St N, St. Petersburg.
Endless Summer Watermelon Ride, Sept 10: Saint Johns County Fairgrounds, Elkton, FL.
Veterans Day Bike Ride, Nov 11: Benefiting the Long Walk Home, Inc, this event offers 10-, 32- and 55-mile loops that start at Ft DeSoto County Park. Registration fee includes a T-shirt and a full steak lunch at the end of the ride. The Veterans Day Bike Ride supports vets as they make the transition from military life to civilian life.
Volunteer of the Year Party, Nov 12: 4p at PAWS (Pinellas Ale Works), St Petersburg.
SPBC Holiday Party, Dec 3: St Pete Yacht Club.

The Pinellas Bay Way Trail

by Gordon Brown

There’s a new way to bicycle through Tierra Verde to Fort DeSoto County Park. The Florida Dept of Transportation (FDOT) has completed construction of The Pinellas Bay Way Trail, a 6.7 mile two way bike lane which runs along State Rt 679 from 54th Ave S. to Fort DeSoto.

The new path is for all cyclists, but will be especially popular with casual and recreational cyclists because it’s physically separated from motor vehicle traffic.

As part of an FDOT planned road resurfacing project in Tierra Verde, the state transportation department included a bike trail which had been previously adopted in the Forward Pinellas Active Transportation Plan to connect existing trails to the north and south. The state constructed a four mile "cycle track," completed in May 2023, which connected the existing multi-use trail to Ft DeSoto County Park.

What's a "cycle track?"

Although you may not be familiar with the term, you probably are familiar with this cycling infrastructure. According to Wikipedia, "A cycle track...is an exclusive bikeway that has elements of a separated path and on-road bike lane. A cycle track is located within or next to the roadway, but is made distinct from both the sidewalk and general purpose roadway by vertical barriers or elevation differences."

FDOT chose to locate the bi-directional bikeway in the roadway after consultation with local residents; an earlier proposal would have impacted landscaping which the HOA’s had planted in the public right of way.

Pinellas Bay Way at Tierra Verde -- FDOT Map

Location of Pinellas Bay Way Cycle Track. Source: Florida DOT

ICYMI (In case you missed it)

"Adopt A Mile" Pinellas Trail Cleanup, 5/21/2023

TourDeRespect 20230528a

Tour de Respect, 5/28/2023

Bike to School Day 20230503a

Bike To School Day, 5/3/2023

Board Business -- Highlights of June/July SPBC Board Meetings

Long Walk Home: Duane Stamm and Ron Zaleski asked the SPBC for logistical support and to recruit participants for their 11/11 event that raises funds to help Marine veterans make transitions by experiencing a new mission. They are asking the club to mark routes and provide ride marshals.
Our first Adopt-A-Mile on the Pinellas Trail was held on 5/21. Next clean-up scheduled for Sunday, July 30.
Holiday Party will be held in the Harborview Room of the St Pete Yacht Club on Dec 3. Despite news of its future demolition, the club will be open and ready to host our event.
Next Board Meeting is Mon Aug 14 at 6:30p. To join this meeting via ZOOM, please contact John Sinibaldi for the login info.

Welcome New Members

Michele Barlow Norm Beausoleil Sarah Cerniglia Dan Chambers Jeremy Hutson Helen W Jacobse Clarence Leist		Rami Mitri John Mrosek Joanna Southerland Duane C Stamm Lara N Wojahn Paul S Webb Matt Wren

Where in the World...?

Ethan & Trudy Bixby and Karen & Wayne Martens traveled to Christchurch on the south island of New Zealand for a two week, mostly gravel ride.

And Finally...

Moment

It’s a particular point in time.
An object acting at a distance.
An important effect or influence on one.

Today a large white-tailed deer just
Twenty-five yards ahead -
Trotted rhythmically, unafraid along my bicycle path.

I watched for a glorious 300 feet or so,
Then it disappeared to the right on a perfect path it knew.
It was a rhapsodic “Moment,” jubilant!

mfarrell

There's more than one way to beat the St Pete heat, as seen along the Pinellas Trail in St Petersburg. Ride a little, pluck a little (then rinse and repeat).

The St. Petersburg Bicycle Club Board of Directors

John A Sinibaldi Jr, President
Mark Franchetti, Vice President
Kris Woodcock, Secretary
Daniel Bode, Treasurer
Rafael Rivera, Membership
Dave Zornow, Newsletter/Communications
John Byrd
Dave Joffe
Peter E Wray
Bruce Sobut, Webmaster

Return to Previous Page

St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, Inc.

PO Box 76023

St. Petersburg, FL 33734

USA

The St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, Inc. (SPBC) is a non-profit, social and recreational club that exists to promote safe, satisfying bicycling opportunities to both club members and the general public of all ages and skill levels, through planned activities and events.