South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers (SWFBUD), a coalition of eight bicycle stores and advocates in the Tampa Bay area, has prompted a local highway authority to study the feasibility of opening the upper deck of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway for bicyclists on Sunday mornings.
“This a win-win for everyone in the community,” said Alan Snel, of Tampa, director of SWFBUD, which promotes and grows bicycling in the Tampa Bay market and which puts on the annual Bicycle Bash by the Bay bike festival.
“Bicyclists in the Tampa area would love to bike on the top deck of the highway and the Expressway Authority would garner great public relations,” Snel said. “A popular bridge trail that connects Tampa and St. Petersburg was recently closed and opening the Selmon Expressway’s upper deck would offer a new safe place for bicyclists.”
The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority will discuss the matter at its Feb. 23 meeting.
“We want bicyclists to use the upper deck of the highway when there are hardly any motorists on the upper deck. We are looking for bicyclist use for only two or three hours on early Sunday mornings,” Snel said.
For more information, read local coverage at http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/article974619.ece
