There is some good news and bad news for local bicycling advocates going into 2012.
On the positive side, activist Alan Snel reports that Hillsborough area state lawmakers Janet Cruz and Shawn Harrison intend to pen a letter showing support for the concept of a Bicycle Area Mobility (BAM) network, and have every member of the Bay area legislative delegation co-sign. The trail system would unify three distinct bike trails in Hillsborough County, offering bicyclists a safe and efficient way to get around while also interconnecting with bus routes and surface streets with bike lanes.
The Hillsborough MPO agreed in September to conduct a feasibility study of the Tampa Bypass Canal Trail crossings, while Snel reports that the South Coast Greenway is in the MPO's 2035 Long Range Plan. The MPO has already had an open house for a consultant to preview the Selmon Greenway, too.
On a much sadder note, the Tampa Bay area added to its list of cycling fatalities over the Christmas weekend, when three bike riders were killed, two in hit-and-run incidents.
This article appears in Dec 22-28, 2011.